Auburn welcomes the Ole Miss Rebels to Jordan-Hare Stadium for an 11 AM CT/ Noon ET kickoff on ESPN. Auburn is aiming to get a signature win to re-energize their season. The Rebels get Robert Nkemdiche back from a head injury he suffered two weeks ago carrying the ball on offense against Memphis. That’s very good for them. Carl Lawson has started practicing with the Tigers this week and could possibly play. Gus is not letting on what he will do with Lawson. Will have more below. The cocktail hour starts at 3:30 PM ET/2:30 PM CT as the Dawgs and the Gators square off in what should be a really good football game. Both teams need this one badly for their respective SEC East title aspirations.

The Crimson Tide is off after overcoming a hard fought Tennessee effort, as the Tide pulled it out 19-14 behind the passing of Jacob Coker, the pass receiving of Ardarius Stewart and Calvin Ridley, and the running of the awesome Derrick Henry. It was a solid, hard fought victory for the Tide as they finally get a week off after eight straight games and prepare to take on LSU next Saturday night at 7 PM CT/8 PM ET on CBS. Should be an epic.

Here’s a look at my playoff predictions. The committee will release their first set of rankings next Tuesday, November 3rd, @ 6 PM CT/7 PM ET on ESPN. Should be fun. Here’s how I see it heading into week 9.

1. Alabama

Still really like this Crimson Tide team because they have it all. The defense is impenetrable particularly against the run, and the secondary is terrific also right now. Jake Coker is doing a very good job completing 64% of his passes (121-of-213) for 1,623 yards and 11 TDs. He also has thrown seven ints, but he’s been better lately. Henry is having an All-American, Heisman-like season rushing for 1,044 yards and 14 TDs. Leonard Fournette is the only player ahead of him in the conference at 1,352 yards and 15 TDs, and Fournette is leading the country in rushing and rushing touchdowns. Derrick is fifth nationally in rushing yards and tied for third nationally in rushing TDs. The receivers are playing good football. Special teams is getting better. I expect Cyrus Jones to take one to the house before the season is over.  This team, to me, is the most complete team in the country. Tennessee is a good football team despite their 3-4 record. They beat Georgia at home and took Florida to the brink in the Swamp. They’ll probably finish strong and it’s always an intense rivalry game, so I still like the Tide at the top this week. Next week will tell us a lot against Leonard Fournette and the Bengal Tigers of LSU. Mississippi State and Auburn on the road are not easy either.

2. Ohio State

Urb finally figured out that J.T. Barrett is his best option at quarterback and that was a good decision. The Buckeyes are loaded with talent, though kind of doing a similar act to what Florida State did last year; playing a pretty easy schedule and getting by. Maybe not as close as FSU’s games were last year, but some of them have been very close. Still have to play Michigan State at home, November 21st, and go to the Big House, Nov. 28th, to face Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines, so they have their work cut out for them. Michigan State seems to keep getting stronger by the week, so they’ll be a challenge. Not sure where Michigan’s heads are right now after the debacle two weeks ago against Michigan State. We’ll see if Harbaugh can straighten them out going forward. So the Buckeyes have work to do, just like everybody else.

3. Clemson

Dabo Swinney has a really fine football team, one that can definitely contend for the national championship. The Tigers of Clemson crushed Miami last Saturday, 58-0, and cost Al Golden his job. They do have to go to NC State this Saturday in what could be a dangerous game for them as FSU comes to Death Valley a week from Saturday, Nov. 7th. So the Tigers better be ready this Saturday. NC State is a pretty good football team at 5-2, so Clemson will have to play well to win. Right now though, they are definitely a playoff team.

4. LSU

Leonard Fournette has run wild this season running for 1,352 yards on 176 carries for a 7.7 yards per carry average and 15 TDs. Pretty awesome stuff. Quarterback Brandon Harris threw three touchdowns last week and has a stellar receiving corps working with him. Travin Dural (24-426,2 TDs), and Malachi Dupre (21-397, 5 TDs) are as good as it gets in college football. LSU’s defense is good, but not sure it’s great like Alabama’s. We’ll find out how great Fournette and the Bengal Tigers are when they head to Tuscaloosa next Saturday Night, November 7th.

Other teams receiving votes

5. Stanford

Playing power football and have a running back in Christian McCaffrey who is one of the best in the country. Quarterback Kevin Hogan is playing well and the defense is pretty lock down. Excellent football team. Do have a tough one at Washington State this Saturday. Mike Leach and the Cougars have beaten Oregon at Oregon, 45-38, and won last week at Arizona, 45-42. Leach’s team is 5-2 and will pose a big challenge for the Stanford defense.

6. Baylor

Art Briles and his Bears lost starting quarterback Seth Russell for the season to a broken bone in his neck. That’s serious. True freshman Jarrett Stidham takes over. He was the top quarterback prospect in the country by 247 sports in 2015 and he’s completed 24-of-28 passes for 331 yards and six TDs against no interceptions in limited play. So Baylor might be OK. They still have running back Shock Linwood, who has rushed for 974 yards and nine TDs, and super wide receiver Corey Coleman who has caught 47 passes for 962 yards and 18 TDs. Wow. Their defense is better, so they’ve still got a shot. The Bears are off this Saturday before playing Kansas State in Manhattan, Kansas (the Little Apple) next Thursday night, November 5th,  at 6:30 CT/7:30 ET on Fox Sports 1.

7. Michigan State

Just keep getting it done. They’ll have to go to Ohio State so that could very well determine whether they make the Big Ten Championship game. But you gotta respect these guys and especially Coach Mark Dantonio. He does a super job in East Lansing.

8. TCU

Still getting it done, too. Trevone Boykin is a stellar player at quarterback and Josh Doctson is an awesome receiver. Have weapons all over the place on offense. Playing better defense. Certainly will be right there and will have Baylor coming to Fort Worth on Nov. 27th at 6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET on ESPN. That could be a colossal one in the national picture.

This week’s previews and predictions

Last week: 20-3

Overall: 118-29 (80%)

No. 19 Ole Miss @ Auburn

Jordan-Hare Stadium

11 AM CT/Noon ET

ESPN

Dave Pasch, Brian Griese, Tom “Loogs” Luginbill

Line: Ole Miss by 7

For Auburn to win, they’ll really have to both run it and pass it well. The Ole Miss front seven is tough and with Nkemdiche back they’re even more stout. AU will have to play better defense. Laquon Treadwell and the receiving corps for Ole Miss is superb, so the secondary of the Tigers will be tested. Auburn played a courageous game last week against Arkansas, but just couldn’t get the stop when they needed it. Sean White is really emerging as an excellent quarterback, and running back Peyton Barber has been stellar while stellar freshman running back Kerryon Johnson looks like he’s going to be a stud. Would love to see the Tigers pull it off, but I don’t see it happening. Should be a really good football game though.

