THREE GAMES TO WATCH OUTSIDE OF CHESTNUT HILL

Oh, that's right, this feature won't die. With Labor Day weekend, though, you don't have to skimp on the tailgating on Saturday to get lots of other football in. Let's review some options, shall we?

All times Eastern because we're biased.

South Carolina at Vanderbilt (Thursday, 7pm, ESPN): What, you aren't going to watch the first game of the season? Who cares who's playing! Although, the Ol' Ball Coach obviously has a team on his hands that doesn't want to see Georgia win the East, and Vanderbilt only needs to topple the 'Dawgs and the Gamecocks in the season to make the SEC title game since they miss 'Bama and LSU. One more reason to watch? Vandy gets Northwestern in week two, so the comparison of the comparison will be interesting for BC's future schedule.

Navy vs Notre Dame in Dublin (Saturday, 8am, CBS): If you have any eligibility and played cornerback, please report to Coach Brian Kelly's office. You must be willing to wear ridiculous shoes and/or leftover Rhone Fire jerseys. The potential schadenfreude of Notre Dame losing to Navy again, in Ireland, is just too much for me not to want to see. Plus, it coincides with final preparations for tailgating.

Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech (Monday, 8pm, ESPN): Two opponents for later in the year, Labor Day weekend. The Hokies have proved everything, just about, since joining the ACC and have become ol' reliable that they'll be strong. GT is a little more interesting this year - and stand to be a very different team than anyone else BC faces. It's the ACC on Labor Day night - without the ridiculous Maryland uniforms from last year.

THREE GAMES TO WATCH OUTSIDE OF CHESTNUT HILL

Just one last home game before the bubble goes up over Alumni Stadium. Tailgate hard, cheer hard for the Seniors and get ready to slump quietly into the (bowl-less) existential reality of the 2011 BC football season. When all is said and done, here are three other games to scan or scoreboard watch:

West Virginia at #23 Cincinnati (Noon, ABC) - Honest to God, I think the winner of this game gets a BCS bid. I haven't done the math on how the Big East could be won, and I have no intention of doing so.

#20 Auburn at #15 Georgia (3:30, CBS) - The best chance for mayhem is for Georgia to make it through the season untouched in the last few weeks before shocking LSU in the SEC title game. Get by last year's champ and they'll be one step closer to that opportunity. Funny to think that at one point this season we were clamoring to pick up Mark Richt after the 0-2 start would lead to a likely ejection from Athens. Alas - not so fast.

#7 Oregon at #4 Stanford (8:00, ESPN) - Get past Oregon, and Stanford's chances of an undefeated season increase exponentially (I'm going to stop you before starting, Irish fans). Proposal: mixed-doubles for the title games. Have Pac-12 South play the SEC East and then Stanford and LSU just meet up a week earlier. Winner gets a title shot. Wait a second, I think I just convinced myself of a playoff, I need to go hurl myself off of something.

THREE GAMES TO WATCH NOW THAT THE BOWL STREAK IS OVER

Well, it's over friends - but, like sheep to a slaughter, we just can't get enough college football. If you want to take some time today to watch good football teams play, let's direct you around the whip.

UNC at NC State (12:30, ACC Net) - Really, think about this one: would you go back in time to the land before Tom O'Brien never left? Ask an NC State fan and I think the answer is pretty clearly, "No." We host TOBy next week, but he and the Wolfpack have to survive the North Carolina public school battle.

Northwestern at #10 Nebraska (3:30, Big Ten Net) - I still don't know what to make of Nebraska as a Big Ten team, but here they are - and with the losses piling up around the Legends and the control of destiny for a title shot in the 'Huskers' hands - still damn fun to watch. This could be a steamrolling of a Northwestern team that we choked against, or Persa could be who some in Evanston thought he was and really mess up the Big Ten title pursuit.

#2 LSU at #1 Alabama (CBS, 8pm) - The game of this century, no question. I actually like the Tigers to pull off some craziness here in Tuscaloosa, and I don't think you can call yourself a college football fan if you aren't getting just a little bit physically aroused.

THREE GAMES TO WATCH OUTSIDE OF COLLEGE PARK

Ah, sunny College Park, a beacon of hope and optimism and eight-year-olds who have given us the finger. If you aren't up the steep cheap seats (warning: do not throw anyone up for touchdowns up there, it is a terrifying experience) and have the luxury of a remote control to get you through this Saturday, here are a few other games to watch.

#11 Michigan State at #14 Nebraska (Noon, ESPN) - Yes, Michigan State pulled off the recent greatest Hail Mary (two points, then I'll drop it: not really a Hail Mary because it wasn't a Catholic School and there can *only be one*). They have been fun to watch all year except when getting beaten on down by the Irish, and Nebraska has a pretty good comeback of its own a few weeks back. Midday, autumn, Big Ten football. Not a bad way to start the day.

#22 Georgia at Florida (3:30, CBS) - World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. I'm calling it that until the end of time, and I'll probably watch it that many times as well. Richt is the king of the unsportsmanlike.

