Kansas Jayhawks Fan Viewing Guide - Week 9
With the Kansas Jayhawks on a bye this week, those that follow this team every single week will have a weekend to do any number of things that are usually ignored or hampered by a day of pre-gaming, watching (or attending) the game, and then dealing with the aftermath of the result. So if you want nothing to do with football this weekend, I can hardly blame you. But if you are a Kansas football fan, one who has been here through all the lean years of the program, that probably means you are a college football junkie like me. And with no game of our own to worry about, that leaves the weekend wide open to watch as much action as possible.
With that in mind, we have a primer for the Kansas Football fan. A full slate of action that you can turn on that will whet that football appetite but also be relevant to your rooting interests. We'll pick a main game for the big TV, and then a second one for flipping during commercials or to stick on that laptop/tablet/second TV that we all know is sitting right there. And with the main screen not occupied by the Kansas game, there will be plenty of interesting games to fill that screen, and others that you will need to make sure you at least follow on your phone.
All game times below are Central. All odds courtesy of SI Sportsbook.
Thursday
There are three games on tonight, and two of them actually seem like they will be interesting ones to keep an eye on. And only one of the games involving a rank team is on the list.
Louisiana Ragin Cajuns vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Location: M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS
Game Time: Thursday, Oct 27th at 6:30pm
TV Channel: ESPN2
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Line: UL -2.0
O/U: 42.5
Why Jayhawk fans should watch:
There is a reason the Sun Belt conference has been dubbed the "Fun Belt". They play good football that is a LOT of fun to watch. I highly recommend that you tune in for what should be a mixed bag of fun, with stretches of good offense and good defense and completely unattached entertainment.
#14 Utah Utes vs Washington State Cougars
Location: Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA
Game Time: Thursday, Oct 27th at 9pm
TV Channel: FS1
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Line: UTAH -7.0
O/U: 56.0
Why Jayhawk fans should watch:
Two pretty good Pac 12 teams that aren't USC or UCLA? Is the conference low-key pretty good this season? This should be a pretty entertaining game, as the Utes have a habit of letting teams stay in games and the Cougars have a habit of finding ways to make games interesting. So tune in and enjoy a nice late-night contest.
Friday
Only one game that's even remotely watchable, and that depends on your definition of watchable.
East Carolina Pirates vs BYU Cougars
Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT
Game Time: Friday, Oct 28th at 7pm
TV Channel: ESPN2
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Line: BYU -3.0
O/U: 63.0
Why Jayhawk fans should watch:
Future conference opponent BYU has struggled since beating Baylor early in the year, and it's difficult to understand exactly what is going on out there. But at least that sets up a potential gem of a showdown for Friday. The big problem here is that both of these teams have been somewhat inconsistent, so you could get a REALLY great game or a REALLY bad one, or something in between. Miss it at your own risk.
Early Saturday
There are surprisingly few "must-watch" games in this window, but there are plenty of "should hold your interest for a little bit" games, so let's throw a bunch of those in the honorable mention category.
#2 Ohio State vs #13 Penn State Nittany Lions
Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Game Time: Saturday, Oct 29th at 11am
TV Channel: FOX
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Line: OSU -15.5
O/U: 61.0
Why Jayhawk fans should watch:
It's another potential road block for the Buckeyes, but they haven't really had many close calls. Sure, teams have stayed in the game, even into the second half, but the closest margin was the 11 point win in the opener against Notre Dame. The only stumble for Penn State was a 41-17 loss at Michigan that got out of hand late. This should be a good gauge of whether Ohio State is going to run away with the league and into the College Football Playoff or if it's going to be rock-fight at the top of the conference.
Oklahoma Sooners vs Iowa State Cyclones
Location: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA
Game Time: Saturday, Oct 29th at 11am
TV Channel: FS1
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Line: OU -1.0
O/U: 55.5
Why Jayhawk fans should watch:
This is probably an elimination game in regards to bowl eligibility. While it will still technically be possible for either team to get to a bowl game, this is one of the most winnable games left on each team's schedule. You can expect to see a bit of desperation from both teams in this game, and these have been extremely entertaining the last few seasons.
Honorable Mention: #7 TCU Horned Frogs at West Virginia Mountaineers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish at #16 Syracuse Orange, Arkansas Razorbacks at Auburn Tigers, Toledo Rockets at Eastern Michigan Eagles
Saturday Afternoon
There are multiple really good games in this window, so let's get three of them here.
#9 Oklahoma State Cowboys vs #22 Kansas State Wildcats
Location: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS
Game Time: Saturday, Oct 29th at 2:30pm
TV Channel: FOX
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Line: KSU -1.5
O/U: 56.0
Why Jayhawk fans should watch:
Second place in the Big 12 is on the line here, and Kansas plays both of them later in the season. It will be a great opportunity to see how these teams are performing, especially the Wildcats given their recent injury issues at quarterback.
Oklahoma State has some gritty wins, but with the Kansas State defense they will likely need to make plays down the stretch in this one as well if they hope to win.
#20 Cincinnati Bearcats vs UCF Knights
Location: FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, FL
Game Time: Saturday, Oct 29th at 2:30pm
TV Channel: ESPN
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Line: UCF -1.5
O/U: 55.5
Why Jayhawk fans should watch:
This is two teams that are joining the Big 12 next year but still in the running to leave with a conference title. Both teams came into the year with high expectations, and they have mostly lived up to them. Expect a high-scoring game that should be back and forth.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Minnesota Golden Gophers
Location: Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Game Time: Saturday, Oct 29th at 1:30pm
TV Channel: BTN
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Line: MIN -14.0
O/U: 40.5
Why Jayhawk fans should watch:
If you like defense, this is the game for you. These are two teams in the Big 12 that are in a somewhat similar situation to the Jayhawks, impressing early before coming back to earth a bit as they got into the meat of their schedule. At the very least, this is the most interesting of the "also there" games: ones that can be interesting enough to check in on routinely while you have a lull in your other games.
Honorable Mention: #10 Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Louisville Cardinals
Saturday Evening
#19 Kentucky Wildcats vs #3 Tennessee Volunteers
Location: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
Game Time: Saturday, Oct 29th at 6pm
TV Channel: ESPN
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Line: UT -12.0
O/U: 60.5
Why Jayhawk fans should watch:
Tennessee is the new darling of the SEC after their win over Alabama, but they can't afford a letdown against Kentucky if they actually expect to make push Georgia for a spot in the SEC Title game. This will be a high-level game that is worth your time, even if it's just to see Heisman contender Hendon Hooker try to pad his resume.
Baylor Bears vs Texas Tech Red Raiders
Location: Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, TX
Game Time: Saturday, Oct 29th at 6:30pm
TV Channel: ESPN2
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Line: TTU -2.5
O/U: 62.5
Why Jayhawk fans should watch:
It is time for the annual BUTT Bowl, a name that I refuse to give even though the teams probably don't want us to use it. Behren Morton has been electric in his two starts for the Red Raiders, and he will look to take advantage of a Baylor defense that is struggling to put together a complete game. Blake Shapen will look to build on the win over the Jayhawks last week and push the Bears back to a bowl game.
Honorable Mention: Pittsburgh Panthers at #21 North Carolina Tarheels
Saturday Late Night
Unfortunately, there isn't really a great late night game to turn on. Stanford should get creamed by UCLA, and the other three games are mismatches between Group of 5 teams.
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