Each College Football Weeks Most Overrated/Underrated Games
Photo by Paul Burdick
When USC and UCLA announced their move to the Big 10, I was in shock and consumed content from college football writers and analysts about their thoughts on the move.
One of the things I heard was Colin Cowherd and Joel Klatt discussing how the early season college football schedule only has one or two games that are must watch and gave examples.
I do not agree, and feel like that misinformation could lead to many football fans missing some great games.
I did this last year with the NFL (and will do it again this week), but I decided to do it for college football today.
So, without further adieu, here are the most overrated and underrated college football matchups every week.
Week 1
Overrated: Notre Dame vs Ohio State
The media is going to pump up this game, and why wouldn’t they?
Ohio State is ranked 2nd and Notre Dame is ranked 5th.
Well, Notre Dame is a good team, yet they’re still 14.5 point underdogs to Ohio State.
Ohio State is easily one of the top two teams in the country along with Alabama.
This game is going to be a blowout.
Underrated: Cincinnati vs Arkansas
Cincy, coming off the first ever G5 playoff appearance, did lose a lot of top tier talent.
But they go to Fayetville to take on the 19th ranked Razorbacks of Arkansas.
A new look Cincinnati vs KJ Jefferson and a very good Arkansas team.
This one should be fun.
Week 2
Overrated: Alabama vs Texas
This was the other game Cowherd and Klatt deemed as “must watches” and don’t get me wrong, I’ll still watch.
But this will not be a good game.
Bama is going to roll. Put it on the small TV and stay focused on Arkansas vs South Carolina at noon instead.
Underrated: Baylor vs BYU
Baylor is my pick to win the Big 12, and they face their future conference rivals in Provo, Utah for a night game.
It’s going to be a blast, but make sure you take a nap. It starts at 10:15 EST.
Week 3
Overrated: Miami vs Texas A&M
The game itself might actually be good, but both teams are, in my opinion, overrated.
So the result will lead to people making a bigger deal out of it than it need be.
Underrated: Michigan State vs Washington
Mel Tucker trying to build off his great season last year to take on a Washington team that has talent but this time with a coach who doesn’t slap his own players.
Plus, watching games at Husky Stadium is a treat.
Week 4
Overrated: Wisconsin vs Ohio State
We’re going to roll into week 4 with both teams probably undefeated and a fun ranked matchup ahead.
Instead what you’ll get is a Wisconsin offense that makes me want to bang my head into a wall and C.J. Stroud throw 5 touchdowns in a blow out at the Horseshoe.
Which is a shame. Because I like Wisconsin.
But I call it as I see it.
Underrated: West Virginia vs Virginia Tech
The first time these rivals have played in Blacksburg since 2004.
During primetime.
Lane Stadium at night alone is worth the watch, but it’s going to be rocking for the return of the Mountaineers.
Week 5
Overrated: LSU vs Auburn
There actually aren’t many overrated games scheduled this week, but I had to choose one.
So I went with the one that will be deemed a great SEC matchup while both schools likely won’t do very well this year and Auburn may already have a new coach by this point.
Underrated: Kentucky vs Ole Miss
This is the real SEC game y’all should watch this week.
Both Kentucky and Ole Miss aren’t as good as Georgia and Alabama in their respective divisions, but this could determine their standings considering both schools have rivals around them that could threaten a 2nd place finish.
Week 6
Overrated: Texas A&M vs Alabama
Saban is pissed at A&M and they’re just flat out better.
This is going to be the textbook definition of a beatdown.
Underrated: BYU vs Notre Dame
Two good teams. Neutral site game in Las Vegas.
I’m very much so looking forward to this one.
And, despite being out west, it’s on at a reasonable hour for us eastern folks!
Week 7
Overrated: USC vs Utah
USC will likely have quite a good record going into this one and it could decide the PAC 12 South, but Utah’s offense should have a very good game against a not so good USC defense.
USC will score, but it won’t matter.
Underrated: Nebraska vs Purdue
The Big 10 West is wide open, and both Nebraska and Purdue are cautiously optimistic about their upcoming seasons.
