Game 1 Friday @ Arlington, TX. at 7:03 PM on FOX.

RHP Zac Gallen for ‘Zona (regular season, 17-9, 3.47 ERA, 220 K’s, 1.12 WHIP, walks plus hits per inning.) Playoffs not as swift. Been hit some. 

RHP Nathan Eovaldi for Rangers (12-5, 3.63 ERA, 132 K’s, 1.14 WHIP). Been excellent in postseason.

This is a matchup of two Louisville Sluggers as the Rangers feature the great Seager, who has already won a ring with the Dodgers in 2020, and their spectacular slugging right fielder, Adolis Garcia.

The D-backs are scrappy, no doubt, and taking two in Philly to capture the NL pennant was terrific.

But give me the Rangers with Seager, Garcia, Jordan Montgomery and Eovaldi leading them to their first World Series title in franchise history….

Rangers in 6

MVP: Corey Seager

Big games in Tuscaloosa and on the Plains on Saturday. The No.11 Crimson Tide faces the No.17 Tennessee Vols at 2:30 PM Saturday on CBS. The third Saturday in October has been one-sided until last year in Knoxvegas when the Vols got the better of the Tide. This should be an interesting matchup with offense at a premium and defense deciding this game.

The Auburn Tigers “entertain” Lane Kiffin and his Ole Miss Rebels at 6 PM on ESPN. Can the Tigers snap back from a tough loss at Baton Rouge last Saturday Night and slay Ole Miss at Jordan-Hare where they’re a totally different team.

Here’s a look at those two major games, a big national tilt at the Horseshoe, other SEC action and other national contests.

Last week, SU, 11-5, Overall, 130-29, 82%

ATS, 7-10, 78-77, 50.3%

All times Central. All games Saturday.

No. 17 Tennessee @ No.11 Alabama

Bryant-Denny Stadium, T-town

2:30 PM

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jenny

Crimson Tide by 9

I like the Tide to handle business at home. Joe Milton is not Hendon Hooker, and they’re not at Neyland Stadium.

Alabama 28, Tennessee 17

No. 13 Ole Miss @ Auburn

Jordan-Hare Stadium

6 PM

ESPN

Tess, Jess, Katie

Ole Miss by 6 1/2

I’ll take the Tigers at home.

Auburn 28, Ole Miss 27

No.7 Penn State @ No. 3 Ohio State

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

11 AM

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Buckeyes by 4 1/2

James Franklin is 1-8 versus Ohio State and 3-6 against Michigan. He’ll need to change that trajectory if he wants to become an elite coach. I like it close with the Buckeyes just edging out the Nittany Lions with a late field goal.

Ohio State 24, Penn State 21

Army @ No.19 LSU

Tiger Stadium

6:30 PM

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

LSU by 31

Jayden Daniels was awfully impressive last Saturday Night versus Auburn. Between Daniels, Michael Pennix Jr. of Washington, Jordan Travis of Florida State, and Dillon Gabriel of Oklahoma, that’s quite a foursome of quarterbacks. The Heisman has got to come out of Baton Rouge, Seattle, Tallahassee or Norman, respectively.

LSU 48, Army 14

Other SEC scores

No. 20 Missouri 31, South Carolina 23

Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field, Columbia, MO.

2:30 PM

SEC Network

Taylor, Stinch, Alyssa

Mizzou by 7

The Missouri Tigers are impressive right now. They just went into Lexington last Saturday Night and won by 17. I like them to keep it up this week.

Arkansas 34, Mississippi State 27

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, AR.

11 AM

ESPN

Mark Jones, Louis Riddick, Quint Kessenich

Ark by 6

KJ Jefferson had an excellent second half last Saturday versus the Crimson Tide. He keeps up his stellar work this week.

