The big question looming in Tuscaloosa is the condition of Tua’s knee. That’s an all consuming topic right now. First of all, Tua is a warrior, he wants to play. I saw him running through drills this week and he looked good; he was moving well. But Saturday he’ll have to take some hits, so that’s a little tenuous for Alabama fans. S wants him to play to stay sharp for Auburn, Georgia and beyond if things go Alabama’s way. I understand that completely. Jalen Hurts is not ready right now. He might not be ready for a few more games. The sprained ankle has been a little chronic, so the Tide needs Tua to play. Mac Jones is not ready yet. The offense was stagnant last Saturday with him under center. Tua will play as long as necessary on Saturday. That could be a half or it could be 3 quarters. I would think the Tide would have it in hand by the 4th quarter, so Tua would be able to rest after 3 quarters, maybe even a half. The defense is playing superbly well right now, and the weapons around Tua are still electric. The line needs to do its job though. They had some trouble with a very good Mississippi State front last Saturday, and with Auburn and Georgia, possibly Clemson, Notre Dame or Michigan looming among others, the line has to be stout. Losing Deonte Brown at guard is a little problematic. Lester Cotton is a talent, but has struggled this season. Still a lot of talent and physicality up front and this will be a good game to solidify that front for the Iron Bowl and the postseason.

Auburn plays host to Liberty, and after last week’s tough time in Athens, the Tigers need to shore up their offense to get ready for the Crimson Tide. The lack of a running game has been a problem for the Tigers. Boobie Whitlow is a good back, but he’s been banged up lately. Shaun Shivers shows signs of being a good player with tremendous speed. The Tigers need to figure that out on Saturday with a trip looming to Tuscaloosa.

Some key games in the SEC and on the national scale. The UAB Blazers with a 9-1 overall record and a Conference USA West Title, head to College Station to play the Texas A&M Aggies. The Blazers are a good story this year, but the competition ramps up this Saturday.

Here’s a look at this week’s intriguing slate.

Last week: 18-6

Overall: 182-54, 77%

The Citadel (4-5) @ No.1 Alabama (10-0)

Bryant-Denny Stadium

11 AM CT

SEC Network

Dave Neal, D.J. Shockley, Dawn Davenport

Bama by 51

I see Tua playing maybe 3 quarters depending on how the game is going. S is like Bill Belichick. If you are not on crutches or carried off on a cart, you can play. I’m not sure that’s always the best strategy, but it’s worked well for him and his teams through the years. The Citadel did come back from a 21-0 deficit last Saturday to defeat Samford, but I like the Tide defense to keep on cookin with Mack Wilson, Quinnen Williams etc.. .really dominating and the offense to play better this Saturday.

Alabama 52, Citadel 0

Liberty (4-5) @Auburn (6-4)

Jordan-Hare Stadium

3 PM CT

SEC Alternate Channel, 612 on DirecTV and 820 on Charter

Richard Cross, Hutson Mason, Taylor Davis

Auburn by 28

The Tigers need to play well here to get momentum heading into Tuscaloosa next Saturday. I see an Auburn team playing inspired football this Saturday and tuning up for next week in Bryant-Denny with a 2:30 kickoff on CBS.

Auburn 38, Liberty 7

UAB (9-1) @ Texas A&M (6-4)

Kyle Field, College Station

6 PM CT

ESPN2

Clay Matvick, Dan Orlovsky, Paul Carcaterra

A&M by 17

UAB has been a good story this season, Bill Clark has done an excellent job. But you would think by reading articles about him that he’s a better coach than Kirby, Dabo, even S. Winning over UTEP, North Texas, LA Tech, Rice, and a 4-5 Southern Miss team at home last Saturday in overtime isn’t the same as trying to win at A&M. This is the SEC, not Cusa.

A&M 34, UAB 7

Missouri (6-4, 2-4) @ Tennessee (5-5, 2-4)

Neyland Stadium, Knoxville

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jamie

Mizzou by 5 1/2

Tennessee is coming off a huge victory at home over Kentucky last Saturday, 24-7, while Missouri survived a scrappy effort by Vanderbilt winning 33-28. I like Jeremy Pruitt and his Vols to pull off the upset on Rocky Top.

UT 31, Missouri 30

UMass (4-7) @ Georgia (9-1)

Sanford Stadium

3 PM CT

SEC Network

Taylor Zarzour, Stinch, Laura Rutledge

Dawgs by 41

Like the way the Dawgs are trending. D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield, the champ’s son, look like the best running back duo in the country.

Dawgs 49, UMass 7

Arkansas (2-8, 0-6) @ No.21 Mississippi State (6-4, 2-4)

Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville

11 AM CT

ESPN

Adam Amin, Rod Gilmore, Quint Kessenich

State by 21 1/2

State gave a great effort, particularly on defense, last Saturday in Tuscaloosa. Nick Fitzgerald and the offense have a big day versus a reeling Razorbacks team.

