The No.5 Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers have what appear to be easier games to open up week 1 of the college football calendar.

The Crimson Tide hosts Western Kentucky at 6 PM Saturday on ESPN, while the Tigers play host to Alabama A&M Saturday at 6:30 PM on ESPN+. It’ll still be interesting to see how each team performs with the Tide featuring a new head man on their sideline as Kalen DeBoar comes over from Washington to try and fill the gigantic shoes of Nick Saban, while the Tigers will try to vastly improve from a 6-7 season in Hugh Freeze’s initial season at Auburn. Anticipation is high in T-town and on the Plains.

There are four other classics featuring SEC teams in action this week. White’s World breaks down the SEC-out of conference matchups along with predictions.

2023 Record: SU-202-54, 79%, ATS: 122-129, 49%

***All times Central***

Western Kentucky @ No.5 Alabama

Bryant-Denny Stadium

6 PM

ESPN

Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Taylor McGregor

Tide by 31 1/2

Jalen Milroe “matriculates” into his second season under center, but this time for Coach DeBoar, not S. I like Jalen to have a big game Saturday and an outstanding 2024 season. Big believer in Number 4.

Alabama 41, Western Kentucky 7

Alabama A&M @ Auburn

Jordan-Hare Stadium

6:30 PM

ESPN+

Lowell Galindo, Fozzie(the Fonz?) Whitaker

Tigers by 47 1/2

Looking forward to watching this Auburn backfield of Jarquez Hunter, Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb. Bama’s got a talented backfield as well with Jam Miller, Justice Haynes and Richard Young. Payton Thorne is going to HAVE to play well though for the Tigers to have a highly successful season.

Auburn 52, A&M 3

Other SEC scores

No. Georgia 28, No.14 Clemson 14

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

11 AM

ABC

Sean, Gregory, Molly

Dawgs by 13 1/2

Give me Carson Beck and them Dawgs.

Sunday

No.13 LSU 31, No. 23 USC 24

Allegiant Stadium, Vegas

6:30 PM

ABC

Rece, Kirk, Holly., Chris Fowler at the US Open.

Bengal Tigers by 4 1/2

Awesome matchup. Like Brian Kelly and his Tigers to start their 2024 campaign off the right way.

Back to Saturday

No.20 Texas A&M 27, No.7 Notre Dame 23

Kyle Field, College Station, TX.

6:30 PM

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly. Chris will be in College Station for this one.

Aggies by 3

Give me Mike Elko to get the victory in game one of his A&M tenure.

Florida 21, No.19 Miami 20

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

2:30 PM

ABC

Tess, Jess, Katie

Canes by 2 1/2

I like the Gators to pull off the slight upset in the Swamp.

No.4 Texas 42, Colorado State 7

DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin

2:30 PM

ESPN

Mike Manako, Kirk “Mr. Mojo Rising” Morrison, Dawn Davenport

Horns by 32

Sark and Hook’em get off to a fast start. Quinn Ewers is going to have to play well because Arch Manning was an absolute beast in the Orange and White spring game throwing for 349 yards and three TDs.

No.6 Ole Miss 52, Furman 7

Vaught-Hemingway Field, Oxford

6 PM

ESPN

Jay Alter, Rocky Boiman, Ashley Stroehlein (I think I spelled that right)

Black Bears by 42

There are high expectations on the Grove for Lane and his team. If Pete Golding knows how to coach defense at all this is a formidable team with a deep run in them. You know they’ll play offense with quarterback Jaxon Dart and company.

No.15 Tennessee 42, Chattanooga 3

Neyland Stadium, Knoxville

11:45 AM

SEC Network

Taylor, Stinch, Alyssa

Vols by 38 1/2

The Vols are trying to regain their magic back from 2022. They’ve got a shot to do that.

Friday

No.16 Oklahoma 58, Temple 14

Memorial Stadium Norman

6 PM

ESPN

Anish Schroff, Andre, Carc

OU by 42

Boomer Sooner moves into the SEC with a resounding out of conference victory though the competition isn’t much.

Saturday

Virginia Tech 28, Vanderbilt 21

FirstBank Stadium, Nashvegas

11 AM

ESPN

Roy Philpott, Sam Acho, Taylor Davis

Hokies by 13 1/2

Never like doing this, but the Blog wants to be right.

Today

No. 11 Missouri 55, Murray State 3

Memorial Stadium, Columbia, MO.

