Viewer’s Guide, Sept. 8 – Sept. 11

Week 2 kicks off tonight with Arizona at Oklahoma State. Yes, there is NFL. I trust you have a DVR? There’s no excuse to miss the first game of the college football week. The Wildcats and Cowboys kickoff at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT on ESPN.

ARIZONA VS. OKLAHOMA STATE
ESPN
Tonight, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

Why You Should Watch

Nick Foles and Brandon Weeden are two of the best quarterbacks in college football, playing against defenses that have shown a propensity for giving up big yardage. The result could be combustible. Also, as mentioned in Links at Lunch, Jenn Brown is on the sidelines. That’s always a good thing.

FIU VS. LOUISVILLE
ESPN
Friday, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

Why You Should Watch

Last year, Florida International took Rutgers and Texas A&M to the wire, and was with Maryland for three quarters. The Golden Panthers have been knocking on the door of upsetting a BCS conference opponent; on national television against a young, still finding its identity Louisville team could mark FIU finally getting that victory.

MISSOURI VS. ARIZONA STATE
ESPN
Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT

Why You Should Watch

Arizona State was a sexy pick to win the Pac-12 South among pundits this offseason. Missouri is ASU’s first real test. The Tigers struggled to score against Miami of Ohio last week, and this week faces a Sun Devil defense with top flight talent. It’s a late kickoff on the East Coast, and I suspect many will be asleep (including poll voters whose job it is to keep tabs on such things). However, this one is worthy of a late energy drink or perhaps a DVR recording.

CAL POLY VS. MONTANA
America One
Saturday, 3:05 p.m. ET/12:05 p.m. PT

Why You Should Watch

The Big Sky’s partnership with America One gives it widespread internet accessibility for free, a very cool feature I suspect other FCS conferences will explore in greater depth down the road. It will cost viewers zero-point-zero dollars to fire up the laptop and get this rematch of a 2010 classic going. Both are coming off losses to FBS opponents and need wins to avoid an 0-2 hole.

UC DAVIS VS. MONTANA STATE
America One
Saturday, 3:05 p.m. ET/12:05 p.m. PT

The circumstances surrounding the Montana State-UC Davis match-up mirror the abovementioned UM-Poly game just about to a T. Bobcat quarterback Denarius McGhee is among the subdivision’s most exciting players, and certainly worth a look.

ALABAMA VS. PENN STATE

ABC
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT

Why You Should Watch

Two of the most storied programs in college football history lock horns on the hallowed grounds of Beaver Stadium. UA had its way with the Nittany Lions last season in Tuscaloosa, but PSU has not lost a home non-conference game in nearly a decade.

UTAH VS. USC

Versus
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT

Why You Should Watch

Utah plays its first-ever Pac-12 Conference on the home turf of the league’s most historically successful program. Neither team looked particular sharp in Week 1 and figure to match up evenly. Kyle Whittingham boasts a winning career mark against the conference, and trumping Lane Kiffin would certainly be a feather in the cap.

NOTRE DAME VS. MICHIGAN

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

ESPN

Why You Shold Watch

You don’t need me to tell you that this is one of the most rich rivalries in college football, and its history meets its future. Both squads will be sporting throwback uniforms in the first-ever night game at Michigan Stadium. The Irish are in a must-win position for their BCS aspirations. Can the defense do what it failed to last year and contain Denard Robinson?

FOR THE DVR

NFL: New Orleans Saints vs. Green Bay Packers
Tonight, 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT
NBC

I embrace my rare opportunity to be a hipster, sticking to the “underground” of watching a Pac-12 vs. Big 12 match-up on ESPN (yes, I realize the irony). The beauty of watching the NFL kickoff on delay is the ability to fast forward through myriad terrible musical performances and pre-game pyrotechnics and theatrics that would make Vince McMahon blush. I love the NFL, but I love the NFL on Sundays and Mondays.

BREAKING BAD

Sunday, 10 p.m. ET

AMC

Gus Frings’ backstory is coming to, the potential rift between Walt and Jesse grows, and Hank is walking on thin ice pursuing the Chicken Man’s connection to Gale Boetticher. The first eight episodes of Breaking Bad Season 4 have been gripping. Episode nine should continue that trend as it races to the season finale.