Ole Miss 35, Auburn 31

No.11 Florida @ Georgia

EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fl.

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

CBS

Verne, Gary, Allie

Gators by 2 1/2

I just have a feeling the Dawgs are going to be ready for this one. The SEC East title is still in the balance for them, as it is for the Gators. Junior Faton Bauta being reported to get the start at quarterback for the Dawgs. Watched him the last two spring games. Like him. Brings more of a running threat to the Dawgs offense, and a pretty solid passer. I’m going with the Dawgs in a mild upset.

Georgia 31, Florida 28

Tennessee @ Kentucky

Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Ky.

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET

SEC Network

Brent, Jess, Maria

UT by 8 1/2

The Vols have too much offense for the Wildcats to keep up with. Like Joshua Dobbs and Jalen Hurd to have big days and for UT to stay alive in the SEC East.

Tennessee 38, Kentucky 31

South Carolina @ Texas A&M

Kyle Field, College Station, Texas

11 AM CT/Noon ET

SEC Network

Tom Hart, Andre Ware, Laura Rutledge

A&M by 16

Like quarterback Kyle Allen and the A&M offense to get it back together this weekend against the Gamecocks, which are in the market for a new coach after the season. This might be a tough one for interim coach Shawn Elliott and his team.

A&M 42, South Carolina 24

Vanderbilt @ No. 18 Houston

TDECU Stadium, Houston

6 PM CT/ 7 PM ET

ESPN2

Mark Jones, Rod Gilmore, Quint Kessenich

Houston by 12

The Dores got their first SEC victory under Derek Mason last week over Missouri, 10-3, and it was huge for both Coach Mason and the team. Their defense will keep them in this, but Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. is a tough one to stop. He’s completed 132-of-185 passes (71.4 %) for 1,733 yards, 10 TDs and just two ints. He’s also rushed for 677 yards and 15 TDs. He’s a stud. But I see the Dores shutting him down somewhat. Vandy is still trying to get good  offense though  that can score more points, and I don’t think they’ll be able to score enough to beat the Cougars this Saturday. But their defense will give ’em a shot.

Houston 27, Vandy 24

UT Martin @ Arkansas

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville

3 PM CT/4 PM ET

SEC Network

Dave, Stinch, Kayce Smith

Hogs by 38

See the Hogs keeping it rolling after a huge home victory over Auburn last Saturday. They’ll do it both on the ground and through the air.

Arkansas 48, UT Martin 7

Off: Bama, State, LSU, Missouri

Off Nationally: Ohio State, Baylor, Michigan State

National games

No.9 Notre Dame @ No. 21 Temple

7 PM CT/ 8 PM ET

ABC

Chris, Herbie, Heather

Notre Dame by 10 1/2

Temple’s been a real good story this season as they are 7-0, but I don’t see them beating the Irish.

Notre Dame 35, Temple 24

No.3 Clemson @ NC State

Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

ABC

MIke Patrick, Ed Cunningham, Jerry Punch

Clemson by 10

This is a dangerous game for the Tigers, but Dabo and company will take care of business and get ready for a visit next Saturday from the Florida State Seminoles. Gotta take care of this one first though.

Clemson 42, NC State 28

No.8 Stanford @ Washington State

Martin Stadium, Pullman, Washington

9:30 PM CT/10:30 PM ET

ESPN

Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Shannon Spake

Stanford by 11 1/2

This is a dangerous game for the Cardinal which are squarely in the playoff hunt. Like Stanford to get it done, but to get a scare.

Stanford 38, Washington State 35

Thursday Night

West Virginia @ No.5 TCU

Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET

Fox Sports 1

Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Molly McGrath

TCU by 14

Could be interesting for a while. West Virginia is pretty decent. Like the Horned Frogs to pull away at the end though.

TCU 48, West Virginia 35

Other national games

No. 12 Oklahoma State 49, Texas Tech 45

Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock Texas, Clifford B and Audrey, not Jear

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

ESPN

Dave Lamont, Ray Bentley, Dawn Davenport

Oklahoma State by 3

No. 14 Oklahoma 52, Kansas 14

Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

Fox Sports 1

Joe Davis, Brady Quinn, Kris Budden

OU by 39

No. 15 Michigan 35, Minnesota 20

TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Mn.

6 PM CT/7 PM ET

ESPN

Brad, Todd, Holly

Michigan by 14

No.17 Florida State 42, Syracuse 31

Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee

11 AM CT/Noon ET

ABC

Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman, Todd McShay

FSU by 20

No. 22 Duke 45, Miami 10

Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC

6 PM CT/7 PM ET

ESPNU

Allen Bestwick, Dan Hawkins

Duke by 10

Texas 31, Iowa State 24

Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa

6 PM CT/7PM ET

Fox Sports 1

Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman

Texas by 6 1/2

Georgia Tech 42, Virginia 34

Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Va.

2 PM CT/ 3 PM ET

ESPN3

Wes Durham, James Bates, Niki Noto

Tech by 5 1/2

USC 41, California 31

Memorial Stadium, Berkley, California

2 PM CT/3 PM ET

FOX

Gus, Joel, Roddy Jones

USC by 6

Upset Advisory

Washington 31, Arizona 28

10 PM CT/ 11 PM ET

Fox Sports 1

Jon Anik, Petros Papadakis

Zona by 4 1/2

Thursday Night

North Carolina 34, Pittsburgh 30

Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pa.

6 PM CT/7 PM ET

ESPN

Adam Amin, Kelly Stoufer, Marty Smith

UNC by 3

The Alabama football team will be battling through a tragedy as former running back Altee Tenpenny lost his life two days ago in a single car, car accident in Glen Allan, Mississippi where he en route to his home town of Little Rock, Ark. It’s tough on the players to lose a good friend. They’re like family. They’re doing something hard together and to lose a teammate, whom everybody on the team liked, is difficult to handle. Altee had some personal battles obviously and it’s tough to see a young guy lose his life, but the team will have to block it out and bear down for 60 minutes against Tennessee and then they can get a day off or two to attend Tenpenny’s funeral.

****Tenpenny’s funeral is Saturday at 11 AM in Little Rock, so no Alabama players there.****

Auburn will be in Fayetteville to play the Arkansas Razorbacks for an 11 AM CT kickoff. That’s an early one, and there are AM thunderstorms which could be over with  by game time. But it’s an excellent matchup of two teams that can really run it and pass it pretty well. The Tigers will try to build on their momentum from a 30-27 victory over Kentucky in Lexington a week ago. Sean White played well and the running game did well. Should be a good battle.

My playoff rankings

1. Alabama

The Tide looks like the best team in the country. The Tide will be challenged by the Tennessee offense, which is pretty good. But their resounding 41-23 victory over A&M last Saturday in College Station proved to me that this is the best team in the country.

