Five CFB games to watch in Week 3: A classic SEC East rivalry, 'Prime Time' in prime time
No ranked-vs.-ranked games in Week 3? No problem. Here are five games worth checking out this weekend.
The five-star game | No. 11 Tennessee at Florida (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET)
SEC East rivals Tennessee and Florida headline Saturday's schedule. Florida (1-1) leads the series 41-31, although Tennessee (2-0) snapped the Gators' five-game winning streak in the series last season with a 38-33 win in which the offenses combined for 1,170 yards.
The teams start different quarterbacks in this year's game after Anthony Richardson and Hendon Hooker left for the NFL. Florida leans on Graham Mertz, a Wisconsin transfer, while Tennessee will start Joe Milton. Mertz has completed 73.8 percent of his passes while Milton has seven total touchdowns and, arguably, the best arm in college football.
The Heisman game | Colorado State at No. 18 Colorado (Saturday, 10 p.m. ET)
Shedeur Sanders or Travis Hunter? Take your pick. Colorado's excellent duo gets a late prime-time slot as the two try to maintain their blistering pace and boost their candidacies for the Heisman Trophy. Sanders has 903 passing yards through two games as Colorado (2-0) has already increased its win total by 100 percent from last year.
His dad, head coach Deion Sanders, already has the Heisman on his mind.
“One of the funniest moments in the darn game was when Shedeur took his helmet off after he made the tremendous scramble,” the head coach said, per On3.com, following last week's win over Nebraska. “It was like a Heisman-type play.”
Hunter has played 272 snaps on offense and defense over two games, quickly emerging as a dominant FBS two-way star. He has 14 receptions and 192 yards as a receiver. On defense, he's allowed three receptions on 10 targets. Expect a long night for Colorado State (0-1)
Upset special | No. 14 LSU at Mississippi State (Saturday, noon ET)
LSU (1-1) might be oversold as a 9.5-point favorite against Mississippi State (2-0). A road SEC game this early local time for the Tigers? Ugh. LSU struggled in a similar scenario at Arkansas last season, although it managed to eke out a 13-10 win.
The Tigers secondary is a concern after allowing 516 yards through two games. On throws 20 yards or longer, the unit's already allowed three receptions on six targets for 96 yards and a touchdown. Look for Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers to take some early shots deep to test LSU's unproven secondary.
Under-the-radar game | Minnesota at No. 20 North Carolina (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)
These teams go about winning in completely different ways, but that's the key point. Both are winning. The Golden Gophers (2-0) are led by a stout defense, surrendering 16 points through games, good for 11th in the country. The offense is off to a slow start, however, only scoring 38 points.
The Tar Heels (2-0), meanwhile, scored 40 points in their Week 2 overtime win over Appalachian State. North Carolina's defense has looked better this season, particularly in Week 1 against South Carolina, but its offense, led by quarterback Drake Maye, is its best unit.
The Minnesota defense offers a compelling test, allowing an average of 92 passing yards per game and totaling 26 quarterback pressures, via Pro Football Focus.
Wild-card game | TCU at. Houston (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET)
In a week with no main attraction, a potential high-scoring game in Houston's Big 12 home opener against TCU might end up as the most exciting. The over-under point total is set at 64.5, so oddsmakers are in on this game turning into a shootout. The Cougars (99th) and Horned Frogs (85th) rank in the bottom half of the country in scoring defense.
Houston wide receiver Sam Brown (15 receptions, 244 yards) has been the best offensive weapon for the Cougars while running back Emani Bailey (33 carries, 231 yards) has excelled for TCU. Each of these 1-1 teams can be expected to put up big numbers again Saturday.
More must-reads: