Bye Week Preview: The Second One Where West Virginia Doesn’t Play

After four games in six weeks, West Virginia is undefeated and ranked. Time will tell to see if that sticks (hopefully it will). Unfortunately we have to wait yet another week to see the Mountaineers’ first true road game of the season.

Luckily, we have a full slate of college football games around the country to watch while we wait.

No. 3 Clemson (5-0) at Boston College (3-2)

WHEN: Friday, October 7th at 7:30 PM ET

WHERE: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA

TV: ESPN

Time to see if Deshaun Watson can keep on Lamar Jackson’s heels for the Heisman Trophy. Boston College is improved, but won’t be able to stay toe-to-toe with the Tigers.

PREDICTION: Clemson 35, Boston College 14

UPDATE: Clemson beat Boston College 56-10. Guess it was a little more lopsided than I thought it would be.

Cincinnati (3-2) at Connecticut (2-3)

WHEN: Saturday, October 8th at 11:30 AM ET

WHERE: Rentschler Field, East Hartford, CT

TV: CBS Sports Network

Tommy Tuberville and the Bearcats are trying to get back on track to continue the lost cause of the Big 12 expansion sweepstakes. Cincinnati has been less than impressive thus far, but should be able to slide by in this old Big East matchup.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 27, Connecticut 24

TCU (3-2) at Kansas (1-3)

WHEN: Saturday, October 8th at Noon ET

WHERE: Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS

TV: ESPNU

All Jayhawks fans are counting down the days until November 11th at this point (their basketball team’s first game against Indiana). TCU should have no problem bouncing back from that Oklahoma loss.

PREDICTION: TCU 48, Kansas 17

Texas (2-2) vs. No. 20 Oklahoma (2-2)

WHEN: Saturday, October 8th at Noon ET

WHERE: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX

TV: FS1

It’s crazy to think that just five weeks ago, this was the scene in Austin.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

If Texas loses, you’d have to think that Charlie Strong’s seat will be hotter than George Hamilton’s tanning bed. Who knows? It’s a rivalry and crazier things have happened. For now though, it is hard to pick against the Sooners.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma 45, Texas 35

Georgia Tech (3-2) at Pitt (3-2)

WHEN: Saturday, October 8th at 12:30 PM ET

WHERE: Collection of Empty Yellow Seats, Pittsburgh, PA

TV: ACC Network (Affiliates)

Eat Shit Pitt. They’ve got some nice threads this week, though

PREDICTION: Georgia Tech 222, Pitt 0

No. 6 Houston (5-0) at Navy (3-1)

WHEN: Saturday, October 8th at 3:00 PM ET

WHERE: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD

TV: CBS Sports Network

Houston should really be in the Big 12 right now. I feel like the Big 12 is really screwing with them by continuing this “will they, won’t they” crap.

This could be a trap game for the Cougars. Houston goes into Annapolis to play Ken Niumatalolo’s Midshipmen. Niumatalolo always has Navy playing well and the Cougars dealt them their only conference loss last season. This should be the best game nobody’s watching.

PREDICTION: Houston 34, Navy 21

No. 9 Tennessee (5-0) at No. 8 Texas A&M (5-0)

WHEN: Saturday, October 8th at 3:30 PM ET

WHERE: Kyle Field, College Station, TX

TV: CBS

I think that Tennessee looks like one of those teams that kind of “accidentally wins”. I don’t think that happens this week in front of the Corps of Cadets and all of Aggie Nation. College Station should be buzzing even more than normal with ESPN College Gameday coming to town.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 35, Tennessee 28

No. 25 Virginia Tech (3-1) at No. 17 North Carolina (4-1)

WHEN: Saturday, October 8th at 3:30 PM ET

WHERE: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC

TV: ABC/ESPN2 (Coverage Map)

Time will tell to see if this game actually gets played due to Hurricane Matthew. Hopefully it does and we all get the chance to see Virginia Tech get killed by the Tar Heels.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 28, Virginia Tech 7

Iowa State (1-4) at Oklahoma State (3-2)

WHEN: Saturday, October 8th at 3:30 PM ET

WHERE: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK

TV: ESPNU

Eventually, Iowa State is going to finish one of these games on top. It just won’t be this game.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 38, Iowa State 24

No. 1 Alabama (5-0) at No. 16 Arkansas (4-1)

WHEN: Saturday, October 8th at 7:00 PM ET

WHERE: Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, AR

TV: ESPN

I don’t know about you guys, but I am so sick of Alabama. I hate how they cannibalize the media during the season and their dominance is the only reason the SEC is coveted so much more than the rest of the Power 5. Who’s with me?

BOLD PREDICTION: Arkansas 42, Alabama 39

Texas Tech (3-1) at Kansas State (2-2)

WHEN: Saturday, October 8th at 7:00 PM ET

WHERE: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS

TV: ESPNU

Should be a very interesting game. Tech will be playing without QB Patrick Mahomes, but K-State’s defense has been somewhat inconsistent. I don’t think it will be a very good measuring stick for WVU fans to look into for next week though.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 38, Texas Tech 27

Marshall (1-3) at North Texas (2-3)

WHEN: Saturday, October 8th at 7:00 PM ET

WHERE: Apogee Stadium, Denton, TX

TV: American Sports Network/MASN (STREAM HERE) ($)

Marshall. 1-3. LOL!

They’ll probably still win though.

PREDICTION: Marshall 38, North Texas 28

No. 5 Washington (5-0) at Oregon (2-3)

WHEN: Saturday, October 8th at 7:30 PM ET

WHERE: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR

TV: FOX

I think this is where we find out how good that these Huskies are. If they can easily win in a loud, hostile environment during a rivalry game, I will finally be convinced that they are for real. This season is also where we figure out how good (or bad) of a coach Mark Helfrich really is. One thing is for sure, Oregon’s unis are AWESOME!!

PREDICTION: Washington 45, Oregon 38

No. 23 Florida State (3-2) at No. 10 Miami (4-0)

WHEN: Saturday, October 8th at 8:00 PM ET

WHERE: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL

TV: ABC

I’m not sold on Miami yet this year. Their wins over Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, Appalachian State and Georgia Tech just doesn’t scream Top 10 to me. The Florida State losses have been pretty good losses and the Seminoles are much more tested. Also, Dalvin Cook is beginning to look much better, and he was already great. I’m glad that Hurricane Matthew steared clear of the Miami area so that we all can watch this game (among other reasons).

PREDICTION: Florida State 35, Miami 31