Rivalry Week: A Scout's Week 13 College Football Viewing Guide

Watching football takes many different forms.

If you woke up this morning in Florida State slippers or a scarlet Oklahoma bathrobe, this article probably isn't for you.

There exists a very healthy segment of the population who love college football—the pageantry, the spectacle—but can't help but cast an eye forward. Each game watched begs the question, what becomes of these young men?

For the chosen few, Sundays wait.

A much smaller segment of the population pays closer attention to those future NFL footballers than is probably recommended by your average physician. They keep unhealthy habits like mock drafts, charts and graphs, big boards, scouting notes, etc.

This exercise in prognostication has enormous side effects—have you seen Mel Kiper Jr's hair?

For those poor souls, watching Saturday football is different. The clicker constantly clicking between offensive and defensive series. Who cares who wins? The interest is focused on balance, pad level, hip swivel and closing speed.

Here's a preview into the view habits of those dark souls:

12 PM Eastern

ESPN —18. Clemson V. South Carolina

Who to Watch: CJ Spiller (RB Clemson), Ricky Sapp (OLB/DE Clemson), Eric Norwood (OLB S. Carolina), Jacoby Ford (WR Clemson)

What to Watch: Make sure your TV is tuned to the Clemson offense at all times. CJ Spiller is a Heisman contender and a sure first rounder—he can go off at any moment. Jacoby Ford is another interesting prospect. Watch Ford before the ball is thrown, if he as good before the catch as he is after?

When the teams are on defense, watch the pass rush moves of Norwood and Sapp. Are the moves varied and polished? Sapp is a borderline first rounder and Norwood should go before the end of the third.

When to Flip: At every commercial and/or when CJ Spiller isn't on the field.

ESPN 2 —24. North Carolina V. North Carolina State

Who to Watch: Bruce Carter (OLB North Carolina), Marvin Austin (DT North Carolina), Willie Young (DE North Carolina State)

What to Watch: Watching the North Carolina defense is a scout's dream. In the next three years, at least five or six defensive standouts will be first day picks. Probably many more. When North Carolina State is on D, watch the motor of Willie Young. If he shows heart to match his skills he could easily be a late riser this spring.

When to Flip: Whenever TJ Yates is throwing the ball...blech!

Have the Laptop Ready For: Wake Forest V. Duke (ESPN 360), Mississippi V. Mississippi State (ESPN 360 @ 12:20)

12:30 EST

FOX Sports —Oklahoma V. 12.Oklahoma State

Who to Watch: Who not to watch? 10 or more 2010 Draft Prospects will be playing in this game including Gerald McCoy (DT Oklahoma), Russell Okung (OT Oklahoma State), and Perrish Cox (CB/KR Oklahoma State).

What to Watch: Is Gerald McCoy more polished than Suh from Nebraska? Some scouts think so. Does Trent Williams (OT Oklahoma) have the lateral movement to play tackle at the next level? Is Perrish Cox anything more than a return specialist?

When to Flip: When this game is on, only flip away at commercials—when you're not grabbing snacks.

3:30 EST

CBS —1. Florida V. Florida State

Who to Watch: Tim Tebow will be playing QB at the next level, for better or for worse. The hype is too huge on Tebow to let every NFL team think otherwise. His favorite target, Aaron Hernandez (TE Florida) has a chance to be special. Also watch Joe Haden (CB Florida), Carlos Dunlap and Jermaine Cunningham (DE Florida), Patrick Robinson (CB Florida State) and Brandon Spikes (LB Florida)

What to Watch: Patrick Robinson is an athlete playing cornerback, if he were forced to start as an NFL CB, he would be burned early and often—the question is how far away is he. Hernandez is a solid receiver but what about his blocking?

Dunlap is the best physical defensive line prospect in the draft but scouts have been dropping him because of his motor for two years now.

When to Flip: When you get sick of the CBS announce team. Otherwise, for a scout, this game is a goldmine.

7:00 EST

ESPN U —Kentucky V. Tennessee

Who to Watch: Eric Berry (S/CB Tennessee), Trevard Lindley (CB Kentucky), Dan Morgan (DT Tennessee), Micah Johnson (LB Kentucky), Montario Hardesty (RB Tennesse), Rico McCoy (LB Tennessee)

What to Watch: Lindley has the best cover skills in the draft but some think his is too small to be a NFL impact player. Does the skill make up for the lack of size? Hardesty is one of the top zone blocking rated backs in the draft, his one-cut running style is perfect for a team like the Texans. Does he have the ability to finish the runs he starts.

When to Flip: An hour of play should fill a notebook page, forget this contest when the next slate of games comes on.

8:00 EST

ABC —Notre Dame V. Stanford

Who to Watch: Jimmy Clausen (QB Notre Dame), Golden Tate (WR Notre Dame) Toby Gerhart (RB Stanford), Sam Young (OT Notre Dame), Chris Marinelli (OG Stanford)

What to Watch: Clausen has arm strength to waste but are his mechanics and ball placement crisp on the big stage? Is Toby Gerhart the next Jacob Hester or the next Mike Alstott?

When to Flip: The only other important game on this slot is Georgia/Georgia Tech and its also on ABC. If you have alternates, flip over when you want to see some awesome option football.

Rivalry week is huge for college football fans and draftniks alike. On a normal Saturday, a scout can go through 10 or more notebook pages while never remembering who won a game.

Rivalry week can also be a trap. Some of the games are so exciting and enticing it is hard to flip the channel. Add in local rivalry matchups, Division II or III playoffs and a killer halftime show for Grambling State/Southern and all of a sudden, an interested scout can forget what he's doing.

So watch today, but keep an eye on the young men you'll be watching on football fields for a long time to come.

Michael Schottey is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and the producer and host of The Average Joe Sports Show on 860AM KNUJ (New Ulm, MN). He is also an NFL Analyst and Senior Writer for DraftTek.com. Follow Him on Twitter.