Bye Week Preview: One of the Ones Where West Virginia Doesn’t Play

Unfortunately, everyone in Mountaineer nation will have to wait another week to see the first real test of the season. We waited so long for football and after two relatively easy tests and now we have to wait a little longer for WVU’s first real test of the season.

Luckily, we’ve got one of the best weekends of college football to digest while we wait. Here are some games to keep an eye on as WVU fans.

No. 6 Houston (2-0) at Cincinnati (2-0)

WHEN: Thursday, September 15th at 7:30 PM ET

WHERE: Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

TV: ESPN

This is possibly a battle between two future Big 12 teams (if the conference can make up its mind). Greg Ward will be back from a shoulder injury and probably dismantle the Bearcats defense in the Cougars first real test since their biggest test. Cincinnati is relatively untested, beating something called UT-Martin and a Big Ten bottom feeder in Purdue.

PREDICTION: Houston 38, Cincinnati 21

No. 21 Baylor (2-0) at Rice (0-2)

WHEN: Friday, September 16th at 8:00 PM ET

WHERE: Rice Stadium, Houston, TX

TV: ESPN

Baylor should be able to handle that other Houston team pretty well. This will probably be the best game on TV that night so if I were you, I’d much rather go to a high school football game or watch whatever crap is on the tube Friday nights.

PREDICTION: Baylor 52, Rice 14

No. 2 Florida State (2-0) at No. 10 Louisville (2-0)

WHEN: Saturday, September 17th at Noon ET

WHERE: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, KY

TV: ABC

College Gameday decided that this was the biggest game of the week, and honestly, so do I. It’s time to see if Lamar Jackson is worth the hype he’s been getting. I think he is and I think the Cardinals will win by a possession.

PREDICTION: Louisville 41, Florida State 35

Kansas (1-1) at Memphis (1-0)

WHEN: Saturday, September 17th at Noon ET

WHERE: Liberty Bowl Stadium, Memphis, TN

TV: ESPNU

The Big 12 didn’t like what Memphis had to offer. I don’t know why. SEC territory, music, basketball, BBQ, FedEx, Justin Timberlake, what’s not to like!?! Anyway, the Tigers take their anger out on the Jayhawks.

PREDICTION: Memphis 42, Kansas 10

Iowa State (0-2) at TCU (1-1)

WHEN: Saturday, September 17th at Noon ET

WHERE: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX

TV: FS1

I cannot think of a worse opening conference game. I’m sure Matt Campbell will eventually do some good things up in Ames, but this year will be very bad for the Cyclones. In the game that nobody outside of Iowa or North Texas watches, TCU will take care of business.

PREDICTION: TCU 49, Iowa State 17

Florida Atlantic (1-1) at Kansas State (0-1)

WHEN: Saturday, September 17th at 2:30 PM ET

WHERE: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS

TV: Fox Sports Networks

The Wildcats put up a decent fight against Christian McCaffery and the Stanford Cardinal. Florida Atlantic could be a trap game for Bill Snyder and Kansas State, and I think the Owls will make it closer than comfortable for the fans in Manhattan.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 31, Florida Atlantic 27

No. 1 Alabama (2-0) at No. 19 Ole Miss (1-1)

WHEN: Saturday, September 17th at 3:30 PM ET

WHERE: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS

TV: CBS

BOLD PREDICTION!! The Rebels send the Tide running with their tales between their legs. Alabama fans everywhere will start to wonder why the Tide can’t seem to win in Mississippi.

Oh yeah, and that guy that REALLY wants Nick Saban fired creates a twitter frenzy with other Alabama fans.

PREDICTION: Ole Miss 34, Alabama 24

Pitt (2-0) at Oklahoma State (1-1)

WHEN: Saturday, September 17th at 3:30 PM ET

WHERE: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK

TV: ESPN

I want James Conner to switch jerseys and run for 10 billion yards.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 13, Pitt 9 (TASTE OF THE NIGHTMARE, SON!!)

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Army (2-0) at UTEP (1-1)

WHEN: Saturday, September 17th at 7:00 PM ET

WHERE: Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX

TV: American Sports Network (STREAM HERE)

Okay, time to get serious for a sec. I put this game on the list because the Black Knights will be playing with heavy hearts for the remainder of the season. USMA Cadet and defensive back Brandon T. Jackson was killed during a single car accident on Sunday. This young man did not go to West Point to get ahead in his football career, but to earn the education needed to defend his country.

WPIX

From a football standpoint, the Black Knights look to be much better than they have been in years past and I wish them all the best this season.

PREDICTION: Army 31, UTEP 17

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No. 12 Michigan State (1-0) at No. 18 Notre Dame (1-1)

WHEN: Saturday, September 17th at 7:30 PM ET

WHERE: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN

TV: NBC

Sparty had some trouble putting away Furman a couple of weeks ago. Notre Dame played in an unbelievable shootout in Austin before dispatching Nevada. I think the Irish will earn some respect back in this game and Texas will look even better to AP voters. Should be a phenomenal game, too bad it’s airing alongside Buckeyes-Sooners.

PREDICTION: Notre Dame 34, Michigan State 28

No. 3 Ohio State (2-0) at No. 14 Oklahoma (1-1)

WHEN: Saturday, September 17th at 7:30 PM ET

WHERE: Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK

TV: FOX

This is a great game for Sooner fans to get up for. Two blue bloods that rarely ever play each other, and on a network television audience. This game really reminds me of the WVU-LSU game five years ago. The Mountaineers looked like they could compete for a while, then the Tigers took the air out of Mountaineer Field by scoring 20 unanswered points to finish the game. This game will be a lot like that.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 45, Oklahoma 27

UCLA (1-1) at BYU (1-1)

WHEN: Saturday, September 17th at 10:15 PM ET

WHERE: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT

TV: ESPN2

During the preseason, I didn’t think much of BYU. I figured that old players adjusting to a new system would make the Cougars an easy opponent for WVU. BOY HAVE I BEEN WRONG!!

The Cougars managed to beat Rich Rodriguez and the Arizona Wildcats in what was basicaly a road game and was a 2-point conversion from beating their arch rival Utah on the road.

They’re a really good team and the WVU match up should be great. I think UCLA’s Josh Rosen does some damage early. However, if BYU is this good on the road, can you imagine how great they are in Provo?

PREDICTION: BYU 35, UCLA 21

No. 11 Texas (2-0) at California (1-1)

WHEN: Saturday, September 17th at 10:30 PM ET

WHERE: Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA

TV: ESPN

This road trip will be a good tune-up for the Big 12’s last real shot at the College Football Playoff. Cal beat Hawaii in that one weird game in Australia, then couldn’t win at San Diego State so I don’t really see them as much of a threat to the Longhorns. Who knows, though? If you guys can stay up to watch the end of this one, I tip my hat to you.

PREDICTION: Texas 41, California 31

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!!