Cincinnati visits Ohio State at 6 p.m. in the last big conference clash–the start times and projections listed below for the 106 FBS teams in action this week show the attention turning to conference play as the conference pecking order is about set until the Bowl Games. That game is almost a “play-in” game between the American and Big Ten for an outside shot at the playoff, as Tommy Tuberville tries to pull his third upset in as many tries against Urban Meyer.
The Big Ten has a pulse after a huge Week 4, but cannot afford any more upsets as they hope to make the tough case for a one-loss Michigan State or undefeated Nebraska or Penn State to sneak into the Final Four.
The American Athletic would love to pitch an undefeated Cincinnati team if they could win the title and if Central Florida could beat BYU next week to go along with East Carolina’s big wins over Virginia Tech and UNC and near miss at South Carolina.
For the rest of the season it will all be about winning the conference–with the pecking order of conferences pretty much set except for adjusting for the occasional upset by a smaller conference, or games by BYU and Notre Dame. Here is the summary of each conference’s opportunities to score big wins against other conferences this week, followed by the list of all games.
AAC 3-5 projected record, projected to lose by a combined -76 pts – three AAC teams visit top 25 teams, including Cincy at Ohio State
ACC 8-5, +82 pts – favored in 4 non-conference, while Syracuse underdog vs. ND
Big Ten 8-6, +70 pts – Rutgers and OSU need to handle Tulane and Cincy
Big12 5-3, +37 pts – K-State and TCU both have pretty easy wins
CUSA 5-6, -49 pts – La Tech at Auburn one of three chances for big upsets
FCS 1-1 -10 pts – E Illinois and Yale decent chances vs. Ohio and Army
Ind 2-1, +32 pts – Notre Dame can keep title hopes alive vs. Syracuse
MAC 4-6, -76 pts – Ohio hosts E Illinois in the one toss-up game
MWC 4-6, -47 pts – Colorado St & Wyoming longshots at BC & Michigan St
Pac-12 5-5, +0 pts – rating will stay the same with all conference games
SBC 3-5, -38 pts – Texas St. at Tulsa better of two longshot chances for upsets
SEC 7-4, +75 pts – All 3 big favorites with Auburn must vulnerable (vs. La Tech)
The table indicates that Cincinnati is ranked 5oth in the Pythagorean Ratings, plays at 6 p.m. Eastern, has a 25% chance of winning and is a 12-point underdog at Ohio State, which is ranked 29th and from the Big Ten.
| Teams | Rnk | Time | W% | Marg | Ven | Opp | Rnk | Con |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | 50 | 6:00pm | 25% | -12 | at | Ohio St | 29 | B10 |
| Connecticut | 112 | 4:00pm | 28% | -10 | host | Temple | 74 | AAC |
| East Carolina | 19 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Houston | 67 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Memphis | 63 | 7:30pm | 7% | -25 | at | Mississippi | 8 | SEC |
| SMU | 98 | 12:00pm | 10% | -19 | host | TCU | 23 | B12 |
