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Talk about a sexy weekend of college football.
From noon until night, there will be crucial conference games from coast to coast. The B1G, SEC and PAC-12 have marquee match-ups lined up against one another, so clear your schedule for Saturday afternoon.
Is it Saturday yet?
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 9, 2013
#18 MICHIGAN @ PENN STATE
5:00 P.M. EST. TV - ESPN
Michigan rolls into week seven with a 5-0 record and a convincing victory over Minnesota last week. Granted, it was the Minnesota, but really it was good to see Michigan look more like Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiichigan.
No turnovers. No close calls late in the fourth quarter. Heck, Taylor Lewan even shifted to the right side of the O-Line to make way for Fitzgerald Touissant and Derrick Green.
With all due respect to Connecticut, this will, by far, be the toughest road test Michigan will face so far. Penn State may have lost to Indiana last week, but they still have one of the most favorable home-field advantages in college football.
Michigan hasn't won 2 straight road games since beating Notre Dame in South Bend and Indiana in Bloomington in 2010.
— Drew Hallett (@DrewCHallett) October 9, 2013
Coach Bill O'Brien has been a savior to the Penn State faithful. The Nittany Lions have dealt with a unique situation about as well as one could have hoped for. O'Brien has Penn State still flirting with top 25 relevancy, all while unparralelled issues exist off the field.
Hoke on #NittanyLions QB Hackenberg - He's grown each week & the way he handles himself is impressive #B1GCoaches
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 8, 2013
Michigan knows it has a big test to handle, going into Penn State for a 5:00 P.M. kickoff under the lights. Expect to see a white-out and a scene that the youngsters on Michigan have yet to see. It'll be important for the Wolverines to stay composed and not try to let their emotions get the best of them. Can't get scared on the road.
Speaking of getting scared, you may have missed television star Hayden Panettiere visiting Kelly Ripa this week. She decided to hide out before her appearance and it's either a really cool scene or a frightening one to those who don't share Panettiere's love of all animals.
My paparazzi hide out hahaha pic.twitter.com/tCagV15l39
— hayden panettiere (@haydenpanettier) October 9, 2013
Thanks for bein a good sport @michaelstrahan ; )) pic.twitter.com/DWlENW1T49
— hayden panettiere (@haydenpanettier) October 9, 2013
BACK TO MICHIGAN.
When we mention Michigan staying composed, that all begins with QB-1, Devin Gardner. #98 had a solid week six performance, committing zero turnovers for the first time as Michigan's starting QB. Gardner will have to manage the game and try not to do too much and force the issue. Can't have too many errors in judgment.
Speaking of errors, you may have missed one at CNN recently. Granted, not that many people tune into CNN these days, but this is the kind of mistake that is inexcusable.
Missed it by that much. pic.twitter.com/aruAl4Jdrw
— Barry Petchesky (@barryap1) October 7, 2013
Devin Funchess is be a big factor for the success of the Michigan offense. He creates a unique deep threat that wasn't a surprise to everyone in week five.
@MaizenBrew well, it wasn't a surprise to everybody... https://t.co/BgqZrkkrCr
— Speed Kills (@mspeedkills) October 6, 2013
Hoke on radio: Funchess is still not big enough, strong enough to beat someone on the line... He is talented enough against CB
— Mark Snyder (@Mark__Snyder) October 9, 2013
Hoke on radio about Funchess playing only on the line at TE: It doesn't make sense to put a square peg in a round hole
— Mark Snyder (@Mark__Snyder) October 9, 2013
Michigan's success could lie on it's ability to establish the run game. Fitzgerald and Green will need to pound the ball on Penn State to manage the clock and look to come out with a W on the road.
If you need a snack for Saturday, find a $5 bill in a pair of your jeans and give Papa John's a call.
Genius: Papa John's now selling chocolate chip cookie that comes in slices pic.twitter.com/CH0atcvK8s
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) October 9, 2013
WEEK 7 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEE-IT-TO-BELIEVE-IT
ESPN's College Gameday is headed to the West Coast.
Washington hosts #2 Oregon and Gameday will be there for the early call on campus.
BOW DOWN! We are heading to Seattle! #GetUp4GameDay pic.twitter.com/gB69rPiBEp
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 6, 2013
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013
#25 MISSOURI @ #7 GEORGIA 12:00 P.M. EST. TV - ESPN
There are no off weeks for Georgia in 2013.
The (unquestionably) toughest schedule of the season belongs to the Bulldogs. Clemson, South Carolina, LSU and on the road at Tennessee. All of that and Georgia still has yet to hit the midway point for the season.
Welcome to the SEC.
Georgia's team has been ravaged with injuries and will look to QB Aaron Murray to keep their national championship hopes alive. Georgia is now in a position where it has to take things one week at a time and hope guys are willing to step in for their teammates that have fallen to injuries.
Missouri features a top ten scoring offense and will look to steal one in Athens. The last thing Bulldog fans want is another high-octane game that draws down to the wire. After last week's scare at Tennessee, the Georgia fans are still looking to catch their breathe.
Barbershop on U of Missouri campus offers promotion of the year pic.twitter.com/ezUAxoGkui (H/T @scanthony14)
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) October 9, 2013
#12 OKLAHOMA @ TEXAS 12:00 P.M. EST. TV - ABC
After all the talk about who will be the next coach in Austin, it may surprise some that Mack Brown is still roaming the sidelines at Texas. Brown is headed into a rivalry game that is a must-win game for his (likely) last season.
