Code Orange

I thought I should post this before some of the biggest games, you know, are played…

Boston College (7-0) at Virginia Tech (6-1) - Thursday, 7:30 PM

This is probably the game of the week as both of these teams are still legitimately in the national title hunt.  The the AP #2 team in the nation has lost 3 weeks in a row (USC, California, South Florida), and that’s a streak that Boston College would like to end.  This is easily the toughest game on BC’s schedule, but that doesn’t necessarily mean things get much easier after this as their other 4 remaining opponents have a combined 18-11 record.

Air Force (6-2) at New Mexico (5-2) - Thursday, 9:00 PM

The winner of this game moves into 2 by themselves in the Mountain-West, and then has to hope that Brigham Young trips up twice in conference.  For Air Force, a win means they move ever close to being ranked.

Boise State (6-1) at Fresno State (5-2) - Friday, 9:00 PM

The first of three games between the big three in the WAC.   The Loser is probably out of contention in the conference unless the three teams all split 1-1.  If Fresno State wins, that sets up a date with Hawaii from the conference title November 10th, while a Boise State win moves that game to Nov. 23.

West Virginia (6-1) at Rutgers (5-2) - 12:00 PM

This is a very important game in the Big East as the loser will pick up their 2nd conference loss, probably eliminating them from the conference title race.  This game is probably more important to West Virginia, however, as they’re still in the national title hunt, plus they need help in the BCS Computers, and a win over Rutgers would help with that

Southern Cal (6-1) at Oregon (6-1) - 3:00 PM

This is the other “game of the week” of the week, and it’s probably lucky that it’s being played in Oregon rather than Los Angeles this week.  This game also features two teams in the national title hunt.  This could basically be considered a playoff game with the winner probably having to play Arizona State for the conference title and a chance to possible play in the title game.

Florida (5-2) at Georgia (5-2) - 3:30 PM

This game suddenly has new importance as Florida once again controls their own destiny in the SEC East.  However, Georgia can perhaps permanently put away Florida’s hopes of playing in the SEC title game with another conference loss.  However, for Georgia to play in that game, they need to win, and they still need help.  A loss all but mathematically eliminates the Bulldogs.

South Florida (6-1) at Connecticut (6-1) - 3:30 PM

Connecticut is the only 1-loss team who is still unranked, and they’re looking for some respect.  They can pick up a lot if they can beat the Bulls.  As I noted, the AP #2 team has lost each of the past 3 weeks, with South Florida being the latest.  However, that team also usually had trouble the following week as well, with USC just edging Arizona, and California losing to UCLA.  South Florida still has marginal national title hopes, and they cannot afford another loss if they want to keep those, or conference title hopes, alive.

Kansas (7-0) at Texas A&M (6-2) - 7:00 PM

One of the biggest disses on Kansas is that they really haven’t played anyone outside of Kansas State (though the computers tend to disagree, ranking Kansas 7th), and Kansas can eliminate that talk with a win over Texas A&M to show just how real they are.  A loss by Kansas also puts the Big 12 North back into play for Kansas State and Colorado.

South Carolina (6-2) at Tennessee (4-3) - 7:45 PM

This was supposed to pretty much be THE game to set up who had a leg up in the SEC East title race, until both teams blew their games last week, sending them into a 5-way tie in the division.  Along with the Georgia/Florida game, this one will help un-muddy the mess.  If Florida wins their game, they would prefer a Tennessee win since they’ve already beaten them.  Otherwise, it sets up a showdown with South Carolina on Nov. 10th.  Meanwhile, Tennessee hopes Georgia wins the other game.

Ohio State (8-0) at Penn State (6-2) - 8:00 PM

This will probably be Ohio State’s toughest game before having to play at Michigan in their season finale (though they still have 5-3 Illinois and 6-2 Wisconsin left too).  With Penn State 2 games out of the conference lead, they are probably out of the conference title race, though a win over Ohio State couldn’t hurt.

California (5-2) at Arizona State (7-0) - 10:00 PM 

This is the first of four games in Arizona State’s death stretch (with Oregon, UCLA, and USC all coming up in the next 4 weeks too).  California is going to desperately be looking to avoid 3 straight losses, less they go from in-line-to-be-#1 to out of the rankings in 3 weeks.  In the meantime, we get to see how for real Arizona State really is.

