I’m looking at 2 elite teams in the SEC right now, Alabama and LSU. Both teams have stellar offenses and defenses with tremendous athletes that are still developing. That’ll be an interesting storyline going forward for the Crimson Tide and the Bengal Tigers, what kind of defenses each team has in November. If one of these defenses takes a step forward then that team has a shot at winning it all. November 9th in Tuscaloosa at 7 PM CT on CBS looks like a possible national title kind of matchup. Whichever team emerges victorious in that game will be in the driver’s seat for the No.1 seed in the playoff if that team can continue to take care of business. The other team will certainly not be out of it if it continues to take care of business. So a lot of intriguing stuff happening in the SEC, and this weekend is another hurdle for the elite teams and the very good teams in the conference. Florida looks like the third best team to me. Georgia is right behind but really took a step back last week in their loss to South Carolina at home. Inexplicable really. Kirby Smart needs to get his team turned around quickly or Athens won’t be a happy place in the upcoming weeks. Auburn is another team I can’t figure out. They looked excellent up until the Florida game then just imploded offensively at the Swamp. Gus Malzahn struggles getting the best out of his quarterbacks if they are good passers. His best receivers, Seth Williams, Anthony Schwartz, Eli Stove and Will Hastings, aren’t getting the ball. He needs to figure out a way to get them the football and mount a running game. This offense is his, so there are no excuses if he can’t get it going. His job I guess is safe with the huge buyout, but you never know. If it really goes south some of the major boosters may be tired of these average and inconsistent results Malzahn is putting out and go ahead and buy him out. This team is extremely talented on both sides of the ball. They lost Ja’Tarvious Whitlow for 4-6 weeks with an injury, so the backup running backs will have to step it up. It’s about the Auburn offense right now and that’s all one Arthur Gustavo Malzahn III’s responsibility. If the offense sputters it’s all on Malzahn.

Some interesting matchups with Penn State hosting Michigan in a massive Big Ten contest on Saturday Night in Happy Valley at 6:30 on ABC. Major game in the PAC-12 tomorrow as Oregon travels to Washington for a 2:30 PM Saturday kickoff on ABC.

So a lot to breakdown this week. As the Black Eyed Peas said, Let’s get it started.

Last week: 18-8

Overall: 120-48, 71%

Tennessee (2-4) @ No.1 Alabama (6-0)

8 PM CT

ESPN

Steve Levy, Grease, McShay, Molly McGrath

Crimson Tide by 34 1/2

The Vols earned a tremendous home upset victory over Mississippi State last Saturday, 20-10. They’re playing better and Jeremy Pruitt could be turning it around. This is tough for them though. Tua Tagovailoa has completed 134 of 182 passes, 74%, for 2,011 yards, 27 TDs against 1 int. That’s outrageously good. I would say, and this may sound unusual, but Tua’s been kind of underrated with all of the superb quarterback play that is going on with Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence has struggled some, but he’s outstanding. Tua has almost gone under the radar even though he’s the leading candidate for the Heisman. He’s such a humble, hard working guy, that people just assume he’ll be spectacular every Saturday. And he is, which is astounding in itself. He’s got amazing receivers in Jerry Jeudy (42-538, 6 TDs), DeVonta Smith (38-636, 9 TDs) Henry Ruggs III (18-394, 5 TDs) and Jaylen Waddle (15-245, 1 TD with more to come), but he’s the one who’s got to get’em the ball. There are other teams, like Auburn, that have outstanding receivers, but are having trouble getting those guys the football. It’s a team thing, but Tua makes it run like a Maserati. He’s a gem of a quarterback and young guy. Najee Harris is really stepping it up and Brian Robinson is a solid No.2 back. The defense is young, but talented. I see them getting better and better with more experience. I like Tua and his team to have a very good night tomorrow in Bryant-Denny.

Alabama 52, Tennessee 17

No. 11 Auburn (5-1, 2-1) @ Arkansas (2-4, 0-3)

11 AM CT

SEC Network

Taylor Zarzour, Stinch, Alyssa Lang

Auburn by 19 1/2

I like the Tigers to get it back together in Fayetteville. Arkansas almost upset Kentucky on the road last Saturday losing 24-20 and they’re getting better, but I see an unhappy Tigers team after the Florida debacle getting it back together and back in the hunt for the SEC West title and whatever else comes with that.

