Some very nice matchups in the SEC and nationally in another epic weekend of college football. The now No.1 Crimson Tide welcome? the Aggies of Texas A&M for a Saturday evening matchup on CBS. The Auburn Tigers face a nearly impossible challenge in Athens. And some super head to heads in the conference. Like these national tilts as well. Here’s a look at the action along with predictions.

Last Week 16-6, Overall, 70-16, 81%

ATS, 10-12, 48-38, 56%

Texas A&M (3-2, 1-0 SEC) @ No.1 Alabama (5-0, 2-0)

Bryant- Denny Stadium

7 PM CT

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jenny, be careful with quarterback questions, Jenny. May get an explosion

Bama by 24

Everybody wants to know where Bryce Young stands presently. He has a sprained shoulder, and, as a reference point, Quinn Ewers, the Texas quarterback, who was knocked out in the first quarter by Alabama outside linebacker Dallas Turner in the Texas-Crimson Tide game, suffered the same injury from Turner’s hit. He may be back for the Red River Showdown this Saturday and that would be 3 weeks. If that’s the case, Bryce would be back for the Mississippi State game October 22nd in Tuscaloosa. But Bryce’s tolerance for pain may be much higher than Ewers. He’s a resilient, strong minded young guy, who wants nothing more than to lead his team to a national championship in 2022. The accolades, another Heisman, a potential No.1 NFL draft pick could go with it, along with another slew of awards. I am predicting Bryce is doubtful this Saturday, but you never know. Saban’s players have always come back sooner from injuries than everyone expects. Assuming he’s out, and the sprain is on his throwing shoulder, Jalen Milroe will start. Jalen is a highly talented runner, as displayed last Saturday on his 77 yard scamper @Arkansas that could have very well been the play of the game along with Jahmyr Gibbs’ 70+ yard house calls. Can Jalen throw it well enough is the question mark. A&M will load the box if Bryce is not in and Jalen is. I think he’s a better passer than people give him credit for. I see him highly capable of leading his team to victory over an Aggies team that has been struggling this season. Starting to get bullish on this Crimson Tide team. The defense has imposed its will on opponents lately and Kool-Aid McKinstry is a massive weapon in the punt return game. When Jimbo signed this stellar 2022 No.1 recruiting class , I still thought they might be a year away, because, despite the fact they’re extremely highly rated players with 8, five stars, and multiple 4 stars, they are what they are, freshmen. It’s rare when freshmen really light up the SEC. Herschel, Bo, guys like that were unique, historic talents. But, it’s hard for young freshmen to come into this conference and excel right away. I’m giving Coach Fisher a bit of a pass this season, and consider next year, 2023, a make or break season for him.

S has also talked about using 5 star freshman Ty Simpson at quarterback, if necessary. Simpson has a stellar arm. I like the Tide here. They keep getting better and better and living up to their preseason billing as the best team in the country.

Alabama 42, Texas A&M 14

Auburn (3-2) @ No.2 Georgia (5-0, 2-0)

Sanford Stadium, Athens

2:30 PM CT

CBS

Tom McCarthy, Rick Neuheisel, Sherree Burruss

Georgia by 30

Bryan Harsin and the Tigers are desperate. Georgia has struggled a little recently, but I’m looking at a tough day for the Tigers between the hedges in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. This is the 127th meeting.

Georgia 45, Auburn 10

No.8 Tennesse @No. 25 LSU

Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge

11 AM CT

ESPN

Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, McShay, Kris Budden

UT by 3

I love what quarterback Hendon Hooker and the Vols are doing. Give me the Volunteers on the road in a fortunate 11 AM kick for the Vols.

Vols 28, Tiguhs 24

No.9 Ole Miss @ Vanderbilt

FirstBank Stadium, Nashvegas

3 PM CT

SEC Network

Drew Carter, Stinch, Alyssa. Alyssa got wedding advice from Coach Leach last Saturday. He told her to elope.

Ole Miss by 17

Lane has it cookin’ in Oxford. He’s been rumored to be Auburn’s potential next coach when Bryan Harsin is most likely let go. But he’s got a pretty good gig going in Oxford. He’s making superb money, he has a shot to win big, and the boosters have stepped up and funded a major collective for NIL’s. A lot of cash being poured into the NIL pot for recruiting, which is a game changer.

Ole Miss 42, Vanderbilt 17

Arkansas @ No.23 Mississippi State

Davis Wade Stadium, Starkvegas

11 AM CT

SEC Network

Dave, Deuce, Tiffany Blackmon

Bullies by 9 1/2

I’m buying Coach Leach and his Bulldogs. They’re for real.

Mississippi State 34, Arkansas 24

South Carolina @ No.13 Kentucky

Kroger Field, Lexington

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Tom, Jrodg, Cole

Cats by 6

I still believe in this Wildcats football team. They played a pretty solid game overall @ a very good Ole Miss team last Saturday. Shane Beamer is making good progress in Columbia, but has some injuries that have held his team back. Don’t think Spencer Rattler is the answer at quarterback. Will Levis does some good things under center for the Cats. See him having a very good game this Saturday Night at home.