Off in the SEC

Georgia, Vanderbilt, A&M, Florida, Kentucky

The Jimbo Fisher/Bobby Petrino experiment is going about as poorly as the hiring of Fish has. Georgia will try to survive without Brock Bowers for a couple of weeks. Bowers sprained his ankle against Vanderbilt last Saturday. My Commodores were pretty competitive against the Dawgs. There’s still hope with 4 games left.

Other scores

No.2 Michigan 35, Michigan State 7

Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI.

6:30 PM

NBC

Noah Eagle, Todd, Kathryn Tappen

Michigan by 24

I don’t know how this team can be considered elite when they haven’t played anybody of relevance. They’re winning, but I need to see more against a legitimate team. They go to Penn State on Saturday, Nov.11th, and I guess Penn State is pretty good. And they get Ohio State at home on November 25th at 11 AM CT on FOX. So maybe that’ll help us figure out Michigan.

No. 4 Florida State 35, Duke 14

Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee

6:30 PM

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly

‘Noles by 14 1/2

This team and their quarterback are definitely legitimate.

No.5 Washington 45, Arizona State 14

Husky Stadium, Seattle

9:30 PM

Fox Sports 1

Huskies by 26 1/2

Another highly legit team and quarterback.

No. 6 Oklahoma 38, UCF 17

Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK.

11 AM

ABC

Dave, Dusty, Lugues

Sooners by 19

Another for real team and quarterback in Dillon Gabriel. I’m not including Caleb Williams in this list after last Saturday Night’s horrendous performance @ Notre Dame. I don’t see him as the Heisman winner or the No.1 draft pick. He’s good against inferior competition, but not so swift against good teams. Give me one of the aforementioned QBs to be the Heisman winner and the top pick in the draft. At least they should be or those NFL owners and GMs are substandard.

No.8 Texas 41, Houston 17

TDECU Stadium, Houston

3 PM

FOX

Timmy B., Spencer

Longhorns by 23 1/2

Horns keep their hopes alive for the playoff. They very well might have to defeat Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game, something they didn’t do in the Red River Shootout, and they’ve got some work to do before they even get there.

No. 10 North Carolina 45, Virginia 14

Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

5:30 PM

CW Network? Channel 21 in Birmingham

Tom Werme, James Bates, Trevor Scales

Heels by 23 1/2

The Tar Heels keep a potentially magical season alive. The recent addition of wide receiver Tez Walker has been a tremendous boost for quarterback Drake Maye and the passing game. The NCAA ruled that Walker was ineligible before the season started, per transfer rules. But they recently declared him eligible. Mack Brown is certainly happy about that. A lot of talent on this team and a good defense this year.

No. 18 USC 28, No. 14 Utah 20

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

7 PM

FOX

Jason Benetti, Brock Huard, Allison Williams

Trojans by 7

The Men from Troy were disastrously bad @South Bend last Saturday Night. A lot of credit goes to Marcus Freeman and his Irish team-they were great after a humbling loss @ Louisville the Saturday before. But what were Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams doing out there? The whole team was bad. They still have hopes of a PAC-12 championship, but don’t look like a team that’s capable of that at this point. They need to flip the switch quickly and find a defense and an offensive line or they’re done in the PAC-12 and in the playoff discussion. Utah just doesn’t have the horsepower without injured quarterback Cam Rising. They’re still 6-1 and 4-0 in the PAC-12 due to a stellar defense, stellar running game and a terrific coach in Kyle Whittingham. I just don’t see them with enough offense in the Coliseum.

No. 9 Oregon 35, Washington State 14

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR.

2:30 PM

ABC

Bob, Gregory, Molly

Ducks by 20

The only word I can use to describe Oregon Coach Dan Lanning is reckless. Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde called him, “the guy who takes a card in blackjack with 18 showing. Then he’s surprised when he busts his hand. Over and over and over.”

He made three inexplicable fourth and dumb decisions last Saturday @Washington that cost his team the game. His players deserved better. Michael Pennix Jr and his Husky teammates had a lot to do with the outcome as well, but Lanning did his team no favors with his not smart aggressiveness.