Oklahoma had a convincing victory at Notre Dame a couple of weeks ago and the Sooners will look to the lay the smack down on the Longhorns.
Oklahoma is allowing 13 ppg, 6th fewest in the FBS and on pace with the Sooners’ 2001 team for the fewest during the Bob Stoops tenure.
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 9, 2013
Gold Nike Texas/OU uniforms for Red River Rivalry (H/T @ALentzOU) http://t.co/Z7X5tpdYTi
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) October 7, 2013
Calling the Red River Rivalry Game this weekend. Special game with unique atmosphere. Very similar to FLA-UGA. Bowl game feel at midseason.
— Todd Blackledge (@Todd_Blackledge) October 8, 2013
Red River Rivalry! #OUvsTEX http://t.co/JwfaL5bQVZ
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 8, 2013
INDIANA @ MICHIGAN STATE 12:00 P.M. EST. TV - ESPN2
Unranked opponents? Early kick-off? Sounds like a snoozer to some but this game should be intriguing to any B1G fan.
The Spartans had a come-from-behind victory at Iowa last week and in this conference, that counts for something. The Hoosiers "upset" Penn State in Bloomington and come into this game with the opportunity to prove it's worth in the conference. If Indiana can pull off a victory in East Lansing, they will come onto the national radar.
Dantonio: MSU's 1987 Rose Bowl team that beat Indiana "will be around" this week. Hopes to have some players speak to team at practice.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) October 8, 2013
Michigan State has given opponents 16 first downs off of penalties. Penn State has given just one. #SpartyGonnaSpart
— Tony Gerdeman (@GerdOzone) October 7, 2013
— Tony Gerdeman (@GerdOzone) October 7, 2013
#17 FLORIDA @ #10 LSU 3:30 P.M. EST. TV - CBS
Sit back, relax and get ready for some crazy moments.
Every time Florida and LSU face-off against one another, the unexpected always seems to happen. Fake field goals are the norm for this kind of match-up.
Florida has had a change at QB over the last few weeks and so far, it's been a success. LSU's QB has been spectacular thus far this season and Zach Mettenberger is thriving under the new Offensive Coordinator, Cam Cameron.
The Gators feature one of the best defenses in the country, if not the best. The LSU Tigers have a strong defense year in and year out.
Will Muschamp. Les Miles. Let the games begin.
@LSULizH how proud are you of me?? Representin'! #LSU #football #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/irkYJxX27S
— Holly Perry (@neworleansnotes) October 10, 2013
LSU-Florida might be hardest game to pick. Gators don't give up points, LSU secondary in transition, but Mettenberger + Tiger Stadium tough
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerCBS) October 9, 2013
Since Tyler Murphy took of the Gators offense, Florida is averaging 8.3 more points per game and have two fewer turnovers. #UFvsLSU
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 9, 2013
#19 NORTHWESTERN @ WISCONSIN 3:30 P.M. EST. TV - ABC/ESPN2
Northwestern lost their homecoming game to Ohio State last week and the Wildcats may still be feeling the pain. The Wildcats had a legitimate chance to break the Buckeyes undefeated streak but came up short on the national stage.
Pat Fitzgerald's boys will have to put the past behind them and move on because playing at Wisconsin is a really tough atmosphere.
This game features some exciting running backs that should be able to put up some big numbers on the ground.
If the Wisconsin crowd "jumps around" too much for the Wildcats, they will need to think happy thoughts.
This picture will make me happy for weeks!! Hope you enjoy! Xx pic.twitter.com/aDQDNkNvsj
— Elisha Cuthbert (@HappyElishas) October 9, 2013
#2 OREGON @ #16 WASHINGTON 4:00 P.M. EST. TV - FOX SPORTS 1
Gameday will be on the Washington campus for this big PAC-12 game. The Huskies lost a tough game on the road at Stanford last week and their reward is facing the #2 team in the country.
All the Oregon Ducks have done this season without their former coach Chip Kelly is keep on racking up the W's. The jerseys are still blindingly awesome and the scoreboard doesn't lie when the Ducks hit the field.
This game could very well end Oregon's chances at a national championship. On the other hand, if Washington can upset Oregon at home, it could push itself into the top ten and back into the BCS bowl picture.
RT @A_Jude: Huskies will wear these helmets vs. Oregon per @masonkelley12 pic.twitter.com/b5RcYY5JN8
— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) October 9, 2013
Oregon has won 9 straight games over Washington. #UOvsWASH
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 8, 2013
#9 TEXAS A&M @ OLE MISS 8:30 P.M. EST. TV - ESPN
Johnny Manziel hits the road with the Aggies for another road test in the SEC. Texas A&M hasn't gathered much attention since it's loss to Alabama a few weeks back.
Texas A&M will have to be careful because Mississippi is coming off two defeats on the road in the state of Alabama. The Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers beat Ole Miss and brought them back to reality. Seems like yesterday that Eli Manning's crew was a relevant top 25 team.
Manziel will look to take care of business and keep plugging away until it can get back into the top of the rankings.
"In life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard."- President Theodore Roosevelt
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 7, 2013
Our players will continue to be bathed in this. #nothingelsematters pic.twitter.com/3KOUSPBfmu
— Bacari Alexander (@bacari34) October 9, 2013