Week 3 College Football Buffet: Previewing Every Game So You Know Which To Consume

Now we're finally starting to separate the men from the boys. And once we're done dealing with BYU (ba-dum-ching), we'll take a look at what's going on in college football.

While there aren't a lot of marquee games on the schedule this weekend, there's plenty to see.  Jake Locker vs. solid defense. We'll find out if Iowa is for real. Nevada and Wyoming try to make their cases as BCS spoilers. Boise State tries to reaffirm their spot as the top non-BCS dog while TCU continues to make their case.

Let's find out what looks tasty and what might be worth pushing to the side of your plate in this weekend's college football buffet. (All times are Eastern.)

GIVE ME A HEAPING HELPING

No. 8 Nebraska @ Washington (ABC/ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.)  - The Huskers get up close and personal with Jake Locker this weekend. Nebraska routinely send out five, six or even seven defensive backs at times, which allows then to cover the field veritcally and horizontally very fast. Husky fans expect the biggest match up of this game is going to be between UW WR Jermaine Kearse and Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara.

No. 10 Iowa @ No. 18 Arizona (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.) - Wildcat fans, I hope you got your red Arizona gear.  The Athletic Department has called for a "red out" against Iowa on Saturday. Unfortunately for them, Iowa fans are aware of this and unfazed.

 

I'LL HAVE A SCOOP OF THAT, PLEASE

No. 24 California @ Nevada (ESPN2, 10 p.m.) - Cal's defense might give up some yards but will try to out-execute Nevada at the line of scrimmage. Is Nevada a legit threat to Boise State as a BCS buster? We'll find out Friday night

No. 13 Arkansas @ Georgia (ESPN, 12 p.m.) - The 2009 match-up between the Razorbacks and Bulldogs was a statement game, much like this year's is. Unfortunately the statement was that Arkansas' unbelievably good offense was more than surpassed by an unbelievably bad defense. Georgia is waiting to hear back on A.J. Green's appeal but don't expect to hear anything in time for this.

Maryland @ No. 21 West Virginia (ESPNU, 12 p.m.) - For Maryland, the big question is will Danny O'Brien take over the starting QB spot? West Virginia fans are simply wondering, what food will be left for them to tailgate with once Ralph Friedgen shows up.

BYU @ Florida State (ESPNU, 3:30 p.m.) - Is BYU in a heap of trouble? If its like the last time they played a Mike Stoops' defense, then yes.

Clemson @ No. 15 Auburn (ESPN, ESPN3D, 7 p.m.) - Clemson's history with the Auburn Tigers is not kind, Auburn leads the series 33-11-2. That might be why Auburn invited so many recruits to watch this one.

I'LL TASTE IT FIRST...

No. 1 Alabama @ Duke (ABC/GamePlan, 3:30 p.m.) - If Duke wins this game, they'll tie the all-time series at two wins apiece. And college football will shut down permanently.

Georgia Tech @ North Carolina (ACC Network/GamePlan, 12 p.m.) - Butch Davis has had a checkered couple of years facing off against Georgia Tech. As far as Georgia Tech is concerned, Chapel Hill is the black hole of touchdowns, having only scored three TDs in the past three Chapel Hill road years.

UConn @ Temple (MAC Network/GamePlan, 12 p.m.) - This has quietly turned into one of the Northeast's nastiest non-conference rivalries over the last few years. Temple is looking like the top team in the MAC while UConn is hoping to get Scott Lutrus back from a stinger.

East Carolina @ Virginia Tech (ESPN3.com, 1:30 p.m.) - Last week VT fans wanted t see if their team came out flat or motivated. Well, they certainly came out flat. Now the question is, are the Hokies embarrassed and angry?

No. 7 Florida @ Tennessee (CBS, 3:30 p.m.) - Tennessee's status as a rival has, to put it gently, declined in the eyes of Florida fans. Perhaps that's why so many Gators have goten arrested lately...idle minds. Tennessee fans have some reason to be optimistic...maybe.  Eh, probably not.

No. 18 USC @ Minnesota (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.) - The Trojans are beginning to feel the pains from their lack of depth. That's fine by Minnesota, who will have a lot of good recruits in the stands to watch the Gophers attempt the upset.

No. 23 Houston @ UCLA (FSN-National, 10:30 p.m.) - Think UCLA is taking the Cougars lightly? Houston is ranked number 1 in the country averaging a mind-boggling 61 points per game, so, probably not.

Wake Forest @ No. 19 Stanford (ESPN2, 11:15 p.m.) - Wake Forest's secondary is having a hard time stopping anyone from scoring these days, something does not bode well for them or the ACC this weekend.

No. 3 Boise State @ Wyoming (CBS College Sports, 8 p.m.) - No time for a breather for the Wyoming Cowboys (1-1) as they return home from last weeks 34-7 loss to the Texas Longhorns. Both teams desperately want a win in Laramie—the Cowboys want to get back in the win column, and the Broncos to regain some lost publicity that they desperately need right now.

Notre Dame @ Michigan State (ABC/ESPN2, 8 p.m.) - The Irish are trying to get past the emotional hangover of the Michigan game while Spartan fans are excited about their rushing offense, currently 11th in the nation.

