Thanksgiving is a time to, as the SAE’s at Vanderbilt used to say, “jam some eats.” You can get a round or two in and get some camaraderie in with friends, or go hunting and do the same. You can go to dinner with another couple or read a good book. Of course, you want to spend quality time with your wife, kids and grandkids if you are at that age. That’s an absolute. And you can absolutely watch some serious football. And it’s all in front of us right now as Rivalry Week is here with the season on the brink for many teams as playoff hopes ride on this weekend’s results.

Here’s how the playoff picture shapes up, according to the Committee:

1. Oregon (11-0) 2. Ohio State (10-1)3. Texas (10-1) 4. Penn State (10-1) 5. Notre Dame (10-1) 6. Miami (10-1) 7. Georgia (9-2) 8. Tennessee (9-2) 9. SMU (10-1) 10. Indiana (10-1) 11. Boise State (10-1) 12. Clemson (9-2).

   That’s cool. I know the great coaches don’t worry about this. Kirby Smart’s goal today is to have a good practice and defeat Georgia Tech in Clean Old Fashioned Hate on Friday. But sportswriters are built to project, so here’s what I think the rankings should look like. It’s a fluid ranking, but here’s what I got.

1. Oregon 2. Ohio State. and those are just based on what the committee would do, not that I’m sure those teams are going to be playing for the national championship. 3. Georgia 4. Texas 5. Tennessee 6. Notre Dame 7. Alabama 8. Ole Miss 9. South Carolina 10. SMU 11. Tulane 12. Arizona State.

That is based on strength of schedule and football judgment. Those are the top 12 teams in my opinion, and I believe in them 100 percent. Getting the best 12 teams is 100 percent the job, and those are the 12 teams that belong in the playoff in my opinion, as of today. As I said, it’s fluid. But those are the teams I like.

You’ve got to use strength of record, strength of schedule and football judgment. Those are THE 3 top criteria for picking the 12 best teams. While strength of record is critical, if they’re about equal amongst teams, strength of schedule and football judgment HAVE to matter. The SEC is the best conference in the country, and it’s not really close. I know Alabama fans are upset about the Crimson Tide’s performance last Saturday Night @Oklahoma, but OU played an awesome game, and that’s the way this season has gone. With the NIL and the transfer portal so entrenched in the system now, teams have become erratic with the lack of depth due to good backup players transferring to other schools if they don’t get the playing time they want or if a better financial offer is out there. That’s the landscape at present, unfortunately. I still think the Tide is one of the 12 best teams in the country, despite its inconsistency. Would I take Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina over Penn State, Clemson and Indiana? Darn right I would. All day. Boise State, too, for that matter.

The best players reside on the SEC. You’re telling me by watching these games that Penn State has better players than Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina? Penn State played Ole Miss in the Chick fil-A Bowl in Atlanta this past New Year’s Day and promptly lost 38-25. I could see the same thing happening this year if those teams were to meet. Ole Miss is a longshot at this point, and Bama is on the outside looking in, as is South Carolina. But those three teams are most definitely three of the top 12 teams in the country. The committee is going too much on record, and not valuing the quality of the team enough, if records are pretty similar. Their orders are to pick the 12 BEST teams. I like my rankings better, but I know it’s my football judgment, so it’s certainly debatable.

But there could be more upheaval this weekend, and the way it’s been going, I can see that happening.

Here’s this weekend’s slate along with predictions.

