College Ball week 9 starts this evening, and so with that in mind, I bring you the primer.

Tonight, 7:30 - Clemson vs. Virginia Tech - I believe this is interdivisional, but both of these two teams are right now in airtight races for their respective division's crown and a spot in the ACC Title Game, so it is dreadfully important nonetheless. And with one loss and ranked 10th, Clemson still has (a very, very outside) shot at a National Title, but they absolutely can not afford a second loss if they want to keep that alive. Great match-up.

Saturday

12:00 - Oklahoma vs. Missouri - In recent years, this wouldn't be much of a game, but Missouri still has but a single defeat and Oklahoma isn't quite as strong as they have been in the past, although they are still good enough to be favorites here. Like Clemson/VaTech, this is interdivisional, so a loss isn't crucial to either team, but it'll give us a great idea of where exactly these two programs stand.

Notre Dame vs. Navy - Notre Dame has won this match 42 years in a row, and this is probably not the season for Navy to end that streak, but they are a good team so an upset is possible.

Penn State vs. Purdue - Both of these two programs have seen better seasons, but this is a classic Big 10 match-up between two of the more storied programs who are each somewhat decent this season, so it's worth the viewing.

3:30 - Georgia vs. Florida - ah, the World's Largest Outdoor Cockatil Party. Whenever two of Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee get together, it is going to be a very important game, and it is usually a very competitive, and highly enterteining one as well. Florida is currently the better of the two teams, and they have developed a knack for beating Georgia in this game, but never count out any team when two of the three SEC East powerhouses are involved in the same contest.

Miami (FL) vs. Georgia Tech - Larry Coker is as lame s a duck can be without having his firing be officially announced yet. But the Hurricanes can still make something out of the season - their ACC record is 2-1. Georgia Tech has been playing outstanding football lately, and they would like nothing better than to take advatage of an unusual simultaneous down year by the Canes and the Hokies and grab the division, but they need to win this game in order to do that.

7:00 - Florida State vs. Maryland - Amazingly enough, this game means more to the Terrapins, who are still 2-1 in conference, than it does for the Noles, who have lost 3 - 3! - ACC contests already this year. The Terps haven't looked like worldbeaters by any stretch, but they have played some nice games and still have contests against BC and Clemson upcoming, so a divisional title is still a possibility. They can't lose against a weakened FSU team and expect to go anywhere, though.

7:45 - Tennessee vs. South Carolina - South Carolina, of course, faces a talent gap when going up against any of the SEC powerhouses, but they have Steve Spurrier, so you always have to watch out. Tennessee absolutely, positively, can not afford a loss here.