 

I'LL KEEP THAT IN MIND FOR THE NEXT TRIP

UMass @ No. 22 Michigan (BTN, 12 p.m.) - So who thought UM would be 2-0 after the first two games?  Who thought Denard Robinson would be the runaway early Heisman favorite, account for more yardage than most NCAA teams as a whole? Not the Minutemen...

Air Force, No. 9 Oklahoma (FSN-National, 3:30 p.m.) - If fullback Jared Tew is unable to play Saturday – and as of Tuesday, his availability had not yet been determined – Air Force feels good about Tew’s replacement, Nathan Walker. Meanwhile, Oklahoma just feels good in general.

Arizona State @ No. 11 Wisconsin (ABC/ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.) - Good news for Wisconsin, linebacker Chris Borland will return to the starting lineup for this weekend's game against Arizona State. Sun Devil fans might be frustrated, but they're optimistic.

Baylor @ No. 5 TCU (VERSUS, 4:30 p.m.)  - The Frogs have done what they need to do so far. Now they have to do it against a BCS team.

Mississippi State @ No. 12 LSU (ESPNU, 7 p.m.) - The Bulldogs are coming off another painful loss in Starkville. LSU isn't impressed with Mississippi State's defense and that probably won't change after this weekend.

 

I DON'T KNOW...SMELLS KINDA FUNNY...

Kansas @ Southern Mississippi (ESPN, Friday 8 p.m.) - It's tough to know what to make of the Jayhawk offense when looking at the numbers for the first two weeks.  The week one loss to North Dakota was so awful that it drags down a lot of the good from that week two win over Georgia Tech.

Ohio @ No. 2 Ohio State (BTN, 12 p.m.) - This Ohio Bobcat team should be much better than the 2008 team (4-8) that the Buckeyes struggled with at home.

Northern Illinois @ Illinois (BTN, 12 p.m.) - The Huskies gameplan? Blitz the ever-loving day away against Illinois QB Scheelhaase. The Illini showed a lot of improvement in week 2 compared to their season opener.

Iowa State vs. Kansas State @ Kansas City (FSN-National, 12 p.m.)  - Farmageddon. Is it a showdown between two up and coming Big 12 programs trying to separate themselves? Or is it a completely manufactured rivalry concocted by people trying to make a quick buck? Why can't it be both?

Vanderbilt @ Mississippi (SEC Network, 12:21 p.m.) - The Commodores are just 4-21 in their last 25 conference openers, and 2-4 since 2005. Ole Miss is Ole Miss.  Something's gotta give.

Hawaii @ Colorado (FCS-Central, 3:30 p.m.) - If Colorado wants to turn things around, they'll ttake advantage of Hawaii's poor run defense; everybody else has.

Louisville @ No. 25 Oregon State (FSN-NW, 5:30 p.m.) - While things haven't been great lately, Running back Bilal Powell  is the bright spot of their offense through two games. L'ville probably won't win this one, so they'll continue to look back on better days.

No. 4 Texas @ Texas Tech (ABC/ESPN2, 8 p.m.) - Unlike recent history, this game should be a defensive battle. Tech fans are slowly starting to buy in on Tuberville while Texas fans will make their own judgment this weekend.

 

NO THANKS, PLATE'S FULL

Kent State @ No. 20 Penn State (ESPN2, 12 p.m.) - The Flashes rank 112th in rushing offense, and without Jarvis the Penn State defense should have no problems in shutting them down. Still, they are one of the top teams in the MAC so far, which counts for something...right?

Ball State @ Purdue (BTN, 12 p.m.) - Ball State has struggled enough on offense to give Purdue fans confidence, even with that defense.

Washington State @ SMU (CBS College Sports, 3:30 p.m.) - What's crazier, that WSU needed a huge 4th-quarter comeback to beat Montana State or that they actually think they have a Heisman candidate?

Indiana @ Western Kentucky (BTN, 5 p.m.) - After a 16 day layoff, the Hoosiers return to action Saturday evening and become the first Big Ten team to visit WKU.

Portland State @ No. 6 Oregon (CSN-NW, 6:15 p.m.) - The Ducks are not looking past Portland State.  Darron Thomas has his own motivation for this weekend as he will face two of his former prep teammates who now play for the Vikings. 

Furman @ No. 16 South Carolina (GamePlan, 7 p.m.) - Did you know: The Gamecocks are one of just two major-conference teams to never have played in the Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta or Cotton bowls. They should get on that

.Maine @ Syracuse (Time Warner Cable, 7:15 p.m.) - Last year the Bears came into the Dome and almost won thanks to some trickeration. The Orange will be ready this time...they hope.

Akron @ Kentucky (FSN-Regional/GamePlan, 7 p.m.) - If Kentucky doesn't beat the Zips, who lost to Gardner-Webb last weekend, shut down the program.

San Diego State @ No. 25 Missouri (FSN-PPV, 7 p.m.) - San Diego State loves to throw the ball but is wary of Missouri's defense.

No. 14 Utah @ New Mexico (The Mtn., 8 p.m.) - There was a time when playing New Mexico in Albuquerque elicited the type of fear in Utah fans only reserved for terrifying clowns in their darkest nightmares. That time has quickly passed.

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