The No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide travels to Madison, Whisky to face the Wisconsin Badgers at 11 AM CT Saturday on FOX attempting to re-gather their prominence from the Saban years. The Auburn Tigers are looking for a signal caller who can get the job done and not throw interceptions, as Payton Thorne did 4 times last Saturday in an upset loss to Cal. Auburn hosts New Mexico Saturday at 6:30 PM CT on ESPN2.
The Crimson Tide is looking for consistency from their offense. Defense has been pretty solid. Hugh Freeze has “a short leash” on Thorne as Hank Brown could be called to duty if Thorne struggles once again.
There are some other key games in the conference and a national matchup that looks interesting.
Onto this week’s predictions.
Record Last Week/Overall
SU, 9-2, Overall: 21-7, 75%.
ATS: 7-3, Overall 19-8, 70%.
No.4 Alabama @ Wisconsin
Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Whisky
11 AM CT
FOX
Gus, Joel, Jenny
Tide by 16
Kalen needs this as does Jalen, the o line, etc. With Kadyn Proctor back at left tackle, most likely, and Elijah Prtitchett sliding over to right tackle, Jam Miller, Justice Haynes and Milroe should have some room to run. I like Kalen and his Crimson Tide team to capture the road victory and look impressive doing it.
Alabama 42, Wisconsin 10
New Mexico @ Auburn
Jordan-Hare
6:30 PM CT
ESPN2
Roy Philpott, Sam Acho, Taylor Davis
Tigers by 28
The Lobos have losses to Montana State, 35-31, and No. 21 Zona, 61-39. The Tigers should have a good night. The Thorne-Hank Brown QB battle will be ongoing during and after this game, Brown is an 85 three-star redshirt frosh from Nashville. Thorne was an 85 three-star when he signed his letter of intent with Michigan State and possessed an 87 transfer rating, all by 247 Sports. He needs to pick it up if he wants to continue starting. Hugh said Thorne practiced well in August and has been good at practice, but HAS to pick it up in games or he’ll be replaced. He’s always thrown interceptions. Can you coach a player through accuracy problems? That can be hard to do, but not impossible.
Auburn 45, New Mexico 7
No.1 Georgia @ Kentucky
Kroger Field, Lexington
6:30 PM CT
ABC
Sean, Greg, Molly
UGA by 24
Give me Carson Beck and the Dawgs here. They look terrific presently.
Georgia 38, Kentucky 7
UTEP @ No.2 Texas
Darrell K. Royal -Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin
6 PM CT
ESPN
Mark Jones, Roddy Jones, Quint Kessenich
Horns by 35 1/2
Hook’em looking pretty awesome as well. Arch Manning is going to have to wait his turn for Quinn Ewers. Ewers, Jaxson Dart and Carson Beck are my Heisman favorites right now. Texas is a complete team. Texas and Georgia won’t pull a Notre Dame. Northern Illinois? Are you kiddin’ me?
Texas 52, UTEP 7
No.16 LSU @ South Carolina
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia
11 AM CT
ABC
Chris, Kirk, Holly
LSU by 7
I’m a believer in the Gamecocks after going up to Kroger Field and dismantling the Wildcats last Saturday. Give me the upset.
South Carolina 24, No. 16 LSU 21
Other SEC teams’ scores
Florida 21, Texas A&M 17
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
2:30 PM CT
ABC
A&M by 3
Will take the Gators in an upset as well.
No. 5 Ole Miss 42, Wake Forest 10
@ Wake
6:30 PM CT
The CW Network, Channel 21 in B’ham
Rebels by 22 1/2
Lane and Dart keep it truckin’ against a little better competition. The competition has been weak so far.
No.6 Missouri 28, No. 24 Boston College 21
@Mizzou
11:45 AM CT
SEC Network
Mizzou by 16
Bill O’Brien and BC give Eli and the Tigers a tough game.
Tulane 34, No. 15 Oklahoma 31
Memorial Stadiun, Norman
2:30 PM
ESPN
Sooners by 13
Like Jon Sumrall, the former Troy coach, to take the Green Wave into Norman and upset the Sooners.
Arkansas 42, UAB 14
@Fayetteville
3:15 PM CT
SEC Network
Ark by 24 1/2
The Hogs are too much for the Blazers. Blazers had a rough outing last Saturday Night @ LA Monroe in a 32-6 loss.
No.7 Tennessee 55, Kent State 3
@Neyland Stadium
6:45 PM CT
SEC Network
Vols by 49
UT looks good after blasting NC State on the road last Saturday Night, 51-10.
Vanderbilt 24, Georgia State 21
Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta
6 PM CT
ESPN+
Dores by 10 1/2
Vanderbilt is playing well, but has to be careful in a hostile environment at the Old Tuner Field that is now Center Parc Stadium, which seats almost 50,000 people. Georgia State has 43,000 undergraduates. It’s a large school and will give Vanderbilt everything it wants. They’re serious about their football in Georgia just like they are here in Alabama.
Mississippi State 31, Toledo 10
@Davis-Wade Stadium, Starkvegas
6:30 PM CT
ESPNU
Bullies by 11 1/2
The Bullies absorbed a tough loss @ Zona State last Saturday Night, 30-23. Jeff Lebby trying to get things straightened out with this program. Might take him another year or two if the fans can show a little patience, which is tough these days.
National Upset Central
Oregon State 35, No. 9 Oregon 34
Reser Stadium, Corvallis, OR.
2:30 PM
FOX
Ducks by 16 1/2
The PAC-12 added Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State and Fresno State for the 2026 season today. They need two more teams to join the Power 4 and become the Power 5 once again. That would be in 2026. This’ll be a good step for OSU and the PAC-12. They take down Oregon.
Justice Haynes forms the other half of the Alabama running tandem that needs to be prolific Saturday at Camp Randall (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated).