Five Intriguing Games This Weekend – From the Bird’s Nest

Well, here we go in week three, and, honestly, I didn't find a lot of games that piqued my interest.  From a Group of Five point of view, WKU at Indiana is interesting because if the Hilltoppers win they might be undefeated when they head to Baton Rouge.  And, Southern Miss at Texas State is really big for both of those schools as the Eagles try to get more respectable and the Bobcats wanting to score one for the Sun Belt.

That having been said, here are the game's I'll be keeping an eye on come Saturday.

AUBURN (+7) AT LSU--Saturday, 2:30, CBS---The team that was the favorite to win the SEC West is a touchdown underdog at a fellow SEC West member.  Either that division is uber-balanced or.....that near-defeat to Jacksonville State has caused Vegas to overreact.  Jeremy Johnson has just been terrible the first two games for Auburn.  I'm not saying LSU doesn't have a shot, but seven is an awfully big number.

GEORGIA TECH (-2.5) AT NOTRE DAME--Saturday, 2:30 NBC--Malik Zaire OUT, Tarean Folston OUT.  That hurts the Irish, who really looked like a team to be reckoned with in the preseason.  While Georgia Tech is good, it's the injuries, not the Yellow Jackets the Irish have to overcome.

CAL (-7) AT TEXAS--Saturday, 6:30  FOX--The game on paper doesn't look as interesting as the intangibles.  The firing of Texas AD Steve Peterson this week will energize the Longhorns' fan base.  Peterson wasn't the most liked guy in Austin, that's for sure.  But will it be enough to overcome what appears to be a talent pool well in favor of the Bears.  I have a feeling this will be closer than folks think.

OLE MISS AT ALABAMA (-7)---Saturday 8:15, ESPN---Ole Miss hasn't exactly had a ton of success in Tuscaloosa and that has to be in the back of their minds.  This is a matchup that says this game could come down to the final possession.  Not many people took notice when Ole Miss hung 76 on Tennessee-Martin, but a few heads got turned when they hung 73 on Fresno State out of the Mountain West.  Obviously those numbers won't happen Saturday...but evidently this Ole Miss team is capable.

BYU AT UCLA (-16.5)--Saturday 9:30 Fox Sports 1--You gotta love BYU.  Hail Mary to win against Nebraska...TD pass in the last minute to beat Boise State.  Those are two nice wins for the Cougars.  But they aren't getting much love from the oddsmakers heading to LA to take on the Bruins.  But don't tell the Cougars they can't win.  After the last two weeks, they feel they can do anything.