No. 22 Air Force 24, Navy 10

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD

11 AM

CBS

Rich Waltz, Aaron Taylor, Amanda Guerra

AFA by 10 1/2

The Air Force Academy keeps taking care of business and staying undefeated and is now in pursuit of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy along with a spot in the New Year’s Six.

No. 23 Tulane 42, North Texas 17

Yulman Stadium, N’Awlins

2:30 PM

ESPN2

Beth, Kirk, Stormy

Green Wave by 20

Another team with high aspirations for a New Year’s Six Bowl game. Right now, it’s Air Force and Tulane as the leaders in the clubhouse. The Green Wave under Coach Willie Fritz are an excellent football team.

No. 24 Iowa 17, Minnesota 13

Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa

2:30 PM

NBC

Paul Burmeister, Anthony Herron, Zora Stephenson

Hawkeyes by 3 1/2

Guaranteed to be the most boring game Saturday.

Upset Central

Stanford 34, No. 25 UCLA 33

Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA.

9:30 PM

ESPN

Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler, Kayla Burton

UCLA by 17

I loved the way the Cardinal came back from a 29-0 deficit last Friday Night @ Boulder to beat the egotistical Coach Sanders and his team, 46-43, in double OT. It was totally awesome. I like the Cardinal to keep up their great work.

The Crimson Tide secured a major victory in College Station last Saturday. Jalen Milroe played a terrific game and is on the verge of breaking out. He and his teammates will face Arkansas at home with an early kick on Saturday.

The Auburn Tigers hit the road at Baaton Rouge to take on the Bengal Tigers on a Saturday Night in Tiguh Stadium. Always a tall order. Coach Freeze and his team will be severely tested.

Some key SEC matchups and a massive national contest in Seattle at 2:30 PM on Saturday. Very much looking forward to that after the first round of games.

Here’s a look at this week’s activity along with the James Spann forecasted outcomes.

Last Week, 11-5, Season, 118-23, 84%

ATS, 7-9, Season, 71-67, 51%

All times Central. All games Saturday unless otherwise noted.

Arkansas @ No. 11 Alabama

Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa

11 AM

ESPN

Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Lugues

Bama by 20

The Crimson Tide looked more like past Crimson Tide teams last Saturday in their 26-20 victory @ A&M. Arkansas plays teams tough, but has not gotten over the hump yet. In fairness to Sam and his team, they’ve been on the road @LSU and @ Ole Miss and A&M was at a neutral site, AT&T Stadium in Arlington. They were very competitive with LSU and Ole Miss, while A&M was not as much so. Really like what I’m seeing out of the Crimson Tide defense. Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell are enforcers off the edge. Jermaine Burton really stepped it up on the perimeter last Saturday for the Tide with 9 receptions for 197 yards and two TDs. If Jace McClellan and Roydell Williams and the running game get it going , this team is formidable. The O line needs to keep homing in on their run blocking. If they do that, this is a dangerous team going forward. It already is for the most part.

Alabama 34, Arkansas 17

Auburn @ No. 22 LSU

Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge

6 PM

ESPN

Tess, Jess, Katie

LSU by 11

This is a tough one for Coach Freeze’s Tigers. I just don’t see enough offense right now. Certainly down the road. Hugh’s an exceptional offensive mind. The defense is pretty good, but Jayden Daniels, with 19 TDs and 2 ints through the air and 4 TDs on the ground, and WRs Malk Nabors (48-771, 6 TDs) and Brian Thomas (37-603, 9 TDs) are a load to handle.

LSU 35, Auburn 23

No.1 Georgia @ Vanderbilt

FirstBank Stadium, Nashvegas

11 AM

CBS

Tom McCarthy, Ross Tucker, Tiffany Blackmon

Dawgs by 31 1/2

Massacre.

Georgia 52, Vanderbilt 10

Texas A&M @ Tennessee

Neyland Stadium, Knoxville

2:30 PM

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jenny

Vols by 3

I’ll take the upset here.

