On twelve Thursdays this fall, we are blessed to have college football games.  From a UGA perspective, Thursday night college football is something I never want to see.  But for someone else, it is great fun.  Usually, there are nice games on Thursday nights to help get the football weekend kicked off right.

This season, there are some intriguing match-ups, but overall the slate of games are pretty sub par.  Here are the games ranked (note, I only included ESPN family of network games; as much of a junkie as I am, I don’t care to watch games on the Pac-12 Network):

14. October 13, Navy at ECU

I mean, I’ll watch, but who cares?

13. October 6, Temple at Memphis

Temple was money for me ATS last year, and the degenerate in me will be the only reason I’ll care.  Which is reason enough.

12. September 29, UConn at Houston

Houston plays three times on Thursday nights this season!  Of the three times, this is the least intriguing.

11. October 27, Cal at USC

Cal isn’t very good.  USC won’t be that good either in Year 1ish of Clay Helton.  Not ranked lower because it is at least a Power 5 matchup.

10. September 15, Houston at Cincinnati

IF Houston can somehow pull off an upset against Oklahoma, they could this year’s Boise State. We’ll see. Ranked higher than UConn because of Tuberville.  Tuberville usually has them as a 9 win team, and one of the better in the American Conference.  Last year was disappointing, so we’ll see if our old rival coach can rebound.

9. November 3, Oklahoma at Iowa State

Only because Oklahoma could be a playoff team, and while Iowa State tries hard not to be, this is still a Power 5 matchup.  Barely.

8. October 27, Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh

How will Justin Fuente do in Year 1 after replacing Frank Beamer?  Pitt was secretly decent  least year.

7. November 10, UNC at Duke

Hasn’t been competitive the last couple of years, but UNC should score a lot of points and be fun to watch.  Plus, it’s always nice to watch teams Georgia plays to compare and contrast.

6. October 27, App State at Georgia Southern

If you know Georgia Southern fans, you know that this is akin to their Florida game for us. 

5. September 22, Clemson at Georgia Tech

Nothing says college football like a game under lights on the Flats.  Tech will be better and it’s always fun to watch Deshaun Watson and Tech lose.

4. November 7, Louisville at Houston

I expect Louisville to contend for their division in the ACC, and Houston should be coming in with only one loss. 

3. September 1, South Carolina at Vanderbilt

With apologies to Cal and Hawaii, this is the first game of the college football season and I always look forward to getting an early look at the Gamecocks.  This could be a 3-2 Mississippi State/Auburn kind of game, and watching Boom on the sideline blackout in anger is must-see-TV.

2. October 20, Miami at Virginia Tech

Will Coach Richt have the U back to prominence?  Important division game, as both programs are hitting the reset button and should be excited about the future.  This is the third game in a tough 4 game stretch for Miami, coming off FSU, UNC and having Notre Dame the next week.  The Richt factor alone makes this must-watch.

1. Thanksgiving, LSU at Texas A&M

Saved the best for last.  Two teams that should be pretty good this season, and  if Alabama takes a step back, this very well could decide who plays in Atlanta..  Or, it could be the last game for one, or both, head coaches with all the  Les Miles and Kevin Sumlin hot seat drama.  After a long day of eating, driving, and dealing with family, this will be a nice way to cap off Thanksgiving.

Corbindawg
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