HYPE INDEX: Your guide to the Texas college football weekend

This is the Texas College Football Hype Index, where Dave Campbell’s Texas Football managing editor Greg Tepper ranks the FBS college football games in Texas from least-watchable to most-watchable.10: Southern at UTSA, 6 p.m. Saturday Coming off its biggest win in program history, the Roadrunners return home to what should be a gleeful Alamodome crowd and a Southern squad ready to get romped, especially without their senior quarterback Austin Howard. If things go like they should, the Runners should be able to name their score. Watchability Rating: 1 out of 10 Tepper’s Prediction: UTSA 49, Southern 39: Appalachian State at Texas State, 6 p.m. Saturday This is a matchup of two teams trending the wrong way, especially offensively — Appalachian State ranks 102^nd in the nation in total offense against FBS opponents, while Texas State ranks 103^rd — so don’t expect too many points. The Bobcats’ front seven could keep this close, but if the offense can’t find a way to stay on the field against a decent Mountaineers defense, the Bobs will probably wear down. Watchability Rating: 2 out of 10 Tepper’s Prediction: Appalachian State 21, Texas State 78: Arizona at UTEP, 9:15 p.m. Friday It’s the second half of Arizona’s Texas two-step after losing to Houston last week, but the Miners don’t figure to give the Wildcats as much trouble, especailly considering they can’t move the ball (126^th in yards per play). Unless UTEP suddenly finds a running back — or Ryan Metz lights it up through the air — Arizona should cruise to a win, especially with its solid defense. Watchability Rating: 3 out of 10 Tepper’s Prediction: Arizona 33, UTEP 87: North Texas at Iowa, 2:30 p.m. Saturday How does North Texas respond to its first loss of the year? The defense clearly needs some help, and it’ll need to figure something out quick against a solid Iowa attack. The Mean Green’s aerial attack should keep this thing relatively close, but it’s hard to imagine them returning to Denton with a win. Watchability Rating: 4 out of 10 Tepper’s Prediction: Iowa 47, North Texas 286: Louisiana-Lafayette at Texas A&M, 11 a.m. Saturday So, last week, we figured the Aggies would make short work of FCS Nicholls State. Then, the game started. This is arguably the Aggies’ last layup left on the schedule, but beware: the Ragin’ Cajuns are a quality offensive squad even if they can’t stop anyone. Consider this: Texas A&M was averaging 6.4 yards per play with Nick Starkel, and 4.2 yards per play since his injury. That needs to be fixed, now, if the Aggies think themselves contenders. Watchability Rating: 4 out of 10 Tepper’s Prediction: Texas A&M 33, Louisiana-Lafayette 175: Baylor at Duke, 11:30 a.m. Saturday So the Bears have lost at home to an FCS team, and they’ve lost at home to a Group of Five team (albeit a solid one in UTSA). What’s going to happen when they go on the road against an undefeated Power 5 team, without their No. 1 quarterback (Zach Smith is in for Anu Solomon), their Nos. 1 and 2 running backs (Terrence Williams and JaMycal Hasty are out with injuries) and arguably their best defender (DE K.J. Smith is out with shin splints)? Watchability Rating: 5 out of 10 Tepper’s Prediction: Duke 38, Baylor 174: Rice at Houston, 7 p.m. Saturday The Bayou Bucket Classic is back after a three-year hiatus, and not a moment too soon, as the city of Houston will welcome college football back within its borders for the first time in 2017. The Coogs are a considerable favorite here, especially with their dominating defense, but can Rice give UH’s still-developing offense some trouble? In any case, this feels like a return to normalcy for Houston, and that alone is worth tuning in for. Watchability Rating: 6 out of 10 Tepper’s Prediction: Houston 38, Rice 103: Arizona State at Texas Tech, 7 p.m. Saturday We finally get a second look at Texas Tech after the odd second-week bye, and we’ll find out if that impressive first week defensive effort was the new normal or fool’s gold. Arizona State essentially does only one thing well — throw the ball — and everything else (like running the ball, stopping the run, stopping the pass, special teams, dressing themselves) somewhere between average and poorly. If the Tech defense is for real, they’ll roll. If it’s not, it’s another year of white knuckles in Lubbock. A lot to learn here. Watchability Rating: 7 out of 10 Tepper’s Prediction: Texas Tech 44, Arizona State 312: SMU at No. 20 TCU, 2:30 p.m. Saturday The Battle for the Iron Skillet is always must-see action, but this year has a special bit of intrigue. It’s early, but SMU looks like a legitimate AAC contender, especially if quarterback Ben Hicks stays sharp and Courtland Sutton remains America’s best receiver. It’s early, but TCU looks like a legitimate national contender, especially if the defense continues to remind people of Gary Patterson’s most dominant units. Come for the SMU offense against the TCU defense; stay for the reverse, where the Ponies must find a way to stop TCU’s ground game. Watchability Rating: 8 out of 10 Tepper’s Prediction: TCU 38, SMU 181: Texas at No. 4 USC, 7:30 p.m. Saturday For all the talk about the last time these two teams have locked up, their story has plenty of other memorable entries, including O.J. Simpson’s breakout game in 1967 (a 17-13 USC victory) and C.R. Roberts’ groundbreaking performance in 1956 (a 44-20 USC win). But all eyes are on the L.A. Coliseum on Saturday night, and Texas has its work cut out for it. How will the burnt orange defense handle what may be the nation’s most balanced offense? Can Chris Warren II get any sort of run game going to ease the pressure on the quarterback? Speaking of which, who is the quarterback? Tom Herman has a chance to etch himself in Longhorn lore on Saturday night, but it’s a big ask. Watchability Rating: 8 out of 10 Tepper’s Prediction: USC 44, Texas 27