The hard part about Thursday and Friday night games is that they’re easily treated like regular old college football games. But they’re weird. The timing is off, the routine is messed up, and sometimes, teams rise up and rock when they have the national spotlight.

Whatever. Ball State is going to have a problem.

Toledo might not have a killer defense, but the offense is the MAC’s most dangerous, and the Cardinal O has managed just five field goals in its last three games – all in conference play. It’ll take about 15 to stay with a Rocket team that’s cranking through everyone with ease.

The spread is 24.5. Ball State hasn’t come remotely close to covering that, getting hit for 56 points by a mediocre Central Michigan offense just five days ago. | Toledo vs. BSU Preview

It’s a hard sell for any investor who paid attention to South Alabama stuffing Troy a few weeks ago, and then saw the Trojans easily rip past Georgia State, but the Panthers are going to win. The Panthers are Georgia State, by the way, and it’s quarterback is Conner Manning.

At the moment, he’s playing better than any quarterback named Manning.

Go with Georgia State as the slight home underdog, and enjoy WR Penny Hart taking it home for you. | Georgia State vs. USA Preview

Eastern Michigan has lost five straight games all by a touchdown or less. Yes, EMU is unlucky. Yes, at some point it needs a break to go its way. Yes, it’s pretty good, and it’s playing decent defense. It also wouldn’t know a third down conversion if it was covered in peanut butter.

EMU will have a hard time scoring on a fantastic Northern Illinois defense that’s the best in the MAC, but here’s the problem – when do you break from the trend? NIU is a whole lot better, but if the Eagles have played six straight games – beating Rutgers 16-13 before going on its losing streak – decided by seven points or fewer, you don’t mess with it. | EMU vs. NIU Preview

Ankle, no ankle, whatever. Bryce Love is going to have a hard time making a whole lot of noise on my Heisman ballot if he doesn’t rock against Washington State and Washington over the next few weeks.

Here’s the concern. Oregon State played well in a loss to Colorado, and now it’s rested. Is interim head man Cory Hall the difference? The offense opened it up a bit against the Buffs, and Stanford’s defense isn’t quite as much of a rock as it might seem.

Stanford will come up with plenty of turnovers to make this an easy win. The line has gone down – now it’s at Stanford -21, but don’t worry about it. Oregon State lost by three touchdowns or more in all five games against FCS teams before Colorado.

It’ll take a little bit, but eventually, the floodgates will open. | Stanford vs. Oregon State Preview

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