Last Week: SU- 12-6; Overall- 131-48, 73%. ATS: 9-9, 95-82, 54%

***All Rankings are Playoff Rankings; all times are Central; all games Saturday unless otherwise noted.***

Auburn (5-6, 3-5) @ No. 13 Alabama (8-3, 4-3)

Bryant-Denny Stadium, T-town, 101,821

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Sean, Gregory, Molly

Crimson Tide by 11 1/2

Auburn freshman linebacker Demarcus Riddick said on Monday that Jalen Milroe “is fast, but he’s not faster than me. He’s not getting out of that box this week.” He said about Ryan Williams, “I mean, yeah, he’s electric. But in my eyes, he ain’t really nobody to me. Ryan Williams is himself. He ain’t no big time player to me.” On the Crimson Tide’s 24-3 loss to Oklahoma, he said, “Seeing the results after that game, it was kind of like this team is really beatable. I was just telling the team, ‘Y’all don’t really take this team as this or that (whatever that means). They’re really beatable. We’ve got something to fight for.’ “ Going into this game I’m just going to be all out every time. Every rival team I’ve never lost to and I will not lose to Bama while I’m here.”

The freshman has posted 25 tackles this season, 10th on the team. Michael Casagrande of Al.com wrote that what Riddick said was “awesome.” I must disagree. The Tigers have been playing well lately, but that’s not what Coach Freeze is looking for out of his linebacker from Clanton going into a hostile environment.

Alabama 31, Auburn 14

Friday

Georgia Tech (7-4) @ No.7 Georgia (9-2)

Sanford Stadium, Athens

6:30 PM

ABC

Tess, Jess, Katie

Dawgs by 19 1/2

I like Georgia to take care of business and prepare for Texas or Texas A&M in Atlanta a week from Saturday, 12/7, in the SEC Championship Game at 3 PM CT on ABC with Chris, Kirk, and Holly on the call. Molly or Laura might join’em.

Georgia 34, Tech 14

No.3 Texas (10-1, 6-1) @ Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2)

Kyle Field, College Station

6:30 PM

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly

Longhorns by 5 1/2

A&M lost a tough one at Auburn when Mike Elko went brain dead and called a timeout with 15 seconds left with Auburn at the A&M 8 yard line and out of timeouts and looking like they were running a Chinese fire drill. With the Elko disastrous decision, Auburn was able to kick a game tying field goal at the end of regulation and send the game into overtime where they won in 4 OT’s, 43-41. The Longhorns are talented, but are they mentally tough enough to handle College Station on a Saturday Night? With Arch Manning, I think they would be. But not with Quinn Ewers I’m not buying Texas. I still think Texas makes the Playoff, but A&M makes it to the SEC Championship Game.

A&M 30, Texas 28

Other SEC scores

Friday

No. 14 Ole Miss 48, Mississippi State 17

Vuught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford

2:30 PM

ABC

Bob, Louis, Kris

Ole Miss by 26

After a tough loss in Gainesville, Lane and the Rebels keep their playoff hopes alive. Losing to LSU in Baton Rouge is nothing to be ashamed of even though the Crimson Tide dismantled the Bengal Tigers. Death Valley on a Saturday Night it Always tough. Ole Miss’s loss to Kentucky at home is a little harder to explain. But I chalk it up to life in the SEC. Ole Miss’s performance in its dismantling of Georgia proved to me that they belong in the playoff if they win this Saturday. I’m not in the Committee room, but that’s my football judgment with all things close to being equal with teams like Penn State, Indiana and Clemson

No.8 Tennessee 35, Vanderbilt 14

FirstBank Stadium, Smashville

11 AM

ABC

Dave, Dusty, Taylor McGregor

UT by 10 1/2

Tennessee has a ton to play for.

No. 15 South Carolina 27, No. 12 Clemson 24

Memorial Stadium, Clemson

11 AM

ESPN

Roy, Sam, Taylor Davis

Clemson by 2 1/2

Give me the Gamecocks all afternoon.

Florida 24, Florida State 21

Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee

6 PM

ESPN2

Jay Alter, Rocky Boiman, Ashley Stroehlein

Florida by 14 1/2

After two huge victories at home over LSU and Ole Miss, respectively, the Gators have a little trouble in Tallahassee, but survive and build on that momentum for their bowl game and 2025.

No. 21 Missouri 30, Arkansas 24

Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Mo.

