The now 15th ranked Crimson Tide and the hard luck Tigers of Auburn suffered a couple of frustrating defeats last Saturday on the road; the Tide in Knoxville and the Tigers in CoMo. Both squads set their sights on gaining momentum as the season keeps progressing.

For the Tide, it’s about winning out and it starts with Missouri in T-town this Saturday at 2:30 PM on ABC. The Tigers try to get over the top this week in Lexington on a Saturday Night versus a struggling Kentucky team that will still be charged up. The Tigers will have to match the Cats’ intensity.

Key game in College Station as the 14th ranked Aggies of A&M host the 8th ranked Bengal Tigers of LSU at 6:30 PM on ABC. Wow, @Kyle Field is a tough venue to emerge victorious from. And the Commodores of Vanderbilt University host Hook’em Horns of Texas in what now looks like a promising contest.

Other key SEC and National games on the Blog are enclosed below. Here we are into Week 9.

Last Week

SU:13-3, Overall 85-32, 73%

ATS: 10-6, 65-50, 57%

All times Central and games on Saturday unless otherwise noted.

Last Week

SU:13-3, Overall 85-32, 73%

ATS: 10-6, 65-50, 57%

All times Central and games on Saturday unless otherwise noted.

No.21 Missouri (6-1,2-1) @No. 15 Alabama (5-2, 2-2)

Bryant-Denny Stadium

2:30 PM

ABC

Tess, JRodg, Katie

Bama by 16 1/2

Missouri quarterback Brady Cook and starting running back Nate Noel are doubtful for this game. The Tide recovers from Tennessee, but is still looking to find its chemistry.

Alabama 30, Missouri 17

Auburn (2-5, 0-4) @ Kentucky (3-4, 1-4)

Kroger Field, Lexington

6:45 PM 

SEC Network

Taylor, Matt, Ashley Stroehlein 

Wildcats by 2 1/2

I’m going to go with MB and my Auburn friends this week. The Tigers pull off the upset.

Auburn 24, Kentucky 17

No.8 LSU (6-1, 3-0)  @ No. 14 Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0)

Kyle Field, College Station

6:30 PM 

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly

A&M by 2 1/2

I know it’s extremely tough to get out of Kyle Field with a victory, but I’m going to take the hot quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier and the Bengal Tigers to escape College Station with a first place clinching, for now, victory over the Aggies in a hard fought, nits see game.

LSU 24, Texas A&M 23

No.5 Texas (6-1, 2-1) @ No.25 Vanderbilt (5-2, 2-1)

FirstBank Stadium, Nashville

3:15 PM

SEC Network

Tom, Cole, Alyssa

Texas by 18 1/2

Before the season started this game looked like a massacre, more on the start of the season at the end of this column, but now it looks like a tougher matchup for the Longhorns. My Vanderbilt Commodores are going to put up a fight and could win this game, but I’ll take Texas, barely. Georgia sure gave the Longhorns a welcome to the SEC moment last Saturday Night in Austin. How’d you like that, McConaughey?

Texas 31, Vandy 28

Other scores

Ole Miss 41, Oklahoma 10

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford

11 AM 

ESPN

Rebs by 20

I like Lane and his team to play hard and strive hard to get in the playoff. They’re on the outside looking in now, but they’ve got a shot if they can win out.

Mississippi State 21, Arkansas 20

Davis-Wade Stadium, Starkvegas

11:45 AM 

SEC Network

Hogs by 6 1/2

Like the Bullies to finally get over the hump. They’ve been close the past two weeks and only lost @ Georgia, 41-31, playing Georgia a quality game. Gave A&M a pretty good game at home last Saturday as well.

*****Off this week: No.2 Georgia (after an impressive showing last Saturday), Florida (Cocktail Party looks interesting next Saturday, Gators playing a lot better), No.8 Tennessee (big win for Vols last Saturday), and South Carolina (Dominated Oklahoma last Saturday in Norman. Solid team). ****

National Contests

No. 1 Oregon 42, No.20 Illinois 28

Autzen Stadium, Eugene OR.

2:30 PM

CBS

Ducks by 21 1/2

Ducks in a tougher contest this Saturday. The Illini are pretty strong under Bret Bielema.

No.4 Ohio State 42, Nebraska 14

Ohio Stadium, Columbus

11 AM

FOX

Buckeyes by 25 1/2

Buckeyes still a very good team despite the Oregon loss. That was as close as you get on the road.

No. 12 Notre Dame 30, No.24 Navy 27

MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

11 AM

ABC

Fighting Irish by 13 1/2

Fighting Irish are good, but so is the Academy. Almost picked the Midshipmen to upset the Irish, but I’ll barely take Notre Dame.

No.6 Miami 42, Florida State 17

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL.

6 PM

ESPN

Miami by 21

“Canes play better defense this Saturday.

No. 13 Indiana 31, Washington 24

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN.

11 AM

Big Ten Network

IU by 6 1/2

One of the great stories of the year along with Army, Navy and BYU. Coach Curt Cignetti is brash, and, quite frankly, a pretty cocky guy. But he’s backing it up, so far. Tayven Jackson will start this Saturday at quarterback as regular starter Kurtis Rourke, who has completed 135 of 181 passes, 75%, for 1,941 yards, 15 TDs against only 3 ints, injured his thumb last Saturday fairly seriously, and is out indefinitely. Jackson has completed 12 of 18 with 3 TDs against 0 ints, so we’ll see how that shakes out going forward.

Friday Night Upset Special

UNLV 35, No.17 Boise State 34

Allegiant Stadium, Vegas

9:30 PM

CBS Sports Network

Boise State by 3 1/2

I’ve watched both these teams and both are the real deal. Like the Runnin’ Rebels @ home.

Saturday Upset

No.11 BYU 38, UCF 35

FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando

2:30 PM

ESPN

UCF by 2 1/2

This will be a tough one for the Cougars, but believe in this team.

Survival Saturday Game

No. 3 Penn State 28, Wisconsin 24

Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Whisky

6:30 PM

NBC

Nittany Lions by 6 1/2

James Franklin has controversy in his program. Seems like controversy surrounds Franklin’s program. Another assault on a female by two former players. His team barely escapes Camp Randall, but this drama is something to watch going forward.

World Series Prediction

Dodgers over Yankees in 7

MVP: Shohei Ohtani

Who else? Well, there’s Aaron Judge, so he’s certainly a threat. Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton. Should be a superb Fall Classic. Picking the Bums barely.

Game One: Friday, tomorrow, at 7 PM CT on FOX

This is probably what Vanderbilt Coach Clark Lea said to his team before the season opener versus Virginia Tech. Like Brother Bluto, it has resonated so far. Classic scene from a classic flick. Sorry about the language, but it’s a fraternity, house, it’s the late great John Belushi and Eric “Otter” Stratton, played by the the great Tim Matheson.