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Ladies and Gentlemen, WE. ARE. BACK.
It’s time to get your college football on, which means it’s time to get your TV schedule on! And we have a pretty solid one in store for you.
For those of you new to Dawg Sports or this feature, each week I give you all the nationally-televised college football in an easy to read spreadsheet so glorious, that it could only be made by a man who first learned Excel in 1997. We switched over to Google Sheets a few years ago, but I try to keep it old school. Additionally, I will be telling you what are, in my estimation, the best viewing options for each time slot.
Now a few caveats:
1) I am regionally-biased. That means games of higher interest to people in the Southeast in general, and Georgia in particular, are significantly more likely to be featured. Deal with it.
2) This schedule does not acknowledge the existence of the Big Ten or Pac-12 networks. If you want to know when Akron plays Illinois, Google it and make your own damn schedule (My apologies, I grow grumpier as I grow older).
3) Until the Playoff Committee releases it’s initial rankings, we will use the AP rankings. I don’t like it any more than you do, but it does make things more fun.
And that about does it. Enjoy Week 1, everybody!
Your Week 1 College Football TV Schedule >>>>> CLICK HERE!!!!!
* Now Featuring Hurricane-Based Updates! *
Now let’s get to the picks of your best viewing options in each time slot...
Thursday
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ #1 Clemson Tigers, 8:00 p.m., ACCNetwork
This may not be the best game on the slate, but it is certainly going to be the most entertaining... from a certain point of view, of course. As of this writing, the Tigers are a 5 touchdown favorite and it may not even be that close. If that doesn’t make you just smile ear to ear and try to hold the laughter back, you and I have very different tastes in comedy.
Friday
Colorado Buffaloes vs. Colorado State Rams (Denver), 10:10 p.m., ESPN
You could easily make an argument for Wisconsin/USF or Tulsa/Michigan St. here. You can still watch those and then flip over to this. But the question is what is the best game of the lineup and that has to be a legit, no-love-lost, in-state rivalry game before the first real weekend has even begun. #boboball
Noon
Ole Miss Rebels @ Memphis Tigers, 12:00 p.m., ABC
Out of the whole noon slate, this one has the greatest potential to actually be a knock-down, drag-out affair. Which kind of tells you everything you need to know about the state of the program after the resignation of Captain Escort.
Afternoon
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (Charlotte), 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Almost as good as Friday’s in-state rivalry game is this inter-state matchup featuring the Carolinas. Tune in for your first opportunity (of many) to see that vein in Will Muschamp’s forehead bulge. You can also switch over to the Alabama/Duke bloodbath, if that’s your jam.
Evening
#3 Georgia Bulldogs @ Vanderbilt Commodores, 7:00 p.m., SECNetwork
You’d be forgiven for occasionally peeking at the action between the Ducks and the Tigers in this slot, but I have a feeling this one is going to be quite enjoyable for the Georgia faithful.
Late Night
Fresno State Bulldogs @ USC Trojans, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
It’s only kind of PAC-12 After Dark, but for the first weekend, it’ll do.
Sunday
Houston Cougars @ #4 Oklahoma Sooners, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Sure, it’s the only game. But it’s also the one I would have told you to watch anyway. I don’t anticipate this staying particularly close, but if you watch much Big 12 football, you know it should be a treat for folks who like picking out blown coverages.
Monday (Labor Day)
#9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Louisville Cardinals, 8:00 p.m., ESPN
Another only-show-in-town affair! As Georgia’s next major opponent, one could hope to learn something about 2019 Notre Dame. But Louisville is awfully messed up at the moment, so I’m not sure much will be gleaned. Still, it’s Monday... it’s football... I’m not going to complain.
That’s all for this week, folks. Until next time...
GOOOO DAWGS!!!