The No.1 Crimson Tide travels to the Swamp to take on the No.11 Florida Gators at 2:30 PM Saturday on CBS. Can Bryce Young and the offense put together a complete game against the Gators like they did against Miami, but that they didn’t do against an overmatched, talen- wise, but scrappy Mercer team. Florida has 2 athletic quarterbacks to challenge the Alabama defense, so can the Bama D corral Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson. I’ll answer those questions below.
The No.22 Auburn Tigers, fresh off a pair of blowout victories against much inferior teams, plays a real football team this Saturday Night in the Penn State Nittany Lions. Can the Tigers, under Bryan Harsin and a new regime, pull off the upset in front of almost 107,000 fans at Beaver Stadium in State College, PA.
Will discuss both games along with the rest of the SEC’s games inter-conference and out of conference schedule. Also, key national games on the docket on Saturday as well. Will predict those contests additionally.
Here’s a look at this week’s compelling slate.
Last week: 17-7
Overall: 38-14, 73%
No.1 Alabama (2-0) @ No.11 Florida (2-0)
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, 88,548
2:30 PM CT
CBS
Brad, Gary, Jamie
Bama by 14 1/2
The Crimson Tide looked stellar in week 1 ,but not so much in week 2. I’d compare this year’s team and last year’s team to a Volvo and a Ferrari. This year’s team is solid and has potential, while last year’s team was terrific all season long. Can this team become a Ferrari? Yes, if Bryce Young can develop into an elite quarterback, and the defense keeps getting better, though the loss of Christopher Allen for the year to a severe foot injury and now a hobbled Will Anderson puts a little more pressure on the defense particularly the young guys who will take their spots, though Will Anderson could very well be available on Saturday. Drew Sanders, Chris Braswell and Dallas Turner were all highly ranked players coming into Tuscaloosa and have looked pretty solid so far, particularly Sanders. The Tide defense will be tested by the dual quarterback system that Dan Mullen is employing. Mullen talks like he’s set on Emory Jones as his starter. Jones has completed 63% of his passes with 2 TDs, but 4 ints. Richardson is a spectacular looking freshman who has thrown for 2 TDs against 0 ints, and has rushed for 2 TDs, including an 80 yarder against South Florida last Saturday. But Richardson is bothered by hamstring soreness from last week, so Jones could be used a lot more. Mullen is keeping it close to the vest. Florida’s defense will get after the quarterback as defensive coordinator Todd Grantham likes to bring a lot of pressure. Defensive end Zachary Carter has 3 sacks on the season for -23 yards. So left tackle Evan Neal and the line will be tested.
Then you have the nearly 89,000 fans at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium which will be a major factor. They may say that the Georgia-Florida game is the largest outdoor cocktail party in the country, but every game in the Swamp is a party for these “elite” revelers. So it’ll be intensely loud.
With all that said, it’ll be a competitive game for a while, but I like the Crimson Tide to pull away towards the end. Give me Saban and his Tide in Gainesville. Jordan Battle gets a pick 6 off Jones.
Alabama 42, Florida 24
No.22 Auburn (2-0) @ No. 10 Penn State (2-0)
Beaver Stadium, State College, PA. 106,572
6:30 PM CT
ABC
Chris, Kirk, Holly
Penn State by 5
The gamblers are bullish on a very close game here and I believe them. The key to me is how well will Bo Nix handle the intensity of Happy Valley on a Saturday Night. I like Auburn to keep it close and highly competitive, and if it was at Auburn, I’d pick the Tigers. But I’ll take the Nittany Lions by a field goal in a stellar game Saturday Night.
Penn State 24, Auburn 21
Other SEC games
No.2 Georgia 42, South Carolina 7
Sanford Stadium, Athens
6 PM CT
ESPN
Sean McDonough, Todd, Molly McGrath
GA. by 32
Like the Dawgs to keep on rolling after annihilating UAB last Saturday. The biggest question mark for Georgia is who will be their quarterback , Stetson Bennett or J.T, Daniels, Daniels returns from a soulder injury. I like Bennett, but knowing Kirby Smart, he’ll probably make the wrong quarterback decision again and go with Daniels, who is so immobile, Lizzo can beat him in the 40.
No.17 Ole Miss 42, Tulane 31
Vaught-Hemingway, Oxford
7 PM CT
ESPN2
Anish Schroff, Mike Golic Jr. Taylor McGregor
Ole Miss by 14
I like Lane and Matt Corrall to do well, but Tulare is a scrappy, hard-nosed team that took Oklahoma to the wire 2 weeks ago, losing 40-35 but coming within a half yard on a 15 yard quarterback run from getting into serious touchdown/upset territory. I like the Green Wave to give the Rebels some trouble.
No.7 A&M 35, New Mexico 3
Kyle Field, College Station
11 AM CT
SEC Network
Taylor Zarzour, Stinch, Alyssa Lang
A&M by 30
The Aggies really struggled @ Colorado last Saturday, surviving 10-7. Backup quarterback Zach Calzado played OK last Saturday in relief of ineffective Haynes King, who hurt his ankle. It remains to be seen if Calzado is the answer. King looked like he had a long way to go anyway before he got hurt. They should be fine at home this Saturday but going forward they’re a question mark.