A&M 30, Tennessee 28

Missouri @ No.24 Kentucky

Kroger Field, Lexington

6:30 PM

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

Cats by 2 1/2

Kentucky was humbled by Georgia last Saturday in Athens, 51-13. But I like them to get by Mizzou this Saturday. Should be a tight one.

Kentucky 27, Missouri 24

Florida @ South Carolina

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia

2:30 PM

SEC Network

Taylor, Stinch, Alyssa

Gamecocks by 2

Like Shane Beamer and his team on their home turf.

South Carolina 23, Florida 20

Off: Ole Miss, Miss State

National Blockbuster

No.8 Oregon @ No.7 Washington

Husky Stadium, Seattle

2:30 PM

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly

Huskies by 3

Oregon coach Dan Lanning is a stud. He and Bo Nix, who’s been superb, pull off the upset in this gigantic matchup. It’s a tough one because Kalen DeBoar is a stellar coach and quarterback. Michael Penix Jr. is a massive stud himself. The numbers are through the roof good for both quarterbacks. Penix Jr. has completed 133 of 178, 74%, for 1,999 yards, 16 TDs against 2 ints. Nix has completed 131 of 163, 80%, for 1,459 yards, 15 TDs against 1 int. Something has to give. I’ll take the Ducks in a slight upset, but this is a tough one, especially since it’s in Seattle, which will be raucous. Above and beyond that, the Huskies are an outstanding team. Tremendous national implications though these two teams could see each other again in the PAC-12 Championship Game at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas in December as well. Nix vs. Penix Jr. is a Heisman competition as well. What a matchup.

Oregon 31, Washington 30

Other national contests

No. 2 Michigan 41, Indiana 10

Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor

11 AM

FOX

Gus Joel, Jenny

Wolverines by 33 1/2

Michigan needs to play somebody before I’m convinced they’re legit. It’s a joke schedule until they play @ No.6 Penn State Saturday, November 11th.

No.3 Ohio State 38, Purdue 17

Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

11 AM

Peacock

Andrew Siciliano (Godfather cast member?), Kyle Rudolph, Lewis Johnson

Buckeyes by 19 1/2

Ohio State has played a little tougher schedule than Michigan. Penn State comes to Columbus next Saturday.

No. 4 Florida State 35, Syracuse 17

Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee

11 AM

ABC

Bob, RGIII, Kris

FSU by 17 1/2

Noles keep their terrific season going under the great Mike Norvell.

No. 10 USC 28, No. 21 Notre Dame 27

Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend

6:30 PM

NBC/Peacock

Jac Collinsworth, Coach Garrett, Zora Stephenson

Irish by 3

The Trojans have been a little sluggish this season, but I like the upset on the road here. Marcus Freeman is coming down to earth as the Irish coach after his team was dispatched by Louisville on the road last Saturday, 33-20. Still like him, but like Caleb Williams, Lincoln Riley and SC a little better in this one. USC is still a major factor in the PAC-12 and nationally as they are undefeated. I like them to keep it that way at South Bend.

No. 12 North Carolina 37, No. 25 Miami 33

Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

6:30 PM

ABC

Sean, Gregory, Molly

UNC by 3 1/2

Quarterback Drake Maye, Coach Mack Brown and the Heels keep their stellar undefeated season intact, but in a tight one. Mario Cristobal may never live down his colossal coaching mistake against Georgia Tech last Saturday in which he ran the ball instead of having his quarterback take a knee, which would have run out the clock and secured the Miami victory. The Canes fumbled, Georgia Tech recovered and got a 7 to secure the upset. That was demoralizing to Miami. He did the same thing in 2018 against Stanford at home as Oregon’s coach and lost the game. How do you do that twice? Carolina is a sleeper for the playoff at this point.

No. 17 Duke 34, North Carolina State 33

Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, N.C.

