I was having a little fun with Deion last Wednesday. He can certainly be a good FBS coach. Don’t see him ready for “Prime Time” at Auburn just yet. An FBS job for sure, maybe along the lines of an ACC school, besides Clemson, though Dabo Swinney ain’t looking too swift right now. Or a PAC-12 school. Then he can work his way up to an SEC program if there is one that needs a coach. Carnell is a better choice than Deion for Auburn right now. I don’t think Carnell is ready yet, but he should be one day in the not too distant future. He’s a better fit at Auburn than Deion would be. I like his humility. He’s sincerely grateful to be in this position and very much appreciates Auburn for believing in him. He won’t be the new permanent coach, but the Tigers sure played hard in the second half last Saturday Night against Mississippi State on the road and almost pulled off the upset. He’s got a bright future. The running backs are superb. Give me Tank and Jarquez Hunter all day. They’re as good a tandem of running backs as you’ll find anywhere in the country, and Cadillac coaches them. So, he’s for real as a coach. Not a head coach at Auburn yet, but I like his future.

Give me Hugh Freeze all day AD John Cohen, Raymond Harbert and Jimmy Rane. I like the Cohen hire. Seems solid. He was an outstanding baseball coach at Mississippi State and did a nice job running the athletics department. He’ll do well at Auburn.

I know about the Freeze baggage, not naive about that. But Kiffin has it too. Just ask the Alabama co-eds when he was there. Freeze and the call girls are a really bad look and being married and doing that is deplorable. But he’s learned his lesson. He has cleaned up his act. After the Arkansas victory last Saturday, all his daughters were there and he looked like a changed man. He’s remorseful and humbled by it. He look to have turned his life around. He’s only 52. That’s pretty young.

And there is no doubt the guy is a heckuva football coach. He goes into Fayetteville with his Liberty team, Liberty!, and defeats Arkansas, and there was no doubt which team was better last Saturday. Liberty is 8-1. Their only loss is 37-36 to Wake Forest at Wake when Wake was playing extremely well. Freeze went for 2 and the win as the game was winding down and didn’t get it. But I like the gutsy call. Worked out for Brian Kelly and LSU last Saturday Night. Wake is still a good football team despite its recent struggles, and they were on a roll at the time. They were 3-0 after the Liberty game and lost at home to Clemson in double overtime the next Saturday, 51-45. Clemson is still a good football team despite the debacle in South Bend last Saturday Night. But to take your team into an extremely hostile SEC venue against a solid SEC team with a dynamic quarterback and running back and come out victorious, 21-19, is not just good coaching, it’s elite coaching. The Liberty players are super, but Liberty just joined FBS football in 2018. That’s terrific. Hugh Freeze has been humbled and will respect Auburn and his marriage and not make hideous mistakes again. And he will make Auburn a powerhouse. Lane Kiffin could defeat the Crimson Tide this Saturday and that could really convince the Tiger faithful that he’s the man. But his recruiting classes are top 20, but not top 10. Hereloads with transfers. Nothing wrong with that, but that doesn’t seem sustainable. Freeze defeated Nick Saban twice. The guy is a sensational coach. Hire Hugh Freeze as quickly as possible John, Raymond and Yeller, and call’er a day.

This week features some nice matchups headlined by a collision course in Oxford at 2:30 PM CT Saturday on CBS with the No. 9 Crimson Tide squaring off with the No.11 Rebels of Ole Miss. Should be fun. The No.4 ranked TCU Horned Frogs invade Austin to take on the No.18 Longhorns in what is expected to be a classic. Everybody is predicting TCU to lose one or maybe two of their last three games left as they’re @Baylor next Saturday. They have the hardest strength of schedule in the country according to ESPN Football Power Index, FPI. So it’s a challenge for the Frogs, but they’re embracing it. Sonny Dykes is a phenomenal football coach and an awesome guy. He will have his team ready in Austin on Saturday at 6:30 PM CT on ABC.

Auburn is hosting A&M Saturday Night at 6;30 CT on the SEC Network. Should be a very good contest. Robbie Ashford and Tank Bigsby were tremendous last Saturday in the 2nd half at Starkville.

So, here’s a look at this week’s competition along with predictions on which teams White’s World likes to come out on top this weekend and “matriculate” towards the postseason.