#9 Oklahoma at #8 Kansas State (3:30, ESPN) - Picture-in-picture this one to find out how the Sooners rebound and if Bill Snyder is for real.

THREE GAMES TO WATCH OUTSIDE OF BLACKSBURG

I'm at the point where I'm not even pretending there aren't other games to watch during the massacres of BC football. Of course, hang tight, you'll get through it.

UNC at #7 Clemson (Noon, ESPN) - Clemson escaped pulling a Clemson last weekend in College Park. Think they can keep up the charm?

#20 Auburn at #1 LSU (3:30 pm, CBS) - LSU will be without the honey badger. They'll be fine against last year's champs.

#6 Wisconsin @ #16 Michigan State (8pm, ESPN) - At least as of this week, Bucky controls its own BCS destiny. Need this win to get some love from the computers because they likely won't be tested again until the inaugural B1G Championship.

THREE GAMES TO WATCH AT THE ESSO CLUB INSTEAD OF GOING INTO MEMORIAL STADIUM

Above, we direct you to one of the most important landmarks in all of Clemson, South Carolina. Given the likely outcome of this weekend's game, there is a chance that you will see members of the H&L team there before, after (during?) the match, watching the other delightful treats in college football this weekend. Let's get to the three games to circle:

#3 Oklahoma vs #11 Texas (ABC, Noon) - One of the best rivalry games in the country - and certainly the best that never takes place on either school's campus - laces up this weekend for a showdown in Dallas and a ton is on the line for the Sooners. One of these teams will stay undefeated, but given Oklahoma's poll position (pole position entendre!) on the season start, they control their own destiny to get to New Orleans as we discussed yesterday. This game rarely disappoints, whether you call it the Red River Rivalry or the Red River Shootout. The teams have split the last four, so this will be a nice little battle.

#17 Florida at #1 LSU (CBS, 3:30) - Sssh, I know this one is during our game, but I just can't get enough of Les Miles and Clemson has an in-and-out policy to go tailgate while the time is still running. So, if someone has a DirecTV setup in the parking lot, we very well may be there or at the Esso for part of this one (or at least the tail end after the game is over).

#12 Michigan at Northwestern (BigTen Network, 7:00) - I actually think this game will be interesting. PersaStrong is back, and Michigan needs to prove to me that they can do more than just score points. File this one under a "keep an eye on" during the other primetime games.

THREE GAMES TO WATCH OUTSIDE OF CHESTNUT HILL

We haven't been giving the BC sports love because of work and baseball. It happens. Anyway, as we prep for Wake Forest on Saturday and get back to thinking about the gridiron, here are a few other games to keep your eye on throughout the day.

Western Michigan vs. Connecticut (3:30 pm, ESPN3) - HAHAHAHAHA JUST KIDDING. A weak afternoon slate means we're picking between Auburn/South Carolina, Baylor/KState or GT/UNC. I think the ACC matchup is the primary location, but lots of channel flipping slash maybe gutter cleaning in the early slot.

#13 Clemson vs #11 Virginia Tech (6 pm, ESPN2) - Our next two opponents are lining up against each other with quite a bit more on the line - potentially even a preview of the ACC Championship if both can stay the course in their respective conference schedules. I'm not buying Clemson quite yet (I doubted Florida State was real a top five team all offseason), and while they're stronger than expected, I think it's a little misleading. Have to watch to find out if I'm right.

#8 Nebraska vs #7 Wisconsin (8 pm, ESPN) - The Badgers became the unofficial second team of H&L this year with the way they started out the season slash how Russell Wilson is sticking it to TOB's decision to let him go. It didn't take Nebraska to be relevant in the Big Ten, and it's nice to have a game this big happen in that conference and it not involving Ohio State/Michigan. Big Lines vs. Bigger Lines. Can't wait.

THREE GAMES TO WATCH OUTSIDE OF CHESTNUT HILL OR THROUGH A PAPER BAG

I'll be at the game (paper bag TBD), and I don't think Doug is going to be tuning into the ESPN3 game. If you can stomach college football this weekend while you wait for the #5 hockey team in the country to get going, here's a few games to get you through the day.

UNC at #25 Georgia Tech (Noon, ESPN) - Two Coastal teams that BC doesn't get this year match up in Atlanta, and hopefully some of the Yellow Jacket faithful will be rocking the most superfluous bookstore shirt since Syracuse mass-printed those 6 OT Big East hoops ones. Yes, we get it, you score a lot of points against crappy teams (Kansas is on that list). Do it against the rest of the ACC, now, to keep that rank.

#11 Florida State at #21 Clemson (3:30 ESPN) - Not one, but two really solid games in the ACC this week. The matchup in Death Valley could just as easily be a rebound for the 'Noles after the devastating loss to the Sooners in Tallahassee and/or a let down for the Tigers after beating around defending champion Auburn. My money is on the latter.

#2 LSU at #16 West F. Virginia (8:00 ABC) - If this was a soap opera, there would be no beer left in Morgantown and Les Miles would have already slept with your wife and come back from the dead. Join us for this very special episode for, "As the Couch Burns."

