10. SMU (2-1) at TCU (2-0), Noon, ESPN2
9. Michigan State (3-0) at No. 25 USC (3-0), 11 p.m., Fox
The folks in East Lansing will need to rest up for this 11 p.m. local kickoff. The Spartans look improved in Year 2 under coach Jonathan Smith, but haven’t faced a team of USC’s caliber yet. Similar could be said of the Trojans, who cruised to 3-0 with a comfortable road win over Purdue last weekend. USC’s offense has led the way, averaging 55 points a game behind quarterback Jayden Maiava, who leads FBS in QB rating (215.53) and yards per attempt (14.1).
Line: USC -18.5
8. Tulane (3-0) at No. 13 Ole Miss (3-0), 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Tulane can stake its claim as the top Group of 6 team with an upset over the Rebels.
7. South Carolina (2-1) at No. 23 Missouri (3-0), 7 p.m., ESPN
The Gamecocks crumbled against Vanderbilt last Saturday, losing 31-7 and committing four turnovers. Worse still, star quarterback LaNorris Sellers left the game due to injury, though he is listed as probable on this week’s injury report.
6. Arizona State (2-1) at Baylor (2-1), 7:30 p.m., Fox
5. No. 21 Michigan (2-1) at Nebraska (3-0), 3:30 p.m., CBS
The Bubble Wrap is officially off Michigan true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. It worked against Central Michigan, when Underwood threw for 235 yards (1 TD, 1 INT) and ran for another 114 yards and two touchdowns in a 63-3 rout for the Wolverines. Now we’ll see how it looks against a Nebraska side that held off Cincinnati in Week 1 before outscoring Akron and Houston Christian by a combined total of 127-7. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola against Underwood is the headliner in a matchup that should bring the Big Ten hierarchy into clearer focus.
Line: Michigan -2.5
4. Florida (1-2) at No. 4 Miami (3-0), 7:30 p.m., ABC
3. No. 9 Illinois (3-0) at No. 19 Indiana (3-0), 7:30 p.m., NBC
That’s right: The Big Ten game of the week, and one of the best tilts of the weekend, features Illinois and Indiana.
2. No. 17 Texas Tech (3-0) at No. 16 Utah (3-0), Noon, Fox
1. No. 22 Auburn (3-0) at No. 11 Oklahoma (3-0), 3:30 p.m., ABC
There’s a lot to unpack with this game. It’s the Jackson Arnold Bowl, with Auburn’s former five-star recruit returning to face his former team. On the other side is [Oklahoma’s new quarterback, John Mateer,]
Honorable mention: Iowa at Rutgers (Fri.), Arkansas at Memphis, Maryland at Wisconsin, Syracuse at Clemson, North Texas at Army, West Virginia at Kansas, BYU at ECU, Washington at Washington State