| South Florida | 114 | 12:00pm | 1% | -25 | at | Wisconsin | 25 | B10 |
| Temple | 74 | 4:00pm | 72% | 10 | at | Connecticut | 112 | AAC |
| Tulane | 90 | 12:00pm | 27% | -8 | at | Rutgers | 75 | B10 |
| Tulsa | 92 | 8:00pm | 79% | 13 | host | Texas St | 117 | SBC |
| UCF | 54 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| AAC 3-5, -76 pts | 2.5 | (76) | ||||||
| Boston College | 28 | 12:30pm | 87% | 22 | host | Colorado St | 81 | MWC |
| Clemson | 15 | 7:00pm | 84% | 22 | host | North Carolina | 56 | ACC |
| Duke | 34 | 7:30pm | 45% | -3 | at | Miami FL | 40 | ACC |
| Florida St | 1 | 3:30pm | 91% | 25 | at | NC State | 58 | ACC |
| Georgia Tech | 26 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Louisville | 13 | 3:30pm | 99% | 25 | host | Wake Forest | 94 | ACC |
| Miami FL | 40 | 7:30pm | 55% | 3 | host | Duke | 34 | ACC |
| NC State | 58 | 3:30pm | 9% | -25 | host | Florida St | 1 | ACC |
| North Carolina | 56 | 7:00pm | 16% | -22 | at | Clemson | 15 | ACC |
| Pittsburgh | 45 | 1:30pm | 96% | 25 | host | Akron | 116 | MAC |
| Syracuse | 44 | 8:00pm | 14% | -16 | neutral | Notre Dame | 9 | Ind |
| Virginia | 36 | 3:30pm | 100% | 25 | host | Kent | 125 | MAC |
| Virginia Tech | 42 | 12:30pm | 97% | 25 | host | W Michigan | 115 | MAC |
| Wake Forest | 94 | 3:30pm | 1% | -25 | at | Louisville | 13 | ACC |
| ACC 8-5, +82 pts | 7.9 | 82 | ||||||
| Illinois | 91 | 9:00pm | 7% | -25 | at | Nebraska | 24 | B10 |
| Indiana | 57 | 1:30pm | 56% | 3 | host | Maryland | 49 | B10 |
| Iowa | 60 | 12:00pm | 81% | 10 | at | Purdue | 102 | B10 |
| Maryland | 49 | 1:30pm | 44% | -3 | at | Indiana | 57 | B10 |
| Michigan | 76 | 3:30pm | 67% | 6 | host | Minnesota | 85 | B10 |
| Michigan St | 20 | 12:00pm | 98% | 25 | host | Wyoming | 104 | MWC |
| Minnesota | 85 | 3:30pm | 33% | -6 | at | Michigan | 76 | B10 |
| Nebraska | 24 | 9:00pm | 93% | 25 | host | Illinois | 91 | B10 |
| Northwestern | 103 | 12:00pm | 11% | -15 | at | Penn St | 64 | B10 |
| Ohio St | 29 | 6:00pm | 75% | 12 | host | Cincinnati | 50 | AAC |
| Penn St | 64 | 12:00pm | 89% | 15 | host | Northwestern | 103 | B10 |
| Purdue | 102 | 12:00pm | 19% | -10 | host | Iowa | 60 | B10 |
| Rutgers | 75 | 12:00pm | 73% | 8 | host | Tulane | 90 | AAC |
| Wisconsin | 25 | 12:00pm | 99% | 25 | host | South Florida | 114 | AAC |
| Big Ten 8-6, +70 pts | 8.4 | 70 | ||||||
| Baylor | 11 | 8:00pm | 77% | 16 | at | Iowa St | 55 | B12 |
| Iowa St | 55 | 8:00pm | 23% | -16 | host | Baylor | 11 | B12 |
| Kansas | 106 | 4:00pm | 7% | -17 | host | Texas | 38 | B12 |
| Kansas St | 35 | 12:00pm | 85% | 18 | host | UTEP | 79 | CUSA |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Oklahoma St | 7 | Thu 09.25 | 92% | 25 | host | Texas Tech | 68 | B12 |
| TCU | 23 | 12:00pm | 90% | 19 | at | SMU | 98 | AAC |
| Texas | 38 | 4:00pm | 93% | 17 | at | Kansas | 106 | B12 |
| Texas Tech | 68 | Thu 09.25 | 8% | -25 | at | Oklahoma St | 7 | B12 |