7 PM

ACC Network

Wes Durham, Tim Hasselbeck, Taylor Tannebaum

Duke by 3

The Blue Devils, with quarterback Riley Leonard most likely out with an ankle injury, squeak by N.C. State.

Friday

Tulane 31, Memphis 28

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis

6 PM

ESPN

Anish Shroff, Andre, Carc

Tulane by 4 1/2

Memphis is a tough place to win for the visitors, but I like quarterback Michael Pratt to lead his team to the victory and keep Tulane’s Group of 5 New Year’s Six hopes alive. They defeated USC in the Cotton Bowl last season, 46-45, in a classic. Tulane’s for real under Willie Fritz.

Air Force 28, Wyoming 21

Falcon Stadium, USAF Academy, Colorado

6 PM

CBS Sports Network

Rich Waltz, Aaron Taylor, Justin Walters

The Academy by 10 1/2

Two other teams competing for a New Year’s Six Bowl. Air Force is undefeated and the Cowboys just came off an upset of previously No. 24 Fresno State at Laramie and have only lost once, on the road to Texas in a game in which they were tied 10-10 at the start of he fourth quarter before succumbing 31-10. Should be a classic. Air Force Coach Troy Calhoun is phenomenal. So is Craig Kohl of Wyoming. Like the Falcons at home.

TCU 35, BYU 32

Amon G. Carter Stadum, Fort Worth

2:30 PM

ESPN

Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler, Kayla Burton

Frogs by 6

This hasn’t been the Horned Frogs best year after an electric run until the national championship game last season, and BYU are road warriors. But I’ll take TCU, barely.

No. 15 Oregon State 30, No. 18 UCLA 26

Reser Stadium, Corvallis, OR.

7 PM

FOX

Timmy B. Spencer

Beavers by 3 1/2

Like the Beavs to handle business at home.

***Upset Central***

UAB 41, UTSA 38

Alamodome, San Antone

7 PM

ESPNU

Jay Alter, Rene “Richards” Ingoglia

Texas San Antonio by 9

Quarterback Jacob Zeno, who has completed 176 of 233, 75%, for 1,795 yards, 12 TDs against 5 ints, and sensational running back Jermaine Brown, 270 yards, 7 TDs, lead the Blazers to a massive upset. If Trent Dilfer can control himself, he can have good success on the Southside.

The Crimson Tide has reasserted itself as a national factor in the last couple of weeks. Their resiliency and fortitude will be tested this Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station as they square off with the Aggies of Texas A&M. Should be an epic. More upcoming below.

The Auburn Tigers proved that they’re building a formidable program for the future under Coach Freeze. The 27-17 loss to Georgia was a hard fought, classic SEC contest at the incredible home field advantage of Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers are 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the SEC, are off this week, then head down to Baaton Rouge next Saturday Night for a contest versus the Bengal Tigers.

There are terrific matchups in the conference and with future conference members, next year as a matter of fact, as those two rivals face off in the Cotton Bowl this Saturday in the Red River Showdown. Major national implications on the line in that contest.

Here’s a look at this Saturday’s riveting schedule of games.

Last Week, 12-0; Overall, 107-18, 86%.

ATS, 7-5, 64-58, 52%

All games Saturday, and all times Central, as usual.

No. 11 Alabama (4-1, 2-0 SEC) @ Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0)

Kyle Field, College Station, TX.

