Some solid matchups this weekend. The Crimson Tide looks like it has a glorified scrimmage, but you never know. They need to play well after a pretty impressive effort last Saturday Night versus Arkansas. Not sure where Auburn is. There are injuries and the expulsion of wide receiver Kyle Davis from the team. Gus needs to rebound in Fayetteville this Saturday. LSU @ Ole Miss looks interesting. The Bengal Tigers came back from a 20-0 deficit to beat Auburn last Saturday, 27-23 at Death Valley. They take on what looks like a rejuvenated Ole Miss squad after the Rebels were impressive in defeating Vanderbilt last Saturday, 57-35. LSU and Auburn are trying to become factors in the SEC West again. Texas A&M looks like they’re becoming relevant again after defeating the Gators in the Swamp last Saturday, 19-17. A&M, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Vanderbilt all are off this week. Nationally, USC travels to South Bend to square off with Notre Dame, which should be an outstanding contest. And a tremendous game in the Big Ten features No. 19 Michigan @ No.2 Penn State. I’m not sure Penn State is the second best team in the country, but we’ll find out what they’re made of this Saturday Night.

Here’s a look at this week. 

Last week: 18-6

Overall: 121-33, 79%

***All times are Central time. All games on Saturday unless otherwise noted.

 

Tennessee (3-3, 0-3 SEC) @ No.1 Alabama (7-0, 4-0)

2:30 PM

CBS

Brad, Gary, Allie

Bama by 36

My wife’s a tough judge on her team. She gave her Crimson Tide a B- for last Saturday’s victory over Arkansas. I gave it more of a B+, A-. The team looks unstoppable right now. Damien Harris and Minkah Fitzpatrick look like Heisman candidates to me. Everything is cookin along well for S and his squad. This looks like a serious blowout. The Vols might be better off forfeiting. 

Crimson Tide 48, Vols 6

 

No. 21 Auburn (5-2, 3-1) @ Arkansas (2-4, 0-3)

6:30 PM

SEC Network

Tom Hart, JRodg, Cole

Tigers by 15 1/2

Kerryon Johnson is still playing at a high level. He ran for 156 yards and a 7 last Saturday. Auburn has injuries on both sides of the ball. If they can have an impressive victory in Fayetteville that would get them back on track to make a possible run in the SEC West. Games at Texas A&M, Georgia and Bama at home loom though. So they need a good outing and players getting healthy again.

Auburn 38, Arkanas 21

 

No. 24 LSU (5-2, 2-1) @ Ole Miss (3-3, 1-2)

6:15

ESPN

Joe, Todd, Holly

LSU by 7

The Bengal Tigers gained a lot of traction and momentum from their spectacular come from behind victory over Auburn. But Shea Patterson and Ole Miss present some problems for any defense. Patterson is like a Johnny Manziel type at quarterback for the Rebels. He’s a really good football player. His receivers are still studs like they have been for the last 3 to 4 years. They’re all 6’2″, 210 and highly athletic. LSU’s defense will be tested. My question is, can Danny Etling be a good enough quarterback to put LSU in the SEC west and national picture. I’m not seeing it right now, but he makes some good plays. Derrius Guice needs to have a good game. Like the Bengal Tigers, but I see this as a hard fought football game.

LSU 28, Ole Miss 27

 

Kentucky (5-1, 2-1) @ Mississippi State (1-2, 4-2)

3 PM

SEC Network

Taylor Zarzour, Andre, Olivia Harlan

State by 12

Both teams started off fast, but have faded a little lately. Kentucky is still in the East, and if State can get a victory, it’d be a momentum booster for their team. I like State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald to get the job done with his running and passing.

State 38, Kentucky 31

 

Missouri 42, Idaho 24

11 AM

SEC Network

Missouri by 14

 

N0. 19 Michigan (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) @ No. 2 Penn State (6-0, 3-0)

6:30 PM 

ABC 

Chris, Kirk, Maria, Tom Rinaldi

Penn State by 9 1/2

This is going to tell us if James Franklin and his Nittany Lions are a real national contender. Michigan is pretty bad on offense at times, and it’s because of poor quarterback play, but they’re terrific on defense. I’m going with the Michigan defense and the tried and true axiom that defense wins championships to carry the night for the Wolverines in Happy Valley.

Michigan 21, Penn State 20

 

No. 11 USC (6-1, 4-1 PAC-12) @ Notre Dame (5-1)

6:30 PM 

NBC 

ND by 3 1/2

I still don’t believe in Brian Kelly. Not a big fan of his and don’t see him as a championship coach that the Irish fans desperately want. I don’t see USC coach Clay Helton as a championship coach either, but I do like his talent. He has championship caliber talent even though the Trojans lost to Washington State a couple of weeks ago. A PAC-12 title and a playoff berth are still in play for the Trojans. The Irish think they are in the hunt, too. Don’t see it under Kelly. 

