The No.9 Auburn Tigers travel to Bayton Rouge, Louisiana (Cosell, what a classic, “Down goes Fraziuh!” Down goes Fraziuh!” “Swannie, how I love ya, how I love ya!” Oh for the days of Howard) to take on the No.2 Bengal Tigers of LSU with a 2:30 PM kickoff slated on CBS. Tremendously crucial game in the SEC and what a phenomenal matchup. Will have more below. The No.1 Crimson Tide hosts Arkansas at Bryant-Denny with a 6 PM kickoff on ESPN. Mac Jones will be under center in place of Tua, who has the dreaded high ankle sprain. The “tightrope” surgery was considered a success, but it’s anybody’s guess as to if Tua will be a full go against LSU in Tuscaloosa 2 weeks from Saturday, Nov. 9th at 2:30 PM CT on CBS. So this is an important start for Jones. He may be needed in the near future if he can do well against the Razorbacks.

No.13 Wisconsin, coming off a disappointing upset 24-23 loss at Illinois last Saturday, travels to Columbus to face No.3 Ohio State for an 11 AM CT kickoff on FOX. Ohio State is playing well in all phases. A lot of people are saying they’re the most complete and best team in the country, but I’m not going to go that far yet. I want to see some more of them against high quality competition, which they may get Saturday with Wisconsin.

Another major matchup features the No.8 Fighting Irish @ No.19 Michigan. 6:30 PM CT on ABC. This is Notre Dame’s shot at staying in the playoff picture, and Michigan needs a bounce back victory after the disappointing finish at Happy Valley last Saturday in which their receiver dropped a game tying touchdown pass from 7 yards that would have knotted the game at 28 after a furious Michigan comeback from being down 21-0. So Michigan still has a lot to play for and they certainly want to defeat the Irish.

Heres’ a look at this weekend’s action.

Last Week: 19-7

Overall: 139-55, 72%

No..9 Auburn (6-1, 3-1) @ No.2 LSU (7-0, 3-0)

2:30 PM CT

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jamie

LSU by 10 1/2

Everything steers towards a Bengal Tigers’ victory. Joe Burrow and an offense that’s scoring 45 points a game, a pretty much improving defense, and Death Valley. I read ESPN’S Chris Lowe’s article on AU defensive tackle Derrick Brown yesterday. Quite an accomplished young guy. Highly articulate, a leader, super guy, and getting his degree in December. He knows the exact date of when he’s getting his degree but has no clue of the date of the NFL draft where he will be a top 10 pick. I really like that. And he’s one heckuva football player. So is Marlon Davidson, so is Big Kat Bryant and Nick Coe when he’s playing up to his standard. I like this Auburn defense to slow down Burrow and the LSU attack and for Bo Nix and the offense to play well. I’ll take the Auburn Tigers in an upset.

Auburn 31, LSU 28

Arkansas (2-5, 0-4) @ No.1 Alabama (7-0, 4-0)

6 PM CT

ESPN

Dave Pasch, Gregory, Lugues

Crimson Tide by 31 1/2

The most interesting thing about this game is how will Mac Jones play. It’ll be important Saturday night and possibly in 2 weeks, though I know Tua and the training staff at Alabama will give him every opportunity to play. But the teams in the lower half of the SEC are playing better. Vanderbilt upset Missouri last Saturday in what looked like a mismatch going in. But the Commodores played solid defense and came away with the 21-14 victory. Arkansas is a major underdog here, but it could be competitive particularly with Jones at quarterback. Just not the caliber of Tua. Not many are, so that’s not a criticism of Jones. The great teams have terrific quarterbacks, Tua, Jalen Hurts, Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence, though he’s struggling a little, Joe Burrow, and I’d even put Jake Fromm in that group because I’m not counting out Georgia yet. Sam Ehlinger is another superb quarterback though Texas has really been decimated by injuries. Still a solid team. I like Kyle Trask at Florida. He’s better than solid. He’s a playmaker. So Jones has his work cut out for him Saturday Night. We’ll see how he handles it. The defense is still a question mark as well.

Alabama 42, Arkansas 17

No. 13 Wisconsin (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) @ No.3 Ohio State (7-0, 4-0)

11 AM CT

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Ohio State by 14 1/2

I guess Wisconsin plays pretty good defense, but it’s not enough here. Like Fields and the Buckeyes pretty strong defense to keep the engine roaring.

Ohio State 34, Wisconsin 17

No.8 Notre Dame (5-1) @ Michigan (5-2)

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Maria

Notre Dame by 1

Even though Michigan lost at Penn State last Saturday Night, I liked the way Shea Patterson and the team fought back. I like them to get over the top against the Fighting Irish in the Big House. Still don’t totally trust Brian Kelly.

Michigan 24, Notre Dame 21

Other scores

No.5 Oklahoma 45, Kansas State 14

11 AM CT

ABC

OU by 23 1/2

No.4 Clemson 42, Boston College 14

6:30 PM CT

ACC Network

Clemson by 34

No.6 Penn State 28, Michigan State 17

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Penn State by 6

Texas A&M 34, Mississippi State 21

11 AM CT

SEC Network

A&M by 10 1/2

Tennessee 24, South Carolina 23

3 PM CT

SEC Network

South Carolina by 4 1/2

Missouri 31, Kentucky 17

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Mizzou by 10 1/2

No.11 Oregon 45, Washington State 30

9:30 PM CT

ESPN

Oregon by 14

No. 12 Utah 38, Cal 14

9 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

Utah by 21 1/2

TCU 38, Texas 34

2:30 PM CT

FOX

Texas by 1 1/2

Tonight

SMU 45, Houston 31

6:30 CT

ESPN

SMU by 13 1/2

Friday

USC 45, Colorado 30

8 PM CT

ESPN2

USC by 13 1/2

Saturday

Navy 35, Tulane 31

2:30 PM CT

CBS Sports Network

Navy by 3 1/2

UCLA 38, Arizona State 35

6:30 PM CT

PAC-12 Network

Zona State by 4 1/2

Virginia 34, Louisville 28

2:30 PM CT

ACC Network

UVA by 3 1/2

Duke 38, North Carolina 35

3 PM CT

ACC Network

UNC by 3 1/2

Iowa 17, Northwestern 14

11 AM CT

ESPN2

Iowa by 10