2:30 PM

SEC Network

Missouri by 3

Brady Cook and Missouri finish off a nice regular season at 9-3 and 5-3. in the conference and get ready for their bowl game if they can get most of their players to play.

Oklahoma 21, LSU 20

Tiguh Stadium, Baaton Rouge

6 PM

ESPN

Tom, JRodg, Cole

LSU by 6

OU keeps its momentum going with an upset in Death Valley. Defense travels well. They won’t get to six wins, but there’s a lot of pride in beating Alabama and LSU on the road that they can carry over into the winter, spring and fall of 2025.

Kentucky 20, Louisville 17

Kroger Field, Lexignton

11 AM

SEC Network

Louisville by 4

The Wildcats pull it off at home.

National Predictions

No.2 Ohio State 28, Michigan 21

Ohio Stadium, Columbus

11 AM

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Ohio State by 21

Michigan plays well. Ryan Day is so caught up in how tough his team is. It’s over the top how obsessed the guy is with that. The guy’s so insecure about it. Maybe the reality is they aren’t.

No. 5 Notre Dame 35, USC 24

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

2:30 PM

CBS

Notre Dame by 7 1.2

On the opposing side of Day, Marcus Freeman does bring toughness to his Fighting Irish team. I’m starting to become more and more bullish on the Fighting Irish, though I’m not completely sold. I’ll give you a definitive answer after this game.

No.1 Oregon 24, Washington 17

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR.

6:30 PM

NBC

Oregon by 19

Dan Lanning has definitely instilled toughness into his team, and they’re good for sure. I just think Washington gives them a challenging game. Next Saturday versus Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy at 7 PM CT on FOX will be riveting. Can the Ducks beat the Buckeyes twice in one season? That’s what will be on the line along with playoff seedings in that blockbuster matchup.

Syracuse 38, No. 6 Miami 35

JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, New York

2:30 PM

ESPN

Canes by 11

The ‘Cuse pulls off the shocker and will toss Miami right out of the playoff.

No.9 SMU 31, Cal 30

Gerald R. Ford Stadium, Big D (Great President back in the day).

2:30 PM

ESPN2

Ponies by 12 1/2

Ponies have a tough one against a team that causes everybody problems, but survives and advances. I’m highly bullish on Rhett Lashlee’s team.

Thursday

No. 17 Tulane 31, Memphis 21

Yullman Stadium, N’Awlins

6:30 PM

ESPN

Green Wave by 13 1/2

Memphis is 9-2 and 5-2 in the American, just like Tulane is, so they’ll be pumped. Believe in my Green Wave though. They’ll play Army in the American Conference Championship Game next Friday Night (12/7) at 7 on ABC.

Saturday

No. 16 Arizona State 30, Arizona 28

Arizona Stadium, Tucson

2:30 PM

FOX

Zona State by 8 1/2

Dilly Willy and the Sun Devils survive and have a good shot to make the playoff. They’ve been impressive. They’ll play either Iowa State, BYU or Colorado in the Big 12 Championship Game at 11 AM CT Saturday, 12/7, @ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. If Iowa State defeats Kansas State at home, it’ll be them. No guarantee of that. If they don’t, and the other two or one of the other two win, it’ll be a tiebreaker. None of the other three, Iowa State, Colorado or BYU, have played each other. If Arizona State loses and the other three win, it would be Iowa State versus BYU. If Iowa State loses and the others win, it would be Arizona State versus BYU. Deion and Colorado may be out of luck. That’s as far as I can go with this convoluted but exhilarating Big 12 sprint for their Championship and a most likely playoff berth; though not guaranteed. The top 5 ranked conference champions make the playoff. If Tulane and Boise State win out, and the Big 12 has chaos, the Big 12 is out of luck.It would be the SEC Champion, the Big Ten Champion, the ACC Champion, though that’s not guaranteed either, or the Big 12 champion and Boise State or Tulane if each team wins out. Tulane, if it wins out, could supersede the Big 12 champ if there is chaos this weekend and next.

