College Football: Scott's Six-Pack of Intriguing Matchups for Week 2

This week's set of match-ups is decidedly less compelling than last week's. This is because, apart from the marquee match-ups (Penn State @ Alabama, Miami @ Ohio State, etc.), most of the FBS is still feasting on cupcakes.

My six-pack this week breaks down into three "Hearty Ales" and three "Natty Lites".

Game 1: West Virginia @ Marshall

Friday, Sep. 10, 7:00 pm Eastern (ESPN, ESPN 3)

This game matches the "glamour" program from the state of West Virginia with the "scrappy" program (lionized in the film "We Are Marshall") from the same state. I personally believe that Marshall should be invited to the Big East, but for now it will have to be the black sheep of C-USA (the rest of the schools being decidedly Deep South).

West Virginia is ranked #23 in the AP (writers') poll, and #22 in the USA Today (coaches') poll. However, the fact that the Mountaineers have to play in Huntington at the home of the Thundering Herd means that they may face a close game. We'll see.

Game 2: South Florida @ Florida

Saturday, Sep. 11, 12:21 pm Eastern (ESPN 3)

The Bulls may be in over their heads traveling to the Swamp to face the Gators...but you may recall that (1) they were able to beat Florida State in Tallahassee last year, and (2) Tim Tebow is no longer playing at Florida.

USF has also played the Miami Hurricanes recently, so no one can accuse them of trying to hide behind a weak schedule. Coincidentally, I think the Bulls belong in the ACC; they should trade places with Boston College (the ACC had *always* been a "Southern" conference since its formation from part of the old Southern Conference in 1953).

Florida, of course, is still highly ranked: #6 in the AP poll, and #8 in the USA Today poll. But the Gators are beatable this year, even at home. If they look past the Bulls to their conference schedule, they could be in for a shock.

Game 3: Iowa State @ Iowa

Saturday, Sep. 11, 3:30 pm Eastern (ABC, regional)

This is the third and final "Hearty Ale" of the six-pack, and the most traditional of the match-ups listed this week. The Hawkeyes are ranked #9 in both polls and have the home-field advantage. So that means a definite Iowa win, right?

*chuckle*

Throw out rankings and records in rivalry games, even if there's a distinct disparity between the two teams. Don't you remember USC's loss to UCLA in 2006? Anything can happen (though I think it's more likely that Marshall will upset West Virginia).

Game 4: Eastern Kentucky @ Louisville

Saturday, Sep. 11, 3:30 pm Eastern (ESPN 3)

This is the first of the three "Natty Light" match-ups, with one team squarely (or would that be "roundly?") in the role of cupcake, ready for the other team to destroy and devour.

What I find redeeming in this matchup and the following two is that the "power" programs are choosing their cupcakes from in-state.

I just find this more honorable (not to mention easier on travel costs), as it gives the smaller program and its fans some measure of respect to be playing the bigger in-state programs.

In some cases it's likely that the players (and fans) of the smaller program aspired to attend the bigger school; games such as this give them their moment in the sun.

Game 5: Western Kentucky @ Kentucky

Saturday, Sep. 11, 7:30 pm Eastern (ESPN 3)

This is another "Bluegrass State" pairing, although in this case both teams are FBS (I-A) members (very recent member, in the case of the Hilltoppers)...but it all balances out, as Kentucky's conference (SEC) is arguably a notch above Louisville's (Big East).

So, Louisville gets the FCS (I-AA) in-state cupcake, while Kentucky gets the most popular program in FBS (based on the desire of teams such as Nebraska and South Florida to schedule them).

Game 6: Southern Illinois @ Illinois

Saturday, Sep. 11, 7:30 pm Eastern (Big Ten Network)

The third and final "Natty Lite" of the group, this matchup between the Fighting Illini and the Salukis should be a barn-burner.

Just kidding.

But again, it's good that Illinois is scheduling the Salukis and not, for example, Southeastern Louisiana. I'd have rather they scheduled Northern Illinois though, as NIU is an FBS member school in the Mid-American Conference (MAC)...SIU is an FCS member school.