Thursday Night College Football viewing guide and why-to-watch

Georgia State at Arkansas State -14.5 (o/u 57) 6:30 Central ESPNU

One of the unmitigated disappointments of the season has to be the play of the Arkansas State Red Wolves. The boys from Jonesboro are a deep veteran and explosive team that was expected to battle App. State for the Sun Belt crown. It hasn’t quite worked out that way. Ignore getting smoked in Tuscaloosa, the Red Wolves were competitive against the Mountaineers for exactly one half last week, then ASU destroyed Arkansas State...on the road.

The signs were there earlier, though: Arkie Lite had squeaked by Tulsa and UNLV by just single digits. If they want to turn the season around, and help the Tide along the way, they can do so by taking care of business against the disappointing Ga. State Panthers. The Panthers are a dome team, and it’s fairly chilly up here at the moment, so that may come into play somewhat for this night kick. I’ve seen GSU play a few times this year. They’re not bumbling or poorly coached, they simply don’t have the talent to be competing at this level. The passing game has some nice pieces, but it’s not a threatening offense and the defense is simply out of its league.

Stanford - 2.5 at Arizona State (o/u 58) 8:00 Central ESPN

By far one of the bigger weeknight games, the P12 brings us another cross-divisional clash reminiscent of the Wazzu-USC game two weeks ago. When we last saw the Cardinal, they were on a two-game losing streak to the Utes and the Irish — and neither were particularly competitive either. Bryce Love has been ineffectual this season, even when he’s no been injured. That leaves this normally staid Stanford relying on Kevin Costello for offense. And it’s met with varying degrees of success.

For the Sun Devils, ASU ran into the brick wall of conference play after upsetting the No. 21 Michigan State Spartans. Don’t let the record here fool you though. ASU’s not a bad team and they have played fantastically at home. The Fightin’ Hermsblew out UTSA, beat Michigan State, and though going winless against their last three ranked foes, they were within a touchdown of all of them (Colorado, Washington, San Diego State.)

Stanford is in for a serious fight tonight, and the line reflects that. If Costello can’t handle the havoc of ASU’s front four, and if the Cardinal secondary disappoints as it has the last two weeks, the Sun Devils can win this...and it wouldn’t even necessarily be an upset.