No. 10 Indiana 34, Purdue 14

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN

6 PM

Fox Sports 1

Indiana by 29

Indiana’s strength of schedule is not good enough for me, but they’ll probably get in. The committee will have to reverse course and I don’t see that happening. It’s too political.

No.4 Penn State 35, Maryland 28

Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA.

2:30 PM

Big Ten Network

Penn State by 24 1/2

Penn State will probably get in, but not buying them.

Friday

No. 11 Boise State 41, Oregon State 31

Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID

11 AM

FOX

Boise State by 19

Like the Broncos to prevail and have a shot at punching its ticket into the playoff. They’ll be in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game @ home @Albertsons Stadium next Friday Night at 7 on FOX against either Colorado State or UNLV. If both Colorado State and UNLV win, UNLV will advance because while they haven’t played each other this season, the second tiebreaker is the higher College Football Playoff ranking. UNLV is ranked 22nd in the College Football Playoff rankings and Colorado State is unranked. Tulane, to me, is better than Boise State. But if Boise State wins out, the Committee won’t deny them, unfortunately.

Friday

No. 16 Colorado 38, Oklahoma State 35

Folsum Field, Boulder, CO.

11 AM

ABC

Colorado by 16

Mike Gundy and the Pokes give Coach Prime and his Buffs everything they want.

Saturday

No. 19 BYU 28, Houston 27

LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT

9:15 PM

ESPN

BYU by 13

The Houston Cougars take the BYU Cougars to the limit. I like Willie Fritz to get the Houston program going soon; like in 2025. I expect to see them in a solid bowl next season.

Week 13 features the No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide on the road in Norman facing Boomer Sooner, while the Auburn Tigers, trying to get to six wins and a bowl, hosts No. 15 Texas A&M, which is trying to keep its Playoff hopes alive and well. No.9 Ole Miss is @ Florida, No. 3 Texas plays host to Kentucky, and Vanderbilt is @LSU on a Saturday Night in Tiguh Stadium. No. 10 Georgia, coming off a crucial and convincing home victory over No. 11 Tennessee last Saturday Night, has basically a bye week as they face UMass. Tennessee hosts UTEP, and No.18 South Carolina, one of the hottest teams in the country, if not the hottest, hosts Wofford as it’s a riveting full slate of SEC teams playing Saturday. No.5 and Cinderella story Indiana is on the road @ Columbus to square off with No.2 Ohio State Buckeyes in the blockbuster national game this Saturday. No.1 Oregon is off this Saturday as the Ducks aim to earn a bye in the first round of the Playoff. The 11-o Ducks hoat Washington in Autzen Stadium (Eugene, OR), to close out their season, then play in the Big Ten Championship game if they are successful against the Huskies.

Here’s a look at this week’s contests along with predictions.

Last Week: SU-14-2. Season: 119-42, 74%.

ATS: 7-9. 86-73, 54%

All Times Central. All games Saturday.

No. 7 Alabama (8-2, 4-2) @ Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5)

Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK.

6:30 PM

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly

Bama by 13 1/2

It’s been a struggle for Brent Venables and his Oklahoma Sooners in their first year in the SEC, and it doesn’t get any easier this Saturday. Jalen Milroe and the offense are clicking and the defense has become a dominant unit that excels at takeaways. I like the Crimson Tide to keep “matriculating.”

Alabama 31, Oklahoma 14

No. 15 Texas A&M (8-2, 5-1) @ Auburn (4-6, 1-5)

Jordan-Hare Stadium

6:30 PM

ESPN

Dave, Louis, Kris

Aggies by 2 1/2

Mike Elko is a phenomenal motivator. The Aggies have a lot on the line. The Tigers want to reach a bowl and get something out of this season, but I don’t see them having enough to overcome a suffocating defense and an electric quarterback in Marcel Reed along with dynamic running backs in Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels.