Auburn 42, Arkansas 20

No.2 LSU (6-0) @ Mississippi State (3-3)

2:30 PM CT

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jamie

LSU by 18

The Bengal Tigers, like the Crimson Tide, have the athletes to be pretty stout on defense. I like them to keep improving on defense and for Joe and the offense to keep on clickin.

LSU 42 Mississippi State 21

No.3 Clemson (6-0) @ Louisville (4-2)

11 AM CT

ABC

Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky (those 2 are a mouthful), Allison Williams

Clemson by 24

The Cardinals looked pretty good defeating a then ranked Wake Forest team 62-59 on the road last Saturday. Their defense gave up a lot of points but picked off 4 Wake passes. Clemson looked very good in blasting Florida State, 42-14. That’s a bad Florida State team though. I’m not throwing Clemson under the bus like some people are though. They’re still a high caliber team with all the tools necessary to win it all.

Clemson 49, Louisville 21

No.9 Florida (6-1) @ South Carolina (3-3)

11 AM CT

ESPN

Dave, Gregory, Lugues

Gatuhs by 5

I’m not sure why this line is so close. Florida looked good in a 42-28 loss to LSU. It was a competitive game throughout. The Gamecocks traveled to Georgia and won improbably, 20-17. I’m not sure if it was a more of a statement on South Carolina getting better or an indictment on Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs being not so swift. May have been a little bit of both, but I still think Georgia is quality. I like the Gators to win in Columbia and I like it more comfortably than the spread would indicate but I’ll agree that it’ll be pretty close.

Florida 28, South Carolina 20

Kentucky (3-3) @ No. 10 Georgia (5-1)

5 PM CT

ESPN

Jason Benetti, Rod Gilmore, Quint Kessenich

Dawgs by 25

I actually think the Dawgs are going to dominate this game tomorrow in Sanford Stadium. They are loaded with talent. I just think Kirby Smart has to do too much coaching. Not convinced he has a great staff and he’s just overloaded with too many on field coaching duties during a game. But this team has the tools to excel this season if their assistant coaching can pick it up. I see them a lot better than they looked last Saturday. They’ve got a shot to get back to Atlanta but they’ll have to get through a very good Florida team, and they’ll have to go on the road to Auburn, which is as tough as it gets. Them Dawgs get it together tomorrow.

Georgia 41, Kentucky 14

No. 22 Missouri (5-1) @ Vandy (1-5)

3 PM CT

SEC Network

Dave Neal, DJ Shockley, Dawn Davenport

Mizzou by 21

I really like what Kelly Bryant is doing in Columbia. I like him and his team to keep that going in Nashville in dominating fashion. Though I agree that a tutor doing work for football players is against the rules and the program should be punished, maybe the NCAA can lighten the sentence and just take away scholarships and let this high quality team go to a bowl game.

Missouri 52, Vandy 21

Texas A&M (3-3) @ Ole Miss (3-4)

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Tom. JRodg, Cole

A&M by 6 1/2

I liked what I saw out of Kellen Mond last Saturday against the Crimson Tide. I see him on an upward trajectory the rest of the season as well as his team. Ole Miss is getting better, but I like the Aggies.

A&M 38, Ole Miss 28

No. 16 Michigan (5-1) @ No. 7 Penn State (6-0)

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Maria

Penn State by 9

The Nittany Lions have a chip on their shoulders after the Wolverines blasted them last year at the Big House, 42-7. I think the Nittany Lions are going to return the favor at Happy Valley where it will be rockin tomorrow night.

Penn State 31, Michigan 21

West Virginia (3-3) @ No.5 Oklahoma (6-0)

11 AM CT

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny Taft

OU by 33 1/2

Neal Brown is a phenomenal young coach. So is Lincoln Riley and his team is cookin on all cylinders. Jalen and the Sooners have a big day and the Sooners defense, which is majorly improved under Alex Grinch, will play well once again after sacking Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger 9 times last Saturday.