Last week, 9-9, Overall, 118-38, 76%

ATS, 6-12, 84-71, 54%

No.9 Alabama (7-2, 4-2) @ No. 11 Ole Miss (8-1, 4-1)

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford

2:30 PM CT

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jenny

Tide by 12

I’m looking at a close game. Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss is another mobile quarterback that can cause the Crimson Tide defense problems. Freshman running back Quinshon Judkins has rushed for 1,036 yards and 13 TDs. Zach Evans, a TCU transfer and a former 5 star, has rushed for 680 yards and 7 TDs. Wide receiver Jonathan Mingo has caught 30 passes for 664 yards and 4 TDs. This offense is electric and will cause Will Anderson and company some problems. But I like Bryce Young and the Crimson Tide offense to get the team over the top. I see the wide receivers stepping up this week. Ja’Corey Brooks, Jo Jo Earle, Jermaine Burton, running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Cameron Latu play well this Saturday against not a very prolific Ole Miss defense. The Crimson Tide prevails against the Rebels. It’s going to be almost impossible for Alabama to get to the playoff, but chaos can certainly happen. LSU is going to have to lose, twice most likely. And teams like Tennessee, TCU, Michigan or Ohio State will have to lose. A couple of those more than once. Oregon, USC and UCLA as well. Several of them are playing each other. That still might not be enough. But Nick Saban and his team have heard so much negativity this week, that maybe they’re finally upset about it. Gregory McElroy laid the hammer on Alabama earlier this week saying the program has lost its way, so I like Saban and his team to come out of Oxford with a victory. The NIL’s could be a problem at Alabama, but maybe they put that aside and finish the season strongly.

Alabama 42, Ole Miss 38

Texas A&M (3-6, 1-5) @ Auburn (3-6, 1-5)

Jordan-Hare Stadium

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

Auburn by 1 1/2

Give me Cadillac, Tank and the Tigers to capture a victory here and get some momentum for the rest of the season and on into next season.

Auburn 31, A&M 28

Other SEC Games

No. 1 Georgia 31, Mississippi State 21

Davis Wade Stadium, Starkvegas

6 PM CT

ESPN

Sean, Todd, Molly

Dawgs by 16

Georgia was superb in annihilating Tennessee last Saturday, 27-13, at home before the most electric crowd this season in the entire country . I see a little bit of a letdown in Starkville, but I ike the Dawgs to move to 10-0 and 7-0 in the SEC. Georgia is the prohibitive favorite to win the national championship at -120. Ohio State is next at +225. Michigan is after that at +650. Tennessee is next at +900. Oregon is +1200. LSU is +3300. USC is +4000. Clemson is +8000. TCU is +8000. Alabama is +8000. And Washington is +8000. But there is plenty of football to be played. it’s tough to repeat in any sport and an injury to Stetson Bennett could change things altogether. I’m not hoping for that, want Stetson to stay healthy, he’s an awesome kid who has overcome the odds stacked against him and has excelled. He’s my leader for the Heisman right now. He just keeps delivering. But if Bennett were to get hurt, hopefully not, or Georgia has an off day, which is possible, that could change things dramatically. You never know in sports. They look playoff bound for sure. I don’t see anybody stopping them in the regular season, but it’s not lock, stock and barrel. You have to prove yourself every Saturday. So, there is no guarantee that Georgia will win it all. They are the overwhelming favorite at this point, but that can change in the SEC Championship Game or in the playoff. But they are a terrific football team. There is no doubt about that. They’ll be tough to beat. I like them to be challenged Saturday Night however.

No. 7 LSU 33, Arkansas 31

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville

11 AM CT

ESPN

Tess, Gregory, Katie

Bengal Tigers by 4

This is a dangerous game for Bran Kelly and his team. Sam Pittman will have his team ready and KJ Jefferson and Reheim Sanders are stellar football players for the Hogs at quarterback and running back respectively . I like the Bengal Tigers to just survive a tough, physical contest in Fayetteville.

No.5 Tennessee 42, Missouri 21

Neyland Stadium, Knoxville

11 AM CT

CBS

Tom McCarthy, Rick Neuheisel, Sherree Burruss

UT by 20 1/2

I like the Vols to get it back together. Still see them as a very good football team. They’ve got a shot at the playoff without a doubt.

Florida 31, South Carolina 27

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

3 PM CT

SEC Network

Taylor, Stinch, Alyssa

Gators by 8

I like the Gamecocks to give the Gators everything they want. Florida going into A&M last Saturday and taking names, 41-24, was impressive. But I like Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks to do well and almost pull it off. Both of these coaches, Beamer and Billy Napier, will have their programs in the upper echelon of the SEC in the near future. Fantastic young coaches.

No.24 Kentucky 42, Vanderbilt 10

Kroger Field, Lexington

11 AM CT

SEC Network

Dave, Deuce, Morgan Uber?

Wildcats by 18

Kentucky flexes its muscle against a struggling Commodores program under Clark Lea. Lea inherited a mess, but he hasn’t even come close to turning it around. So there is definitely some responsibility with him. His defensive backs coach, Dan Jackson, is under investigation and suspended by the University for his comments on Facebook in support of Kanye West, or Ye, as he’s known now. Ye has made a lot of Anti-Semitic statements in his various social media posts. Jackson should be gone and West should be disbarred from the entertainment business. There should be no deliberation, Vanderbilt. Get your act together. Mark Stoops and a solid Kentucky team dominate.