A&M 17, Auburn 14

No. 9 Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2) @ Florida (5-5, 3-4)

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

11 AM

ABC

Bob, Gregory, Molly

Rebs by 10

While Florida is playing much better and freshman DJ Lagway is super at quarterback for the Gators, I don’t see them stopping the red hot Rebels. Lane and his team survive the Swamp and advance in the Playoff race.

Ole Miss 28, Florida 14

Kentucky (4-6, 1-6) @ No.3 Texas (9-1, 5-1)

Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium, Austin

2:30 PM

ABC

Tess, Jess, Katie

Longhorns by 20 1/2

The Horns, of course, have a ton to play for. They take care of business in Austin Saturday and get ready to invade College Station next Saturday, 11/30, for a 6:30 PM game on ABC with major SEC and playoff implications on the line.

Texas 35, Kentucky 10

UMass (2-8) @ No. 10 Georgia (8-2)

Sanford Stadium, Athens

11:45 AM

SEC Network

Dave, Max Starks, Ashley ShahAhmadi

Dawgs by 42

Kirby and his team catch a break after a brutal SEC schedule. They’re right in the thick of things, as usual.

Georgia 52, Umass 7

Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3) @ LSU (6-4, 3-3)

Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge

6:45 PM

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

LSU by 8

The Bengal Tigers are reeling. Give me my Commodores in an upset.

Vanderbilt 28, LSU 27

No. 11 Tennessee 51, UTEP 3

Neyland Stadium, Knoxville

12 PM

ESPN+

Vols by 41 1/2

No. 23 Missouri (7-3, 3-3) @ Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6)

Davis Wade Stadium

3:15 PN

SEC Network

Taylor, Matt, Alyssa

Mizzou by 7 1/2

The Tigers gets’er done in Starkvegas.

Missouri 24, State 14

No. 18 South Carolina 48, Wofford 3

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia

3 PM

ESPN+

Gamecocks by 42 1/2

Arkansas 42, Louisiana Tech 14

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville

3 PM

ESPN+

Ark by 22 1/2

National games

No.5 Indiana (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) @ No. 2 Ohio State (9-1, 8-1)

Ohio Stadium, Columbus

11 AM

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Buckeyes by 13 1/2

The Hoosiers have been a stellar story this season, but their schedule has been less than stellar. I like “The Ohio State” to continue advancing in the Playoff hunt. Indiana may not be out of it, thought their strength of schedule could cost’em with a loss at the Horseshoe.

Ohio State 35, Indiana 21

No.4 Penn State 24, Minnesota 21

Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis

2:30 PM

CBS

Penn State by 11 1/2

I’m very unconvinced that Penn State is the No.4 team in the country, and they barely squeak by on the road against a pretty good Golden Gophers team. I guess that’s all they need to do right now. They’re way overrated..

No. 6 Notre Dame 34, No. 19 Army 21

Yankee Stadium, Duh Bronx

6 PM

NBC

Fighting Irish by 14 1/2

While I trust the Fighting Irish now, I like Army, an extremely scrappy team, to keep it close for a good while.

Kansas 30, No.16 Colorado 27

GEHA Field at Arrowhead, Kansas City, MO.

2:30 PM

FOX

Colorado by 3

I like the Jayhawks to pull off another upset after upsetting Iowa State at home two weeks ago and BYU on the road last Saturday Night. Arrowhead should be rocking. Maybe not as loud as for the Chiefs, which is Richter Scale loud, but pretty boisterous. Maybe 3.0 on the Scale.

No. 13 SMU 34, Virginia 23

Scott Stadium, C’Ville

11 AM

ESPN2

Mustangs by 10

Rhett Lashlee and his Ponies have me believing. Like them to keep their playoff hopes firmly in their sights this Saturday at UVA.

No. 14 BYU 34, No.21 Arizona State 31

Mountain America Stadium, Tempe, AZ

2:30 PM

ESPN

Sun Devils by 3

I like BYU to upset Kenny “Dilly Willy” Dillingham and the Sun Devils and keep their Big 12 Championship and Playoff hopes alive..