| West Virginia | 39 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Big12 5-3, +37 pts | 4.7 | 37 | ||||||
| FL Atlantic | 82 | 5:00pm | 33% | -6 | host | UT San Antonio | 48 | CUSA |
| Florida Intl | 101 | 3:30pm | 25% | -15 | at | UAB | 65 | CUSA |
| Louisiana Tech | 59 | 4:00pm | 11% | -25 | at | Auburn | 5 | SEC |
| Marshall | 47 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Middle Tenn St | 77 | Fri 09.26 | 42% | -4 | at | Old Dominion | 73 | CUSA |
| North Texas | 62 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Old Dominion | 73 | Fri 09.26 | 58% | 4 | host | Middle Tenn St | 77 | CUSA |
| Rice | 78 | 7:00pm | 83% | 17 | at | Southern Miss | 119 | CUSA |
| Southern Miss | 119 | 7:00pm | 17% | -17 | host | Rice | 78 | CUSA |
| UAB | 65 | 3:30pm | 75% | 15 | host | Florida Intl | 101 | CUSA |
| UT San Antonio | 48 | 5:00pm | 67% | 6 | at | FL Atlantic | 82 | CUSA |
| UTEP | 79 | 12:00pm | 15% | -18 | at | Kansas St | 35 | B12 |
| W Kentucky | 61 | 3:30pm | 38% | -6 | at | Navy | 52 | Ind |
| CUSA 5-6, -49 pts | 5 | (49) | ||||||
| Army | 89 | 1:00pm | 68% | 11 | at | Yale | non | NCAA |
| BYU | 21 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Navy | 52 | 3:30pm | 62% | 6 | host | W Kentucky | 61 | CUSA |
| Notre Dame | 9 | 8:00pm | 86% | 16 | neutral | Syracuse | 44 | ACC |
| Ind 2-1, +32 pts | 2.2 | 32 | ||||||
| Akron | 116 | 1:30pm | 4% | -25 | at | Pittsburgh | 45 | ACC |
| Ball St | 95 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Bowling Green | 93 | 3:00pm | 81% | 9 | at | Massachusetts | 120 | MAC |
| Buffalo | 122 | 3:30pm | 77% | 10 | host | Miami OH | 128 | MAC |
| C Michigan | 105 | 7:00pm | 40% | -4 | at | Toledo | 99 | MAC |
| E Michigan | 123 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Kent | 125 | 3:30pm | 0% | -25 | at | Virginia | 36 | ACC |
| Massachusetts | 120 | 3:00pm | 19% | -9 | host | Bowling Green | 93 | MAC |
| Miami OH | 128 | 3:30pm | 23% | -10 | at | Buffalo | 122 | MAC |
| N Illinois | 69 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Ohio | 111 | 2:00pm | 48% | -1 | host | E Illinois | non | NCAA |
| Toledo | 99 | 7:00pm | 60% | 4 | host | C Michigan | 105 | MAC |
| W Michigan | 115 | 12:30pm | 3% | -25 | at | Virginia Tech | 42 | ACC |
| MAC 4-6, -76 pts | 3.6 | (76) | ||||||
| Air Force | 100 | 7:00pm | 23% | -15 | host | Boise St | 53 | MWC |
| Boise St | 53 | 7:00pm | 77% | 15 | at | Air Force | 100 | MWC |
| Colorado St | 81 | 12:30pm | 13% | -22 | at | Boston College | 28 | ACC |
| Fresno St | 87 | Fri 09.26 | 61% | 6 | at | New Mexico | 110 | MWC |
| Hawaii | 80 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Nevada | 66 | 10:30pm | 52% | 1 | at | San Jose St | 83 | MWC |
| New Mexico | 110 | Fri 09.26 | 39% | -6 | host | Fresno St | 87 | MWC |
| San Diego St | 70 | 8:00pm | 88% | 17 | host | UNLV | 109 | MWC |
| San Jose St | 83 | 10:30pm | 48% | -1 | host | Nevada | 66 | MWC |
| UNLV | 109 | 8:00pm | 12% | -17 | at | San Diego St | 70 | MWC |
