Each week our national college football writer describes how he would handle the television remote Saturday, handicapping what's worth watching, and skipping:
MORNING
No. 4 Baylor (6-0) at West Virginia (4-2)
9 a.m., Fox Sports 1
The over-under is 80 points, but it probably should be a hundred higher after Baylor pulled out a 61-58 comeback win over Texas Christian last week. Baylor and West Virginia average a combined 89.4 points a game; Baylor leads the nation at 52.7. One more thing: This is Baylor's first trip to Morgantown since losing two years ago, 70-63, in the highest scoring game in Big 12 Conference history.
No. 14 Kansas State (5-1) at No. 11 Oklahoma (5-1)
9 a.m. ESPN
Don't bother recommending eating establishments for Bill Snyder in Norman, because Kansas State's coach rarely eats. He limits his intake to one meal a day, usually late at night. He likes Taco Bell and — good news — there are three in the vicinity of Oklahoma's campus. Snyder, who also likes winning, won in Norman two years ago.
9 a.m.: Iowa at Maryland, ESPN2; Texas San Antonio at Louisiana Tech, FS West; Syracuse at Wake Forest, Prime; South Florida at Tulsa, ESPNews; Tulane at Central Florida, ESPNU; Purdue at Minnesota, Big Ten Network (BTN); Furman at South Carolina, SEC Network.
9:30 a.m.: Virginia at Duke, KDOC.
AFTERNOON
No. 21 Texas A&M (5-2) at No. 7 Alabama (5-1)
12:30 p.m., Channel 2
Broadcasters Verne and Gary will explain in the pregame show why Texas A&M is still a national contender despite getting blown out in its last two games. The Southeastern Conference is also asking that Alabama Coach Nick Saban wash his mouth out with Grapico after he used some rough language to describe some in the Crimson Tide fan base who were not thrilled with a lousy 14-13 win over Arkansas.
Rutgers at No. 13 Ohio State (4-1)
12:30 p.m., ESPN2
There is nothing like a huge conference game between Big Ten teams meeting for the very first time. Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova deserves some kind of award for earning offensive player of the week in three conferences: Big East, American Athletic and Big Ten.
UCLA (4-2) at California (4-2)
12:30 p.m., Channel 7
Cal entered this season coming off an 0-11 campaign against FBS competition; UCLA was a national title contender. Six games later, the teams now share identical overall records, and Cal has a better winning percentage in Pac-12 play.
Colorado (2-4) at No. 22 USC (4-2)
3 p.m., Pac-12 Networks
Members of first-year Coach Steve Sarkisian's immediate family think he has done a tremendous job in leading a scholarship-depleted roster to first place in one of the nation's most difficult divisions.
12:30 p.m.: Michigan State at Indiana, ESPN; Kansas at Texas Tech, FS West; North Carolina State at Louisville, Prime; Cincinnati at Southern Methodist, CBS Sports Network (CBSSN); Clemson at Boston College, ESPNU.
1 p.m.: Oklahoma State at Texas Christian, FS1; Georgia at Arkansas, SEC.
4 p.m.: Tennessee at Mississippi, ESPN; Missouri at Florida, ESPN2; Georgia Tech at North Carolina, ESPNU; Utah State at Colorado State, CBSSN.
4:30 p.m.: Nebraska at Northwestern, BTN; Kentucky at Louisiana State, SEC.
EVENING
No. 5 Notre Dame (6-0) at No. 2 Florida State (6-0)
5 p.m., Channel 7
Bo Jackson and Jameis Winston have things in common. Both are two-sport athletes from Bessemer, Ala., who have won the Heisman Trophy. Bo said he recently tried to counsel Florida State's troubled quarterback, but Jameis gave him the old Heisman stiff-arm. That should tell you all you need to know about Bo, and Winston.
Washington (5-1) at No. 9 Oregon (5-1)
5 p.m., Fox Sports 1
One of these teams is in the top 10 in the rankings and considered the Pac-12's only hope for the College Football Playoff. The other plays in the town that started Starbucks. Oregon has won 10 straight in the series dating to Washington's last win in 2003. The Huskies have this going for them: Chris Petersen is now the coach and road teams are 14-4 this season in Pac-12 games.
No. 23 Stanford (4-2) at No. 17 Arizona State (4-1)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Arizona State has to hold tight to the memory of its Hail Mary win over USC, because the Sun Devils might need another miracle. Last year, Stanford physically dominated what turned out to be a home-and-home series. The Cardinal took a 42-28 decision in Palo Alto and a 38-14 win in the Pac-12 championship game at Sun Devil Stadium. Arizona State lost nine starters off its defense. Stanford is holding opponents to a nation-leading 10 points a game.
7:15 p.m.: Nevada at Brigham Young, ESPN2.
7:30 p.m.: Hawaii at San Diego State, CBSSN.
Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times