2:30 PM

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jenny

Tide by 1

Wow, this point spread has come down from 3 1/2 at the beginning of the week. There are so many key matchups and factors in this classic. One of the major matchups is the Bama O line versus the A&M dline. A&M has piled up the sacks this season and are tied for second in the country in that category with 20. The Crimson Tide is 7th with 17. So right tackle JC Latham and company will be severely tested by this Aggies dominating front. The quarterback duel between Jalen Milroe and Max Johnson will be pivotal, as always. Jalen can make the explosive runs and hit the long balls. Explosives will be critical. Johnson is an excellent passer and a pretty decent runner. Jalen will need to connect on some of the mid range throws and let guys like Isaiah Bond and Jermaine Burton take it from there. Tight end Amari Niblack has been a weapon for the Tide as well. S and Tommy Reas should try to incorporated him in the game. Jalen will try to stay away from the ints as will Johnson. And Jalen running the ball will be a tremendously important part of the offense as will RBs Jase McCellan and Roydell Williams. The A&M offense is explosive with wide outs Ainias Smith, Evan Stewart and Noah Thomas major take it to the house threats on the perimeter. Le’Veon Moss is a force running the ball, both for power and home run ability. Dallas Turner, Chris Braswell, Terrion Arnold and the Crimson Tide defense will be tasked with slowing down Jimbo Fisher’s explosive offense. This is a classic. Jimbo defeated S two years ago in College Station, so can he do it again? It’s tough to do that to S. Miss Terry got on him last week about being tougher on his players and he got the message and they responded accordingly. He’s back to his old ways and that’s a good thing. I like a more defensive battle in this one with some explosives, a key interception or a punt return, and, finally, a Will Reichard field goal to win it for the Crimson Tide. Wow, that young kicker is reliable. He’ll deliver once again for the Crimson Tide in a stellar SEC Football game with major conference and national implications at stake.

Alabama 17, A&M 14

No. 12 Oklahoma @ No. 3 Texas

Cotton Bowl, Dallas

11 AM

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly

Hook’em Horns by 6

Don’t let the home team moniker confuse you. This is a neutral site with half Texas and half OU fans in attendance. It’s a spectacle. Awesome matchup as these two teams are both definitely back. I like Sark and the Horns to survive and advance, but it ain’t going to be easy.

Texas 38, OU 35

No. 20 Kentucky @ No.1 Georgia

Sanford Stadium, Athens

6 PM

ESPN

Sean, Gregory, Molly

Dawgs by 14 1/2

I see a pretty good tussle here between the Hedges. Kentucky running back Ray Davis ran for 280 yards last Saturday, 280. That’s phenomenal. Georgia is getting by, being led by their all world tight end Brock Bowers, who should be front and center in the Heisman conversation if he keeps this up. He’s the best player in the country in my opinion. Georgia has to battle to survive Davis and the Cats Georgia does look to be getting better and better. The fourth quarter against the Tigers last Saturday was impressive.

Georgia 28, Kentucky 21

No. 23 LSU @ No. 21 Missouri

Memorial Stadium/ Faurot Field, Columbia

11 AM

ESPN

Bob, RGIII, Kris

Bengal Tigers by 5

Expecting a war in a raucous Memorial Stadium. Should be a lot of offensive fireworks with LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, Mizzou quarterback Brady Cook and Mizzou Tigers phenomenal receiver Luther Burden III making explosive play after explosive play. Some Heisman watch guys in this game as well in Danels and Burden III. Should be electric.

LSU 45, Missouri 42

Arkansas @ Ole Miss

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxvegas

6:30 PM

SEC Network

Tom, Cole, Alyssa

Rebs by 11 1/2

I was seriously thinking about taking Sam and the upset here. But I’ll go with Lane and an outright offensive juggernaut on the Grove.

Ole Miss 48, Arkansas 45

Vanderbilt @ Florida

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

3 PM

SEC Network

Dave, Stinch, Tori Petry

Gators by 18 1/2

Maybe somehow, some way, some day my Commodores can figure it out. I ask for Divine Intervention a lot during games. It’ll take a miracle at the Swamp.

Gators 41, Dores 20

Western Michigan @ Mississippi State

Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville

11 AM

SEC Network

State by 20 1/2

MS. State 38, Western Mich 14

Other key scores

No. 10 Notre Dame 34, No. 25 Lousville 27

Cardinal Stadium, Louisville

6:30 PM

ABC

Fighting Irish by 6 1/2

Fighting Irish are a tough defensive lapse from defeating Ohio State and being undefeated and squarely in the playoff hunt. They’re still not out of it with the schedule they play. They’ll need to run the table.