UCLA 33, USC 30

Rose Bowl, Pasadena

9:30 PM

NBC

SC by 4 1/2

This may not mean a lot on the national scale this season, but it’s an awesome rivalry, and I see the Bruins pulling off the upset at home, if you’d call it a home field. That’s where the Bruins play, so I’d say it is.

No. 17 Clemson 50, The Citadel 10

Memorial Stadium, Clemson

2:30 PM

The CW Network

Clemson by 50 1/2

This one’s so bad the CW Network, home of the painfully boring LIV Tour, will broadcast it.

Sorry I was out of pocket last Thursday. Beth and I took a bye week and went to the beach.

Quite a Saturday in week 11. As the great Cosell used to say, “Down goes Georgia! Down goes Miami!”

The Playoff Committee put Oregon on top again this week with Ohio State at No.2, Texas at No.3 and Penn State? Are you kiddin me? at No.4. The Indiana Hoosiers and their brash head coach, Curt Cignetti, checked in at No.5, while BYU was sixth, Tennessee was seventh, Notre Dame was eighth, Miami? was No.9, the Crimson Tide, after the most impressive performance of the weekend, along with Ole Miss, is No.10. The Rebs are No.11 and Them Dawgs are at 12. The only problem for Georgia is Boise State is No.13 and would edge out Georgia from the playoff because they would be the fifth highest ranked conference champion if Boise State wins out. So Georgia’s back is against the wall as they square off with Tennessee at Sanford Stadium this Saturday.

Here’s a look at Week 12’s slate along with predictions.

Week 10: SU-9-5, Overall: 105-40, 72%.

ATS: 9-5, 79-64, 55%.

All rankings are Playoff Rankings and all times are Central

Mercer (9-1) @ No.10 Alabama (7-2)

Bryant-Denny Stadium

1 PM

ESPN+

Jay Alter, Rocky Boiman, Ashley Stroehlein?

Crimson Tide by 41 1/2

Jalen Milroe, Jihaad Campbell and the Crimson Tide were terrific last Saturday Night in Tiguh Stadium. Milroe rushed for 185 yards and 4 TDs, while Campbell posted 10 tackles, with 2 1/2 for a loss of 15 yards, and a sack for -14 yards in the Crimson Tide’s 42-13 dismantling of LSU. It was most definitely playoff worthy if not the best team in the country worthy. The Crimson Tide is squarely in the playoff, and just needs to take care of business versus Mercer, @ Oklahoma and versus Auburn at Bryant-Denny to qualify and maybe, possibly, make the SEC championship game. It’ll be hard for them to make the championship game as of today, but if they sweep that trifecta, they’re in the playoff, and, with chaos above them, which is probable, they could be in Atlanta. But the question is, would they want to be in Atlanta? Just an extra game to worry about when they could be preparing for a Thursday, December 19th or Friday, December 20th first round playoff game. If they won the championship game they would get a top 4 seed and a first round bye, so that would be highly worthwhile. And winning the SEC Championship is a legacy thing for the players. It still matters. So the Tide needs to lock it down for the remainder of the season and play hard hat, lunch pale football like they did last Saturday in dominating LSU. Mercer is 9-1 and leads the country in interceptions with 21. Their running back, Dwayne McGee, has rushed for 933 yards and 7 TDs. But that is against the likes of Presbyterian (4-6), Bethune-Cookman (2-8), and Western Carolina (5-5), among others. Their loss is to 3-6 Samford on the road on Saturday, 10/19, 55-35. They haven’t seen anything like this.

