Bama-Georgia in a Premier contest, other SEC matchups look riveting. National slate is strong as well. Week 6 College Football Unplugged. Updated White’s World Playoff Projections
The weather has been questionable all week for the game with a possibly serious situation taking place in Mobile, Pensacola and the Florida Panhandle this weekend with Hurricane Isaias aiming at the Florida/Alabama Gulf Coast. But the two elite voices of meteorology, Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel, and Jimmy Spanno of ABC 33/40, are predicting better outcomes with wind shear of 80 MPH working against Isaias, which could hopefully dissipate the strength of this storm.
Very hopeful and prayerful that Mobile and the Florida Panhandle get spared from a potentially serious situation.
As for the games this weekend, weather could be a factor, but not likely as serious as it looked earlier this week, especially for the No.6 Crimson Tide and the No.2 Georgia Bulldogs.
The Crimson Tide/Georgia game is the obvious headliner. Nick Saban called Georgia “the most complete team in the country” a couple of weeks ago on GameDay, but Kirby Smart is not buying that, calling it a bait and switch move by the former Crimson Tide coach.
He thinks Saban was pulling a little gamesmanship as Saban is still an employee at Alabama making almost $50K a month. Could be some real truth to that, though Georgia was looking pretty strong a couple of weeks ago. They’ll have running back Nate Frazier back, which will really help their cause. However, second stringer Chauncey Bowens is out. The Crimson Tide looks somewhat healthy, but there are some injuries on defense, though none that made a difference against Mississippi State last Saturday in a spectacular effort on both sides of the ball.
So here’s a look at this clash of the Titans and who I like to emerge along with the other key SEC games including the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl featuring the No.1 Texas Longhorns and the struggling Oklahoma Sooners.
Those games, the other SEC matchups, and some quality national competition are on the docket in an action packed Saturday in college football. The weather will need to cooperate at places including B’ham.
Here are my previews and predictions along with my playoff predictions below this week’s game capsules.
All game times Central and all games Saturday.
Last Week’s Record/Overall
Straight Up: 10-2, 75-19, 80%
ATS: 5-7, 49-45, 52%
Over/Under: 8-4, 55-39, 59%
No.2 Georgia (5-0, 3-0 SEC) @ No.6 Alabama (5-0, 3-0)
Bryant-Denny, T-town
6:30 P.M.
ABC
Bama by 1 1/2, 51 1/2
It’s a battle with tremendous SEC and National implications. The loser of this game is not falling out of the playoff picture by any stretch. These are both excellent football teams, but right now I think the Crimson Tide is the most complete team in the country. And I like Kalen DeBoar, Ryan Grubb and Kane Wommack over Kirby Smart, Mike Bobo and Glenn Schumann.
Alabama 27, Georgia 24
No.1 Texas (4-0, 1-0) vs. Oklahoma (2-2, 0-1)
Cotton Bowl, Big D
2:30 P.M.
ABC
Longhorns by 7 1/2, 39 1/2
Oklahoma’s defense might keep them in it for a little while, but I like the Longhorns to play terrific defense as well, and stymie a dormant Sooner offense and “taking care of business” in the Red River Rivalry.
Texas 28, Oklahoma 10
No.10 LSU (4-1, 1-1) @ Kentucky (4-1,2-1)
Kroger Field, Lexington
6 P.M.
E-S-P-N
Bengal Tigers by 8 1/2, 52 1/2
Kentucky should be ranked by now. That’s a travesty. But I like Lane and company to get the job done on the road.
LSU 31, Kentucky 21
No.9 Ole Miss (3-1, 1-1) @ Vandy (3-2, 0-2)
FirstBank Stadium, Nashville
2:30 P.M.
ESPN
Ole Miss by 9 1/2, 54 1/2
Give me the Rebels to handle business in the Music City. Trinidad and company bounce back from the Florida debacle.
Ole Miss 31, Vanderbilt 17
South Carolina (2-3, 0-3) @ No.16 Florida (4-1, 2-1)
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
11:45 A.M.
S-E-C Network
Gators by 10 1/2, 59 1/2
Jon Sumrall and Florida got it handed to’em in Columbia, Missouri last Saturday, so they’re still “feeling the effects,” as Ken Cobb used to say after a night out on the town. I’ll take Florida, but Shane Beamer makes a more believable bid at keeping his job, though it’s in major jeopardy.
Florida 31, South Carolina 28
Texas A&M (3-2, 1-2) @ No.14 Missouri (4-1, 1-1)
Memorial Stadium, Columbia, MO.
11 A.M.
ABC
Missouri Tigers by 3 1/2, 48 1/2
A&M is the other most disappointing team in the SEC along with South Carolina. Mike Elko needs to get it together. I like how Missouri is trending.
Missouri 24, Texas A&M 20
No. 15 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1) @ Arkansas (2-3, 0-2)
Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville
3:15 P.M.
SEC Network
UT-Knoxville by 13 1/2, 51 1/2
George McIntyre is expected to start at QB for the Vols as starter Faizon Brandon is questionable with a shoulder injury. They might be better off with McIntyre as Brandon really struggled against Auburn last Saturday and was benched in favor of McIntyre.
Vols running back DeSean Bishop was a beast last Saturday against the Tigers as he rushed for 220 on 34 totes with 3 TDs. He’s rushed for 540 yards this season on 88 carries, 6.1 per carry, with 7 TDs and he averages 108 per rushing yards per game. That’s impressive for a three-star out of high school in 2023 who came to Knoxville as a preferred walk-on.
