No ranked teams are playing each other this week in college football. This could go two ways: Very boring or totally batty.
The last time there was a schedule like this was 23 months ago and the result was the latter. Seven ranked teams lost to unranked teams, six playing on the road and three that were favored by at least two touchdowns.
The craziness started on Oct. 13, 2017 — a Friday the 13th, just like this week – when Syracuse beat No. 2 Clemson 27-24 at the Carrier Dome.
Later that night, No. 8 Washington State was blown out at California, 37-3.
The beat went on the next day, though not all could be considered upsets. No. 24 Texas Tech and No. 25 Navy lost road games and were never ranked again that season.
Some of the results had serious postseason implications. No. 10 Auburn lost at LSU and then did not lose again until the SEC championship.
Maybe the biggest stunner of all came after dark in the Pac-12 when No. 5 Washington lost 13-7 at Arizona State.
This week, Clemson returns to Syracuse for the first time since that Friday night stunner. The Tigers are favored by four touchdowns, one of four top-six teams favored by at least two touchdowns on the road this weekend.
The picks (FBS-FCS matchups not included):
FRIDAY
No. 20 Washington State (minus 9) at Houston
The Cougars playing a Friday night road game. What could go wrong? ... HOUSTON 38-34, UPSET SPECIAL.
SATURDAY
No. 1 Clemson (minus 27) at Syracuse
The Orange squeezed the intrigue out of this game by getting blasted by Maryland last week ... CLEMSON 52-20.
No. 2 Alabama (minus 25½) at South Carolina
You might remember the last time the Tide and Gamecocks played in 2010 as The Stephen Garcia Game. Could this be The Ryan Hilinski Game? ... ALABAMA 45-14.
Arkansas State (plus 33) at No. 3 Georgia
The Bulldogs are 25-5 with Jake Fromm as the starting quarterback ... GEORGIA 42-14.
No. 5 Oklahoma (minus 22½) at UCLA
TWITTER REQUESTS
North Carolina (plus 3) at Wake Forest, Friday — @walkerRcarey
The winner gets a 3-0 start and makes a case for a spot in the Top 25 ... WAKE FOREST 31-24.
Kansas State (plus 7½) at Mississippi State — @branhadad
The Bulldogs’ offense has been humming, but the status of QB Tommy Stevens (shoulder) is unclear ... MISSISSIPPI STATE 34-20.