7 PM

SEC Network

Tigers by 49 1/2

Arkansas 52, Arkansas Pine Bluff 3

War Memorial Stadium, Fayetteville

6:30 PM

ESPNU

Ark by 50 1/2

Saturday

Kentucky 35, Southern Miss 6

Kroger Field, Lexington

6:45 PM

SEC Network

Cats by 28

South Carolina 42, Old Dominion 20

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia

3:15 PM

SEC Network

Gamecocks by 21

Mississippi State 27, Eastern Kentucky 0

Davis Wade Stadium, Starkvegas

6 PM

ESPN+

Bullies by 24 1/2

Week 0 features one key game as the No.10 Florida State Seminoles face the resurgent Ramblin’ Wreck at the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin this Saturday. Aer Lingus is the Irish Airlines based in Dublin, FYI.

The ‘Noles finished 2023 with a 13-0 regular season/ACC Championship Game record and were irate when they were left out of the 4 team College Football Playoff. But their offense collapsed once starting quarterback Jordan Travis was lost for the season with a knee injury in the next to last game of the season. Tate Rodemaker came in and did well versus Florida in the final regular season game, but was injured in that game and the ‘Noles just couldn’t recover offensively with third string true freshman Brock Glenn at QB against Louisville in the ACC title game. It was quite ugly against Louisville that night in Charlotte even though the ‘Noles prevailed, 16-6. Their defense was championship caliber, but their offense looked like below average against the Cardinals. The Committee made a tough decision in taking one loss Alabama over FSU. But as brutal as it was for the team and its fanbase, it was the correct decision as the ‘Noles were hammered by Georgia in the Orange Bowl, 63-3. They just weren’t the same team without Travis or Rodemaker. Now with the institution of the 12-team playoff, that won’t be a problem. Very exciting times in college football with this expanded playoff.

Rodemaker transferred to Southern Miss and Coach Mike Norvell brought in DJ Uiagalelei from Oregon State. Uiagalelei completed 180 of 315 passes last season, 57.1%, for 2,638 yards, 21 TDs against 7 interceptions in Corvallis. He was previously at Clemson before Oregon State. He struggled to find his sea legs at Clemson, but was much better last season playing for Coach Jonathan Smith, who had a good career in Corvallis, and took the Michigan State job after last season.

Norvell also brought in former Crimson Tide running back Roydell Williams and former Crimson Tide receiver Malik Benson. Roydell rushed for 561 yards and 5 TDs in 2023. The Crimson Tide with Jam Miller, Justice Haynes and third string Richard Young in the backfield this year look pretty set, so it was a good move for Williams. Benson caught 13 passes for 162 yards and 1 TD in a pretty quiet 2023 campaign. But both should be playmakers in Norvell’s offense. The defense lost a lot of size and talent to the NFL, but Norvell has brought in talent and size through the portal and the freshmen class.

Georgia Tech features an offensive “trifecta” in quarterback Haynes King, running back Jamal Haynes and wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr., who all returned to Atlanta. King, the former A&M QB, completed 226 of 367 passes, 62%, for 2,842 yards and 27 TDs against 16 ints for the ‘Ramblin Wreck in 2023. I know Coach Brent Key and King want to cut down on the interceptions. Jamal Haynes rushed for 1,059 yards and 7 TDs, and King added 737 yards and 10 TDs. Singleton Jr. finished with 48 receptions for 714 yards and 6 TDs last season.

The Yellow Jackets posted a 7-6 overall record last year (5-3 in the ACC), and won the Gasparilla Bowl over UCF, 30-17. They’re excited in Hot’lanta about what Coach Key can do with this program. The Jackets finished 100th in scoring defense and 130th against the run in 2023. That’s out of 134 teams. So they need to do a lot of improving on that side of the ball if they expect to have a shot with FSU.

Game details

Saturday, August 24th

Aer Lingus College Football Classic

No.10 Florida State vs Georgia Tech

Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland

11 AM CT

ESPN

Tess, Jess, Katie

FSU by 10 1/2

Prediction

I don’t like the job that Brent Key is doing at GA. Tech; I love it. The second year coach and former Tech player has his program heading in the absolute right direction. Florida State’s defense was just 61st against the run last year, so there could be opportunities for King and Haynes. I like the ‘Noles to prevail, but I’m looking at a very tight contest in Aviva Stadium. I’m bullish on the ‘Ramblin Wreck this season with that triple threat on offense. The ‘Noles do enough and get by a very scrappy and talented team offensively. Tech will play better dense this year. Believe in Key. Believe in Norvell to get his team over the top though.

