Thursday Night college football schedule, viewing guide, and why-to-watch

Hello there, meaningful Big 12 game! Hello there, slaughter game with a cool triple option offense!

Texas Tech + 7 ¹⁄₂ at TCU (O/U 59 ¹⁄₂ ) 6:30 ESPN

Two teams with seasons in the balance feature prominently tonight, as the somewhat disappointing TCU Horned Frogs (3-2, 1-1) host the also-somewhat disappointing Texas Tech Red Raiders. On paper, the Red Raiders were supposed to have one of the best defenses in the B12...it, uh, it hasn’t worked out that way. They’ve been lit up nine ways from Sunday. Don’t look to the Frogs to bring the heat either. They’ve played two quality teams and been smacked around by both. They also needed to squeeze out a late FG to win at home vs. the Cyclones. The struggling TCU offense gets a reprieve tonight though against the 122nd ranked passing defense in the country. And the Raiders will get theirs too, either in a late blowout or in a competitive shootout. I like the over. And, more importantly, I like how this sets up for the top of the B12: the loser is at .500 and in a deep hole for the back-loaded, back half of the schedule they both face. My instincts tell me Kliff takes another road L; that defense is just woeful.

Georgia Southern - 18 ¹⁄₂ at Texas State (O/U 59) 6:30 ESPNU — Unless you graduated from either of these schools, you’re the CUSA commissioner, you just love the triple option that much, or you have a kid playing on the field or in the band, there’s absolutely no reason to watch this game. Well, unless you put money on it. Even so, just keep an eye on the score. This is going to be a bloodletting: I don’t think Withers survives the full season.