| Utah St | 84 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Wyoming | 104 | 12:00pm | 2% | -25 | at | Michigan St | 20 | B10 |
| MWC 4-6, -47 pts | 4.2 | (47) | ||||||
| E Illinois | non | 2:00pm | 52% | 1 | at | Ohio | 111 | MAC |
| Yale | non | 1:00pm | 32% | -11 | host | Army | 89 | Ind |
| FCS 1-1 -10 pts | 0.8 | (10) | ||||||
| Arizona | 46 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Arizona St | 37 | Thu 09.25 | 59% | 4 | host | UCLA | 27 | P12 |
| California | 72 | 4:00pm | 74% | 11 | host | Colorado | 97 | P12 |
| Colorado | 97 | 4:00pm | 26% | -11 | at | California | 72 | P12 |
| Oregon | 4 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Oregon St | 51 | 10:30pm | 16% | -16 | at | USC | 17 | P12 |
| Stanford | 18 | 4:00pm | 52% | 1 | at | Washington | 32 | P12 |
| UCLA | 27 | Thu 09.25 | 41% | -4 | at | Arizona St | 37 | P12 |
| USC | 17 | 10:30pm | 84% | 16 | host | Oregon St | 51 | P12 |
| Utah | 31 | 8:00pm | 85% | 17 | host | Washington St | 71 | P12 |
| Washington | 32 | 4:00pm | 48% | -1 | host | Stanford | 18 | P12 |
| Washington St | 71 | 8:00pm | 15% | -17 | at | Utah | 31 | P12 |
| Pac-12 5-5, +0 pts | 5.0 | – | ||||||
| Appalachian St | 126 | Thu 09.25 | 6% | -22 | at | Ga Southern | 96 | SBC |
| Arkansas St | 88 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Ga Southern | 96 | Thu 09.25 | 94% | 22 | host | Appalachian St | 126 | SBC |
| Georgia St | 127 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Idaho | 124 | 5:00pm | 18% | -14 | host | South Alabama | 108 | SBC |
| New Mexico St | 118 | 7:30pm | 1% | -25 | at | LSU | 22 | SEC |
| South Alabama | 108 | 5:00pm | 82% | 14 | at | Idaho | 124 | SBC |
| Texas St | 117 | 8:00pm | 21% | -13 | at | Tulsa | 92 | AAC |
| Troy | 121 | 7:00pm | 13% | -16 | at | ULM | 107 | SBC |
| ULL | 113 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| ULM | 107 | 7:00pm | 87% | 16 | host | Troy | 121 | SBC |
| SBC 3-5, -38 pts | 3.2 | (38) | ||||||
| Alabama | 3 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Arkansas | 30 | 3:30pm | 21% | -19 | neutral | Texas A&M | 6 | SEC |
| Auburn | 5 | 4:00pm | 89% | 25 | host | Louisiana Tech | 59 | CUSA |
| Florida | 43 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Georgia | 14 | 12:00pm | 76% | 13 | host | Tennessee | 33 | SEC |
| Kentucky | 41 | 12:00pm | 88% | 18 | host | Vanderbilt | 86 | SEC |
| LSU | 22 | 7:30pm | 99% | 25 | host | New Mexico St | 118 | SBC |
| Mississippi | 8 | 7:30pm | 93% | 25 | host | Memphis | 63 | AAC |
| Mississippi St | 12 | 0% | 0 | |||||
| Missouri | 16 | 7:00pm | 39% | -5 | at | South Carolina | 10 | SEC |
| South Carolina | 10 | 7:00pm | 61% | 5 | host | Missouri | 16 | SEC |
| Tennessee | 33 | 12:00pm | 24% | -13 | at | Georgia | 14 | SEC |
| Texas A&M | 6 | 3:30pm | 79% | 19 | neutral | Arkansas | 30 | SEC |
| Vanderbilt | 86 | 12:00pm | 12% | -18 | at | Kentucky | 41 | SEC |
| SEC 7-4, +75 pts | 6.8 | 75 |
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.