Bye Week Bulletin: College football games to watch while the Florida Gators are off

Football

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Image Credit: Victoria Riccobono, UAA

The No. 20 Florida Gators are getting a much-needed week off after playing three ranked opponents in their first seven games of the season without a break. While Florida entered its bye relatively healthy, with hopes of being near 100% when the team returns to the field next week, the Gators still have plenty they need to get right from an in-house perspective.

Florida must figure out how it can successfully move the ball with junior running back Jadan Baugh when opponents sell out against a mediocre offensive line. Head coach Jon Sumrall and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner must decide who to start at quarterback: junior Aaron Philo or sophomore Tramell Jones Jr., whose added athleticism and arm strength clearly benefited the team last week. Sumrall and defensive coordinator Brad White must determine how to develop and/or hide one of the nation’s worst secondaries, as it’s unlikely the defense will be able to sell out rushing the passer against better opponents.

That’s what the coaches and players have worked on this week and will continue practicing next week before facing No. 5 Georgia in Atlanta — a rare rivalry game outside Jacksonville, Florida. On Saturday, the Gators and their fans can take an opportunity to focus on what’s happening around the country.

Must-watch games

No. 18 LSU (5-2) at Auburn (4-2) — 12 p.m. on ABC: With Florida still, somehow, in College Football Playoff contention, the quality of its wins and losses still matters. The orange-and-blue Tigers just beat the Bulldogs on the road when the Dawgs were the No. 1 team in the nation last week, and they fought Tennessee on the road two weeks ago. Win over the Bayou Bengals, and Auburn is suddenly ranked. Meanwhile, LSU could drop its third game before its bye, ratcheting up the intensity of those Sumrall vs. Lane Kiffin conversations.

No. 11 Tennessee (6-1) at South Carolina (3-3) — 3:30 p.m. on ESPN: The Gators and Volunteers will not play this season for the first time since 1989. That’s incredibly dumb and a symptom of the SEC’s continuously poor scheduling policies. As such, Florida has no choice but to root for other teams to get the job done on its behalf, and a Gamecocks squad that embarrassed it on homecoming two weeks ago is among the best options to hand the Vols their second loss of the season.

No. 7 Ole Miss (5-1) vs. No. 19 Texas (4-2) — 7:30 p.m. on ABC: Two teams the Gators beat, one that cannot afford another loss. It’s tough to say whether it’s more ideal for Florida if the Rebels take down the Longhorns or vice versa, but both are SEC teams ranked ahead of UF despite having been defeated by the program. The Gators’ win over the ‘Horns is unquestioned, but perhaps their victory over the Rebels can be attributed to the LSU hangover? Saturday may provide the answer.

Could-watch games

No. 6 Indiana (6-1) at Michigan (4-2) — 12 p.m. on Fox: Will the reigning champion Hoosiers rebound after suffering their first loss in two years despite going into the Big House?

Pittsburgh (5-2) at No. 1 Miami (FL) (6-0) — 12 p.m. on ESPN: The ACC is so incredibly weak that the Hurricanes essentially do not face a comparable team until they play Notre Dame in two weeks.

Baylor (4-2) at Kansas (2-4) — 1 p.m. on TNT: Oh, you don’t want to watch DJ Lagway on an off week?

No. 2 BYU (6-0) at UCF (3-3) — 3:30 p.m. on Fox: Some Florida fans also like UCF. Not sure who you are, exactly, but there are apparently some of you. The Knights could knock the Cougars off their perch should BYU be suffering a … hangover … from its win over Notre Dame.

Texas A&M (4-3) at No. 13 Alabama (5-2) — 3:30 p.m. on ABC: The Crimson Tide are attempting to avoid losing their third straight game, which would spell disaster for Kalen DeBoer.

Vanderbilt (3-4) at No. 12 Kentucky (6-1) — 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network: Are the Wildcats for real? The Commodores are unlikely to prove a real test, but there’s a dearth of quality games in the early evening.

No. 14 Houston (6-1) at No. 10 Utah (6-0) — 10:15 p.m. on ESPN: What may be one of the best games of the day serves as a terrific nightcap for this slate. Little matters for UF’s interests but quality football is quality football.