Aug 31, 2013; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils wide receiver Jamison Crowder (3) scores a touchdown past North Carolina Central Eagles wide receiver Phillip Barren (13) at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Saturday’s in the fall in a college town are unrivaled in the United States. As much as I love basketball and few Duke fans will say this, nothing tops a full slate of college football on the tube, all day.
Kicking off with College Gameday, which, as much as I dislike ESPN, is still king of the mountain of traveling college football centric morning talk shows, the Saturday slate begins with my constant search for Duke football to finally be featured. I guess we’ll get some time when we win the ACC title this season and snare the Victory Bell again. Not dreaming at all.
Depending on the week, I’ll either be in front of the TV or out tailgating at the Wade. Each away week, I’ll give you my viewing schedule and the storylines to watch in each game.
12:00 ESPN – Florida at Miami: Stephen Morris went off the board first in our ACC fantasy football league but Duke Johnson is the story here. The sensational sophomore is a threat to score from anywhere at anytime. If you’ve never seen the kid play, tune in to this nationally televised game and watch him carve up the Gators.
12:30 ESPN3 – Middle Tennessee at North Carolina: The Blue Raiders shocked the ACC by taking out Georgia Tech last season in Bobby Dodd and have the same idea in mind as they visit Kenan to take on the Tar Heels, fresh off the nationally televised loss to the Fighting Clowneys of South Carolina.
3:30 ABC – Oregon at Virginia: Not sure how Mike London convinced Oregon to travel to Charlottesville but the Wahoos pulled quite the coup. Unfortunately, the Ducks didn’t miss a step in their first game since Chip Kelly’s departure. London has a lot more talent on that Cavs squad than people realize including Taquan “Smoke” Mizzell who will relieve Kevin Parks at tailback.
4:30 ESPN3 – Duke at Memphis: Is there any doubt this game will break the ratings record for ESPN3’s southeastern mid-afternoon kickoff?
4:30 ESPN – South Carolina at Georgia: The Titan of Columbia takes on a Georgia squad that will try to bounce back from getting (Howard’s) rocked in Death Valley. If you’ve never seen the Georgia backs, Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, run then you need to tune in to the ESPN second feature as Mark Richt tries not to go 0-for-South Cackylacky.
6:00 BTN – Syracuse at Northwestern: The Journalism Bowl matches teams of writers and broadcasters in a triathlon of diction, narratives, and pun-inspired closing lines.
7:00 FOX – West Virginia at Oklahoma: The Mountaineers play in the Big 12. That’s a thing.
8:00 ESPN – Notre Dame at Michigan: ESPN keeps building this up as the possible “last time the two teams will meet” as if that’s a realistic option in order to build up an audience. Look, we’ll tune in anyway, no reason to build a false narrative when so many are readily at the lips. Two top 25 teams? Check. Two of the greatest programs in history? Check. The trials and journey of Tommy Rees vs the electricity of Devin Gardner? Check. Why create a narrative based in as much truth as my saying “This lunch may be my last meal.”