Alabama 52, Mercer 7

LA Monroe (5-4) @ Auburn (3-6)

Jordan-Hare

11:45 AM

‘SEC Network

Taylor, Matt, Alyssa

Tigers by 25

Payton Thorne would be questionable if Auburn had to list injuries on the SEC Availability Report this week. But since they have non-conference games this Saturday, Auburn and Alabama are not required to list injuries and players’ status on the SEC website Availability Report..But that’s a good thing Thorne might not play, right, Auburn fans? If Auburn loses that could spell the end of the Hugh Freeze era. With games coming up versus A&M at home and @ Alabama to finish up the season, Hugh and the Tigers have a gauntlet ahead of them. While it’s pretty cryptic with these coaches, if Thorne doesn’t play It’ll be either Hank Brown or freshman Walker White. Holden Geriner doesn’t seem to be in the mix right now. But who knows right now at Auburn.

Auburn 27, ULM 7

No.7 Tennessee (8-1, 5-1) @ NO. 12 Georgia (7-2, 5-2)

Sanford Stadium, Athens

6:30 PM

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly, Laura

Georgia by 10

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava and wide receiver Dont’e Thornton are questionable for the Georgia game. Iamaleava has been in concussion protocol this week meaning he showed signs of a concussion from last Saturday Night’s 33-14 victory over Mississippi State at Neyland Stadium. I’ll still roll the dice and say both play, the Tennessee defense will be strong, and Carson Beck, who has tossed 7 interceptions in his last 3 games; three versus Texas, three versus Florida and one last week in Ole Miss’s tail kicking of Georgia, will be confused by the excellent Vols defense.

Tennessee 21, Georgia 17

Other SEC Predicitons

No.3 Texas 31, Arkansas 14

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville

11 AM

ABC

Tess, Jess, Katie

Texas by 12

The Horns looked spectacular last Saturday in shellacking Florida, 49-17. Isaiah Bond was just who they needed back on the field after he missed the two previousweeks. Texas is kicking it in at the right time. Still have to go to A&M to close out the season.

Florida 24, No.22 LSU 21

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

2:30 PM

ABC

Dave, Dusty, Taylor McGregor

LSU by 4

Give me the Gators to knock off the Bengal Tigers.

No. 21 South Carolina 34, No.23 Missouri 14

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.

3:15 PM

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

SC by 14

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers and running back Raheim “Rocket”Sanders are the dynamic duo in college football right now for quite possibly the hottest team in the country. Don’t sleep on the Gamecocks and the Playoff. They’ll need a lot of help. But to me, they look like a top 12 team. After Mizzou, they host Wofford and go to Clemson. They’ll make it interesting for the Committee if they win out and there is chaos above them, which, in this 2024 season, is highly probable. Darrius Rucker sings, “I don’t call Carolina a place I visit, I call Carolina home.” It’s always a nice state to live in, and, this year, watch football

No.15 Texas A&M 45, New Mexico State 3

Kyle Field, College Station

6:45 PM

SEC Network

Dave, Aaron, Ashley ShahAhmadi

A&M by 39

A year ago this might have been a competitive game. But New Mexico State lost their head coach, their offensive coordinator, their quarterback, Diego Pavia, and their tight end, Eli Stowers, from last year’s team, all to the Vanderbilt Commodores. This year NMSU is 2-7. A&M is still definitely in the playoff hunt with games @ Auburn and at home versus Texas to close out the season. And if they win out, they could be in the Championship Game. With victories, they probably wouldn’t need the Championship game or victory, but they’d get there is they won out. They win out and they ARE in. Joseph Goodman of Al.com argued that there should be seven SEC Teams in the Playoff this year: Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Georgia, Texas A&M and South Carolina. A couple of these teams will cancel themselves out with losses, but that’s not a bad argument.

Kentucky 48, Murray State 3

Kroger Field, Lexington

12:30 PM

ESPN+

Wildcats by 37 1/2

Come on Stoops!

Off: Lane, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Oklahoma.