FSU 21, Georgia Tech 17

The Auburn Tigers enter their second season under Hugh Freeze, and there is great optimism with the way recruiting has been transpiring. In 2024, Hugh and the Tigers landed the 8th ranked recruiting class in the country according to 247 Sports.2025 is even better as the Tigers have amassed the 5th ranked class in the country. And the 2026 class- it’s early they have six 4 stars to far- is the No.1 ranked class in the country. All of those classes are ranked by 247. The gems of the 2024 class are 99, 5 star receiver Cam Coleman, a 6’3, 185 standout from one of the Meccas for football in Alabama, Central Phenix-City. Hugh also added 5 star edge rusher Amaris Williams, 6’2”, 257 from Clinton, N.C, Ninety seven 4 star Walker White is a quarterback out of Little Rock’s Christian Academy. He looks to be the quarterback of the future. And Hugh has a nice haul in 2025. Georgia secured the No.1 class in 2024 and the Crimson Tide was No.2. Oregon was No.3, Miami was 4, Ohio State was 5, Texas was 6 and LSU was 7. In 2025, Ohio State is No.1 (Ryan Day? Are you kiddin me?), the Crimson Tide is 2, L-S-U is No.3, Georgia is No.4 and AU is 5. A&M is 6 and Tennessee is 8.

So what about 2024 for the Tigers? I like Coleman to be a real player. He’s extremely athletic, he’s making acrobatic catches this summer, and will make plays and take it to the house whenever he has the opportunity to. I’m hearing good things about Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith (6’1”, 185) and Georgia State transfer Robert Lewis looked pretty promising in the spring. Receiver looks talented and deep.

But somebody has to get’em the ball and that duty falls on second year starter Payton Thorne, the Michigan State transfer from two years ago. Hugh seems to believe in him, and he can run it for sure and is a competent passer. He threw for 16 TDs and 10 ints in 2023, so he’ll need to clean the ints up for the Tigers to be successful. The running back room looks solid with 900 yard rusher Jarquez Hunter back and highly capable backups in Damari Austin and Jeremiah Cobb, who they’ve been real high on.

Offensive line is retooled but with good 310+ pound size. The defense has some new faces, so first year coordinator D. J. Durkin has his work cut out to get the chemistry right and get the Tigers playing quickly and fast on defense.

Hugh will call plays and Derrick Nix, another veteran in the SEC like Durkin, will be the offensive coordinator.

Schedule

The Tigers open at home in its first 5 games with Alabama A&M (Sat. 8/31,6:30 PM CT ESPN+), Cal (Sat. 9/7,2:30 PM CT ESPN2), New Mexico (Sat. 9/14, 6:30 PM CT the Deuce or Duh U), Arkansas (Sat, 9/21, 2:30 or 7 PM CT Network TBA), and No. 16 Oklahoma all coming to Jordan-Hare. If they can survive that, they’re @ No.1 Georgia Saturday, 10/5, at 2:30 or 8 PM CT with network to be determined. Then the Tigers are off on 10/12, and go to No.11 Missouri on Saturday, 10/19, with game time either at 11 AM or 12 PM CT (TBD on network). Then @ Kentucky, Saturday, 10/26, at either 5 or 7 PM CT (TBD), home vs Vandy Saturday, 11/2, at 11 AM or 12 PM CT. Then the Tigers are off on Nov. 9, and off on 11/16,- I mean they play ULM at home. Then, on Saturday, 11/23, No. 25 A&M comes to Auburn. And, finally, they’re @ the No.5 Crimson Tide on Saturday, 11/30, at 2:30 or 7 PM CT on ABC or ESPN. CBS is no longer broadcasting SEC games. They’re with the Big Ten now with ESPN, ABC and the Network taking over now for the SEC Game of the week.

The Tigers’ Prospects in 2024

The schedule is pretty favorable for the Tigers. If Thorne can come through, the line plays well, and the defense puts it together this could be an 8 or 9 win team, maybe 10, and not out of the realm to make the playoff with a 12 team national championship postseason now. I can see the Tigers going 5-0 out of the blocks with Arkansas and OU being tests. At Georgia and @ the Crimson Tide are tough, but we don’t know how the Tide will play under first year coach Kalen DeBoar. At Missouri seems tough from the rankings, but Auburn has better athletes that Missouri does overall. At Kentucky is no picnic either and A&M at home is tricky, but all three are doable.

So, I think the Tigers can put together a very good season if the health holds up and Thorne plays well and the defense can perform well. The skill players are excellent.