2. Ohio State

Played like people were expecting them to all season by blasting Penn State 38-10 last week at the Horseshoe in Columbus. J.T. Barrett looks like he’s taken over at quarterback, but Urb seems to be worried about Cardale Jones’ feelings for some reason, and keeps putting him in though Barrett is the better quarterback. Still, they’re loaded. Have Rutgers this weekend, and close with Michigan State at home, Nov. 21st, and Michigan on the road, Nov. 28th.

3. Baylor

The Bears just keep piling up the points. They’ll have their own track meet again this weekend when they play Iowa State at home. I keep saying this, but it’s always the defense with Baylor. Are they good enough on defense to win it all? Still not convinced of that.

4. LSU

Leonard Fournette has rushed for 1,202 yards and 14 TDs. He’s leading the country in rushing yards. He ran for a buck 80 against and two TDs in a 35-28 hard fought victory over the Florida Gators last Saturday Night. I want to see him run against the most lock down run defense in football, the Alabama Crimson Tide, which LSU will visit Saturday, Nov. 7th. I see LSU like I see Baylor. Do they play good enough defense to be able to win a national championship?  I’m not seeing it right now. Another question: Can Brandon Harris throw it well enough when the run is not working? I don’t think Harris has answered that question yet. He’s said he can, but I’m not a believer yet. He has the targets in wide receivers Malachi Dupree and Travin Dural, but Harris’s accuracy is  questionable. But LSU has a good team undoubtedly. Defense and Harris remain their question marks though. We should find out who the Bengal Tigers really are when they visit Tuscaloosa. They will be tested defensively this weekend with the high scoring Western Kentucky Hilltoppers coming to Baton Rouge. Will be interesting to see how they fare on defense in this upcoming game.

Teams that are also right there:

5. Stanford

Playing extremely well right now. Christian McCaffrey is a stud running back, quarterback Kevin Hogan is playing well, and the defense is physical and opportunistic.

6. Clemson

Playing really well right now. The defense is good, and DeShaun Watson and the offense are clicking. Wayne Gallman is an outstanding running back.

7. TCU

No.’s 5, 6 and 7 are really interchangeable. TCU has been in some tight ones, but they’re still playing very good offense. Their defense has been banged up, but they’re getting it done nonetheless. Quarterback Trevone Boykin is good though he can have some issues with accuracy sometimes. Overall, he’s an explosive dual threat QB. Josh Doctson is one of the best wide receivers in the country. Their defense will keep getting better and they will certainly be in the mix in November. They have to go to Oklahoma State November 7th, which is far from guaranteed, then they go to OU on November 21st, before finishing out the season in what should be a blockbuster against Baylor at home on Friday, Nov.27th at 6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET on ESPN.

8. Utah

Still right there. The Utes have struggled the last couple of weeks, but keep getting it done. They’re a fact0r. They do have to go to USC this Saturday though, so that’s a major challenge.

9. Michigan State

A good football team, but not great. The Michigan punter, who is an Australian part time male model (are you kiddin me!), bobbled the snap at the end of the game and Michigan State scooped it up and ran it into the end zone for an improbable 27-23 victory on the final play of the game. Michigan should have won the game. I studied the game and Jim Harbaugh had 10 seconds left in the game and no alternative but to punt the ball. The model couldn’t get it done. The Spartans are still undefeated at 7-0. They will have to go to Ohio State, November 21st, so that will tell us how good this team really is. Like Ohio State to burst Michigan State’s bubble unless Urb keeps playing musical chairs with his quarterbacks and totally ruins the chemistry of his team.

Here’s a look at this week’s action.

Last week: 13-4; Overall: 98-26 (79%)

All games are Saturday unless otherwise listed

Tennesse (3-3, 1-2 SEC ) @ No. 8 Alabama (6-1, 3-1)

Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa (101,821)

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

CBS

Verne, Gary, Allie LaForce

Bama by 15

This isn’t a complete kick-in for the Tide with the players trying to get ready despite a tragedy which has affected some of the players. The UT offense is pretty good led by running back Jalen Hurd and quarterback Joshua Dobbs. But Alabama should be able to score some points on a shaky UT defense. The secondary, led by junior Eddie Jackson (two ints for TDs) and true freshman Minkah Fitzpatrick (int for TD and blocked punt for TD), is has jelled terrifically. They have now returned three interceptions for TDs. Like the Tide to get it done, get a week off, and then get ready to rumble with LSU.

Alabama 42, Tennessee 24

Auburn (4-2, 1-2) @ Arkansas (2-4, 1-2)

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Ark. (72,000)

11 AM CT/ Noon ET

SEC Network

Tom Hart, Andre, Kevin Weidl

Arkansas by 6

Should be a game that’s won in the trenches. Like Arkansas’ offensive line, which is the biggest line in football, college or the NFL, to get the job done and Alex Collins to have a big game on the ground.

Arkansas 28, Auburn 24

Western Kentucky (6-1) @ No. 5 LSU (6-0)

Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge (102,321)

6 PM CT/7 PM ET

Duh U (ESPNU)

Allen Bestwick, Dan Hawkins

LSU by 16 1/2

The LSU defense will be tested by a pretty good offense, but Leonard Fournette should explode in this one. They play some offense at Western Kentucky, but not much defense. Like the Bengal Tigers, which, right now, are in the drivers seat in the SEC West at 4-0, to take care of business over an inferior opponent. They will be really tested in two weeks in Tuscaloosa. We’ll see how good Leonard Fournette really is in Bryant-Denny.

LSU 49, Western Kentucky 31

No. 15 Texas A&M (5-1, 2-1 SEC) @ No. 24 Ole Miss (5-2,2-1)

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford (60,580)

6 PM CT/7 PM ET

ESPN

Brad, Todd, Holly

Ole Miss by 5 1/2

Ole Miss has been reeling lately after a 38-10 loss at Florida three weeks ago and a 37-24 L at Memphis last Saturday. Star defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche is questionable for A&M with a possible concussion he suffered while running the ball in a short yardage power run. Hugh Freeze may want to rethink putting Nkemdiche on offense now. Stud left tackle Laremy Tunsil is back though after having to sit out due to an NCAA violation. That will really help the offense. And the Rebels still have a shot at the West with a game at Auburn next Saturday, Arkansas at home Nov.7th, LSU at home Nov. 21st, and at Mississippi State on Nov. 28th. But at the same time, that’s tough and this is going to be a tough game Saturday. A&M is explosive despite the fact that Alabama really shut them down last Saturday. I like the Rebels to keep their SEC championship games hopes alive winning in an entertaining shootout on Saturday Night.

