Bored. Haven't written anything worthwhile in a few weeks, plus...I'm bored. So I'm thinking a little about 2013. At least the opening weekend.
* Now that the MWC has resolved some contract issues with CBS for the final three years of their deal, I expect that ESPN will have a few games from the conference again this year. Since CBS says they'll have some priority picks over those other two packages the MWC can sell, I'm thinking they'll keep that USC at Hawai'i game on the opening weekend, but the Rutgers at Fresno St. game is wide open for another network. For the opening weekend, after being part of the Pac-12 rights package the last two years, I'm listing the Colorado-Colorado St. game as a MWC game.
* Georgia at Clemson looks so good as a spotlight game on Labor Day evening. Clemson could get by with South Carolina St. on short rest. I can't see any scenario where Georgia would be willing to do the same when it comes to playing South Carolina. Expect it on a Saturday. Alabama vs. Virginia Tech, as someone else pointed out to me, could be a possibility. The Tide are open the week after and Virginia Tech has Western Carolina. Duke could end up hosting Wake Forest that day, but it doesn't have the pop.
Another possibility, particularly because its out west: Boise St. and Washington finished 2012 against each other and they'll start 2013 as opponents in Seattle. Washington is off the week after this game, Boise St. has UT-Martin. In my opinion, Texas Tech at SMU is also a possibility for a Thursday (ESPNU), Sunday or Monday game from the Big East. I also think that there's a chance that Vanderbilt could consider moving its game with Ole Miss to Sunday of Labor Day weekend.
* FOX's choices for Conference USA's opening weekend are pretty ugly. Would not surprise me to see FOX ask to pair UTEP at Tulane as a possible matchup to fill an FSN slot. After that, Miami (OH) at Marshall is a possibility.
Here's something to talk about, argue with me over, etc. Guessing week one. I'm listing the FOX national cable games as FX/FS1. FS1 is the heavily rumored FOX Sports One that is expected to start in August.
Happy Holidays
Thursday
7pm ESPN: North Carolina at South Carolina
7:30pm ESPNU: Texas Tech at SMU
8pm BTN: UNLV at Minnesota
10:30pm ESPN: Rutgers at Fresno St.
11pm CBSSN: USC at Hawai'i
Friday
8pm ESPN, Purdue at Cincinnati
Saturday
12pm FX/FS1: UL-Monroe at Oklahoma
12pm ESPN: Mississippi St. vs. Oklahoma St.
12pm ESPN2: Buffalo at Ohio St.
12pm ESPNU: Ohio at Louisville
12pm FSN: New Mexico St. at Texas
12pm CBSSN: Morgan St. at Army
12pm BTN: Central Michigan at Michigan
12pm SECNet: UL-Lafayette at Arkansas
12:30pm ACCNet: Louisiana Tech at NC State
3pm ACC RSNs: FIU at Maryland
3:30pm ABC: Georgia at Clemson
3:30pm NBC: Temple at Notre Dame
3:30pm ESPN: Toledo at Florida
3:30pm ESPN2: Penn St. vs. Syracuse
3:30pm ESPNU: BYU at Virginia
3:30pm FSN: UTEP at Tulane
3:30pm BTN: Northern Illinois at Iowa
3:30pm BTN: Western Michigan at Michigan St.
4pm FX/FS1: Utah St. at Utah
7pm ESPN: LSU vs. TCU
7pm ESPNU: Washington St. at Auburn
7pm NBCSN: Colorado vs. Colorado St.
7pm SEC/FSN: Rice at Texas A&M
7:30pm FOX: Nevada at UCLA
8pm ABC: Virginia Tech vs. Alabama
8pm BTN: Massachusetts at Wisconsin
8pm BTN: Indiana St. at Indiana
10:30pm ESPN: Northwestern at California
Sunday
3:30pm ESPN: Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
Monday
Afternoon: Wake Forest at Duke
Evening: Boise St. at Washington
1 comment:
With Taj Boyd staying in school, Clemson-UGA is certain to be a top 10 match-up. It'll probably the only top ten match up opening weekend. Gameday will likely be in Clemson that day. For these reasons, I think it's the obvious choice for ABC prime time. However, what happens with the Chick-fil-a game? Would they be willing to play that one during the day on 8/31/12 or do you see them moving to Labor Day night? Also, I know it's already listed as prime time game for 8/31/13, but would would the cowboy classic be a possibility for for LAbor Day night?
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