College football viewing guide: Alabama-FSU, Michigan-Florida and much more

Credit: Elsa

Credit: Elsa

If you are a college football junky, the next three days count as a holiday weekend in more ways than one.

Sure, there’s Labor Day on Monday, but more importantly FOOTBALL IS BACK!

Ohio State's 49-21 win over Indiana was but an appetizer for a full weekend of action.

Here’s what you need to know:

FRIDAY NIGHT 

There are eight games on the schedule, but the ones to watch (if there is one) are No. 8 Washington at Rutgers on FS1 at 8 p.m. and Utah State at No. 9 Wisconsin on ESPN at 9 p.m.

The Huskies are coming off an appearance in the College Football Payoff while the Scarlet Knights are coming off a disastrous first season under Chris Ash, a former Ohio State assistant.

The Badgers are probably overrated but should roll in their opener.

Hardcore OSU fans might always want to tune in to CBS Sports Network at 6 to see Fordham at Army. The Black Knights will visit Ohio Stadium in two weeks.

SATURDAY: 

Early games 

Four ranked teams will play in the noon window, but none of the games look particularly interesting.

Maryland at No. 23 Texas could be an exception, pitting Urban Meyer proteges D.J. Durkin (the second-year coach at Maryland) and Tom Herman, in his first game as head coach of the Longhorns, in FS1.

3:30 window 

The marquee matchup in the afternoon should be No. 11 Michigan against No. 17 Florida (ABC), although it remains to be seen if the Gators can still field a full team as a fraud scandal continues to unfold in Gainesville.

Former Alter quarterback Malik Zaire transferred to Florida in the offseason, and though Feleipe Franks was named the starter, Florida coach Jim McElwain said Zaire will play.

Michigan lost a huge percentage of its starting lineup, though that means there is an opportunity for some of Jim Harbaugh’s highly regarded recruits to step into the spotlight.

Ohio State’s next opponent, No. 7 Oklahoma, hosts Texas-El Paso at 3:30 pm. on Fox.

Night games

All eyes will be on ABC at 8 o’clock when No. 1 Alabama takes on No. 3 Florida State in Atlanta.

The Crimson Tide are a seven-point favorite in a game that pits two teams that recruit as well as anyone and have potential star sophomore quarterbacks.

In the later part of the evening, BYU at No. 13 LSU (ESPN) has some intrigue as the Tigers begin the first full season of the Ed Orgeron era.

BUT WAIT… THERE’S MORE!

Sunday night and Monday night each have intriguing matchups.

No. 22 West Virginia takes on No. 21 Virginia Tech on Sunday night on ABC while Monday night will feature No. 25 Tennessee taking on Georgia Tech.

The Volunteers are getting three points while the spread in the Sunday night game is Tech minus-4.

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