The couch potato's college football TV guide
Welcome to the couch. It's another weekend of excellent entertainment as we continue to make you better at watching TV. Here are some story lines worth following as you channel scan Saturday.
There are 10 teams with something to prove, none of which are Alabama
South Carolina is missing a defensive tackle after he tried to punch an LSU player SIDEBAR: Can you think of anything more asinine in football than punching someone wearing a helmet?
We are midway through the season and there is a lot of under the radar talent to watch
These 10 coaches are feeling the heat
Northwestern has made nap time MANDATORY!
As always, 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. 20) ...
AFTERNOON PICKS
No. 8 South Carolina at No. 4 Florida/3:30, CBS
What you need to know: Florida is alone atop the SEC East, thanks to South Carolina's loss to LSU last Saturday. But a Gamecocks win puts the title up in the air. Florida is a four-point favorite, but South Carolina has had the better of the matchup in recent years. Despite trailing 6-23-3 all-time in the series, the Gamecocks have won the last two meetings.
Why you will watch: This is it for South Carolina's shot at a place in the SEC championship game, which could lead to a berth in the BCS national title game. Must-win, must-win, must-win. Florida certainly doesn't have much wiggle room, either. A loss puts the Gators even with Georgia and South Carolina. When all is said and done, these are two teams who play excellent defense and can run the ball. With the game going down in The Swamp, slight edge to the Gators.
What's on the other channel:Mr. Deeds/USA; John Turturro straight up steals this movie. He's very, very sneaky.
Potatoes: 3.5/4
Brigham Young at No. 5 Notre Dame/3:30, NBC
What you need to know: The Fighting Irish are 6-0, dispatched of all ranked teams on their schedule and have a cakewalk to the BCS title game ... well, maybe not exactly. Brigham Young is 4-3 but has the upset written all over these awesome-looking black uniforms ... well, maybe not literally.
Why you will watch: Notre Dame has been pretty good, coupled with pretty fortunate. Quarterback Tommy Rees has a nice habit of salvaging games Everett Golson starts. Will that trend continue? Coach Brian Kelly has left Golson as a game-time decision. Meanwhile, Brigham Young is coached by Bronco Mendenhall. Can you think of anyone more intimidating?
What's on the other channel: South Carolina-Florida, Mr. Deeds, AND a solid block of Two And A Half Men on FX.
Potatoes: 3/4
PRIME-TIME PICK
No. 3 Kansas State at No. 15 West Virginia/7, Fox
What you need to know: West Virginia suffered a demoralizing 49-14 pummeling at the hands of unranked Texas Tech, while Kansas State has quietly crept to No. 3 in the poll, thanks to the even approach of coach Bill Snyder.
Why you will watch: West Virginia has a prolific offense ... and an awful, awful defense. No question, the Mountaineers can outgun the Wildcats (WVU has 543.7 total yards, No. 3 in the nation, K-State has 427.5, 46th). But if Kansas State is capable of at least slowing Geno Smith's airborne assault, the advantage quickly shifts to the Wildcats. Simply, this game has a much better shot at ending 35-24 than it does 13-6.
What's on the other channel: Joe Dirt/Comedy Central; "Life's a garden, dig it?" ... The Lost Boys/VH1; Kiefer Sutherland has been stone cold awesome since 1987 ... The Road Warrior/G4; Only thing better than Mad Max is more Mad Max.
Potatoes: 3.5/4
No.6 LSU at No.19 Texas A&M: Noon/ESPN ... LSU is a three-point favorite away -- upset anyone?
Virginia Tech at No. 13 Clemson: Noon/ABC ... geez, what happened to the Hokies this season?
No. 23 Stanford at California: 3/Fox ... Cal has a losing record but could give the Cardinal some problems.
South Florida at No. 14 Louisville: 3:30/ABC ... Louisville needs to hurry up and lose so we can stop taking Big East football seriously.
No. 20 Texas Tech at No. 21 TCU: 3:30/ABC ... Two teams from Texas that will make everyone in Texas forget about Texas.
UNLV at No. 22 Boise State: 3:30/NBCSN ... Tune in to see Boise State's awesome new uniforms.
Michigan State at No. 25 Michigan: 3:30/BTN ... Remember when Michigan State was No. 13 and Michigan was No. 8 in the poll two months ago?
Colorado at No. 9 Southern California ... USC is a 40.5-point favorite.
No. 1 Alabama at Tennessee: 7/ESPN ... Heard a rumor that Alabama is going to play without a quarterback to keep it close.
Kansas at No. 7 Oklahoma: 7/FSN ... This would be a much closer basketball game.
Middle Tennessee at No. 16 Mississippi State: 7/ESPN2
No.10 Florida State at Miami: 8/ABC ... If only this game was happening a decade earlier.
Utah at No. 11 Oregon State: 10:30/ESPN2 ... Expect Oregon State to improve to 6-0.