We’re getting closer and closer to the SEC season. Next Saturday, 9-26, it kicks off with all 14 teams playing. Alabama’s opponent, Missouri, has several cases of corona on their team, so they’re a little hamstrung heading into their game with the No.2 Crimson Tide. Bama is on the road and the Auburn Tigers are at home versus Kentucky. Auburn’s had to deal with cases, but they seem to have recovered and the Tigers could be close to or at full strength come next Saturday. The Crimson Tide has not reported any case recently. There were a lot on campus, so we’ll see how that develops this week. Alabama is @ Missouri at 6 PM CT next Saturday on ESPN. The No.8 Tigers host No. 23 Kentucky at 11 AM CT next Saturday on the SEC Network. So, getting closer to being back to spectacular football Saturday.

The Big Ten announced Tuesday that they’ll start playing games the weekend of Friday, October 23rd. They do have Friday Night games in the Big Ten, so there may be one scheduled. I read where ESPN reporter Heather Dinich is reporting that the PAC-12 could be ready to start back up at the end of October. They’ve had many restrictions on the West Coast due to COVID but it’s getting better out there. The fires have been a major issue in California and this week Oregon and Washington had disastrous situations with tragic loss of life and millions of acres burned. So hoping for the best that the West Coast can get that under control and keep their people safe. The plan is to possibly start at the end of October according to Dinich.

This week there’s a slate of games that look like they could be promising. What I was most impressed about last Saturday was the play of the Sun Belt Conference. The Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana went to Iowa State and upset the No.23 Hawkeyes, an 11 1/2 point favorite, 31-14. And there was no doubt. Just big play after big play. A 95 yard kickoff return, an 83 yard punt return and a 70 yard TD pass. This team looks for real. Then Arkansas State went to Kansas State and upset the Wildcats, 35-31, on a 20 yard TD pass with 40 seconds left in the game. Kansas State was a 10 1/2 point favorite. Last Saturday Night, Coastal Carolina went to Kansas and upset the 6 1/2 point favorite Jayhawks, 38-23, another convincing victory. So it was an impressive Saturday put on by the Sun Belt.

There are some postponements this Saturday. BYU had an outbreak last week, so their game with Army has been postponed. They’re going to make it up, not sure when. Virginia Tech had several positive tests, so they postponed their game with UVA. I’m sure they’ll want to make that up as it is an ACC and huge rivalry game. Both those games would have been fun to watch, so hoping they’ll be made up. And just yesterday, Charlotte canceled their game with No. 12 UNC. UNC impressively defeated Syracuse in week 1, 31-6, and they have an excellent team, but they’ll have to wait another week to play. Actually they’re not scheduled to play next Saturday, but they”ll probably try to get an opponent. Their next scheduled game is Saturday, October 3rd, @ Boston College. They’ve got a stellar team, so I know they’ll want to play ASAP.

Here’s a look at this week’s action.

Last week: 11-5

Overall: 16-6, 73%

The Citadel @ No.1 Clemson

Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C.

3 PM CT

ACC Network, Channel 612 on DirecTV and 336 on Charter

Anish Shroff, Lugues, Eric Wood

Clemson by 48 1/2

The Citadel is a triple option team, which Dabo said he’s concerned about. I like Clemson to pick their score, though I highly respect the military component of The Citadel.

Clemson 52, Citadel 3

No. 19 Louisiana @ Georgia State

Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta

11 AM CT

ESPN2

Wes Durham, Paul Carcaterra, Roddy Jones

Ragin Cajuns by 17

I’m bullish on the Ragin Cajuns, but there may be a little letdown this Saturday after the huge upset over Iowa State last weekend. I like’em to win, but I see it as a closer game than anticipated.

Louisiana 31, Georgia State 24

No. 17 Miami @ No.18 Louisville

Cardinal Stadium, ‘Ville

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Maria

Ville by 2 1/2

Miami quarterback D’Eriq King is a total stud, but I’m not a huge believer in offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee or head coach Manny Diaz. They seem a bit out of their league. I’ll take Scott Satterfield and his Cardinals.

Louisville 35, Miami 31

No.14 UCF @ Georgia Tech

Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Tess, Gregory, Marty Smith

UCF by 7 1/2

I like UCF to barely hang on and win here. The Ramblin’ Wreck went to Tallahassee last Saturday and upset FSU, 16-13, and looked great on defense.

UCF 24, Georgia Tech 20

Tulsa @ No. 11 Oklahoma State

Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK.

11 AM CT

ESPN

Sean McDonough, Todd, McShay, Kris Budden

OK State by 22 1/2

Mike Gundy got in some trouble with his team in the offseason with some political stuff. Don’t like this political stuff in sports, but it’s the landscape at present. Seems to be somewhat calming down. Do like Gundy’s team. They have a shot at the Big 12 title this season.

OK State 48, Tulsa 24

Austin Peay @ No. 13 Cincinnati

Nippert Stadium, Cincy

11 AM CT

ESPN+

Bearcats by 33 1/2

Cincinnati could have a special team this season. Defense is excellent under Head Coach Luke Fickell.

Cincy 38, Austin Peay 3

Navy @ Tulane

Yulman Stadium, New Orleans

11 AM CT

ABC

Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Quint Kessenich

Tulane by 7

The Green Wave were more than impressive in their comeback victory over South Alabama last Saturday in Mobile. Trailing 24-6 in the 3rd quarter, the Green Wave came back and won, 27-24. Navy was blasted by BYU in week 1. Like the Green Wave on their home turf.

Tulane 31, Navy 23

Syracuse @ No. 25 Pittsburgh

Heinz Field

11 AM CT

ACC Network

Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, Kelsey Riggs

Pitt by 21 1/2

Syracuse got blasted by UNC last Saturday and Pitt blasted Austin Peay. Give me the Panthers.

Pitt 35, ‘Cuse 10

Other Scores

No.7 Notre Dame 42, South Florida 14

Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend

1:30 PM CT

USA Network

ND by 26

No. 23 Appalachian State 28, Marshall 23

Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Marshall, West VA.

2:30 PM CT

CBS Sports Network

Rich Waltz, Aaron Murray, Sherree Burruss

App State by 4 1/2

Duke 27, Boston College 20

Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, N.C.

11 AM CT

ESPN3

Duke by 5 1/2

Wake Forest 21, N.C. State 17

Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, N.C.

7 PM CT

ACC Network

Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck, Katie George

N.C. State by 2 1/2

Taking another upset.

Troy 31, Middle Tennessee 27

Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, TN.

3 PM CT

ESPN 2

Troy by 3 1/2

Louisiana Tech 34, Southern Miss 31

M.M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS.

6:30 PM CT

ESPN2

Southern Miss by 5 1/2

One more upset.

NFL

Last week: 5-3

Tonight

Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) @ Cleveland Browns (0-1)

First Energy Stadium, Cleveland

7:20 CT

NFL Network, Channel 212 on DirecTV and 822 on Charter

Joe, Troy, Erin, Kristina Pink

Browns by 6

I like a close game between Joe Burrow and the Bengals and Baker Mayfield and the Browns. The 2 former Heisman Trophy winners rely on their defenses as they’re both a little rusty right now with Burrow and the Bengals losing to the Indy Colts last Sunday, 16-13, and Mayfield and the Browns getting blasted by the Ravens last Sunday, 38-6. I’ll take the Browns at home barely. Mayfield hadn’t shown much as a pro. Burrow is trying to figure it out in his second start.

Browns 21, Bengals 18

Saturday

Rest of NFL Predictions