Week 9: Time to check out undefeated underdogs of the AAC

Five of the teams in the AP’s top 10 college football poll are off this week, so it’s time to expand your horizons. Ladies and gentlemen, the American Athletic Conference.

The four ranked teams that aren’t members of a Power Five conference highlight Saturday’s prime-time slate. One of these four — Memphis, Houston, Toledo, Temple — will play in a major bowl. (Of the four, only Toledo is not a member of the AAC.) Doubt the best of that bunch will be a serious playoff contender, but who knows? A Temple upset of Notre Dame would make things interesting.

ESPN’s College GameDay is in Philadelphia on Saturday morning. Look for a history lesson (Independence Hall, Liberty Bell) and cheesesteaks on the set. Here’s this week’s six-pack and more:

No. 11 Florida vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m., CBS – The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (what this game used to be called before the PC Police got their knickers in a twist) could come down to turnovers. Florida is plus-9 and Georgia is just plus-1.

Maryland at No. 10 Iowa, 3:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN2 – Hawkeyes try to go to 8-0 and keep their playoff hopes alive. Good game for Ohio State fans to scout. Iowa needs to keep an eye on Terps QB Perry Hills, who has rushed for 294 yards in his past two games.

Tulane at No. 16 Memphis, 7 p.m., CBSSN – Memphis and QB Paxton Lynch put up 66 points and 704 yards last week against Tulsa. Good warmup for Tigers, whose next three games are against Navy, Houston and Temple.

Vanderbilt at No. 18 Houston, 7 p.m., ESPN2 – Houston (7-0) goes for its second win against a Power Five opponent. Cougar QB Greg Ward Jr. faces a tough Vandy defense that is giving up just 16 points per game.

No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 21 Temple, 8 p.m., ABC – Temple isn't just a basketball school. The Owls (7-0) will try to control the football by handing off to Jahad Thomas. Notre Dame has lost its last five road games to ranked opponents, but is 15-0 on Halloween.

Northern Illinois at No. 20 Toledo, 8 p.m., ESPN2 – Toledo (7-0) has scored 63 and 51 points in its past two outings. Rockets QB Phillip Ely has thrown for 1,734 yards and 15 TDs. Huskies (5-3) have won three straight, scoring 59, 45 and 49 points. Good MAC shootout.

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Other good/decent games

No. 19 Ole Miss at Auburn, noon, ESPN

USC at California, 3 p.m., FOX

No. 3 Clemson at N.C. State, 3:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN2

No. 12 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Texas at Iowa State, 7 p.m., FS1

Tennessee at Kentucky, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network

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Other Big Ten games

Illinois at Penn State, noon, ESPN2

Nebraska at Purdue, noon, ESPNU

Rutgers at Wisconsin, noon, BTN

No. 15 Michigan at Minnesota, 7 p.m., ESPN

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Regional interest

UCF at Cincinnati, noon, ESPN News – Bearcats (4-3) are big favorites at home. UCF (0-8) is in disarray after head coach George O'Leary called it quits on Sunday.

Dayton vs. Jacksonville, 1 p.m. – Flyers (7-0) kicker William Will was Pioneer League Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking three field goals and four touchbacks in clutch 27-24 win over Butler. Jacksonville is 6-1.

Central State at Tuskegee, 1 p.m. – Marauders (4-4) head back to state of Alabama after winning big there last week, a 24-7 drubbing of Stillman.

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