Ole Miss 38, A&M 35

Kentucky (5-2, 2-2) @ Mississippi State (5-2, 1-2)

Davis Wade Stadium Starkvegas (55, 082)

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET

SEC Network

Brent, Jess, Maria

State by 11

Like Dak Prescott and State to get it done at home. State has a pretty good football team and will cause some SEC teams problems when they play them.

State 42, Kentucky 24

Missouri (4-3, 1-3 ) @ Vanderbilt (2-4, 0-3)

Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, Tn. (39,790)

3 PM CT/ 4 PM ET

SEC Network

Dave, Stinch, Kayce Smith

Missouri by 3

This should be a defensive game because both teams have pretty good defenses and terrible offenses. Like Missouri to get it done in an ugly one. The natives are getting restless in Nashville.

Missouri 17, Vanderbilt 13

Off: Georgia, Florida, South Carolina

National games

No. 3 Utah @ USC

6:30 PM CT/7: 30 PM ET

FOX

Gus, Joel Klatt, Molly McGrath

USC by 3 1/2

USC 34, Utah 31

Upset advisory

Tonight (Thursday)

No. 20 California 38, UCLA 35

8 PM CT/ 9 PM ET

ESPN

Tess, Jess, Dave, Kaylee

UCLA by 3 1/2

Upset Central 2 (Saturday)

No. 23 Duke 31, Virginia Tech 30

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

ESPNU

Clay Matvick, John Congemi

Va Tech by 3

No.9 Florida State 34, Georgia Tech 30

6 PM CT/ 7 PM ET

ESPN 2

Mark Jones, Rod Gilmore, Quint

FSU by 6

No.6 Clemson 35, Miami 27

11 AM CT/Noon ET

ABC

Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman, Todd McShay

Clemson by 7

No.1 Ohio State 45, Rutgers 28

7 PM CT/ 8 PM ET

ABC

Chris, Herbie, Heather

Ohio State by 21

No. 2 Baylor 70, Iowa State 31

11 AM CT/ Noon ET

ESPN

Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Shannon Spake

Baylor by 37

No. 10 Stanford 31, Washington 28

9:30 PM CT/10:30 PM ET

ESPN

Pasch, Greese, Luges

No line

No. 7 Michigan State 34, Indiana 31

2:30 PM CT/ 3:30 PM ET

ABC or ESPN2

Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham, Laura Rutledge

Michigan State by 16

 Texas 34, Kansas State 30

11 AM CT/ Noon ET

Fox Sports 1

Joe Davis, Brady Quinn, Kris Budden

Texas by 6 1/2

No. 14 Oklahoma State 56, Kansas 17

3:30 PM CT/4:30 PM ET

Fox Sports 1

Tim, Spencer

Oklahoma State by 35

No. 17 Oklahoma 49, Texas Tech 38

2:30 PM CT/ 3:30 PM ET

ABC or ESPN 2

Adam Amin, Kelly Stouffer, Olivia Harlan

OU by 14

North Carolina 38, Virginia 20

2:30 PM CT/ 3:30 PM ET

ESPN3

Wes Durham, James Bates, Rayven Tirado

UNC by 17 1/2

Tonight

Slight upset

No.22 Temple 34, East Carolina 31

6 PM CT/7 PM ET

ESPN2

Mark Neely, Ray Bentley, Quint Kessenich

East Carolina by 3

Friday

No. 18 Memphis 34, Tulsa 31

7 PM CT/ 8 PM ET

ESPN

Dave Flemming, Mack, Allison Williams

Memphis by 10 1/2

No. 21 Houston 49, Central Florida 21

11 AM CT/Noon ET

ESPN News

Mike Corey, Rene Ingoglia

Houston by 22

No. 19 Toledo 48, UMass 20

2 PM CT/3 PM ET

ESPN3

Bob Picozzi, Matt Chatham

Toledo by 14

Alabama @ A&M in a colossal SEC West tilt, Auburn @ Kentucky tomorrow night (Thursday) is a huge test for the Tigers and a much needed W for AU. Some key SEC matchups, and a massive national game along with some other important national games as the committee gets nearer to starting to pick the playoff rankings. The rankings commence Nov. 3rd, a Tuesday. Plenty of great action outside of the playoff banter as well.

Here are my four playoff teams right now:

1. Alabama

Got it done against a pretty scrappy Arkansas team last Saturday night at Bryant-Denny. Huge litmus test for the Tide this Saturday afternoon at Kyle Field versus the Aggies.

2. Michigan

I looked at the recruiting classes from 2011 to 2015 and Harbaugh has a stacked team with four stars and a couple of five stars on it. And is he ever coaching them up. Would love to see a Saban-Harbaugh matchup in the playoff.

3. Baylor

Just piling up the points. My question is the same one with Baylor every year: Can they play enough defense to win it all? They’ll get tested in the Big 12 down the road especially at TCU to finish off the season.

4. Clemson

I like the way Dabo has this team playing. Playing excellent defense and quarterback DeShawn Watson, running back Wayne Gallman and the offense is clicking effectively. Pretty solid on defense and offense.

Ohio State is not in there because, well, they’ve got to play Penn State this weekend, which is no gimme, and then Michigan State will come to Columbus on Nov. 21st. Then the Buckeyes go to the Big House to play Harbaugh and the Wolverines on Nov. 28th. There’s going to be a stumble in there. I like Michigan to knock them off if Michigan stays healthy. I’m not sure about Michigan State yet, but that could be an Urb L too. Penn State this weekend will be interesting. The Buckeyes aren’t playing that well, really, so they’re highly vulnerable.

TCU is definitely still in the discussion as is A&M. You can’t count out FSU either. Clemson plays Florida State on Nov.7th at Death Valley, and that looks to be an elimination game. They will both very likely be undefeated when they meet up, though Clemson has to go to Miami and NC State prior to that, while FSU has a tougher road playing Louisville at home this weekend, then going to Georgia Tech next weekend, then Syracuse at home before Clemson.

Alabama and A&M may very well be playing an elimination game this weekend. If Alabama loses, it’s not totally over for them, but it’ll be really difficult to make it in with two losses let alone make it to the SEC Championship game. Ole Miss is still in it with one loss, and LSU is rolling with Fournette, though they haven’t played much of a schedule so far. They have Florida coming into Death Valley this Saturday and if Florida had starting quarterback Will Grier, they’d have a good shot. But he’s gone for the year with a performance enhancer violation, and they’ll start their second string guy, Treon Harris. Harris could be OK, but it’s going to be tough for the Gators in Baton Rouge on Saturday Night.

So there’s plenty to be decided starting this weekend. Here’s the rundown.