Arkansas 35, Georgia Southern 7
Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville
3 PM CT
SEC Network
Dave Neal, Deuce McCallister, Andraya Carter
Ark by 23
Arkansas looks for real after blowing Sarkisian’s and Texas’s doors off last Saturday Night.
Mississippi State 28, Memphis 24
Liberty Bowl, Memphis
3 PM CT
ESPN2
Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison, Dawn Davenport
State by 3 1/2
State looked impressive at home against N.C. State last week. This is on the road, but there will be plenty of Cow Bells in Memphis.
Kentucky 45, Chattanooga 0
Kroger Field, Lexington
11 AM CT
SEC Network+
Mike Morgan, Paul Hartsock, Paul Carcaterra
KY by 31
Penn State transfer Will Levis is doing an excellent job under center for Mark Stoops and the Wildcats. C.J. Rodriguez Jr. is a stellar running back.
Stanford 28, Vanderbilt 21
Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville
7 PM CT
ESPNU
Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman, Tiffany Blackmon
Stanford by 12
I would love to pick my Commodores after their super comeback victory over Colorado State last Saturday Night. Man, that was a late one. I’ll take the Cardinal in a close one though I don’t trust David Shaw and I’m starting to get more bullish on Clark Lea even though it’s a tall order at Vanderbilt.
LSU 31, Central Michigan 7
Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge
6:30 PM CT
SEC Network
Tom Hart, Jrodg, Cole
LSU by 19 1/2
@Missouri 49, Southeast Missouri State 7
11 AM CT
SC Network+
Roy Philpott, Dave Steckel, Smacker Miles
MIzzou by 34
@Tennessee 45, Tennesse Tech 3
11 AM CT
SEC Network+
Kevin Brown, Hutson Mason, Abby Labar
UT by 41
No.3 @Oklahoma 45, Nebraska 34
11 AM CT
FOX
Gus, Joel, Jenny
OU by 22 1/2
No.8 Cincinnati 35, @Indiana 28
11 AM CT
ESPN
Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek. Lugues
Cincy by 4
Purdue 34, @No.12 Notre Dame 31
1:30 PM CT
NBC
Tirico, Breesy, Kathryn Tappen
Irish by 7
No.16 Coastal Carolina 34, @Buffalo 17
11 AM CT
ESPN2
Brian Custer, Kelly Stouffer, Lauren Sisler
Coastal by 13 1/2
@West Virginia 30, No. 15 Virginia Tech 27
11 AM CT
Fox Sports 1
Cory Provous, Devin Gardner
West VA. by 2 1/2
Michigan State 30, @No.24 Miami (FL) 28
11 AM CT
ABC
Tess. Gregory, Katie George
Miami by 6
No.9 @Ohio State 38, Tulsa 27
2:30 PM CT
Fox Sports 1
Timmy B, Spencer
Ohio State by 24 1/2
Virginia 30, @No. 21 UNC 28
6:30 PM CT
ACC Network
Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck, Kelsey Riggs
UNC by 8
@No.23 BYU 28, No. 19 Arizona State 24
9:15 PM CT
ESPN
Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Stormy Buonantony
Zona State by 3 1/2
Fresno State 38, @No.13 UCLA 35
9:45 PM CT
PAC-12 Network
Ted Robinson, Yogi Roth
UCLA by 11
Friday
Louisville 34, Central Florida 31
Cardinal Stadium, Louisville
6:30 PM CT
ESPN
Jason Benetti, Andre, Paul Carcaterra
UCF by 7
Maryland 35, Illinois 27
Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Ill.
8 PM CT
Fox Sports 1
Alex Faust, Petros Papadakis
Terps by 7
11 Responses
Great preview DW. I happen to think Vandy may pull the upset after the comeback win at Col, they should be sprouting some confidence. .Stanford could be flat with a lot of travel after the beat down of USC last week. I think Auburn may hang but the 2 teams AU has played may be the worst 2 teams in NCAA football. I think the Bama game will be close to the line.
Dave, the biggest game of the weekend is Auburn/Penn State. There is a whole lot at stake for both teams. I am looking for the power of an SEC team to overcome a white out. It will be very close. Cincinnati/Indiana also good game. Agree on Alabama/Florida. Thanks for your great analysis.
Good stuff Davo- Hoping your Auburn pick goes the other way! Totally agree though— Bo Nix has been average at best on the road and this is his first real road game in two years— Aubs outcome all depends on #10.
It will be interesting to see how Alabama and Auburn react to a hostile atmosphere. I hope you are right about Fresno State, that would be big for the Bulldogs. Should be a great day of football viewing! Thanks for the preview.
Thanks for all the super comments and analysis, fellas.
Thanks for your previews and analysis, DW! You did a great job as usual. Like your picks for this weekend’s games!
Thanks, Teo!
WR Eagle. Agreed, hope Nix can be consistent. Looking for the defense to help big time. Close Ohio State score! Make or break for the Irish. Go Gators in The Swamp,..it’ll be tough. Thx. Great stuff.
Thanks, Staige.
Thanks for the previews, Dave. I’m pulling for UAB, Bama and Auburn tomorrow. There is a great new venue in town to eat, drink, and watch the games on big screens called The Fennec. Hope you will come check it out!
Sounds good, D! Hope your Fennec has a big weekend. Looks like an awesome venue and have heard super reviews on it. Thanks again, D.