The UAB Blazers and Jacksonville State Gamecocks open the season tonight in Montgomery. Technically, there were some week 0 games last week but the real season starts tonight. The Blazers and the Gamecocks kickoff tonight at 6:30 on ESPN. A lot of excitement on the Southside with a solid football team returning and a new 45,000 seat stadium which will open when the Blazers host Hugh Freeze and his Liberty Flames Saturday, Oct. 2nd. Protective Stadium is state of the art and has the Blazer Nation buzzing. That game will kickoff at 6 PM CT and will be televised by CBS Sports Network.

There’s another team in the state scheduled to play on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the No.1 Crimson Tide aims to make their way to the apex of College Football for the 7th time under Nick Saban. Saban is going for his 8th national championship as a head coach as he won it all at LSU in 2003. The Tide will square off with the Miami Hurricanes at the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta at 2:30 PM on ABC.

Another state heavyweight, the Auburn Tigers, open their season at home versus Akron at 6 PM CT on ESPN+/SECN+ as they set their sights on matriculating through Akron and Alabama State in weeks 1 and 2 and then take on a major challenge @Happy Valley in week 3 against the No. 19 Penn State Nittany Lions. If Auburn can take care of business in week 1 and 2 and they don’t have a massive COVID outbreak, still trying to wrap my head around Bryan Harsin’s unvaccinated status, they’ve got a real opportunity in week 3 against Penn State.

One of the great openers you’ll want to see will take place in Charlotte and Bank of America Stadium as the No.5 Georgia Bulldogs lock horns with the No.3 Clemson Tigers at 6:30 PM CT on ABC. Now that’s a must see game.

All the other SEC teams are in action with LSU having a real interesting trip to the Left Coast to take on UCLA.

So, here we are, week 1 of the College Football season. It’s year 13 for the Blog. Many more seasons left in the tank. With all the super seniors and upperclassmen, this will be one of the best years yet in college football history. Let’s get to it.

Last season, 222-89, 71%. Bowls, 14-11.

All games Saturday unless otherwise noted.

No.1 Alabama vs. No.14 Miami

Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Hotlanta, 71,000

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, McShay, Molly McGrath

Crimson Tide by 19 1/2

The offense has some new faces, namely Bryce Young at quarterback, Brian Robinson, Jr. at running back, and John Metchie as the leader of the wide receiving corps replacing now starting quarterback for the New England Patriots Mac Jones, that’s phenomenal and the Patriots are loaded around him. Najee Harris, who should be the starting running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and last year’s Heisman Award winner and now Philadelphia Eagle DeVonta Smith, who will be catching passes from Jalen Hurts this season. The offensive talent is not as battle tested but off the charts good. The defense, led by linebacker Christian Harris, a loaded defensive front and at least 3 All Americans in the secondary and at least 8 guys on the backend who are next level players, probably more, is going to be a physical, dominant force. Nick Saban may be reverting to his favorite past time, “Defense wins championships,” though the offense with the talented Young under center and a showcase of talent in front of and around him, will be prolific as well. There will be challengers this season, a lot of talent nationally, but the product in Tuscaloosa is proven and as good as it gets. Miami will feature electric quarterback D’Eriq King coming off a terrible knee injury in Miami’s bowl game loss to OK. State last season. King is a talent, and he’ll make some things happen, but the Crimson Tide will still bottle him quite a bit. I like Bama to blow Miami’s doors off.

Alabama 42, Miami 10

Akron @Auburn

Jordan-Hare Stadium, 87,451

6 PM CT

ESPN+/SEC Network+

Mike Corey, Ben Hartsock? and Taylor Davis

War Eagles by 36 1/2

Bryan Harsin is fresh off the COVID-Reserve list and he’ll try to get Bo Nix playing quarterback the way Auburn people have been expecting him to for the last 2 years. I like Auburn to do fine here, but against a much lesser opponent. They’ll face the same kind of opponent next Saturday in Alabama State and then it’ll get in-ter-esting at Happy Valley.

Auburn 45, Akron 7

No.5 Georgia vs. No.3 Clemson

Duke’s Mayo Classic

Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C. 73,778

6:30 PM CT

Chris, Kirk, Holly

Clemson by 3

My heart wants Georgia to prevail, but my head is telling me that emerging superstar quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and Clemson will do enough to get over the top in a classic.

Clemson 24, Georgia 23

No.16 L-S-U @UCLA

Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA. 92,542

7:30 PM CT

FOX

LSU by 3

O and his Tiguhs are ready for a little redemption after a tough season in 2020. I like Max Johnson, the sophomore lefty, under center for the Bengal Tigers. UCLA is a resurgent team this season under Chip Kelly in his fourth year. They’re going to give the Tiguhs everything they want, but I still like O and his team to come out with the victory. It will give Baton Rouge and New Orleans people something positive after a very sad and tragic experience with Hurricane Ida.

