Who to watch in Saturday’s slate of games?

Good morning New York Giants fans and a happy Saturday!

We are heading in to the home stretch of the 2019 College Football season and it’s getting down to crunch time for some schools. Teams across the country are trying to make their case for not only a place in the College Football Playoffs, but for a place in the big bowl games after the season. Some of the biggest games of the year are still ahead of us, but we have a fine slate to enjoy today.

I won’t be highlighting any noon games for a change, but that’s because I want to highlight a pair of afternoon games.

Georgia (8) at Florida (6)

CBS - 3:30 p.m,

Neither of these two teams are where they were a month ago. Stunning defeats for each of them has probably knocked them out the running for the Playoffs, but they are still jockeying for position within the SEC and for the choice bowl games.

But just for today, these are still two talented teams and there will be NFL players going against each other on the field. Even though we’ve paid a fair amount of attention to both of these schools, the opportunity to see their prospects on the field against a high level of competition is one we can’t ignore.

It’s entirely likely that there is at least one future Giant playing in this game.

Players To Watch

Georgia

• Jake Fromm (QB)
• Andrew Thomas (OT)
• D’Andre Swift (RB)
• Monty Rice (LB)
• Richard LeCounte III (S)
• J.R. Reed (S)
• Eric Stokes (CB) *Red-shirt sophomore

Florida

• Jabari Zuniga (EDGE)
• Jonathan Greenard (EDGE)
• Brad Stewart (S)
• C.J. Henderson (CB)
• Lamical Perine (RB)

Utah (9) at Washignton

Fox - 4 p.m.

It wasn’t all that long ago that we looked at the Washington Huskies. But we haven’t checked in on the Utah Utes yet, so it is high time we take a look at the ninth ranked team in the nation.

Utah has been flying under the radar, but they definitely have players who will be plying their trade on Sundays. This should be a good match-up between Washington’s talented offense and a Utah defense that got its best players from a year ago to return to school.

This is also a grudge match after Washington beat Utah in the Pac-12 championship a year ago to punch their ticket to the Rose Bowl. That game convinced some of Utah’s best prospects to delay their entry into the NFL, but will they be able to take care of their unfinished business?

Players To Watch

Utah

• Leki Fotu (iDL)
• Bradlee Anae (EDGE)
• Jaylon Johnson (CB)
• Julian Blackmon (S)
• Zack Moss (RB)

Washington

• Jacob Eason (QB)
• Trey Adams (OT)
• Nick Harris (iOL)
• Hunter Bryant (TE/H-back)
• Aaron Fuller (WR)
• Myles Bryant (CB)

SMU (15) at Memphis (24)

ABC - 7:30 p.m.

I doubt many people without an interest in either of these teams had this game circled on their calendar, but the way these two teams have played, there could be fireworks. This match-up has suddenly become big enough that ESPN’s Gameday set up shop in Memphis for the game.

Unfortunately, SMU will be without one of their best players for the game as junior wideout Reggie Roberson Jr. has been ruled out. But there should still be plenty of offensive output from both teams.

Besides, it’s always useful to keep an eye on the smaller schools as there are usually good players flying below the national radar this time of year.

Players To Watch

SMU

• Xavier Jones (RB)
• James Proche (WR)
• Delonte Scott (EDGE)

Memphis

• T.J. Carter (CB)
• Patrick Taylor Jr. (EDGE)
• Bryce Huff (EDGE)
• Damonte Coxie (WR)