We once again enter the twilight zone where games featuring South Florida are bigger than Miami vs. Florida State, and Kentucky get to be in a game bigger than Tennessee vs. Alabama.  In any case, here are the games to watch in week 8:

South Florida (6-0) at Rutgers (4-2) - Thursday, 7:30 PM

I don’t know that this game is bigger than the West Virginia game earlier in the year for South Florida, but it certainly is one of the big 4 games South Florida must get by this season (along with Cincinnati on November 3rd, and Louisville on November 17th).  Meanwhile, Rutgers needs this win, or else they may have to start worrying about bowl eligibility.

Louisville (4-3) at Connecticut (5-1) - Friday, 8:00 PM

Louisville has had a bad habit of not winning games they were supposed to win this year, while Connecticut fared better than people expected against Virginia.  Connecticut can show that they are indeed a team to be dealt with in the Big East while Louisville, with West Virginia, South Florida, and Rutgers still to play, desperately needs this win to get closer to bowl eligibility.

Penn State (5-2) at Indiana (5-2) - 12:00 PM

Indiana can finally get bowl eligible with a win over the Nittany Lions.  Meanwhile, the winner of this game stays at least maintains radar contact with the Big Ten championship, while the loser is out.

Tennessee (4-2) at Alabama (5-2) - 12:30 PM

Both of these teams find themselves in surprisingly good shape in the race for their respective division titles.  However, neither team can afford another loss in conference play if they want to continue having SEC Championship Game aspirations.

Wyoming (4-2) at Air Force (5-2) - 2:00 PM

These are two of the four teams still in the Mountain-West race, but another loss would pretty much put either of these teams too far behind to catch conference leader Brigham Young.  Especially Air Force since they’ve already lost to the cougars.

Texas A&M (5-2) at Nebraska (4-3) - 2:05 PM

With the way the Big 12 is going, both of these teams could be still in the race for the Big 12 title, though neither of these teams, especially Nebraska, can afford another loss right now.  A loss here by Nebraska would also put their bowl eligibility in jeopardy.

Michigan State (5-2) at Ohio State (7-0) - 3:30 PM

This is the first true test for the #1 ranked team who never expected to be in the top spot all year.  Michigan State has a history of ruining Ohio State seasons, and they’ll hope to do it again this week.

Florida (4-2) at Kentucky (6-1) - 3:30 PM

This is a huge game in the race for the SEC East - and the national title in Kentucky’s case - as another loss by Florida pretty much eliminates their chances of winning the SEC East.  Meanwhile, Kentucky must win this game, especially if Tennessee defeats Alabama earlier in the day.

California (5-1) at UCLA (4-2) - 3:30 PM

Despite UCLA’s out of conference debacles against Utah and Notre Dame, the Bruins are currently tied for the Pac 10 lead, one of only two teams still undefeated in conference play.  California hopes to end that, and hopes to get back in the title race as well.

Texas Tech (6-1) at Missouri (5-1) - 3:30 PM

Missouri hopes to avoid dropping two straight Big 12 championship game previews in a row as they face the other good team in the Big 12 South Texas Tech.  Another loss puts Missouri in very difficult position in the Big 12 North. Meanwhile, with 4 teams with only 1 conference loss in the Southern division, Texas Tech must look to keep up in their half of the conference too.

Buffalo (3-4) at Syracuse (1-6) - 4:00 PM

Since I am a Syracuse grad and this blog is called “Code Orange,” I assert my right to include Syracuse games whenever I feel they’re important.  This is an important one.  If the Orange lose to Buffalo, Coach Robinson might as well start packing his bags right after the game.

Kansas (6-0) at Colorado (4-3) - 5:30 PM

Despite Colorado’s overall record, they’ll well in the race for the Big 12 North title.  A win by Kansas would effectively put them two games ahead of everyone else in the division except for Missouri, who they play in the season finale. However, Kansas also needs a win over Colorado because they don’t have a large margin of error as far as their future opponents either.

Kansas State (4-2) at Oklahoma State (4-3) - 7:05 PM

Both of these teams are still in contention for their division titles, but neither can afford another conference loss.  Also the loser needs to start worrying about bowl eligibility in general as well.

Michigan (5-2) at Illinois(5-2) - 8:00 PM

Michigan tries to keep pace with Ohio State while Illinois tries to stay relevant in the Big Ten title race.  Given that 9 teams still have 2 or fewer conference losses, it’s still anyone’s game, but picking up another loss definitely won’t help Illionis.

Auburn (5-2) at LSU (6-1) - 9:00 PM

LSU needs a rebound from their upset loss to Kentucky, and a second SEC loss may put the team everyone though would play in the title in serious trouble as far as getting the SEC title.