Georgia Tech at Miami

3:30 p.m., ABC. Line: Miami by 6.5

            The theme of the weekend for days has been “Oh dear, there are no games with two ranked teams playing, so this’ll be dull.” Which Friday proved wrong.

            But this is essentially a game between ranked teams.

            Georgia Tech is No. 26 in the AP and No. 27 in the coaches poll. Had the Yellow Jackets’ game against Central Florida not been cancelled, Tech had a good chance for a win – it was favored.

            Tech wins that game, it’s ranked a few weeks ago and is probably around No. 20 by now.

            Miami is middlin’ in rush defense yardage, not good on third-down or fourth-down defense. The latter two stats play very much into Tech’s hands.

            The Hurricanes are pretty penalized, but don’t turn the ball over.

            The closest to a true quality win is Miami over Florida State last week, but that’s debatable.

            The Yellow Jackets need to pick it up on special teams, pretty much in all phases.

            Miami is shorthanded, without four starters – two in the secondary – hurt against FSU, including quality running back Mark Walton. Some of the decisions weren’t made until late in the week, so the Canes aren’t in great shape.

            Tech is an unranked underdog that could win this game by 10 points.

            Central Georgia alums for Miami: None.

 

Missouri at Georgia

7:30 p.m., SECN, Line: Georgia by 29

            Missouri watched TV Friday night and kind of sighed.

            Georgia watched TV Friday night and thought, “there but for the grace of The Gipper go we if we play Saturday with our heads somewhere other than atop our shoulders.”

            Early upsets make later upsets harder to come by. And Missouri brings a nice quarterback and some punt coverage – lots of practice - to town.

            The worst Tigers in the SEC are in ranked in the 100s nationally in kickoff coverage, passing yards allowed, red zone defense, scoring defense, team passing efficiency defense, and, well, ‘nuff said.

            Unless somebody slips some decaf in the pregame meal, this feels similar to Georgia-Vanderbilt.

            Central Georgia alums for Missouri: DB Tavon Ross of Bleckley County and WR Justin Smith of West Laurens. Ross sees some quality time, but has only four tackles in five games. Smith has no receiving stats yet.

 

Chattanooga at Mercer

3:30 p.m., Line (Sagarin margin): Mercer by 23

            Mercer shed a monkey last week by beating then-No. 17 The Citadel, and shed a second chimp by doing it convincingly, by 10 points on the road.

            That, of course, sets the Bears up for a letdown against a team that’s probably better than the 1-5 record despite only one fairly close loss (27-13 to No. 5 Jacksonville State). Injuries have pretty much wrecked the Mocs’ season.

            With a trip to Furman on deck, don’t look for the Bears to be sluggish for long and overlook the Mocs.

            Central Georgia alums for Chattanooga: FB Torrez Finney of Jones County, DL Kyayyan Edwards of Westside, TE Malcolm Colvin of Peach County. Colvin and Edwards are starters.

 

Lane at Fort Valley State

2 p.m.

            The Wildcats are no doubt licking their lips a bit with a 1-5 team coming to town, and the reminder of FVSU’s 10-7 loss last year has probably been a daily reminder.

            FVSU has a chance to get some momentum going, and probably will get the opportunity to play some backups.

            Central Georgia alums for Lane: None.

 

New Mexico State at Georgia Southern

6 p.m.; Line: New Mexico State by 6.5

            Georgia Southern is 0-4, and not against a murderer’s row schedule.

            It’s homecoming, and legend Adrian Peterson will be honored by the National Football Foundation for being elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

            The Eagles really, really need for Peterson’s appearance to not be the highlight of the day.

            Alas, the Eagles will sport “Erk Russell Classic Alternate Uniforms” for the game, and thatwill only be good if GSU gets an alternate result

 

Georgia State at Louisiana-Monroe

6 p.m.; Line: ULM by 6.5.

            The Panthers are on the road for the fourth straight game, and is off a 27-21 Sun Belt win at Coastal Carolina.

            Northside alum Glenn Smith has had 330 all-purpose yards in the past two games, and QB Conner Manning leads the SBC in completion percentage at 65.5.

            The Panthers may get antsy being a homecoming opponent, but they need to focus on a run-pass option offense that’s getting better.

            There’ll be points in this one, with two teams good at converting third downs.