Tennessee 31, Arkansas 14
Off this week: Auburn, a lot to work on, Mississippi State, still feeling the Ken Cobb effects.
Key National Games
No.21 UCLA (4-0, 2-0 Big Ten) @ No. 13 Oregon (3-1,1-0)
Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR.
2:30 P.M.
CBS
Oregon by 11 1/2, 59 1/2
The Bruins look like they could be back after many years of being away from the meaningful national landscape. Bob Chesney has come out to the left coast from James Madison, where he took his team last season to the Playoff last season and has posted a 132-52 career record, and toughened the Bruins up. I like for Chesney and his team to give Oregon everything it wants. I’ll take the upset.
UCLA 35, Oregon 31
No. 7 Indiana (5-0, 2-0, Big Ten) @ Nebraska (5-0, 2-0)
Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE.
11 A.M.
FOX
Hoosiers by 7 1/2, 47 1/2
I’ve watched a pretty good bit of IU, and still think they’re for real, though they haven’t won as handily as they did last season. New QB Josh Hoover has completed 76 of 107 passes, 71%, for 1,101 yards, 15 TDs against 0 interceptions. Still bullish on Cignetti and the Hoosiers, and still don’t believe in Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers that much.
Indiana 28, Nebraska 17
Maryland (2-3, 0-2) @ No.5 Ohio State (4-1, 2-0)
Ohio Stadium, Columbus
3:15 P.M.
Big Ten Network
Ohio State by 34 1/2, 56 1/2
I’m really sick and tired of Jeremiah Smith and some other players striking the Heisman pose after scoring touchdowns against inferior teams. That kid and a couple of others are showing a lot of arrogance, and after Texas shut him down in the second half in Austin and he dropped a couple of passes, Smith might think twice before acting so arrogantly against lesser competition. He hasn’t proven it against a real team yet this season, that’s for sure.
Ohio State 45, Maryland 14
Stanford (2-3) @ No.3 Notre Dame (5-0)
Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN.
2:30 P.M.
NBC
Fighting Irish by 38 1/2, 54 1/2
I like the Fighting Irish to win, but that’s a few too many points for me. There’s always that question of how good are they really? Miami plays at Notre Dame later this season, so we’ll find out then.
Notre Dame 42, Stanford 10
No. 19 USC (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) @ Penn State (3-2, 0-2)
Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA.
6:30 P.M.
NBC
Penn State by 1 1/2, 54 1/2
I’ll take the slight upset here. Lincoln Riley sure needs it.
USC 27, Penn State 24
North Carolina (2-2, 0-1 ACC) @ No.25 Pitt (5-0, 2-0)
Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA.
11 A.M.
ESPN
Pittsburgh by 3 1/2, 47 1/2
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi looks like he came straight out of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, but his team is good. They did lose starting quarterback Mason Heintschel for the season to an injury last Friday Night at Virginia Tech in a wild 35-33 Panthers win in which a last second field goal by VA Tech was ruled no good by the refs under the crossbars. Man, it was close. But Pittsburgh moved on. Former Auburn quarterback Holden Geriner is the starter for Pitt now, and he looked pretty good to me last Friday Night. He was a four-star out of high school in Georgia when Auburn signed him in 2022.
Pittsburgh 28, North Carolina 24
UCF (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) @ No. 18 Oklahoma State (3-1, 1-0)
Boone Pickens Stadium. Gotta love that. Sounds like a successful Southwestern oil businessman, which he was. Stillwater, OK.
11 A.M.
ESPN2
OK. State by 10 1/2, 53 1/2
I’m buying first year coach Eric Morris and the Pokes.
Oklahoma State 35, UCF 23
College Football Playoff as it stands today
1. Alabama, 2. Miami, 3. Georgia, 4. Notre Dame 5. Texas, 6. Indiana, 7. Ohio State, 8. LSU, 9. UCLA, 10. Oklahoma State, 11. Utah, 12. North Dakota State
First Round, played at home stadiums of higher seeded teams
Friday, 12/18/26
No.5 Texas over No.12 North Dakota State, 7 P.M., ESPN
Saturday, 12/19/26
No.6 Indiana over No.11 Utah, 11 A.M., ESPN
No.10 Oklahoma State over No. 7 Ohio State, 2:30 P.M. TNT/truTV
No.8 LSU over No. 9 UCLA, 6:30 P.M., TNT/truTV
Quarterfinals
Wednesday, 12/30/26,
VRBO Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ.
6:30 P.M., TNT/truTV
No. 3 Georgia over No. 8 LSU
Friday, 1/1/27
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
7 P.M., ESPN
No.1 Alabama over No.10 Oklahoma State
Goodyear Cotton Bowl, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX.
11 A.M.
No.6 Indiana over No.2 Miami
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA.
3 P.M., ESPN
No.5 Texas over No.4 Notre Dame
Semifinals
Thursday, 1/14/27
Capital One Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens
6:30 P.M., TNT/truTV
No.6 Indiana over No. 3 Georgia
Friday, 1/15/27
Allstate Sugar Bowl, N’Awlins
6:30 P.M., ABC/ESPN
No.1 Alabama over No.5 Texas
National Championship Game
Monday, January 25, 2027
Allegiant Stadium, Vegas
6:30 P.M. ESPN/ABC
No.1 Alabama 27, No.6 Indiana 24
The Crimson Tide extracts revenge from last season’s Rose Bowl.