CNN/SI's week-by-week guide to '99

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Posted: Wednesday August 11, 1999 09:17 PM

By Stewart Mandel, CNN/SI

First, a disclaimer: Nothing really compares to seeing a college football game in person. Ah, the smell of burgers roasting on the grill. The sound of a fight song blaring from the band. The sight of dew dripping from a freshly painted end zone.

But live college football on the verge of the millenium certainly has its disadvantages as well. Like leaving the house before sunrise on a Saturday to beat traffic on the one-lane road leading to the stadium. Or hurdling the parking-lot puke of hungover undergrads.

And, most notably, the eight-minute commercial breaks without a clicker.

Suddenly, watching the drama unfold from the comfort of su casa doesn't seem like such a lame idea (Note to math majors: The lameness of staying home on a Saturday could be viewed as being inversely proportional to the number of people you watch with).

That being said, here's a guide to the prime viewing opportunities for this season:

ALL TIMES EASTERN

Aug. 28-29: Early bird gets ... football Thanks to the BCS computer, there's a new craze toward teams toughening schedules, which means college football in August no longer means Oklahoma-Northwestern. Arizona at Penn State (Saturday, 1 p.m., ABC) is sure to get you off the links, and Louisiana Tech at Florida State (5 p.m., espn2), N.C. State at Texas (8:30 p.m., espn2) and Ohio State vs. Miami (Sunday, 2:30 p.m., ABC) will keep you inside.

Sept. 4: Rule No. 1 Stay up late Labor Day weekend tends to be Blowout Weekend with the abundance of Boise State at UCLAs on tap. But Notre Dame at Michigan (3:30, ABC) should be another classic bloodbath. And Texas Tech at Arizona State (8 p.m., Fox Sports Net), featuring superstar running backs Ricky Williams and J.R. Redmond, will adhere to my one and only rule of college football on TV: Always watch the Pac-10 game of the week.

Sept. 11: Primetime party Saturday night marks the first need for a satellite dish or sports-bar trip. Otherwise you'll miss one of ABC's intriguing 8 p.m. regional games, Georgia Tech at Florida State or UCLA at Ohio State. Earlier, Lou Holtz gets his SEC baptism with South Carolina at Georgia (5, espn2), while Notre Dame at Purdue (3:30, ABC) offers an early glimpse at Boilermakers wonderboy QB Drew Brees.

Sept. 18: Orange you glad you're watching? Think of it as a glorified game show. One of these men, Phil Fulmer or Steve Spurrier, will walk away with national title hopes intact, the other, a lovely parting gift. It's Tennessee at Florida in primetime for all the SEC East marbles. Elsewhere, Florida State-N.C. State (3:30, ABC) is a rare "rematch" for the 'Noles, while old nemeses get reacquainted in Penn State at Miami (3:30, CBS).

Sept. 25: Rumble in the Northwest On paper, Colorado at Washington (3:30, ABC) would have been a better game nine years ago, but not when you consider how much Gary Barnett and the Buffaloes hate, no, loathe the Huskies' Rick Neuheisel. Should be awesome. Meanwhile, Midwesterners will be jacked for Michigan at Wisconsin (TBA, ABC or ESPN), and Arkansas at Alabama (3:30, CBS) reigns supreme in the South.

Oct. 2: Roll Tide ... and get me some more SnackWells! Finally, Alabama at Florida (most likely 3:30, CBS) promises to be the grudge match it was when these two squared off for the SEC title four times earlier this decade. UCLA at Arizona State (10, Fox Sports Net) is one of those must-see West Coast games. Other regional highlights: Wisconsin at Ohio State (most likely 3:30, ABC), a year too late, LSU at Georgia (TBA) and Marshall at Miami of Ohio (good luck finding it).

Oct. 9: National titles for sale Two years ago it was a 47-0 whitewashing, but Miami at Florida State (noon, ABC) will likely return to late-'80s form this season. For more historic rivalries, try the battle of star QBs Quincy Carter and Tee Martin, Georgia at Tennessee (most likely 3:30, CBS), Michigan at Michigan State (noon, ABC) or Oklahoma vs. Texas (3:30, TBA). Also worth noting: Arizona State at Notre Dame (2:30, NBC).

Oct. 16: Under a dark gray sky Some say football is meant to be played in the Big Ten on October Saturdays. Find out with Ohio State at Penn State (noon, ABC), as sensational Buckeyes RB Michael Wiley squares off against LaVar Arrington and "Linebacker U." In the Big East, the defending champs get a date with upstart QB Michael Vick in Syracuse at Virginia Tech (TBA).

Oct. 23: Major headache for Big Red A year after the Longhorns had the audacity to beat the Huskers on their turf, revenge will be on the mind for Nebraska at Texas. Some think Penn State at Purdue (TBA) could be the Big Ten game of the year, while Tennessee at Alabama (most likely 3:30, CBS) marks the Vols' first visit to Tuscaloosa in 69 years.

Oct. 30: Football and Flaming Dr. Peppers As an added bonus, if you plan on watching Florida vs. Georgia (3:30, CBS) on the tube, try replicating the World's Largest Cocktail Party in your family room. If you're not passed out by the end, load up on that Pac-10 adrenaline rush with a red-letter game, Arizona at UCLA (TBA). West Virginia at Miami, Fla., (noon, TBA) also has potential.

Nov. 6: Now we get serious Now the fun begins in earnest. Finish raking the leaves early, because we've got a full plate of potential late-season thrillers: Notre Dame at Tennessee (most likely 3:30, CBS), Texas A&M at Nebraska (most likely 3:30, ABC), Colorado at Kansas State (TBA), Arizona State at USC (TBA), Georgia Tech at Virginia (TBA) and LSU at Alabama (TBA).

Nov. 13: Showdown Saturday The two main reasons this was the most exciting weekend of the regular season last year are back: Tennessee at Arkansas (TBA), year one "post-fumble!," Kansas State at Nebraska (TBA), year one "post-finally!" Joining the party: Michigan at Penn State (noon, ABC), Miami at Virginia Tech (TBA) and Washington at UCLA (TBA).

Nov. 20: More exciting than arm wrestling Two words: Rivalry Week. It's believed the only way to achieve maximum enjoyment is to grow several extra sets of eyes. The day starts with -- what else -- Ohio State at Michigan (noon, ABC), then spreads to Florida State at Florida (3:30, CBS), Alabama at Auburn -- The Iron Bowl-- (7:30, ESPN), Washington State at Washington -- The Apple Cup -- (TBA), Cal at Stanford (3:30, TBA), UCLA at USC (TBA) and Purdue at Indiana -- a.k.a. Drew at Antwaan (TBA).

Nov. 25-27: Stuffing ... lots of stuffing With Barry Sanders retired, the only Thanksgiving football worth watching takes place on campus. First there's Ole Miss at Mississippi State (Thursday, 8 p.m., ESPN), followed by Texas at Texas A&M (Friday, 11 a.m., ABC) and Nebraska at Colorado (2:30 p.m., ABC). Then, put off shopping another day and enjoy Georgia at Georgia Tech (Saturday, 1 p.m., ABC), Arizona at Arizona State (1 p.m., ABC) and Syracuse at Miami (3:30, CBS).

Dec. 4: Breakfast of champions (and lunch and dinner) Championship Saturday, with its BCS implications, proved extradordinary in 1998. Check CNN/SI's preview to see who might be playing come time for the Big 12 championship (3:30, ABC) and SEC Championship (8, ABC). Plus, it's the 100th installment of the beautiful tradition that is Army vs. Navy (noon, CBS).