THREE GAMES TO WATCH OUTSIDE OF CHESTNUT HILL

We're not picking apples yet. Yet.

I'm not quite at the point where I'm recommending non-football activities for Saturday afternoons. So, here's three games worth watching after the 12:30 Saturday game with Duke.

Tennessee at #16 Florida (3:30, CBS): Yes, I know there are some riveting ACC Coastal division games going on, but since BC plays neither UVA nor UNC this year, I think we can skip that matchup for the ever exciting SEC East rivalry game between the Vols and Gators. Rocky Top hasn't been victorious against their conference mates in the last six tries, but this will be the first time in years that Urban Meyer hasn't been the head coach providing the beating. First year coach Will Muschamp better not let down the Gainesville faithful.

Ohio State at Miami (7:30, ESPN): As passed along by SB Nation's Luke Zimmerman, this game shall be henceforth known as Tits vs. Tats - and nothing corny like "Suspension Bowl." Miami lost its last nationally broadcast game against the Maryland State Flag, so this is another test against the team that let Toledo hang along just a little bit longer than they should have. Come for the football, stay for the Schaedefreude, at least until...

#1 Oklahoma at #4 Florida State (8:00, ABC): This one is going to be fun because it will show whether either one of the two teams is for real, as it is really unlikely that either team will be tested too much by in conference schedules. There aren't a lot of stats to go on at this point: Florida State handled a few directional schools the way they were supposed to, and Oklahoma treated the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes like tropical depressions. There was a conversation a few weeks back about the Oregon-LSU game - would the loser be locked out of the BCSCG if they stumbled in week 1 - which probably seems a lot more appropriate here. Except for either Texas or a match with VT in the ACCCG (respectively), Oklahoma and Florida State do not have a lot of other chances to fix their resume as one loss teams - nor lots of traps on the schedules. This is a playoff, in week 3, and the winner is riding shotgun to the title game.

Three Games to Watch Outside of Orlando

Not making the trip to Orlando with Doug? Then you have a full day of games to pick from to keep you entertained until the 8pm kickoff tomorrow. Here's three worth watching:

Iowa at Iowa State (12:00, Fox Sports) - The best reason to bring up this game is that Midwestern Nativity scene that was proposed to replace the ugly-but-now-in-comparison-not-so-ugly original CyHawk trophy. While the pewter/corn/heartwearming-goodness version has been scrapped, there still is plenty of pride on the line between these two squads. It also seems to be an interesting stage in the rivalry as the Cyclones are either going to end up in the mid-major+Texas version of the BigXII or be one of the lost puppies of conference expansion.

#3 Alabama at #23 Penn State (3:30, ABC) - In the first half of this home-and-home last year in Tuscaloosa, Alabama suffocated the Nittany Lions to the tune of 24-3. This year, there are more question marks around the Penn State offense and the Tide's defense may somehow have gotten better. Alternate between Yuengling and Moonshine and get your afternoon going right for this one - should at least be a fun one to watch a la LSU/Oregon.

#12 South Carolina at Georgia (3:30, ESPN) - Depending on which report you read, Georgia either got destroyed by Boise State last week or humiliated. Things don't get easier: the defending SEC East champion Gamecocks come to town and the SEC season starts for real. When the Bama/Penn State game turns into a blowout, flip over to ESPN to watch this one. Georgia coach Mark Richt could truly be running out of time in Athens.

What other games are you all watching this weekend?

Three Games to Watch Outside of Chestnut Hill

Touchdown, by Flickr user CSS01

An old favorite makes its return to the blog: the three games post. DL will be at the game, but if you're like Doug and watching the game from your couch, here are a few other games going on the rest of the day to keep you from accomplishing anything else at all.

Also, we use AP rankings around here until the BCS rankings debut in October, for your reference point. All times ET, because that's where we live.

#3 Oregon vs. #4 LSU (8pm, ABC) - Biggest game of the week, at least if you go by the Gameday presence. Oregon still is the team to beat in the Pac-[Number of Teams] and LSU wants to see if the Hat can take them back to the promised land. Hoping for lots of odd play calling, scrambling and points - this one should be absolutely entertaining.

#5 Boise State vs. #19 Georgia (8pm, ESPN - picture-in-picture) - When it comes to personal vendettas, I've picked on Boise State a lot over the last few years. That tradition continues as I eagerly, with schaedenfreude thoughts, tune in to the Chicken Sandwich game down in Atlanta on Saturday night. Like every year, Boise does a solid job at least adding one or two non-conference games that are blockbusters, to compensate for the sisters of the poor conference slate. The high rankings are just as often about the likelihood that Boise will go undefeated, and this is the test this year to see if that will continue. I never miss a chance to watch Boise blow it.

Miami at Maryland (Monday night, 8pm, ESPN) - The ACC/Labor Day tradition continues with a match-up of what's left of the Hurricanes and the new-look (literally) Terps under Randy Edsall. With both opponents on the slate and Mayland's attempt at a color-wheel look for Byrd Stadium, BC fans should tune in to see how the Eagles may match up.