Kentucky 31, South Carolina 24

Missouri @ Florida

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

11 AM CT

ESPNU

John Schriffen, Dustin Fox, Lauren Sisler

FL by 11

Give me Billy Napier and his Gators. They’re going to keep getting better. Believer in Coach Napier. Missouri gave Georgia everything it wanted last Saturday Night in Columbia, but it’ll be tough for them in the Swamp.

Florida 35, Mizzou 21

National Slate

Texas 41, Oklahoma 31

Cotton Bowl, Dallas

11 AM CT

ABC

Tess, Gregory, Katie

Horns by 7

Will have a lot of electronic devices in play on Saturday at 11 AM. Like Sark and his crew to get the job done in the Red River Showdown. Quinn Ewers may be back at QB, but trust Hudson Card as well. It’s been a struggle for OU lately and Texas had a big victory over West Virginia last Saturday Night in Austin, 38-20.

No.5 Clemson 34, Boston College 17

Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MASS.

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Sean, Todd, Molly

Clemson by 20 1/2

Still trying to wrap my arms around this Clemson team. They were much better on defense last Saturday Night in their 30-20 victory over NC State @ Clemson, but just don’t see them as well oiled right now. Certainly a lot of talent. This Saturday could give us a better read on the Clemson Tigers.

No.3 Ohio State 42, Michigan State 14

Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MIch.

3 PM CT

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly

OSU by 27

Ohio State coach Ryan Day and Rutgers coach Greg Schiano almost came to blows last Saturday when Day’s punter faked a punt and ran for a first down with a 35 point lead in the fourth quarter. Nice job, Ryan. He’s got a lot of Urb in him and that’s never a good thing.

No.4 Michigan 34, Indiana 14

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN.

11 AM CT

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Wolverines by 22 1/2

I like the Wolverines to win, but still not totally sold on them as a possible national championship contender. Maybe though. Need to see them against tougher competition.

No.6 USC 44, Washington State 34

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

6:30 PM CT

FOX

Noah Eagle, Mark Helfrich

SC by 12 1/2

I like Washington State, a pretty scrappy team that went to Wisconsin and won in week 2, 17-14, and is coming off a 28-9 victory over Cal last Saturday, to give Lincoln Riley and his Trojans a tough game. Washington State is 4-1 and the Trojans are 5-0 and have high aspirations.

No.7 Oklahoma State 35, Texas Tech 24

Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK.

2:30 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

Eric Collins, Devin Gardner

OK. State by 9 1/2

Really bullish on this Pokes team under Mike Gundy. Super offense and the defense under Derek Mason is stellar. Mason has picked up from what Jim Knowles did last year at OK. State and taken off with it. Knowles is not at Ohio State. Really like this team.

No.17 TCU 38, No. 19 Kansas 28

David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS.

11 AM CT

Fox Sports 1

Jason Benetti, Brock, Allison

Frogs by 7

These are two of the best stories in college football so far this season. First year coach Sonny Dykes and his Frogs hammered the Sooners last Saturday in Fort Worth, 55-24, and are 4-0 with their quarterback, Max Duggan, a total stud, who could put himself in the Heisman conversation very soon with more stellar performances. Meanwhile, second year coach Lance Leipold has his Jayhawks squad at 5-0. Give me my daughter, Fairbanks, and her Frogs on the road. She won’t be mad at me this week after my bust with picking OU over the Frogs last Saturday.

No.16 BYU 34, Notre Dame 31

Allegiant Stadium, Vegas

6:30 PM CT

NBC/Peacock

Jac Collinsworth, Jason Garrett, Zora Stephenson

Irish by 3 1/2

I like the Cougs to pull off the slight upset in this magnificent stadium.

Florida State 31, No. 14 NC State 28

Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

7 PM CT

ACC Network

Mike Manoco, Tim Hasselbeck, Kelsey Riggs

Wolfpack by 3

Give me the Noles to pull off a huge ACC road upset victory. Really like FSU quarterback Jordan Travis. He’s a stud. The fact that the Noles defeated LSU in N’Awlins the first Sunday of the season makes my believe in them on the road in Raleigh.

No.20 Kansas State 24, Iowa State 21

Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA

6:30 PM CT

ESPNU

Clay Matvick, Rocky Boimam, Dawn Davenport

K State by 1

Believe in this Wildcats team as well. They handled Oklahoma on the road 2 weeks ago, 41-34, and while OU may not have its best team this year, going to Norman and winning is stellar. Like what Chris Klieman is doing in the Little Apple. They’ll have to pull it off on the road at a tough place to steal a victory. I DO like them to prevail in Ames.

No. 18 UCLA 35, No. 11 Utah 34

Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA.

2:30 PM CT

FOX

Timmy B, Spencer

Utes by 3 1/2

Give me quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, DTR, and the Bruins to pull off the slight upset at home at the Grandaddy of them all.

****A Special Message from Coach Saban****

Coach Saban will be delivering this message on the Jumbotron at Bryant-Denny this Saturday and before the remainder of the home games this season. It’s about the life changing O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center here in Birmingham at UAB, which is homed in on saving people from this insidious disease and helping them live vibrant lives afterwards. They’re also working hard to find a cure for this devastating sickness. It’s a special place for Birmingham, Alabama and the Southeast. The entire country for that matter. Here’s Coach Saban’s message.