Mississippi State 42, Arkansas 14

Ole Miss (5-5, 1-5) @ Vanderbilt (4-6, 1-5)

Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashvegas

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Tom Hart, JRodg, Cole

Vandy by 2 1/2

The Commodores are close to being 8-2 right now instead of 4-6, but haven’t been able to get over the hump in close games with Notre Dame, Kentucky, Florida and Missouri. I like’em to get the job done this Saturday and set up a tremendous matchup with Tennessee next Saturday in Nashville with both teams playing for a bowl game if they take care of business this weekend.

Vanderbilt 35, Ole Miss 31

Rice (1-10) @ No.7 LSU (8-2)

Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge

6:30 PM CT

ESPNU

Mike Couzens, Kirk Morrison

LSU by 42

Leading 24-17 with just over a minute and a half left in the game, LSU running back Nick Brossette was heading to the end zone and the gamblers who bet on LSU were ecstatic as the spread was 13 1/2. Shockingly, Brossette slid at the 2 yard line, and those gamblers went from ecstatic to irate. Brossette kind of laughed it off. He did what he saw Todd Gurley do a week before on TV when Gurley slid at the 2 to give the Los Angeles Rams a 29-27 victory over the Packers and ruin the bet for the Rams’ gamblers. Gurley’s move and Brossette’s both seemed questionable, but both seemed to be in the dark about the point spread. It’s a little suspicious still. Brossette’s touchdown would have iced the game for sure, so his imitation of Gurley was pretty dumb as far as sealing the game for his team. But the Bengal Tigers take care of business this Saturday and get ready for a trip to College Station next week.

LSU 42, Rice 7

Middle Tennessee (7-3) @ No. 17 Kentucky (7-3)

Kroger Field, Lexington

11 AM CT

SEC Alternate Network

Dave LaMont, Ray Bentley, Tera Taimadge

UK by 16

Kentucky is doing what they always do, fade under Mark Stoops. After what looked to be an epic season, they got crushed by Georgia 2 Saturdays ago and then were defeated pretty soundly by Tennessee last Saturday. I wonder if they’ll be up for this game. Middle Tennessee is a little dangerous for them. I think they should be fine though.

Kentucky 42, Middle Tennessee 14

Idaho (4-6) @ No. 13 Florida (7-3)

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

11 AM CT

ESPNU

Kevin Brown, Andre Ware

Gators by 39 1/2

Feliepe Franks put on a spectacular effort last Saturday in bringing the Gators back from a 31-14 deficit as the Gators defeated South Carolina, 35-31. Florida has a much easier time of it this Saturday.

Florida 45, Idaho 3

Chattanooga (6-4) @ South Carolina (5-4)

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.

6:30 PM CT

SEC Alternate Network

Mike Morgan, Barrett Jones, Alyssa Lang

Gamecocks by 30 1/2

South Carolina comes off a difficult defeat last Saturday in Gainesville and gets by the Mocs.

Gamecocks 38, Chattanooga 14

Duke (7-3, 3-3) @ No.2 Clemson (10-0, 7-0)

Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C.

6 PM CT

ESPN

Steve Levy, Brian Griese, McShay

Clemson by 28

Clemson looks stout, but I like the Blue Devils to give them a decent game for a while with Clemson pulling away in the second half.

Clemson 42, Duke 24

No. 12 Syracuse (8-2) @ No.3 Notre Dame (10-0)

Yankee Stadium, New York, NY

1:30 PM CT

NBC

Tirico, Flutie, Kathryn Tappen

Notre Dame by 10 1/2

I like the Fighting Irish, with quarterback Ian Book back under center after being out last Saturday, to keep taking care of business and stay right where they are in the playoff picture.

Notre Dame 42, Syracuse 28

Indiana (5-5, 2-6) @ No.4 Michigan (9-1, 7-0)

Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor

3 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

Gus, Joel, Jenny Taft

Michigan by 28

I think Georgia is a better team than Michigan. Like Notre Dame, Oklahoma and West Virginia over Michigan as well. The defense is pretty good, but the offense is erratic with Shea Patterson under center. The Wolverines are a good team but they’re not elite.

Michigan 42, Indiana 10

No.9 West Virginia (8-1, 6-1 Big 12) @ Oklahoma State (5-5, 2-5)

Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Sean McDonough, Todd, Holly

West VA. by 4 1/2

This is a tough game for the Mountaineers, but I’m going to put my trust in them as they try to set up a regular season conference title game with Oklahoma next Saturday in Morgantown.

West VA 45, OK State 40

No. 16 Iowa State (6-3, 5-2 Big 12) @ No. 15 Texas (7-3, 5-2)

Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin

7 PM CT

Longhorn Network

Lowell Galindo, Ahmad Brooks, Kris Budden

Texas by 2 1/2

The Cyclones will be without star running back David Montgomery for the first half as Montgomery got into a scuffle with a Baylor player last Saturday that was incited by the Baylor player and was suspended by the Big 12 for half of this game. Still believe in the Cyclones. If they can win out and West Virginia loses to either OK State (which I hope not) or OU next Saturday, the Cyclones will be in the Big 12 Championship game to face the Sooners, provided OU wins over Kansas this Saturday, which is pretty much a given. Still don’t totally trust Texas and I DO trust the Cyclones.

