Week 13 in this majestic college football season

November 20, 2014

The Crimson Tide and the War Eagles in what look like lay-ups on Saturday with both teams at home. A couple of key games in the SEC, one in Knoxville with the resurgent, re-charged Tennessee Vols hosting Missouri in a must win game for Mizzou. If the Tigers lose to the Vols, Georgia goes to the Georgia Dome on December 6th to represent the East in the SEC Championship game (3 PM CT/4 PM ET on CBS). Missouri has to win this week and at home next week versus Arkansas to claim the East title. They will face either Alabama, Mississippi State or Ole Miss depending on the outcomes for State this Saturday against Vandy, Ole Miss’s outcome at Arkansas, the Iron Bowl next Saturday in Tuscaloosa (6:45 PM CT/7:45 PM ET on ESPN) and the Egg Bowl next Saturday pitting State @ Ole Miss at 2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET on CBS). So the Crimson Tide, the Tigers, State, Missouri and Georgia all need to take care of business this weekend. UT needs to win this Saturday or next Saturday at Vandy to ensure a bowl game. Ole Miss @ Arkansas should be a stellar game as well. The Rebels aren’t out of it yet either. If they can win this Saturday and next Saturday against State @ home, and the Tide happens to stumble against Auburn, the Rebs will go to the Georgia Dome on Dec.6th. Arkansas won its first SEC game in 17 tries last Saturday impressively, 17-0, over LSU. Georgia in action, along with South Carolina and Florida as well. A key national game @ the Rose Bowl as UCLA hosts USC with major Pac-12 South title and national implications involved for the Bruins. Here’s a look at this week’s action.

Last week: 14-6: Overall: 140-72 (72%)

Western Carolina (7-4) @ No.1 Alabama (9-1)

Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa (101,821)

3 PM CT/4 PM ET

SEC Network

Brent, Jess, Maria

James Spann outlook (Weather man in Birmingham for those out of state): 58, Sunny @ kickoff, 0% rain,

wind ESE 5 MPH

No line

To me the story is to get the running game tuned up for Auburn. Derrick Henry needs to have a good game. While he’s very talented, he hasn’t performed as well as expected this year. He has battled some injuries, so that could be the issue. S will want to get T.J. Yeldon some work in and see if Henry can do some damage. Maybe looking at Altee Tenpenny or Tyren Jones would be a decent idea. Defense needs to keep playing at the high level they have established. Last week was extremely impressive defensively. The Tide needs to take care of business and get ready for the Tigers and also keep their No.1 ranking in the playoff in tact.

Alabama 45, Western Carolina 3

Samford (7-3) @ No.14 Auburn (7-3)

Jordan-Hare Stadium, The Plains (87,451)

6 PM CT/7PM ET

ESPNU

Clay Matvick, Anthony Becht

Spann: 52, Partly Cloudy, 0 % rain, wind 5 MPH

No line

AU needs to figure out something on defense. Samford has played well this year under former Auburn Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan (1971 Heisman), so the Tigers need to figure out some way to stiffen up their defense. Ellis Johnson could be in trouble here if the defense doesn’t improve tomorrow and next week in Tuscaloosa. But Auburn should be OK here.

AU 48, Samford 14

Missouri (8-2, 5-1 SEC East) @ Tennessee (5-5, 2-4)

Neyland Stadium, Knoxville (102,455)

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET

ESPN

Chris Fowler, Herbie, Heather Cox

Spann: 42 Partly Cloudy, 0% rain, wind minimal

Line: Vols by 3 1/2

Tennessee has suspended starting linebacker A.J. Johnson for an alleged assault on a woman, so that could be an issue. Their center is questionable for the game, but Coach Butch Jones says they have other options up front. UT quarterback Joshua Dobbs has been playing lights out since becoming the starter. Dobbs is an Aerospace Engineering major. His class load goes as follows: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: Thermodynamics, Circuit and Electro-Mechanical Components, Fundamentals of Physics. Tuesday and Thursdays–Matrix Computations, Intro to Business Management, and Computer Solution of Engineering Problems. I’ve heard of some smart football players, but this young man tops them all. I guess he can handle football IQ as his intelligence quotient is off the charts. He’s good too. Like Josh and the Vols to dash the Tigers hopes of a second straight East Division title and a trip to Atlanta.

