Although some wags see it differently, I have not yet declared this week’s national game of disinterest. Although I have gone around the SEC and highlighted the national games of interest, I am only just getting around to identifying the weekend’s least intriguing college football contest. This Saturday, that dubious honor is conferred upon . . .
After this week’s podcast, you might think my reference to the Sun Belt squad from Fort Lauderdale is just an excuse to use the abbreviation "FAU" as a vulgar expression of my attitude toward the Georgia Bulldogs’ oldest rival, but the Owls’ appearance here largely reflects the mismatch that is evident any time a team from the weakest of the Division I-A conferences travels to take on an elite program from a league whose champion automatically qualifies for a spot in the Bowl Championship Series.
Here’s what makes this weekend’s matchup in Austin so singularly awful, though: Florida Atlantic has a better record than Texas.
It’s true. The Owls are 4-5 overall and 3-3 in Sun Belt play. The Longhorns are 4-6 overall and 2-5 in Big 12 play. Saturday’s game pits an FAU squad that is playing about like you’d expect against a Burnt Orange outfit that is worse than any of us possibly could have imagined a Mack Brown-coached club being.
Frankly, I’m embarrassed for both teams about the whole deal. Since I can’t pretend the game isn’t taking place, my next-best option is to declare it the national game of disinterest and refuse to pick it on general principle.
Go ‘Dawgs!