College Football Dive Bar Special: Week 2
It's the second iteration of our weekly college football watch list, where we'll bring you the best games you probably had no idea were happening between programs you may or may not know exist.
The inaugural version of the College Football Dive Bar Special went over extremely well, if you only counted the main attraction and ignored everything else I said. Time for a redemption arc. We love those, don’t we, folks? Here is what you should be watching in-between big game beatdowns, commercial breaks, and sleepy fits of ennui while awaiting the sweet release of sleep or death.
To the games!
Wake-N-Bake
Western Kentucky (1-0) vs. Army (1-0) (CBS Sports, 11:30 a.m. ET)
This game is like when David Bowie and Bing Crosby decided to collab for a bangin’ ass Christmas song (obviously Big Red is David Bowie). There may not be two teams at such polar opposites, and that’s not even talking about the fan bases (buzz cut vs. rattail).
Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe threw for seven(!) touchdowns and 474 yards in Week 1 vs. UT Martin. Army’s leading passer last week went 1/2. The Knights spoiled last week’s Wake-N-Bake by hammering Georgia State 43-10 behind a grinding triple option that saw 12 different rushers. WKU’s defense is like firing spitballs at a jell-o mold--eventually you’ll penetrate it. But Army’s bringing a tank to Michie Stadium, and it will probably be enough to stave off the Hilltopper’s electric air attack. Flip to this one once Ohio State-Oregon gets out of hand.
Amuse-bouche
Houston vs. Rice (CBS Sports, 6:30 p.m. ET)
Dana Holgorsen loses this game and we might be approaching “future analyst at Alabama” territory. Houston blew a 14-0 first quarter lead to Texas Tech last Saturday and Holgorsen is rapidly losing the 17 hairs he has left. The Owls, meanwhile, gave Arkansas a mighty big scare until the Hogs straightened up and scored on five of their final six possessions. There will be more people inside the campus library on Saturday than in the stadium, and things could get mighty, mighty weird. Give this one a taste and prepare to come back to it in the fourth quarter.
Dive Bar Dinner
Troy vs. Liberty (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
The over in this game is set at 61.5 and that’s probably low by a few dozen points. Liberty returns the entirety of its explosive offense from a season ago that averaged 38 points and 482 yards per game. Hugh Freeze may be a character from Righteous Gemstones, but he knows how to call an offense, by God. Did we mention the Flames may have the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft playing quarterback? OK good, because they do.
Troy lost four games by a combined 12 points last season. The Trojans are a true chaos team that will trot out Mizzou transfer Taylor Powell to run third-year head coach Chip Lindsey’s offense. The former Auburn offensive coordinator is looking for an impressive upset home win to propel his team into a tough Sun Belt schedule that includes Coast Carolina, Louisiana, and Appalachian State. Lindsey would love nothing more than to roll over Freeze before a three game road stretch begins next week in Hattiesburg. Freeze will be all gas and no breaks in Troy, Alabama, a scenario that has probably happened before off the field. This could be a 56-51 game … in the third quarter.
Midnight Snack
San Diego State vs. Arizona (Pac-12 Network, 10 p.m. ET)
This one will eventually hurt just as bad as your 2 a.m. ET Taco Bell the next day. But dammit if it isn’t delicious while it’s going down. Arizona has lost 13 straight games after last week’s embarrassing showing against BYU. San Diego State is known for literally running right through teams’ souls. This one could get mighty ugly, but the Wildcats are a surprising 2-point favorite according to the Vegas intelligentsia. Let’s see if Arizona can contain Greg Bell to under 200 yards rushing on the night.