LSU 28, UCLA 27

Tonight

UAB vs Jax State

The Montgomery Kickoff

Cramton Bowl, 25,000

6:30

ESPN

Roy Philpott, Kelly Stouffer, Lauren Sisler

UAB by 16 1/2

A lot of positive things being said about Bill Clark and his Blazers, but Jax State is a strong team in its own right. John Grass has done a terrific job taking over from Bill, so I see UAB with their hands full for most of this game tonight. I like the Blazers to pull away some at the end. The key for the Blazers is their quarterback play. Can Tyler Johnston III be a championship quarterback, meaning can he lead the Blazers to a C-USA title and a seat at the table of a New Year’s Six Bowl. That’s a tall order, but Clark has assembled very good talent on the Southside. It’ll be fun to go to a game and then head over to the Fennec afterwards for a couple of brews.

UAB 35, Jax State 24

Kent State @ No.6 Texas A&M

Kyle Field, College Station, 102,733

7 PM CT

ESPNU

Dave Neal, Kelly Stouffer, Andraya Carter

A&M by 28 1/2

Kent State is a pretty solid MAC team, but I like A&M to do well. New quarterback Haynes King needs to get acclimated to the level of competition he will be facing in the near future. This will be a good test for him.

A&M 41, Kent State 10

Monday Night

Louisville @Ole Miss

Chick-Fil-A Kickoff

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

7 CT

ESPN

Rece, Kirk, Molly

Ole Miss by 10

I’m bullish on Lane and his Rebels football team. I like them to be better on defense and be once again prolific on offense with Lane and his OC dialing up plays and excellent quarterback Matt Corrall executing them. Give me the Rebels, and I like them to be impressive.

Ole Miss 42, Ville 24

Florida Atlantic @ No.13 Florida

Ben HIll Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, 88,548

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Roy P, JRodg, Cole

Gatuhs by 23 1/2

I’m bullish on the Gators. I’m high on quarterback Emory Jones III. Gators start off with what could be a special season.

Florida 38, FAU 13

Louisiana Tech @ Mississippi State

Davis Wade Stadium, Starkvegas, 61,337

3 PM CT

Duh U

John Schriffen, Rene Ingoglia

State by 23 1/2

State survives Skip Holtz and his Bulldogs. State’s fight in their bowl game last season with Tulsa was out of control and Mike Leach’s reaction to it, blowing it off, was even worse. We’ll see what Leach can do in the SEC in his second year.

State 34, LA Tech 27

Rice @ Arkansas

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville

1 PM CT

ESPN+

Ark by 19 1/2

Arkansas is looking to keep steadily improving in year 2 under Sam Pittman. I like their potential, but Rice is pretty good and will make it more interesting than expected.

Arkansas 30, Rice 17

Other SEC games

Thursday

Tennessee 42, Bowling Green 3

Neyland Stadium, Knoxville

7 PM CT

SEC Network

UT by 35 1/2

Saturday

Kentucky 35, Louisiana Monroe 3

Kroger Field, Lexington

11 AM CT

SEC Network

UK by 31

Missouri 37, Central Michigan 17

Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field, Columbia, MO.

3 PM CT

SEC Network

Mizzou by 14

South Carolina 31, Eastern Illinois 10

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.

‘6 PM CT

ESPN+

SC by 42 1/2

Vanderbilt 28, East Tennessee State 17

Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville

7 PM CT

ESPN+

VU by 21 1/2

National games

@No.2 Oklahoma 52, Tulane 28

11 AM CT

ABC

OU by 31 1/2

Thursday

No.4 Ohio State 35, @Minnesota 31

7 PM CT

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Buckeyes by 14

Sunday

@Florida State 34, No.9 Notre Dame 31

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Notre Dame by 7 1/2

Saturday

No. 19 Penn State 28, @No. 12 Wisconsin 27

11 AM CT

FOX

Wisconsin by 5 1/2

No. 17 Indiana 28, @No. 18 Iowa 24

2:30 PM CT

Big Ten Network

Iowa by 3

@No.8 Cincinnati 35, Miami, Ohio 10

2:30 PM CT

ESPN+

Cincy by 22 1/2

@No.11 Oregon 38, Fresno State 24

1 PM CT

PAC-12 Network

Oregon by 20 1/2

Friday

No.10 North Carolina 31, @Virginia Tech 28

5 PM CT

ESPN

UNC by 5 1/2

Saturday

No.23 Louisiana 37, @ No.21 Texas 34

3:30 PM CT

FOX

Texas by 8

@No.7 Iowa State 42, Northern Iowa 3

2:30 PM CT

ESPN+

Iowa State by 37 1/2

BYU 35, @Arizona 14

9:30 PM CT

ESPN

BYU by 12 1/2

Friday

Michigan State 24, @Northwestern 21

8 PM CT

ESPN

Northwestern by 3

Saturday

@Maryland 31, West Virginia 28

2:30 PM CT

ESPN

WVU by 3