Oklahoma 48, West Virginia 24

Tonight

No.4 Ohio State (6-0) @ Northwestern (1-4)

7:30 PM CT

Big Ten Network

Ohio State by 27

Northwestern is terrible on offense and Justin Fields and the Buckeyes are excellent.. The Ohio State defense will shut down an anemic offense.

Ohio State 58, Northwestern 7

Saturday

No.6 Wisconsin 42, Illinois 10

11 AM CT

Big Ten Network

Wisc by 31

Wisconsin is going to kill this team.

No. 12 Oregon (5-1) @ No.25 Washington (5-2)

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Sean, Todd, Holly

Oregon by 3

I’m looking forward to this game. I like the upset in Seattle. These teams play good defense.

Washington 24, Oregon 21

No. 17 Arizona State (5-1) @ No. 13 Utah (5-1)

5 PM CT

PAC-12 Network

Utes by 13 1/2

Herm Edwards and the Sun Devils have been very impressive this season. Really solid season he has going. But I like Utah at home to take care of business and matriculate further in the PAC 12 championship race.

Utah 42, Zona State 24

No. 18 Baylor (6-0) @ Oklahoma State (4-2)

3 PM CT

FOX

OK State by 4

Baylor is another team that has been super impressive this season, but I like the Pokes at home.

OK State 38, Baylor 31

No. 15 Texas 38, Kansas 24

6 PM

Longhorn Network

Texas by 21 1/2

Texas has been decimated by injuries particularly at running back and in the secondary. They have enough here and I still see them as a quality team.

Iowa State 42, Texas Tech 31

11 AM CT

Fox Sports 1

Iowa State by 7

I like this Iowa State team, at 4-2, as a high quality unit that is improving every week.

Tulane 31, Memphis 28

6 PM CT

ESPN2

Memphis by 4

I’m bullish on this Green Wave team. They’ve been beyond impressive this season at 5-1. I like them to pull off the upset in the Liberty Bowl.

Duke 31, Virginia 27

2:30 PM CT

ACC Network

UVA by 3

Give me the Blue Devils in an upset on the road. Always believe in David Cutcliffe.

Navy 45, South Florida 17

2:30 PM CT

CBS Sports Network

Navy by 15

Give me the 4-1 Midshipmen. They’re now playing like they did 3 or 4 years ago. Very good team. Quarterback Malcolm Perry is a phenomenal football player.

No. 19 SMU 38, Temple 30

2:30 PM CT

ESPN2

SMU by 7 1/2

I’m buying this new version of the Pony Express.

No. 20 Minnesota 42, Rutgers 10

2:30 PM CT

Big Ten Network

Minnesota by 28 1/2

I’m also buying what P.J. Fleck is doing in Minneapolis as the Golden Gophers are 6-0. Fleck is a heckuva coach.

No. 21 Cincinnati 42, Tulsa 21

2:30 PM CT

ESPNU

Cincy by 17

I also really like what Luke Fickell is doing with the 5-1 Bearcats.

No. 14 Boise State 38, BYU 14

9:15 PM CT

ESPN2

Boise State by 7

The Broncos could be the best of the Group of 5 teams with a New Year’s 6 Bowl in their sights though SMU and Cincy have good arguments as well. That should be an interesting competition. BYU is courageous with the schedule they have to play year in and year out, but starting quarterback Zach Wilson is injured and the backup is struggling.

USC 42, Arizona 31

8:30 PM CT

PAC-12 Network

SC by 9 1/2

I liked what I saw out of the Trojans last Saturday Night despite the 30-27 loss to Notre Dame at South Bend. They played well and freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis, redshirt freshman running back Markese Stepp and senior Michael Pittman and the receivers are studs.

No. 23 Iowa 41, Purdue 21

11 AM CT

ESPN2

Iowa by 17 1/2

Despite the setbacks back @ Michigan, 10-3, and Penn State at home last Saturday Night, 17-12, still see this Hawkeyes team as a quality outfit.