This could be a crucial game to determine who goes to Indianapolis come December.
Week 8
Overrated: Mississippi State vs Alabama
I’m high on Mississippi State this year. I have them finishing 2nd in the west.
But Mike Leach’s air raid has shown big flaws and a lack of adjustment when facing a fantastic defense.
Alabama has a fantastic defense.
I don’t expect much.
Underrated: Texas vs Oklahoma State
This one may surprise you, because I feel we consistently overrate Texas.
But as I said during my Big 12 preview, there’s just something about Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State that makes me think when the expectations are high, something goes wrong.
This reeks of a game where something goes wrong. Keep an eye on it.
Week 9
Overrated: Ohio State vs Penn State
It’s going to be a night game. It’s going to be a White Out. It’s going to be a fantastic atmosphere.
But this Ohio State team is simply miles better than this Penn State team.
It won’t be like past games in Happy Valley.
Underrated: Michigan State vs Michigan
It doesn’t matter if both teams fall short of expectations, exceed expectations or either way. It doesn’t matter.
These games always excite.
It’s one of a few games I must watch every year, the other being the Red River Shootout between Oklahoma and Texas.
Week 10
Overrated: UCF vs Memphis
This is a big, big game in the AAC this season, but UCF is doing well under Gus Malzahn and Memphis seems to be getting worse under Ryan Silverfield.
I think UCF wins easily.
Underrated: Clemson vs Notre Dame
In any other situation, this is a game I’d put in the overrated column.
But it’s interesting this year.
Notre Dame has a new, extremely player friendly and likeable head coach to lead in a new era, and Clemson has a new look defense without defensive coordinator Brent Venables.
Granted, by this point in the season we will likely know what we’ve got between the schools, but I’m still interested to see them face off.
Week 11
Overrated: Alabama vs Ole Miss
You guys are probably getting the gist at this point, right?
I think Alabama and Ohio State are going to roll this season.
Sure, anything can happen. That’s why we play the games.
But I’m making these predictions ahead of time. And as far as I can tell, Alabama is much better than Ole Miss.
Underrated: Washington vs Oregon
I’m high on Washington this year. They have talent.
Plus, rivalry games are always must watch.
So this may get past your radar because it may (most likely will not) have any playoff implications, but it could be a really great game.
Week 12
Overrated: Georgia vs Kentucky
Kentucky has a very difficult schedule so it’s not a guarantee, but it’s possible that we go into this game with an undefeated Georgia squad vs an undefeated Kentucky squad.
It could get a ton of hype, but it won’t live up to it.
Despite their losses to the draft, Georgia is still an extremely good team all around and should make life miserable for Kentucky.
Underrated: USC vs UCLA
Lincoln Riley’s offense vs Chip Kelly’s offense.
What more do I have to say? It’s going to be a fireworks show.
Week 13
Overrated: Michigan vs Ohio State
Michigan is poised for a set back year while Ohio State is poised to be an easy playoff contender.
And it’s in Columbus.
And the Buckeyes are not happy with how last year went against Michigan.
There will be blood.
Underrated: Mississippi State vs Ole Miss
Until it gets the love that The Game, The Iron Bowl and USC vs Notre Dame get as rivalry games, the Egg Bowl will always be the most underrated game of rivalry week.
Two schools that absolutely hate each other and the games are always destined to be something stupid.
The beauty of college football.
Week 14
Overrated: The SEC Championship & Big 10 Championship Games
Alabama and Ohio State will roll on their way to the playoff.
Don’t bother.
Underrated: Every G5 Championship Game
It’s highly unlikely we get a G5 playoff team this year, so this conference championship will be the peak for all of these schools competing for it.
These are the games die hard college football fans like myself love.
Week 15
The only game this weekend is Army-Navy.
Watch it.
College football is beautiful because of the love alumni have for their schools, and the chaos that comes with it every week at some level.
Branch out from just the national level of college football.
You’ll likely witness something you’ll really enjoy.
And don’t worry, the NFL has their own problems with viewing things at a national level too.
We’ll go over that later.
