The couch potato's college football TV guide
Week 7 is upon us and there are so many options on the tube, I want to stand up on a flag pole and take my shirt off in celebration.
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A few interesting story lines heading into your viewing weekend:
Someone needs to make sure LSU is properly hydrated this week.
Anyone care that Oregon State is 5-0 and Duke -- DUKE -- is 5-1?
TCU quarterback Casey Pachall was fourth in the nation in pass efficiency, and now is in rehab.
If you want a say in The Couch Potato, leave a comment or tweet @themikefoss and chances are good you will get a shout out at the top.
Now for the picks (NOTE: all times Eastern for Saturday, Oct. 13) ...
EARLY PICK
No. 10 Oklahoma vs. No. 15 Texas in Dallas/12 p.m., ABC
What you need to know: Football is kind of serious in and around Texas. This showdown is happening in the Cotton Bowl, a place of history that would surely look a lot better with an 11,000 sq. ft. jumbotron...
The winner takes bragging rights and the Golden Hat trophy. The loser has two losses in October.
Why you will watch: Something seems wrong with the Big 12 when the two best teams are West Virginia and Kansas State. Indeed, Texas and Oklahoma have been pushed into the scenery this year, fumbling around in the background. This is an opportunity for senior QB Landry Jones grab hold of Sooner offense and make some noise. The question is, can Oklahoma's defense keep up with David Ash and the Longhorns?
What's on the other channel:Real Genius/Comedy Central; a simpler time when Val Kilmer wasn't bloated. Murder at 1600/TNT; a simpler time when Wesley Snipes wasn't in jail. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective/VH1.
Potatoes: 3/4
AFTERNOON PICK
No. 17 Stanford at No. 7 Notre Dame/3:30 p.m., NBC
What you need to know: Notre Dame is pretty good. Stanford might be pretty good. The Fighting Irish are undefeated this season. The Cardinal have won this matchup three consecutive times.
Why you will watch: No one can look away from Notre Dame's spiritual leader and defensive enforcer Manti Te'o. The Irish haven't conceded a touchdown in three games and have never trailed this season. This is a great matchup if the Stanford team who played USC decides to show up. If the team who blew it against Washington appears, well, that's why we have the channel-changer. Speaking of ...
What's on the other channel:Punch Drunk Love/FMC; seriously, Adam Sandler's best movie. The Shawshank Redemption/A&E; "I must admit I didn't think much of Andy first time I laid eyes on him; looked like a stiff breeze would blow him over. That was my first impression of the man." American Ninja Warrior/G4; as awesome as it sounds.
Potatoes: 3.5/4
PRIME TIME PICK
No 3. South Carolina at No. 8 LSU/8:00 p.m., ESPN
What you need to know: Right now, everything Steve Spurrier turns to gold and everything Les Miles touches turns into failed third-down conversions.
Why you will watch: It's now or never for LSU. Just 18 points in two SEC games, and only six in a loss to Florida last week, any chance of the Tigers reaching the BCS Championship ride on this game. Meanwhile, South Carolina rides into Baton Rouge on a 10-game winning streak and the highest national ranking since the '80's which can be solidified with a win. Seems like prime time for someone to blow it.
What's on the other channel: You know what will happen if you don't watch this game?
Bad things.
Potatoes: 4/4
The rest of the Top 25 on TV
No.16 Louisville at Pittsburgh 11a.m./ESPNU ... Whoo! Big East football at 11 a.m.!!!
No.5 Kansas State at No.25 Iowa State Noon/FX ...This is the sleeper pick for when Texas and Oklahoma goes south.
No.1 Alabama at Missouri 3:30/CBS ... can Missouri pull an up-- hahaha I almost wrote that without laughing.
No.4 West Virginia at Texas Tech 3:30/ABC ... The Geno Smith show comes to Lubbock with knowledge that the Mountaineers haven't gone a season without losing to an unranked team since 2003.
No.14 Oregon State at Brigham Young 3:30/ABC ... Oregon State is a 5.5 point underdog against BYU.
Fresno State at No. 22 Boise State 3:30/NBCSN ... The Broncos still play on blue turf. So that's interesting.
No. 6 Florida at Vanderbilt 6/ESPNU ... Florida, don't pull a Florida State.
No. 9 Southern California at Washington 7/Fox ... The Trojans are 21-22-2 all time in the rain. It's supposed to rain.
No. 23 TCU at Baylor 7/FSN Grass ... Baylor wins over a leaderless TCU.
Ohio State at Indiana 8/BTN ... What happens if Ohio State goes undefeated but isn't eligible for the Top 25? The rest of us continue living life blissfully unaffected.
Tennessee at No. 18 Mississippi State 9/ESPN2 ... I smell upset.
No. 21 Texas A&M vs. No. 24 Louisiana Tech9/ESPNU ... could be a late night sleeper.