National Slate

No. 4 TCU 41, No.18 Texas 38

DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly

Horns by 7

Give me quarterback Max Duggan, running back Kendre Miller, 1009 yards, 12 TDs, and big, 6’4”, 215 wide receiver Quentin Johnston, 42 receptions, 650 yards and 4 TDs, and the Frogs to get the job done on Saturday Night in hostile territory. Believe in Sonny Dykes and his terrific team.

No.2 Ohio State 44, Indiana 10

Ohio Stadium, Columbus

11 AM CT

FOX

Gus, Joel, JT

Buckeyes by 40

The Buckeyes survived Northwestern last Saturday on the road, 21-7, in 30 MPH wind conditions with gusts up to 50. I like them to win handily, but not beat the spread.

Michigan 42, Nebraska 7

Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Mark, RGIII, Quint

Michigan by 31

Give me the Wolverines to win handily. Running back Blake Corum has rushed for 1,187 yards and is tied for the national lead with Pitt’s Israel Abanikanda for rushing TDs with 16. Setting up for a colossal matchup at Columbus against the Buckeyes on Saturday, Nov. 26th at 11 AM CT on FOX.

No.6 Oregon 28, No. 25 Washington 21

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR.

6 PM CT

FOX

Ducks by 13 1/2

Jason Benetti, Brock, Allison

Ducks by 13 1/2

Bo Nix is experiencing a Renaissance at Oregon under Coach Dan Lanning, who is in his first year and doing a stellar job in Eugene. But i do like Washington to give them a tussle. Oregon’s got a shot to make the playoff, but that 49-3 shellacking by Georgia in game 1 still looms large in my mind as far as them making the Playoff.

Wake Forest 42, No.15 North Carolina 41

Truist Field, Winston-Salem, N.C.

6:30 PM CT

ESPN2

Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman, Dawn Davenport

Wake by 3 1/2

This was a tough one. UNC quarterback Drake Maye leads the nation in touchdown passes with 31. He’s a leading Heisman candidate along with Stetson Bennett and a couple others. It’s tough to go against UNC in this one, but I’ll take the home team. The Tar Heels have a prolific offense, but I’ll take quarterback Sam Hartman and the Demon Deacons to to barely get by in an outstanding game.

Friday

No. 8 USC 42, Colorado 14

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

8:30 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

Alex Faust, Petros Papadakis

USC by 34

USC is still hanging in there, but it’s not pretty on defense. A matchup in the Rose Bowl against the UCLA Bruins Saturday, Nov. 19th at 7 or 9:30 PM CT on FOX or ESPN is looming. That’ll be one to stay up for. They play Notre Dame the following Saturday. So, USC has a lot of work to do.

Saturday

Louisville 35, No. 10 Clemson 31

Memorial Stadium, Clemson

2:30 PM CT

ESPN

Wes Durham, Rod Gilmore, Tiffany Blackmon

Clemson by 7

Malik Cunningham is the next Lamar Jackson. He’s rushed for 536 yards and 11 TDs, and he’s thrown for 8 more. Clemson is, as the late great Tom Petty said, “Free Fallin.” Give me the upset.

No. 20 Notre Dame 35, Navy 10

M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore

11 AM CT

ABC

Dave Flemming, Dan Orlovsky, Kris Budden

Irish by 15 1/2

Starting to love what first year Notre Dame Coach Marcus Freeman is doing. The Irish are on a roll after throttling Clemson last Saturday Night in South Bend, 35-14. Notre Dame has the third best recruiting class in the country in 2023 behind Alabama and Georgia.

No. 12 UCLA 48, Arizona 24

Rose Bowl, Pasadena

9:30 PM CT

FOX

Noah Eagle, Mark Helfrich

Bruins by 19 1/2

Like Chip Kelly and his team to roll. Getting primed for the epic versus SC.

No.17 Tulane 31, No. 22 UCF 28

Yulman Stadium, N’Awlins

2:30 PM CT

ESPN2

Anish Shroff, Brock Osweiler, Taylor McGregor

Green Wave by 1 1/2

Willie Fritz and his stellar Green Wave team get over the top of Gus and a very good Central Florida team and keep their New Year’s Six aspirations very much alive. They are the highest ranked Group of Five team at present and will be an automatic qualifier for a New Year Six Bowl if they can win out. They have to win Saturday, win over an explosive SMU team next Thursday Night @ home at 6:30 CT on ESPN, then go to Cincy and win on Friday. Nov. 25th

No. 13 Utah 42, Stanford 13

Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake

9 PM CT

ESPN

Dave, Dusty, Lugues

Utes by 24

Don’t count out the Utes in the PAC-12. After Stanford, they go to Oregon next Saturday, 11/19, for a 7 PM CT or 9:30 PM CT game on FOX or ESPN. The Utes are 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the PAC-12 and have defeated USC and lost to UCLA. They will need to win out and get some help from USC @UCLA to make it to the PAC-12 Championship Game. They should be good against a struggling Stanford team, which will set up a major collision next Saturday in Eugene.