WAKE UP! College Football Opening Morning Viewing Guide, TV Schedule and Open Thread

The 2017 college football season has begun. It has not been the most exciting start to the year. In fact, it feels like that random weekend in November where “all the games suck,” — but, like that weekend, CFB’s preseason and week day matchups have had some low-key good games (Hawaii-UMass, BC-NIU, the defensive tussle between Colo. State and Colorado come to mind.)

That is to say, we watch because you never know what’s going to happen. So, while some of the morning games seem iffy, a few have good potential if you dig a little deeper.

Below is the schedule, and what we’re keeping an eye on. All times are God’s right, proper Central.

• Youngstown State, Bo Pelini’s FCS Championship runner-up, crosses Lake Erie to meet the high-powered Pitt Panthers led by former Vol QB Nathan Peterman. Don’t sleep on this FCS-upset special.
• Speaking of upset special, Orgeon State played as bad an opening week of football as you can imagine. They host the very good FCS Vikings of Portland State. This is a loseable game in the Beavs don’t get it together.
• Is Maryland ever going to turn the corner? Does talented Texas finally have a coach to lead the ‘Horns out of a funk that has endured for almost a decade?
• Cal at North Carolina. Whatever the over is, I hope you bet it. This one is going to go sideways at some point. The Bears have always had an offense. They’re betting that defensive specialist Justin Wilcox can fashion a competent team in Berkeley.
• Wyoming at Iowa may be the most intriguing of the morning. Craig Bohl is turning it around in Laramie. The road trip to Kinnick is always tough, but this is just the kind of early-season paycheck game that Iowa sleepwalks through en route to an embarrassing loss. Can the Cowboys defense hold up?

Today’s College Gameday is live from Hotlanta, if billion-dollar stadium christenings, Tom Rinaldi, and crappy bro country are your thing. Join Lee, Dez, David & Herbie, with guest picker Sam Hunt, at 8 Central.

We’ll be back at 2:30 for the afternoon games, and, of course, have your game threads for tonight’s gonzo main event.

Roll Football. What are you watching?