Iowa State 35, Texas 30

No.6 Oklahoma 63, Kansas 28

6:30 PM CT

FOX

OU by 35 1/2

Kyler Murray and the Sooners truck on to Morgantown moving to 10-1 overall and 7-1 in the Big 12.. Many concerns about their defense though.

No. 10 Ohio State 35, Maryland 24

11 AM CT

ABC

Dave Pasch, Gregory, Lugues

Ohio State by 14 1/2

Still a lot of questions about this football team on both sides of the ball though they move to 10-1 and 7-1 in the Big Ten with the victory and control their own destiny in the Big Ten with Michigan coming down to Columbus next Saturday. I don’t see them as a playoff team, but if chaos transpires, Urb could sneak his way in. They aren’t worthy, but there could be some major meltdowns that get them in.

No. 8 Washington State 38, Arizona 31

9:30 PM CT

ESPN

Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Allison Williams

Cougs by 10 1/2

I really like what Mike Leach is doing in Pullman. The guy’s a terrific coach. But Kevin Sumlin and his Arizona Wildcats are playing well right now. I see a pretty fierce matchup here with the Cougs barely moving to 10-1, and 7-1 with a shot at winning the Pac 12 regular season at home next Friday versus Apple Cup rival Washington.

No. 11 UCF 38, Cincinnati 35

7 PM CT

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Maria

UCF by 7

I like what UCF does on the offensive side of the football, but not so much on defense. Cincy gives them a tussle in Orlando on prime time this Saturday Night.

No. 22 Northwestern 31, Minnesota 28

11 AM CT

Big Ten Network

MInn by 1

It’s at Minneapolis so the Wildcats are the underdog. But I trust these guys. They’ve already won the Big Ten West securing it with a victory last Saturday at Iowa. Pat Fitzgerald and his impressive team keep it going.

Pittsburgh 34, Wake Forest 30

11 AM CT

ACC Network

Pitt by 7

I like the Panthers to just get by a very scrappy, impressive Wake team that went on the road a week ago and knocked off previously ranked NC State. But I’m pretty bullish on this Pitt team. They have clinched the Coastal Division of the ACC with a 5-1 mark. They are 6-4 overall and playing very good football right now.

Georgia Tech 34, Virginia 31

2:30 PM CT

ACC Network

Tech by 6

The Ramblin Wreck’s triple option just gets over the hump over a pretty solid UVA team. Paul Johnson’s squad moves to 7-4, 5-3 in the ACC. UVA gives them everything they want though.

No.19 Utah 35, Colorado 27

12:30 PM CT

Pac-12 Network

Utes by 7

The Utes lost their starting quarterback for the season 2 weeks ago in a loss to Arizona State, but came back with their backup QB last week and posted a 32-25 victory over Oregon. I like them to win at Boulder, and at 8-3, and 6-3 in the Pac 12 South, have a shot to play in the Pac 12 Championship game still.

Cal 28, Stanford 24

6:30 PM CT

Pac 12 Network

Stanford by 2

Like this Golden Bears’ defense a lot. Just don’t trust David Shaw and Stanford.

***** Stanford @Cal has been postponed until Saturday, December 1st @ 2 PM and will be broadcast by the Pac-12 Network., The air quality is very poor in Berkeley and the Bay Area due to the tragic Camp Fire that is burning just north of Sacramento. That is championship Saturday. Will reassess the game that week. Should be a nice matchup. Thanks. ****

Arizona State 38, Oregon 35

9:30 PM CT

Pac 12

Oregon by 3 1/2

I do trust Herm Edwards and this exciting Sun Devils team. They pull off the upset at Autzen Stadium and keep their Pac 12 South hopes alive at 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the South. They hold the edge over Utah by virtue of defeating them at home 2 weeks ago.

No. 23 Utah State 45, Colorado State 31

1 PM CT

Mountain West Network

USU by 28

I’m pretty bullish on this Aggies team. I like the Rams to give them a little trouble on the road though.

UCLA 42, USC 38

2:30 PM CT

FOX

Joe Davis, Brady Quinn, Bruce Feldman

USC by 3 1/2

Like Chip Kelly and the Bruins to pull off the slight upset at the Rose Bowl.

Tonight

SMU 52, Memphis 48

8 PM CT

ESPN2

Anish Shroff, John Congemi, Roddy Jones

Memphis by 7 1/2

Like the Ponies in the upset at home. Defeated a good Houston team 2 weeks ago at Gerald J Ford Stadium in Big D, 45-31. They’re trending well. Move to 6-5 and qualify for a bowl game. Memphis is an electric offense also. See a lot of points here.