Last week: 13-3; Overall 85-22 (78%)

No. 10 Alabama (5-1) @ No.9 Texas A&M (5-0)

Kyle Field, College Station, Texas (102,512)

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

CBS

Verne, Gary, Allie

Line: Crimson Tide by 4 1/2

Alabama has shown a propensity to step it up in the big games throughout its history, going back to Bear Bryant and all the way up to today. They have really stepped it up especially under the Bear and S. A&M has a strong passing game with quarterback Kyle Allen and a group of stellar receivers led by super freshman Christian Kirk. The Tide secondary, which is vastly improved but still somewhat of a question mark, will once again be under the gun. It’s next to impossible to run it on the Tide front seven, so A&M will have to win it through the air. I think they’ll score points through the air. But their defense is still not where it needs to be to beat an elite team like Alabama. Like the Tide to get it done, but in pretty much a shootout.

Alabama 35, A&M 31

Thursday

Auburn (3-2) @ Kentucky (4-1)

Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Ky. (67,006)

6 PM CT/7 PM ET

ESPN

Dave Flemming, Mack, Allison Williams

AU by 2

Looks like Gus is not going to announce his starting quarterback against Kentucky until game time, but I’m going with Jeremy Johnson. Whether it’s Jeremy or Sean White, they need to be good game managers. Auburn will be able to run the ball on Kentucky with Peyton Barber, Roc Thomas and Kerryon Johnson leading the way to an AU victory.

**** Sean White gets the start****

Auburn 31, Kentucky 27

No.8 Florida (6-0)  @ No. 6 LSU (5-0)

Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge (102,321)

6 PM CT/7PM ET

ESPN

Brad, Todd, Holly

LSU by 9 1/2

Leonard Fournette may have a little more trouble with a pretty stout Gator defense. It’s too bad McElwain doesn’t have his starting quarterback. That would really give the Gators a chance. But Treon Harris, the backup, is an excellent athlete, and Kelvin Taylor is a very good running back. McElwain will have to be creative in his play calls to give Harris the best chance to succeed. Probably more roll outs, quarterback zone read options, maybe even some trick plays with end arounds and flea flickers and wide receiver passes. McElwain will have a good plan. This is going to be a better game than some people think. Florida will be very competitive, but LSU is tough in Death Valley on a Saturday night.

LSU 27, Florida 24

Missouri (4-2) @ Georgia (4-2)

Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga. (92,746)

6:30 PM CT/ 7:30 PM ET

SEC Network

Brent, Jess, Maria

Dawgs by 16

Losing Nick Chubb to a knee injury was a major blow, but Sony Michel is very good as well and Keith Marshall can is reliable at backup rb. I thought quarterback Greyson Lambert played a really good game against Tennessee last week and the game should have gone into overtime if Georgia wide receiver Reggie Davis had caught a bomb from Lambert in the fourth quarter at the three yard line. He was going to be walking into the end zone for seven. But Davis dropped it and the Dawgs lost at tough one at Knoxville, 38-31. But they’re still in it in the East, and Missouri is playing freshman quarterback Drew Lock, who is going to be good, but it’ll be tough for him in Athens.

Georgia 35, Missouri 24

Vanderbilt (2-3) @ South Carolina (2-4)

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC (80,250)

3 PM CT/4 PM ET

SEC Network

Dave Neal, Matt Stinchcomb, Kayce Smith

SC by 3

The big news is about Ball Coach this week in Gamecock country. While he deserves the right to retire when he wants to, doing it in the middle of the season is a bit cowardly. It puts his team in a bad position. But I’ve heard interim head coach Shawn Elliott talk this week and I’m impressed. When he started yesterday, SC got a four-star offensive lineman commit. That’s a good start. SC still has some weapons on offense led by the awesome Pharaoh Cooper. They’re struggling at quarterback with Perry Orth and Lorenzo Nunez splitting reps but there is a chance that Connor Mitch will be back. Vanderbilt is trying to find an offense. Derek Mason has done a good job with the defense, making it SEC caliber. But they don’t have a consistent offense. Quarterback Johnny McCrary still throws too many interceptions and there’s just no consistency to this offense. Vandy’s defense will keep them in the game, but I like SC to win in a competitive but somewhat ugly game.

***Spurrier will be at ESPN Gameday on Saturday. Low classed to leave your team during the middle of the season, during what was a tremendous tragedy with the floods in South Carolina, and then going on Gameday when your former team has a huge game and their busting their backsides to salvage their season. I’ve lost all respect I had for Spurrier. Coward.

South Carolina 17, Vanderbilt 13

Other SEC games

No. 13 Ole Miss 42, Memphis 31

11 AM CT/ Noon ET

ABC

Tom Hart, Andre Ware, Laura Rutledge

Mississippi State 38, La Tech 34

11 AM CT/ Noon ET

SEC Network

Mike Couzens, Cole Cubelic, Kevin Weld

National blockbuster

No. 7 Michigan State (6-0) @ No. 12 Michigan (5-1)

The Big House, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan (109,901)

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

ESPN

Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman, Todd McShay

Michigan by 8

It’s a  huge game in the Big Ten and nationally. Playoff implications are riding on this one, though there is a lot of football left to be played. Michigan State has won six of the last seven, and while Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan players are keeping it low key to the media about that, you know they really want this. Like Harbaugh and his team to get the job done and advance in the playoff race. Junior De’Veon Smith is a heckuva running back for the Wolverines. I expect him to eclipse a buck on Saturday. It’ll be a very competitive game as the Spartans are a good, hard-nosed football team under stellar coach Mark Dantonio. But Michigan looks really good right now.

