What are you doing Thursday night? I’ll tell you what you should be doing – settling into your favorite recliner and turning on your television.
Must see TV? No, it’s not NBC’s Thursday night lineup (though I still love Cheers and Family Ties). Simply, two of the best football games of the weekend will fall back-to-back that evening.
First up is No. 10 OU at No. 6 Baylor (6:30 pm CST, Fox Sports 1). How big is this game in Waco? All you need to know is this – they’re going tarpless.
Yes, the infamous tarp covering up several thousand seats in the south end zone at Floyd Casey Stadium will be removed for Baylor’s home games vs. Oklahoma and Texas. Bear Fever has hit Baylor Nation.
It’s well deserved. This is a legitimate top-10 team, regardless of whom they have played so far. Baylor ranks first in the FBS in points scored (63.9) and margin of victory (48.0).
The Sooners are banged up, having lost two of their best defensive players for the season in Corey Nelson and Jordan Phillips, as well as one of their best offensive players in Trey Millard. Regardless, Bob Stoops will have his team ready to go with the right attitude.
And if the Sooners and Bears aren’t enough for you, how about this nightcap? No. 3 Oregon is at No. 5 Stanford (8 pm CST, ESPN).
While most did not see the OU-Baylor game coming as a big match-up, this one was scheduled for Thursday to give ESPN some exclusive umph in week 10, which includes LSU at Alabama on Saturday.
Both Oregon and Stanford were in the top-5 coming into the season, and it should live up to its billing.
Oregon is second to Baylor in total offense with 55.6 points-per-game, while Stanford ranks 19th in defense, giving up 19.4 points-per-game.
Ducks QB Marcus Mariota ranks fifth in the nation in yards-per-completion with 15.84 yards-per-catch and leads a lethal Ducks attack.
Stanford stubbed its toe at Utah a few weeks ago but has bounced back with solid performances over the last few games.
So get the kids’ homework done and settle in Thursday night for some great football. Why wait until Saturday for some of the biggest match-ups of the week?
