The No.2 Crimson Tide, coming off their tremendous 41-24 victory over Georgia last Saturday Night at Bryant-Denny, head to Knoxville to face what is looking like a dysfunctional Tennessee team presently. The third Saturday in October has been memorable, but the Crimson Tide has made it more irrelevant by winning 14 in a row. But, it’s riveting to see this spectacular offense play every Saturday and the defense, with stars all over it, started to hit their stride in the second half against Georgia last Saturday Night. The Tide is a juggernaut and looks like a heavy favorite to make the College Football Playoff and do very well in it. With Ohio State starting its season tomorrow and Clemson playing superb football, those 2 teams look like they may very well be playoff bound. While Ohio State hasn’t played a game, quarterback Justin Fields, who Kirby Smart really regrets not having on his team anymore, threw for 41 TDs against only 3 interceptions and rushed for 10 more TDs last season. Fields is primed for another stellar season. Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne are tearing it up at Clemson. The 4th spot looks open right now. I’m still thinking Oklahoma can get back into the hunt. Their victory over Texas was impressive in that redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler looked phenomenal and I still believe defensive coordinator Alex Grinch is a stud. I’ve heard him interviewed several times and he’s impressive. He’s had success at Washington State with Mike Leach and at Ohio State. Lincoln Riley is excellent. He said before the Texas game that he thought his team could be special. I like them to start turning it on. In the Big Ten, Penn State could be another team to make some noise. My darkhorse is Minnesota. P.J. Fleck is an awesome coach. Of course in the SEC, you can’t count out Georgia though their quarterback play is not championship quality. Florida, if they can learn how to play defense again and recover from COVID, may still be a factor. Texas A&M is getting better and better, though they have a real mountain to climb. When the PAC-12 starts November 6th, Oregon, if they can get enough games in and prove to the committee they’re for real, could get in there.

So some spectacular stuff ahead in College Football starting this weekend. The Auburn Tigers need a victory something fierce tomorrow in Oxford. The South Carolina loss was a disappointment but Tank is a stud and I still believe Bo Nix can be a quality SEC quarterback. Just too much talent not to be. If his line can step it up this weekend, maybe Nix and the Tigers can prevail. The defense is still talented, so I expect them to play better this weekend. Matt Corrall was intercepted 6 times by Arkansas last Saturday, which included 2 pick 6’s, so Auburn has some opportunities there.

Here’s a look at Week 8’s action.

Last week: 6-8

Not my best. COVID is throwing everybody off including the Blog. But it’s a new week with new opportunities.

Overall: 72-40, 64%

No.2 Alabama (4-0) @ Tennessee (2-2)

Neyland Stadium

2:30 PM CT

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jamie

Bama by 21 1/2

This Crimson Tide juggernaut looks to be starting to get their defensive sea legs under them and aim to match the prolific play of the offense. With Dylan Moses, Christian Barmore, Daniel Wright, Patrick Surtain III, Christian Harris and Will Anderson among others, the talent is certainly locked and loaded on the defensive side of the ball. Pete Golding had them clicking in the second half last Saturday Night against Georgia. And Mac Jones is phenomenal, Najee Harris superb, and Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith are game changers. There are more where that came from, John Metchie being one of them. The offensive line is dominant. I’ve watched right guard Emil Ekiyor Jr, and the guy is a Sherman Tank steamrolling defensive linemen. Throw in Deonte Brown, Alex Leatherwood and company, all 315-330 pounders who level people, and you’ve got the makings of a national championship offense. This is what you’ve got with these players. If the defense can match the offense’s proficiency, it could be another extraordinary year for the Crimson Tide. S has a cold this week after his false positive COVID test last week. Maybe he plays better hurt.

Alabama 45, Tennessee 17

Auburn (2-2) @ Ole Miss (1-3)

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford

11 AM CT

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

Auburn by 3 1/2

Tank Bigsby looks like an unstoppable force. I like the Tigers to step it up this week, play more explosive offense and get better on defense.

Auburn 31, Ole Miss 27

South Carolina (2-2) @ LSU (1-2)

Tiguh Stadium, Baaton Rouge, LA.

6 PM CT

ESPN

Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, Quint Kessenich

LSU by 6

LSU starting quarterback Myles Brennan is out with a significant leg injury, so freshman T.J. Finley gets the start. He’s 6’6,” 250 and was rated a high 3 star by 247 Sports and Rivals, while ESPN rated him a 4 star. O likes him and the other freshman, Max Johnson, who’s 6’4 1/2,” 216. Johnson was a consensus 4 star. I like these freshmen to do enough if they both play, Finley may be good enough to play the majority of the snaps, though O likes Johnson a lot as well and says he will play. But I do like this to be very close as the Gamecocks are coming off a big momentum building victory over Auburn last Saturday at home. Still like the Tiguhs to survive Saturday Night in Death Valley.

LSU 30, South Carolina 27

Kentucky (2-2) @ Missouri (1-2)

Faurot Field, Columbia, MO.

3 PM CT

SEC Network

Mike Corey, Stinch, Dawn Davenport

Kentucky by 5 1/2

Kentucky secured a tremendous upset victory over Tennessee in Knoxville last Saturday with an emphatic 34-7 win. The Wildcats are playing well again under Mark Stoops, but I’m going to take the upset here. Missouri’s last game was an upset victory over LSU at home and I like stellar first year coach Eli Drinkwitz and his Tigers to do it again on their home turf.