USC 34, Notre Dame 31

 

Other scores

Texas 45, Oklahoma State 42

11 AM 

ABC

Like Tom Herman and his Longhorns to get their first signature win in a shocker over the Cowboys. I believe in Herman. He’s an excellent football coach and has the Longhorns trending towards a championship trajectory in the next 2 or 3 years. 

 

No.9 Oklahoma 45, Kansas State 30

3 PM 

FOX

The Sooners survived a battle in the Red River Rivalry last Saturday as they outlasted Texas, 29-24. Baker Mayfield has a big day in Manhattan, KS. and the Sooners matriculate in the Big 12 and nationally.

 

Florida State 31, Louisville 30

11 AM

ESPN

Looking for a very close contest here. The FSU defense is good and they do just enough to best Lamar Jackson and the Cardinals.

 

No. 5 Wisconsin 42, Maryland 14

11 AM CT

FOX

I don’t see Wisconsin as an elite team yet, but they’re good and they keep getting better and better. They can really run the football, but their quarterback play can be questionable. They are definitely a team to watch for in the Big Ten and nationally though. They’re No.5 in the country, so they’re serious. 

 

No.8 Miami 42, Syracuse 20

2:30 PM 

ESPN

Like the Canes, who had a massively impressive comeback victory over Georgia Tech last Saturday in Hard Rock Stadium in which one of the Miami receivers made a catch on 4th and 10 very late in the game that kept Miami’ hopes of winning the game existent. The ball was knocked up in the air by 2 Tech defenders, and as he was falling on his back, the Canes’ receiver caught the ball on the way down on the Georgia Tech 8 yard line allowing the Canes to kick a game winning field goal and capture a spectacular 25-24 victory over the dangerous Ramblin Wreck. I see the Canes bringing the Cuse off their high horse after the Orange defeated then No.2 Clemson last Friday Night in a colossal upset. Pretty bullish on Miami. Their quarterback, Malik Rosier, is special.

No.4 TCU 55, Kansas 14

7 PM

FOX

The Horned Frogs should have no problem here. They’re a serious team in the playoff hunt at this juncture. They still have some key games at Oklahoma, Texas at home and Texas Tech on the road.

 

No. 14 Virginia Tech 41, North Carolina 17

2:30 PM 

ESPN2

Like the Hokies to get it done and to keep their ACC titles and outside national aspirations alive. They’ve got some important games left, that, if they win, they’re in the ACC title game, and a victory there could be enough to get this team in the playoff picture. A lot of work left for the Hokies though. UNC has been devastated by injuries. Tough year in Chapel Hill.

 

No. 18 Michigan State 31, Indiana 28

2:30 PM 

ABC

Like the Spartans to be tested here. Don’t know if I totally believe in this team as a major factor in the Big Ten though they did beat Michigan in the Big House a couple of weeks ago in a super performance. They seem to get it done though it’s not overly impressive. Seems to always be the case for them. They’re doing well so it’s hard to argue with their results at 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten East. 

Tonight

No. 25 Memphis 35, Houston 31

Like the Tigers to go into the Rocket City and get a huge upset victory over a pretty good Cougars squad. Really like the Memphis quarterback, Riley Ferguson. 

 

No. 15 Washington State 45, Colorado 31

9:45 PM

ESPN

Like Mike Leach and his squad to bounce back after that embarrassing blowout lossto Cal on the road last Friday Night. Cal is a very competitive team, but to lose 37-3 to the Golden Bears is pretty inexcusable. The Cougars snap back against a Colorado team under Mike McIntyre that had a terrific season last year, but is struggling to get it together in 2017.

 

No. 23 West Virginia 45, Baylor 38

7 PM 

Fox Sports 1

Like the Mountaineers to keep their momentum going after their big come from behind victory over Texas Tech at home last Saturday. The Mountaineers were down 35-17 in the third quarter and scored 29 unanswered points to defeat the Red Raiders, 46-35. They keep it going in Waco, but I see Baylor being very competitive at home.

 

UAB 38, Charlotte 10

5:30 PM

beIN SPORTS

The Blazers keep it going albeit against a really bad Charlotte team that is 0-7. The Blazers are a pretty good team and have 2 impressive  victories in consecutive weeks at home over LA Tech, 23-22, and Middle Tennessee State, 25-23.

 

Navy 35, No. 20 Central Florida 34

2:30 PM

CBS Sports Network

The Academy is the most impressive, resilient team in the country. They’re 5-1 and are highlyclutch in big games. Like the Midshipmen to pull off the upset at Annapolis.  

 

Georgia Tech 31, Wake Forest 30

6:30 PM 

ESPNU

Like the Yellow Jackets to survive the Demon Deacons. Two pretty good, underrated teams in the ACC that always give the more talented teams problems. 

 

California 34, Arizona 31

7 PM

PAC-12 Network

Like Cal, fresh off their upset of top 10 team Washington State-which I wasn’t buying in the first place, Washington State’s top 10 ranking-to pull off the upset here. Cal is a 3 point underdog at home. They’ve got a pretty good football team and so does Zona. But I’m going with the home field team in what should be an excellent game.