Vols 31, Mizzou 27

No.8 Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2) @ Arkansas (5-5, 1-5)

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville (72,000)

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

CBS

Verne, Gary, Allie

Spann: Partly cloudy, 58, wind S 14

Line: Ole Miss by 3 1/2

Arkansas will use the same formula they’ve used all season, run it till the opponent proves they can stop the run, and use play action passing off the run. The Land Shark defense will be tested in this one. With the wind blowing pretty hard, passing will be a problem. I like how Brett Bielema has revived the program and last week’s victory over LSU was a huge momentum booster for the Hogs. I’ll go with Arkansas’ running game to get the job done in an upset.

Hogs 17, Ole Miss 14

Charleston Southern (8-3) @ Georgia (8-2)

Sanford Stadium, Athens (92,746)

11 AM CT/Noon ET

SEC Network

Dave, Andre and Laura Rutledge

Weather: 49, Partly, wind ENE @ 6 MPH

No Line

Dawgs need to keep winning for national hopes and they need help from UT Saturday or Arkansas next week. Freshman Sony Michel is back at running back for the Dawgs and that will really boost an already explosive running game led by dynamic freshman Nick Chubb. Michel was a five-star out of high school like Chubb and can motor. He’s a house call guy, even a little faster than Chubb. It’s tough to lose Todd Gurley for the season, but if Chubb and Michel stay healthy, this team is very dangerous. Could be a heckuva’ n SEC title game with Georgia vs. Alabama.

Them Dawgs 56, Charleston Southern 10

Vandy (3-7, 0-6 SEC East) @ No.4 Mississippi State (9-1, 5-1 SEC West)

Davis- Wade Stadium, Starkvegas (61,337)

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET

SEC Network

Tom Hart, Matt Stichcomb, Heather Mitts

Weather: Partly, 0% rain, wind 5 MPH

Line: State by 30 1/2

State keeping their title hopes alive. It’s been a tough year for the Dores. State remains firmly in the hunt for the SEC West title.

State 42, Vandy 10

Other SEC tilts:

South Carolina 42, South Alabama 14

11 AM CT/Noon ET on ESPN3. South Carolina by 25 1/2

Florida 31, Eastern Kentucky 3

11 AM CT/Noon ET on SEC Network. No line

Key National game

No. 19 USC (7-3) @ No. 9 UCLA (8-2)

Rose Bowl, Pasadena (92,542)

7 PM CT/8PM ET

ABC

Brad Nessler, Todd, Holly Rowe

Spann: 57, no rain, minimal wind

Line: UCLA by 3 1/2

Like quarterback Brett Hundley and the Bruins to keep their somewhat long shot playoff hopes alive on the left coast against the Men of Troy. If UCLA wins out, including the Pac-12 title game over Oregon, it’s possible for them.

UCLA 34, USC 30

Other national games:

No. 6 Ohio State 42, Indiana 7

11 AM CT/Noon ET on Big Ten Network (610 on Directv; 821 on Charter);

Buckeyes by 34 1/2

No.7 Baylor 45, Oklahoma State 14

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET on FOX: Baylor by 28 1/2

No. 23 Nebraska 34, Minnesota 30

11 AM CT/Noon ET on ESPN; Nebraska by 10

Marshall 49, UAB 34

11 AM CT; Marshall by 20

No.3 FSU 34, Boston College 20

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET on ABC; FSU by 17

No.2 Oregon 48, Colorado 28

3:30 PM CT/4:30 PM ET on Pac-12 Network; Oregon by 32 1/2

No.24 Louisville 31, Notre Dame 30

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET on NBC : Irish by 3

Petrino gets it done over Brian Kelly and the Irish. Will give Kelly something else to cry about.