Michigan 35, Michigan State 28

Other national games

No. 1 Ohio State 34, Penn State 31

7 PM CT/8 PM ET

ABC

Chris, Herbie, Heather Cox

No.2 Baylor 56, West Virginia 28

11 AM CT/Noon ET

FOX

Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Molly McGrath

No.3 TCU 51, Iowa State 30

6 PM CT/7 PM ET

ESPN 2

Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht, Paul Carcaterra

No. 14 Notre Dame 34, USC 30

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET

NBC

Dan Hicks, Doug Flutie, Kathryn Tappen

Thursday

No. 15 Stanford 35, UCLA 27

9:30 PM CT/10:30 PM ET

ESPN

Tess, Jess, Dave, Kaylee

Saturday

Upset Central

Kansas State 38, Oklahoma 35

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

ABC

Dave Lamont, Ray Bentley, Dawn Davenport

Arizona State 31, No.4 Utah 30

9 PM CT/ 10 PM ET

ESPN

Mark Jones, Rod Gilmore, Quint Kessenich

No.5 Clemson 31, Boston College 14

6 PM CT/ 7 PM ET

ESPNU

Anish Shroff, Ahmad Brooks, Tiffany Greene

No.11 Florida State 31, Louisville 30

11 AM CT/Noon ET

ESPN

Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Shannon Spake

Steve Spurrier probably doesn’t remember talking to me, but I remember interviewing him vividly. In 1988, at 26 years old, I left Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where I was a sports reporter for a local radio station and a writer for Bama Magazine, to take a job writing sports for a publication titled Carolina Blue. It was kind of a suck up publication for University of North Carolina football, basketball and the other sports, but it was owned by then media powerhouse Jefferson-Pilot out of Charlotte, so it was a pretty good gig. I wrote 8-10 feature stories a week along with game stories on football and basketball games. It was pretty intense work. I was getting in at 7:15 in the morning and working till whenever I got done. Sometimes it was 5:30 PM and I got in some basketball pickup games after that. Other times it was 7:30 or 8 PM, and sometimes midnight. My editor’s name was John Kilgo, and his nickname was “Killer.” It was appropriate. He was a killer on young writers. There were three of us, two guys from East Carolina, and me, and we wrote away and got lambasted on a weekly basis on our reporting and our writing. Misspelled names would really get you taken to the woodshed verbally. But it was unbelievably great experience. My first story that I wrote for the publication was on North Carolina football center Jeff Garnica. He was an All-ACC player and selected by the AP as an All-American in ’88. He was also very bright. I wanted to do a really good job with the piece after interviewing him for an hour because he was a great guy and I just wanted to start off with a bang. I started writing at 4 PM that afternoon and didn’t get done until midnight. These stories were long, somewhere around 2,000 words, which are lengthy, but it’s a story I could write now in an hour, look it over, and have it out in an hour and 15 minutes. But I was new to it.

Anyway, there were some really fun interviews. Coach Pat Dye at Auburn, Coach K at Duke, Lute Olsen at Arizona, of course Mack Brown, who had just started at Carolina and really did a heckuva job there before getting the Texas job in 2000. He took Carolina to multiple bowl games in the 90’s, but in 1988, he was really rebuilding that program and didn’t win a game his first year. I got to talk to Dean Smith all the time which was pretty awesome. I actually worked in the Smith Center, which was better known as the Dean Dome then and today. It was really an incredible experience as far as the coaches I got to talk to. Steve Spurrier was in his early 40’s and had taken the Duke job in 1987. I called his office to do a preview of the upcoming 1989 Duke-Carolina game on a Tuesday about 5:30 PM Eastern Time. The next morning I got in the office at 7:15 and I had a message on the answering machine. “David, this is Steve Spurrier, hope you’re doing great! Would love to talk to you about our upcoming game with the Heels. Give me a call when you get a chance.” He talked to me like I was a good friend of his and he had no idea who I was. He knew he was going to beat Carolina most likely, but more than that, he LOVED the media. It was really refreshing to a coach who really wanted to talk to you. A lot of the great ones do like talking to the media. I had a great interview with Ball Coach, he was awesome. He, of course, beat Carolina that year. In 1989, he beat Danny Ford and Clemson, which was a perennial top 10 team and almost unbeatable team in the ACC, and Ford, a Bear Bryant disciple, won the national championship at Clemson in 1980. He was very similar to Coach Dye in that he played hard-nosed, physical football with an excellent running game and defense, and a solid passing game. His teams would just wear opponents out with their toughness and tenacity, much like Coach Saban’s  do today and Coach Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan teams are starting to do. But Spurrier beat him in 1989 in a major upset and Duke went on to tie for the ACC title and play in the All-American Bowl in B’ham that year. That’s when Florida came calling to get their former Heisman Trophy winner back home to Gainesville and revive a struggling program. It was 1990 and I had taken a job at a daily newspaper, The Durham Morning-Herald, and was having a blast covering high school and college football and basketball for the paper. My sports editor, Ron Morris, and I got tips that Ball Coach was talking to Florida, so we found out when his plane was getting back to the Raleigh-Durham airport from Gainesville. We greeted him when he got back that night trying to get the scoop. He said to Ron, “Hey Mo-Mo,” and kept calling him “Mo Mo.” It was hysterical. He was so much fun, but had a way of telling you a lot and making it an awesome interview without telling you exactly what he was going to do. We finally got the word that Ball Coach was going to Florida. It was the right move for him. He was ready to go to the SEC, where he won a Heisman Trophy, and play in the big leagues and attempt to win SEC titles and national titles.

Well he did pretty well in Gainesville I’d say. Six SEC titles and one national championship in 1996. He had a dominant program. In 2000, he wanted to try something else; he wanted to try the NFL. It didn’t work out with the Washington Redskins. Sometimes great college coaches can’t make the transition to the NFL because they are used to telling their players what to do and the players will follow orders. The great college coaches have total control. People like Spurrier and Coach Saban probably didn’t like the fact that some of the NFL players with the bigger salaries wouldn’t listen to them. It had to be frustrating for Spurrier and S. The same happened in basketball with Calipari and Pitino. Both incredible college coaches who couldn’t make the transition to the NBA because their disciplined styles didn’t work with some of the players, who wanted to run the show. It’s a real fine line in the NFL and the NBA. You’ve got to be able to mix discipline with being a players’ coach to an extent. And while Spurrier’s and Saban’s players in college have liked them and respected them for the most part, their hard nose, particularly Saban’s, approach for some reason didn’t connect with guys who were more into their paychecks than being great football players. But Spurrier and S’s styles  have been phenomenal in college.

Ball Coach took the job at South Carolina in 2005 and had three consecutive 10 win seasons from 2010-12 winning 11 games in 2012. I remember the 2013 Outback Bowl victory for South Carolina, a 31-28 victory over Michigan, because Jadeveon Clowney had one of the most massive hits on a Michigan running back that I’d ever seen. It was a tremendous football play. The Michigan player was really shaken up, but it was legal. I guess it’d be legal today. Not sure, but it was just an awesome football play. Fortunately, the Michigan player didn’t suffer a serious head injury, and it was a totally legal hit. But Ball Coach was bringing in Mr. Football after Mr Football in South Carolina with the great Marcus Lattimore, like Clowney, another stud before he suffered those tough knee injuries. But Lattimore was an awesome running back for South Carolina in the two years he played and could very well have won the Heisman Trophy and been a first round pick in the NFL, maybe the top player selected, if he hadn’t sustained those devastating knee injuries. Clowney was the first player selected in the 2014 draft by the Houston Texans and is battling through some injuries, but could dominate if he puts his mind to it. Alshon Jeffery was another Mr. Football, who pretty much beat Alabama singlehandedly in 2010. Jeffery is now a star wide receiver with the Chicago Bears in the National Football League though he’s banged up a little now. But he was a great one at South Carolina, too.