Missouri 33, Kentucky 31

Syracuse (1-4) @ No.1 Clemson (5-0)

Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C.

11 AM CT

ACC Network, 336 Charter, 612 DirecTV

Wes Durham, Roddy Jones,m Lericia Harris

Dabo by 46

I’m not seeing a lot of resistance in the ACC for Clemson. But Bama, Ohio State and a couple of others are just as good.

Clemson 55, ‘Cuse 7

Nebraska @ No.5 Ohio State

Ohio Stadium, Columbus

11 AM

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

OSU by 26

Justin Fields and the offense start a juggernaut offensive season for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State 45, Nebraska 17

No.3 Notre Dame (4-0) @ Pitt (3-3)

Heinz Field, Pitttsburgh, PA.

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Sean, Todd, McShay, Molly

“The Irish” by 10

Notre Dame at No.3, are you kiddin me? Just got by Louisville last Saturday, 12-7, at home. Still a “Duck Crepe” team to me though they survive at Heniz Field.

Notre Dame 28, Pitt 24

No. 17 Iowa State (3-1) @ No. 6 Oklahoma State (3-0)

Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK.

2:30 PM CT’

FOX

Timmy B, Spencer

OK State by 3 1/2

I like this to be a stellar football game. Iowa State has really come on strong since losing to Louisiana at home the first game of the season, 31-17. They went to TCU and won and upset Oklahoma at home. I like the Cowboys to survive though and continue their quest for the Big 12 crown.

OK State 37, Iowa State 35

No. 18 Michigan @ No. 21 Minnesota

TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Maria. Allison Williams did well in Maria’s place, while Maria was covering the NBA, but it’s good to have Maria back.

Meechigan by 3

I’m going to take P.J. Fleck and his team to upset the Wolverines at home. Tanner Morgan is a phenomenal quarterback and wide receiver Rashod Bateman is a game changer on the perimeter.

Minnesota 34, Michigan 31

Other scores

Oklahoma 48, TCU 42

Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth

11 AM CT

ABC

Tess, Gregory, Holly

OU by 6 1/2

The Sooners get a lot of resistance from the Frogs, but survive and keep their hopes alive in the Big 12. My daughter is not going to be happy with this. My older daughter went to W&L, so I didn’t have to worry about picking against her Generals, but my younger daughter has a Power 5 team, so there are tough decisions to make every week. I want to say I’m pulling against my pick, but I honestly can’t say that despite the fact that I’m always pulling for my daughter.

No. 14 North Carolina 42, N.C. State 35

Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

11 AM CT

ESPN

Pasch, Mike Golic, Marty Smith

UNC by 15 1/2

I like a close game here. The Wolfpack have been impressive lately and the Heels lost to FSU last Saturday Night on the road, 31-28.

No. 16 SMU 31, No. 9 Cincinnati 28

Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Big D

8 PM CT

ESPN2

Beth Mowins, Kirk “Digga little Dolly bout an Hour Ago” Morrison, Kris Budden

Ponies by 2 1/2

Like the Ponies to keep their New Year’s Six Bowl hopes squarely in front of them. Should be a stellar game.

No.8 Penn State 31, Indiana 27

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN.

2:30 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

Aaron Goldsmith, Mark Helfrich

Nittany Lions by 6

This is a tough game for James Franklin and company. They survive and advance.

No.12 BYU 48, Texas State 14

9:15 PM CT

ESPN

BYU by 28 1/2

If you haven’t seen Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson play, you need to watch the first half of this game at least. He’s an absolute stud. BYU wins handily at home.

No. 11 Miami 38, Virginia 24

7 PM CT

ACC Network

Canes by 12 1/2

Like Miami to do well at Hard Rock on their home turf.

No. 19 Virginia Tech 35, Wake Forest 24

2:30 PM CT

ESPN3

Hokies by 9 1/2

Starting to like these Hokies. I’ll take’em on the road.

Tonight

Wisconsin 28, Illinois 21

7 PM CT

Big Ten Network

Wisconsin by 19 1/2

Whisky just gets by at home.

Louisiana 31, UAB 27

Legion Field

7 PM CT

CBS Sports Network, 814 Charter, 221 DirecTV

Louisiana by 3

This was a tough one to predict, but the fact that the Ragin’ Cajuns went to Iowa State the first game of the season and blasted the Cyclones, 31-17, sold me in this one.

Saturday

No. 20 Kansas State 35, Kansas 14

11 AM CT

Fox Sports 1

K State by 19 1/2

Like this K State team. They’re another team that is challenging for the Big 12 crown.

No. 25 Coastal Carolina 31, Georgia Southern 28

11 AM CT

ESPNU

Coastal by 5 1/2

The Chanticleers survive at home after a tremendous victory over a ranked Louisiana team last Wednesday Night on the road.

Florida State 30, Louisville 28

11 AM CT

ESPN3

Ville by 5

Like the Noles to pull off the upset on the road.

Texas 35, Baylor 31

2:30 PM CT

ESPN

Texas by 8 1/2

Texas is a dysfunctional outfit to me under Tom Herman. He has not brought them back to the glory days. They barely get by at home.