***The SEC Championship Game is Saturday, December 7th, at 3 PM CT on ABC. ***

A lot of scenarios right now for which teams will be competing for the Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Hotlanta. Tennessee and A&M are both 5-1, Texas is 4-1, Georgia is 5-2, Alabama is 4-2, and Ole Miss is 4-2. Some ither teams are not mathematically out of it either. That’s quite a cluster, but a riveting cluster at that.

National Predictions

No.1 Oregon 31, Wisconsin 14

Camp Randall Stadium, Madison , WI

6:30 PM

NBC

Oregon by 14

Oregon looks good, but the only two good teams they’ve played are No.2 Ohio State and No.13 Boise State; both at home. The jury’s out whether Oregon can run the table and win it all. I’m skeptical.

No.2 Ohio State 38, Northwestern 14

Wrigley Field. That’s cool

11 AM

Big Ten Network

Buckeyes by 28 1/2

Is Gus Johnson’s “The Ohio State!” that good under perennial underachiever Ryan Day? I think they are good, maybe great, but their greatness is undetermined. Their quarterback, Will Howard, is the $64,000 question. Can the Kansas State transfer take the Buckeyes to the pinnacle of college football? I’m not convinced of that. Not totally out of the question, but certainly not a slam dunk. No. 5 Indiana visits the Horseshoe next Saturday, so that will tell us some more. Is Indiana that good though? They haven’t played anybody. I don’t want to undervalue the Hoosiers, they’re having a very good season, but the schedule leaves a lot to be desired.

No. 17 Colorado 28, Utah 14

Folsom Field, Boulder

11 AM

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Buffs by 11

I like Coach Prime and his team to take care of business against a struggling Utah team. Colorado looks like a pretty good team, but it’s in the Air Raid Big 12.

No.8 Notre Dame 42, Virginia 17

Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend

2:30 PM

NBC

Fighting Irish by 23 1/2

I’m a believer in Marcus Freeman and his Fighting Irish. They look legit. A loss to, are you kiddin me? Northern Illinois, was pretty bad. But the rest of the season has been impressive. The victory @ A&M, 23-13, at the beginning of the season is a major boost to their playoff hopes if they can win out. They have games this Saturday versus UVA, versus No.24 and 9-0 Army in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium, which will be a challenge, and @ USC. The Fighting Irish are 8-1. If Fairhope native Riley Leonard can pass it as well as he runs it down the stretch, the Irish are in business.

No.6 BYU 35, Kansas 31

LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT

9:15 PM

ESPN

BYU by 2 1/2

The Cougars are 9-0 with road victories over SMU and Utah on their resume. They’ve done everything that’s been asked of’em. They finish up @Arizona State and at home versus Houston after this tougher than anticipated earlier matchup, along with the Big 12 Championship Game.if they can make it through that schedule unscathed. They’ve shown a lot of fortitude thus far.

No.14 SMU 44, Boston College 20

Gerald R. Ford Stadium, Big D

2:30 PM

ESPN

Mustangs by 19 1/2

I don’t like the Ponies; I Love’em..

No.13 Boise State 38, San Jose State 21

CEFCU Stadium? “Do you know the way”

6 PM

CBS Sports Network

Broncos by 13 1/2

The Broncos are another team that just keeps taking care of business at 8-1 with their only loss 34-37 to Oregon on the road on Saturday, Sept. 7th. Games @Wyoming (2-7) and Oregon State (4-5) at home to finish off the schedule. Then the Mountain West Championship Game on Friday, December 6th. at 7 PM CT on FOX against quite probably UNLV, which they defeated 29-24 on the road Friday, October 25th.

No. 25 Tulane 31, Navy 21

Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, Annapolis

11 AM

ESPN2

Tulane by 7

The Green Wave is another team I don’t like, I love. Former Troy Coach Jon Sumrall has taken over from now Houston (college) coach Willie Fritz and is doing a phenomenal job as the Green Wave is 8-2 and not out of the playoff conversation if they can win out and get help.Their remaining schedule is Navy on the road this Saturday, a bye, and at home versus Memphis.