Ball Coach had run into some  tough times these last two years, and he was  just tired of the losing and just tired period. It’s a tough predicament for South Carolina the rest of this season. Offensive line coach Shawn Elliott will take over. But Ball Coach deserved the right to decide when he was done. He’s 70 years old, an age when men aren’t having to work as hard and should enjoy life some more, so he’s definitely earned the right to say when he’s done. He didn’t think he could turn it around this year and the future wasn’t as promising as he’d hoped, recruiting was going OK but not great, so he was ready to call it a career. He has a lifetime membership at Augusta National, which he will certainly take advantage of. He loves to play golf and is a good golfer. He has a house in Florida which he will use a lot. He’s got all the financial resources he needs, and he really loves his wife, his children and his grandchildren. He deserves a good final chapter in his life. With as good a shape as he’s in, that could be another 20 to 25 years. He’s 70 going on 50. He loves life.

Would he ever take another job? I highly doubt it. USC, the other USC, Southern Cal, will have an opening, but I think the Ball Coach likes the South, wants to be close to his family and really likes the membership at Augusta and playing golf, so he’s ready to focus on that. He’s been a scratch golfer and is still a very good player.

I have no idea whom South Carolina will hire. No clue. I guess Kirby Smart’s name might come up. Jeremy Pruitt. Chad Morris. Guys like that. Should be interesting how that develops.

But Coach Spurrier has a lot of livin to do as the song goes. I hope he really enjoys life now. He’s earned it.

My four playoff teams at this point are in order:

1. Alabama

Looked like the best team in the country last week as they blasted Georgia in Athens, 38-10. Have an SEC gauntlet coming up though, with Arkansas at home, Texas A&M on the road next Saturday, Oct. 17th, 2:30 PM CT on CBS in a huge showdown, Tennessee at home, Oct. 24th, a week off Oct. 31, and then LSU visits Bryant-Denny on November 7th. So the Tide has a load in front of them. I definitely like them against Arkansas and UT, A&M and LSU are trickier, but certainly doable.

2. Baylor

Averaging 63.8 points per game. Giving up 26, so they’re playing better defense. Defense is always the question mark at Baylor, but man can they play some offense. Could come down to @ TCU on November 27th which could determine if they’re in. At Oklahoma State November 21st is no guarantee either.

3. Ohio State

Can’t keep them out though they’re just kind of getting by right now. The talent is through the roof though. Roadblocks are Michigan State at home on November 21st, and at the Big House to visit Jim Harbaugh and Michigan on November 28th. That’s looking to be a classic.

4. Utah

This is a tough, hard-nosed, outstanding football team.  They run it well, they pass it well, they’re tough in the trenches, and they play SEC like defense, I’m talking Alabama-like defense. They face a 5-0 Cal team at home and that’s no kick in, they’re at USC, Oct. 24th, and UCLA visits the Utes on Nov. 21st. Things are setting up pretty well for this team and they are legit. Beat Oregon 62-20 at Autzen Stadium, and while Oregon is struggling somewhat, they’re really good at home and they still have playmakers galore. So that was a serious woodshed victory.

Other teams in contention for a playoff spot at this point are TCU, Clemson, Michigan State, Michigan, Florida State and Northwestern. Northwestern at Michigan Saturday. Stanford is starting to enforce their will on people and are looking pretty tough. Northwestern beat them 16-6 in the season opener for both teams, so that tells me a lot about Northwestern.  I’ve got Michigan in there. Harbaugh has instilled toughness and discipline back into this storied program. He has them back a year or two sooner than most people thought he would. He’s got pretty good talent and is really coaching them up.

Here’s a look at this week’s lineup.

Last week: 15-5; Overall 75-22 (77%)

Arkansas (2-3, 1-1 SEC) @ No.8 Alabama (4-1, 1-1)

Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa (101, 821)

6 PM CT/7 PM ET

ESPN

Line: Bama by 16 1/2

The defense is as good as any Nick Saban and Kirby Smart have had in Tuscaloosa. The front seven is close to impossible to run on, and the secondary showed how talented they were last week with three interceptions of Georgia passes. Eddie Jackson had one he returned 50 yards, Ronnie Harrison had one he returned 29 yards, and Marlon Humphrey made a really good int as he was falling down backwards. Reggie Ragland is playing lights out and is the leader of the defense. They’re dominant. Derrick Henry is piling up the yards on the ground. He ran for 148 yards and a 30 yard seven to open up the touchdown barrage by the Crimson Tide. That run put Bama in front 10-3, and Jake Coker, Cavin Ridley and Minkah Fitzpatrick took it from there. Fitzpatrick blocked a Georgia punt and took it in from a yard to put the Tide up 17-3, then Coker connected with the electric Ridley for a 45 yard touchdown that put the game basically away, 24-3, late in the second quarter.

Henry has now rushed for 570 yards on 93 carries (6.1 per)  and has nine TDs. He is tied for seventh in the country in touchdowns and 19th in rushing yards. Boise State running back Jeremy McNichols leads the country with 12 TDs and Leonard Fournette leads the country in rushing yards with 864. Fournette is second in the country with 11 TDs. Henry is an awesome North-South runner, which S loves, and all the other coaches who like power football. Harbaugh and Utah’s Kyle Whittingham are two of them. They want that kind of runner. He’s not super at creating yards, he needs holes, but he’s certainly doin work for the Crimson Tide this season. Jake Coker played terrifically last week in the rain in Athens. He was 11-of-16 for 190 yards and a TD, and played a flawless game. He’s got it together. He and Kiff are definitely on the same page right now. Kenyan Drake is still an explosive play waiting to happen as is Ridley. Alabama needs to keep developing its other skilled players, and getting O.J. Howard involved in the offense should be a priority. Howard is an excellent tight end and Kiffin needs to get him the ball more. He could be an excellent weapon.

Arkansas had a tremendous win at Tennessee last Saturday night, 24-20, and really should have beaten A&M the week before in Arlington, Texas, losing to the Aggies. 28-21. They really outplayed A&M in that game and should have come away with the W. But they’re 2-3 and 1-1 in the conference, they have a massive offensive line, an outstanding running game, and a pretty good passing offense. Their secondary is somewhat questionable, but they’ve got some talent on defense. Alex Collins, who was a four star recruit out of high school in Florida three years ago, has been terrific running the football. He has gained 656 yards this season on 113 carries (5.8 per) with six TDs. He’s averaging 131 yards per game. He’s eighth in the country in rushing yards. Freshman Rawleigh Williams has done an excellent job taking the place of Jonathan Williams, the stud tailback for Arkansas, along with Collins, who was lost for the season with a knee injury he sustained in fall camp. Williams is good. He has rushed for 226 yards on 47 totes (4.8) and has a seven. He’s going to be a hoss for them these next three or four years. He already is. Quarterback Brandon Allen is a senior who has paid his dues the last three years. He’s completed 93-of-141 passes (66%) for 1,360 yards and 8 TDs this season. He has thrown three interceptions. So Arkansas will test the Bama secondary and they will for sure try to figure out ways to move the ball on the ground. Their leading receiver is wide out Drew Morgan who has 23 receptions for 413 yards and three scores. Tight end Hunter Henry is a big part of Bret Bielema’s offense. The 6’5″, 253 pound junior has 20 catches for 268 yards and a seven. Their leading tackler is cornerback Rohan Gaines, who has 26 stops. Sophomore safety Henre’ Tolliver is second on the team in tackles with 24 and 4 for a loss of 14 yards. That’s not a great sign when two guys in your secondary are leading the team in tackling. The front seven looks vulnerable to Henry and the running game.

