Overwhelmed by work and laziness this week, today I present to you the teaser version of your weekend viewing guide.  Rest assured, it will be updated for this weekend, which incidentally offers a very nice slate of games.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

(14)Georgia Tech v. (20)Miami
7:30pm, ESPN
Chris Fowler, Craig James, Jesse Palmer, Erin Andrews

Thursday night college football used to be the exclusive province of also-ran leagues like the WAC and MWC.  You could still make that argument now as it is relatively dominated by the ACC.  The league will have six Thursday night games this season if you count N.C. State’s season opener.

Tonight’s game features two of the league’s “best” teams and the winner will have a leg up in the Coastal Division race.  Each team has played a tough game, although GT was probably not expecting such a stern test from Clemson, so you would expect each squad to have worked some kinks out.  The weird thing for Miami is that they have not played a game in 10 days and could oddly be rusty only two weeks into the season.  In fact, after tonight these teams will have only played 1 out of 5 of their collective games on Saturday.

The oddsmakers like the Hurricanes tonight at home and if they can get off to a fast start tonight you have to like their chances as Tech QB, Josh Nesbitt, is having a horrific passing season - 9 for 25 for 224 yards and 2 interceptions.  It is hard to imagine that the Yellow Jackets could come from behind.  Roddy Jones has to get more than 5 touches tonigyt if GT is going to win.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

(10)Boise State v. Fresno State
9:00pm,  ESPN
Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore

If you read my recent BlogPoll you know I am not a huge fan of the mid-majors, which is why I will watch this game and recommend you do the same.  Boise State is getting a lot of love right now after their win against a fairly pedestrian Oregon team (yes, I know I ranked the Ducks in the Top 10 to start the season) but Fresno may provide a more stern test.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

[Insert weekly rant about noon games here].

(11)Ohio State v. Toledo
12:00pm, Gameplan or a local affiliate in 17 areas
Michael Reghi, Doug Chapman

All things being equal, this is a nice way to start the day especially after the marathon that was last Saturday.  You can get early, cut the grass, head to the gym, or do whatever you need to do to appease your wife before plopping down to watch 12 straight hours of football.  This could be an exciting game depending on Ohio State’s level of interest and execution.  Honestly, I have never heard of these announcers so you may want to mute that 60-incher and listen to Jim Lachey stumble all over the place.  Seriously, I once heard Lachey say that Alonzo Spellman had great vertical height.  Really?

(8)California v. Minnesota
12:00pm, ESPN
Dave Pasch, Bob Griese, Chris Spielman

Is there anyone out that can explain to me how this came to be a noon start?  Doesn’t California have a say in the start time?  Doesn’t Minnesota have any decency?  You would think that Minny would what to give their fans a chance to get their roll on before the nation’s best running back starts tearing off huge chunks of yards. Alas, this is ostensibly a breakfast meeting for the Bears.  Luckily for Gophers fans liquor sales start at 8:00am on Saturdays.  The only real benefactor of this asinine scheduling is you the television viewing public because it offers a nice flip game and the opportunity to see Best and Cal play at least once this season.

The 3:30pm time slot is perhaps the most stacked of the season.  There are literally 6 games worth watching depending on your biases and allegiances.  There is a nice mix of conference and non-conference games as well as intriguing storylines to follow.

For the first time this season the coverage maps come into play, which means that Gameplan would likely be handy unless you have DIRECTV (like moi) which provides “ESPN Alternative” stations with the other regional games.  I am not sure why they do it, but it renders Gameplan virtually obsolete.  Anyway, if you are in central Ohio you are basically getting hosed.  If you were hoping to watch Nebraska/VT, move to Dayton because you are getting the Iowa game here.  It is a rare moment when the coverage map looks like anything other than four quarters each painted a different color.  But this weekend, there is some crazy action going in Ohio, Missouri, and Florida.

Tennessee v. (1)Florida
3:30pm, CBS
Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson, Tracy Wolfson

I totally expect Florida to cover the 30-point line or whatever it is now.  And, it is not just because Meyer wants to gut Kiffin like a carp.  It is because the Gators are almost always the better team.  In fact, they have won more than two-thirds of the games against the Vols since the mid-50s.  The only thing Tennessee has that is better than Florida is their endzone paint.  So, why is this your #1 option on Saturday when there are half a dozen good ones?  For all the reasons just stated, plus it is the first CBS game of the season and there is something really cool about the lone SEC game on during the day.  It just elevates it out of the fray.

(19)Nebraska v. (13)Virginia Tech
3:30pm, ABC
Sean McDonough, Matt Millen, Holly Rowe

I am going to level with you guys; before doing some insignificant and ultimately unhelpful research on this game, I coudl not name one offensive player for the Huskers.  Not one.  I had also completely forgotten that they played last season.  Because of my complete lack of recognition and recollection, I am making this the top flipper at this slot.  That, and the fact that it is the only Top 25 matchup of the day.

Michigan State v. Notre Dame
3:30pm, NBC
Tom Hammond, Pat Haden, Alex Flanagan

Remember when Notre Dame tried to be different by playing their games at 2:30pm EST?  Now, they try to be different by having the worst announcing team on television coupled some of the poorest production value around.  Tom Hammond would be considered the poor man’s Verne Lundquist is he were midly entertaining and seemed like he cared even a little about the game.    Is this the same network that has Sunday Night Football?  You would not know except for the watermark.  Anyway, this is an acceptable flip game in place of MSU/ND in the event you have some sick affinity for the Irish or, god forbid, the Spartans.

(3)USC v. Washington
3:30pm, ABC
Terry Gannon, David Norrie, Quint Kessenich

For those of you hoping to see USC have another colossal letdown the week after the Ohio State, this is the game for you.  It is also a chance to watch the USC team you didn’t see because Aaron Corp is going to be the quarterback after the Buckeyes beat the crap out of Barkley.  Are two former USC coordinators and a dual-threat QB enough to derail the Trojans?  The Beavers did it with far less last season.

Remote drive-bys include Arizona v. Iowa and (18)Utah v. Oregon, and you could actually sub these two in for the latter two above.  Extended viewing, however, of these games is generally discouraged.  Dedicated readers know we only advocate having a main game and flip game.  When you try to watch more than two games you end up watching none.

Florida State v. (7)BYU
7:00pm, Versus
Joe Beninati, Glenn Parker, Lindy Thackson

In the BlogPoll Roundtable, I picked this as one of the games I am most interested in this weekend and I meant it.  If the Florida State offense that showed up against Miami makes an appearance in Provo it could be a long night for the Cougars defense.  Now, the flip side is that BYU’s may have some success against the Seminoles.  The game could not line up any better for BYU because it comes at home, after a tune-up against Tulane, and against a nationally recognized program.  It is the ultimate “prove it” moment.  It could be a lot of pressure for BYU.

(23)Georgia v. Arkansas
7:30pm, ESPN
Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Erin Andrews

I have not paid any attention to Ryan Mallett and the Hogs but somehow they are a 1-point fave in the tilt.  This could presage a big power shift to the SEC West if Petrino’s gang pulls this off.  I will probably keep it locked on the FSU game unless it is out of control and then flip over for the final quarter of this one if I can.

Texas Tech v. (2)Texas
8:00pm, ABC
Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit, Lisa Salters

I don’t see anyway that this game remains close for more than one quarter.  It is okay if you want to flip to this one instead of the Hogs and Dawgs but I would not expect too much.  Hey, look at it this way: at least you can go to sleep an hour earlier this week.