No.4 Ohio State 37, Maryland 30

Ohio Stadium, Columbus

11 AM

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Buckeyes by 20

Unlike many others, I didn’t mind Ryan Day going off on Lou Holtz in his interview after the Notre Dame victory. It was out of control, no doubt, but Holtz was questioning Day’s team’s toughness, and as a coach, I would find that unacceptable. Holtz basically guaranteed that the Irish would out-tough the Buckeyes. Don’t blame Day at all. He can be a jerk at times, but I like him taking up for his team. Holtz is doubling down on his comments and won’t let it go. If I was Day, I’d tell him to put that loss in his pipe and smoke it. Ohio State is for real in my opinion, but Taula Tagivailoa, Tua’s younger brother, ain’t no joke either and is lighting it up for Maryland passing for 1,464 yards, 13 TDs, against 3 ints. Mike Locksley’s team puts up a fight and makes Ohio State earn it.

No.2 Michigan 28 Minnesota 14

Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis

6:30 PM

NBC

Wolverines by 19

I like “Row the Boat” and the fighting Flecks to give Harbaugh and his Michigan bunch a game at Minneapolis.

No.5 Florida State 38, Virginia Tech 17

Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee

2:30 PM

ABC

FSU by 24

Mike Norvell and his talented team keep on cookin. Jordan Travis is tremendous under center. VA Tech defeated Pitt last Saturday, 38-21 at home, so they’re getting better.

No.9 USC 52, Arizona 30

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

9:30 PM

ESPN

SC by 21 1/2

Caleb Williams and his Trojans keep crankin’ out the points, but Lincoln Riley’s defense is still giving up way too many. That could cost’em down the line. T’eo will be pulling a late nighter. Some of the Due Rights will be just rolling in by the end of the game.

No. 14 North Carolina 42, Syracuse 27

Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

2:30 PM

ESPN

Heels by 8 1/2

The Heels and quarterback Drake Maye are on a roll. Mack Brown has a really fine team in Chapel Hill. Miami comes to town next Saturday, though the ‘Cuse won’t be a total pushover.

No. 17 Miami 45, Georgia Tech 17

Hard Rock, South Beach

7 PM

ACC Network

Miami by 20

The Canes gear up for their invasion into Chapel Hill next Saturday. Will be a blockbuster.

No. 24 Fresno State 38, Wyoming 35

Jonah (Brothers?) Field at War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, WY.

7 PM

FOX

Fresno by 5

The Bulldogs survive a giant killer in Wyoming on the road in highly hostile stadium. Fresno State is a force with a lot of outstanding athletes on their depth chart, but the Cowboys are going to make them work for it.

Upset Central

Washington State 28, UCLA 27

Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA.

PAC-12 Network

Bruins by 3 1/2

Give me quarterback Cam Ward, who has completed 106-of-142 passes, 75%, for 1,390 yards, 13 TDs, 0 ints, to lead his undefeated Cougars squad to victory. This team is a darkhorse to win the PAC-12 and make the playoff or a New Year’s Six Bowl game .