With all that said, I like the Tide to win for sure. Could be a tougher game because the team is coming off an emotional victory at Athens last week, and Arkansas is a pretty good football team. But they’ll get the job done.

Alabama 35, Arkansas 17

Thoughts on Auburn

Gus just kicked Duke Williams off the team. Williams is a loser right now and needs to get his act together if he wants to have any kind of future, whether it’ll be in the NFL, which he wants, or in a coaching capacity or whatever he would be forced to do if football doesn’t work out. And he better get it together quickly. He was a disaster to this football team.

I watched the Tigers defeat San Jose State 35-21 and was very impressed with the running game. Peyton Barber is not the most talented running back on the depth chart, but right now he’s the best. He ran for 147 yards and five TDs last week. He’s playing sensational football right now for the Tigers. Roc Thomas looks like he’s getting it together and freshman Kerryon Johnson looks like he’s going to be really good and be an explosive playmaker like Roc. Sean White only completed six-of 10 passes for 108 yards, but had a nice 42-yard deep ball to Ricardo Louis. The quarterback competition is open now as White and Jeremy Johnson will battle for QB1 against Kentucky next Thursday, October 15th, at 6 PM on ESPN. Will keep an eye on that as the competition proceeds this weekend. I imagine Gus and Rhett Lashlee will have made their decision by Sunday night. The defense played better against San Jose State. San Jose State had an outstanding running back in Tyler Ervin, who had rushed for 300 yards the week before against Fresno State. He ran for a buck 60 against the Tigers on 27 carries, but the Tigers seemed to make it a little harder on him in the second half. Will Muschamp has Cassanova McKinzy playing defensive end now and that helps with the pass rush. Johnathan Ford led the Tigers with 14 tackles and linebacker Kris Frost added 12. There were four tackles for loss and two interceptions, one by Justin Garrett and another by true freshman Carlton Davis, who made an excellent reaction on a tipped ball by the San Jose receiver. Davis was falling forward to the ground and caught it. Great play. Cornerback Jonathan Jones and defensive tackle Dontavius Russell had fumble recoveries. And there were a couple of stellar kickoff returns. Johnathan Ford took a kick back 58 yards and Blake Countiss reeled off a 61 yard kickoff return. So there were a lot of positives to build on for the Tigers.

Kentucky will be a tough road test and the Tigers have to have  this one to turn this season around. They have to be able to run the football and they really need good quarterback play. They lost a receiver, though Williams wasn’t doing much, so they need Ricardo Louis, Marcus Davis and some others to step up. Louis needs to be the leader. He’s a playmaker. Kentucky will test the Tigers. This is a must win if Auburn wants to get their season going again. AU is 3-2 overall and 0-2 in conference with losses to Mississippi State, 17-3, and LSU, 45-21. Kentucky is 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the SEC with wins over Missouri at home, 21-13, and South Carolina on the road, 26-22. They have lost to Florida at home, 14-9. They’ve got a pretty decent quarterback, Patrick Towles, and good running backs in Stanley “Boom” Williams, and JoJo Kemp. Their offense is pretty solid, though if you get good pressure on Towles, he can be inaccurate and make mistakes. Their defense is improved but the Tigers can probably run it pretty well on them. AU will have to pass it effectively, too, to loosen up the defense so they can run the ball. Will have more next Thursday on AU-Kentucky.

Other SEC games

No. 11 Florida @ Missouri

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET

SEC Network

Gators by 5

I really like what Jim McElwain is doing in Gainesville. He inherited a pretty good roster and has molded them into a good football team. The Gators dismantled Ole Miss last Saturday night, 38-10, and I don’t think this train is slowing up any time soon. Missouri freshman quarterback Drew Lock looks like he’ll be for real, but he won’t be enough Saturday.

Florida 27, Missouri 21

South Carolina @ No.7 LSU

2:30 PM CT/3:30 ET

ESPN

LSU by 19 1/2

Leonard Fournette goes off again. He leads the country in rushing with 864 yards. Will probably break 1,000 in this game.

LSU 35, South Carolina 14

No. 19 Georgia @ Tennessee

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

CBS

Dawgs by 3

Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and the Dawgs are angry. Tennessee is a good offensive team, and they’ve lost some tough ones, but I like the Dawgs to take care of business in Neyland Stadium. Should be a good game though.

Georgia 31, UT 27

New Mexico State @ Ole Miss

11 AM CT/Noon ET

SEC Network

Ole Miss by 45

The Rebels are healing up from the blasting they took at the hands of Florida, but obviously they’re fine here.

Ole Miss 52, New Mexico State 3

Troy @ Mississippi State

3 PM CT/4 PM ET

SEC Network

State by 30 1/2

State 45, Troy 17

Off: Auburn, Texas A&M, Vandy, Kentucky

Major national games:

No. 13 Northwestern @ No.18 Michigan

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

Big Ten Network

Michigan by 7 1/2

Northwestern is a good, solid  football team. They play power football and play good defense much like the Wolverines. Like Harbaugh to get it done at home though. But I’m expecting a tough, hard fought game.

Michigan 24, Northwestern 20

Georgia Tech @ No. 6 Clemson

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

ABC or ESPN2

Clemson by 7

I love what Dabo Swinney is doing at Clemson. He has the program rockin in his eighth season. Clemson plays SEC-like football. Like them to handle Tech at home.

Clemson 35, Georgia Tech 24

Navy @ No. 15 Notre Dame

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

NBC

Notre Dame by 14 1/2

Navy is 4-0 after a solid pounding of a pretty good Air Force team. I’m tempted to pick the upset here, but I’ll take the Irish at home, barely. Irish coming off a tough loss at Clemson.

Notre Dame 31, Navy 28

Other national stuff

No.5 Utah 38, No.23 California 30

9 PM CT/10 PM ET

ESPN

No.1 Ohio State 48, Maryland 7

No.2 TCU 45, Kansas State 31

No.3 Baylor 70, Kansas 21

No.10 Oklahoma 42, Texas 24

11 AM CT/Noon ET

ABC

No.12 Florida State 31, Miami 28

7 PM CT/8PM ET

ABC

West Virginia 42, No. 21 Oklahoma State 38

6 PM CT/ 7 PM ET

 ESPN2