I should have gotten to this earlier

Super Bowl 58 Prediction

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Allegiant Stadium, Vegas

5:30 PM CT

CBS

Jim, Tony, Trace

Eagles 34, Ravens 31

MVP, Jalen Hurts

World Series

Rangers over Braves in 7; all games on FOX

MVP, Corey Seager

The great theme song/video from one of the best movies of all time

We have all had our “Rocky” moments at one time or another. Brombey running for 297 yards in a high school football game. WT, Bama Golf, Walter, Brombey, Brownie, or T’eo shooting a low 70’s, high 60’s round. Derrick winning a big tennis match or dominating in pickelball. My brother in law, Jack Reed, catching a TD pass in high school or beating the pro at Mountain Brook Club in tennis. My cousin, Camper O’Neal, catching a TD pass in a Mountain Brook High School playoff game or playing stellar golf like he does many times. My friend Bert Pitts tearing up the pavement at 4;30 AM these days. My great friend Kirby Sevier excelling at basketball and baseball in college. My sister, Penny Page, dominating at Pickeleball or setting the Mountain Brook Country Club record for minutes in a plank at 6. My wife, Beth, tearing up a marathon and running like a gazelle 3 days a week and riding her Peloton Bike the other four. Due to an injury, she’s walking right now and riding her Peloton Bike, but asking her if she is going to run again is like asking a general, rhetorically, if Fort Knox has gold. That would be a guaranteed yes. My daughter, Isabelle, running in a half marathon 2 weeks ago after getting over COVID the week before. My daughter Fairbanks excelling at tennis and pickle ball.

I’ve been working out at a boxing gym since 2019 called Battle Republic. It has locations in Homewood, the Summit and they’re opening one up in Tuscaloosa. I get that same athletic high and feeling of accomplishment that the aforementioned special people got from their great athletic feats. It’s a 45 minute HIIT cardio boxing workout with 10, 3 minute rounds of hitting the bag and doing burpees, push-ups, plank jacks, high knees and jumping jacks. It’s hard, intense, but extremely exhilarating. The punches are the jab, the cross, front hook, back hook, front uppercut and back uppercut, labeled respectively, 1 (jab), 2 (cross), 3, (front hook) 4, (back hook), 5 (front upper) and 6 (back upper). The coach will call out 1-2-6-duck, 5, 4, and you hit the bag accordingly. It gets exhausting, but it’s a thrill to get through a workout.

I had a Rocky moment in high school sports when I was running track my senior year. I was a football, basketball and baseball player up until my senior year when I went out for the track team in the winter after football to get ready for baseball. We had a really outstanding basketball team and I was a better pickup player than an organized team player. So I ran track. I was trying everything from the 60, to the long jump, to the 220, to the 500. Nothing was really working out. My coach looked at me and gave me a Belichick quote, “This is not what we’re looking for.” After that frustrating discussion with my coach, our team has a dual meet with a school from Virginia, T.C. Williams, better known for its football team portrayed in the movie “Remember the Titans.” There were a lot of great athletes at that school. I was of course at high school in Virginia myself. We were all even with Williams in the meet when the 2 mile relay came up. We were getting our tail kicked, and the third leg was about to commence. Each runner ran a half mile, four laps around our 220 yard indoor track. I went up to my coach and said, “Coach let me take that baton.” He said, “What do you think you can run.” I said a 2:15. “All right, get in there,” he said. We were a half lap behind when I got the baton. I started sprinting. I was on my third lap and catching the guy. I could see my teammates out of the corner of my eye saying, “Come on David White!” It was a spectacular feeling. I caught the guy and handed off to our fourth leg, a stud athlete who had already won 6 events that day. Any other time he would have waxed the dude, but he just ran out of gas and was beaten. I had run a 2:10 and was pumped. From then on, I was the first leg of the race, and we would be so far out in front after my half, that we’d cruise to victory. There was a lot of adversity leading up to that Rocky moment, but once it came to fruition, it was a spectacular feeling.

All the people I’ve mentioned above have experienced those moments in their athletic careers. That leads in to this amazing video of this phenomenal movie. I’m going to “Take You Back,” to 1972. “Take You Back” was the first song in this classic movie. Derrick, Roy Morton, Deano Matthews, Mabry Smith and I performed it at Cash’s Bar in Destin in their Gong Show Night back in the day. We practiced kind of hard on it. “Take it Back, Doo, Doo, Doo. Take it Back.” We got gonged in about 20 seconds. I thought it was robbery. I thought we were a pretty good act. Nobody else believed in us. Oh well, we didn’t become the Beatles. Life at a bar can be tough at times.

But here’s this stellar vid to amp you up for this Saturday’s classics, especially the Crimson Tide @ the Aggies. Enjoy the game!

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