Can Derrick Brown and the Tigers survive Starkville. (Photo, Saturday Down South).
After 5 weeks there has been some pairing down of contenders. There are a lot of good teams and an elite team in Alabama. Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia are the next teams in line with Oklahoma on the fringe. This weekend will tell us more with some captivating games nationally and some interesting matchups in the conference. Here’s a look at the games.
Last week: 20-4
Overall: 102-28, 78%
No.1 Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC) @ Arkansas (1-4, 0-2)
Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Ark.
11 AM CT
ESPN
Dave Pasch, Gregory McElroy, Tom Lugues
Bama by 35
Arkansas has been getting better and had a shot at knocking off A&M last Saturday before succumbing to the Aggies, 24-17. But this is a winning machine they’re playing, and this looks like blowout city. Tua and the Tide move on in their quest for an SEC Championship, a playoff, and a national championship.
Bama 56, Arkansas 10
No.8 Auburn (4-1, 1-1) @ Mississippi State (3-2, 0-2)
Davis Wade Stadium, Starkvegas
6:30 PM CT
ESPN2
Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Molly McGrath
AU by 4
Auburn looks pretty solid on defense but average at best on offense. Marlon Davidson, Derrick Brown and the defense get Auburn over the hump.
Auburn 17, State 14
No.5 LSU (5-0, 2-0) @ No.22 Florida (4-1, 2-1)
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
2:30 PM CT
CBS
Brad, Gary, Jamie Erdahl
LSU by 2 1/2
The Fightin Joe’s and O’s keep their high postseason aspirations alive in the Swamp.
LSU 24, Florida 20
No. 13 Kentucky (5-0, 3-0) @Texas A&M (3-2, 1-1)
Kyle Field, College Station
6 PM CT
ESPN
Sean McDonough, Todd, Holly
A&M by 5 1/2
Kentucky has been the Cinderella Story of the SEC so far. Benny Snell is the real deal at running back. But the clock strikes midnight on the Cats this week. Still see them having a good season overall, but they’ll come up short on Saturday Night in College Station.
Texas A&M 34, Kentucky 30
Missouri (3-1, 0-1) @ South Carolina (2-2, 1-2)
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.
11 AM CT
SEC Network
Taylor Zarzour, Stinch, Kris Budden
Mizzou by 1 1/2
Drew Lock and the Missouri Tigers go into Columbia and leave victorious.
Missouri 31, South Carolina 28
Vanderbilt (3-2, 0-1) @ No.2 Georgia (5-0, 3-0)
Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA.
6:30 PM CT
SEC Network
Tom Hart, JRodg, Cole
Georgia by 27
In the words of the great ESPN college basketball commentator Jay Bilas, this is a good ole fashion “tail kicking.”
Georgia 52, Vandy 14
Ole Miss 42, LA Monroe 31
3 PM CT
SEC Network
No.6 Notre Dame (5-0) @ No. 24 Virginia Tech (3-1)
Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA.
7 PM CT
ABC
Fowler, Herbie, Maria
Notre Dame by 6 1/2
There’s a lot of national hype on Notre Dame right now, and I admit, with quarterback Ian Book, they’re a lot better football team and pretty solid overall. But I’m still not buying the Irish. The Hokies upset’em in Blacksburg.
Virginia Tech 31, Notre Dame 30
No. 19 Texas (4-1, 2-0) vs. No.7 Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0)
Cotton Bowl, Big D
11 AM CT
FOX
Gus, Joel Klatt, Jenny Taft
OU by 7 1/2
Like the Sooners to keep their playoff hopes alive by beating the Longhorns. Not totally buying Tom Herman and the Horns even though they’ve had a couple of good fairly impressive wins lately over TCU and Kansas State .
Oklahoma 38, Texas 31
No.4 Clemson (5-0, 2-0 ACC) @ Wake Forest (3-2, 0-1)
BB&T Field, Winston-Salem, N.C.
2:30 PM CT
ESPN
Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht, Rocky Boiman
Clemson by 20
Clemson was having a tough week, 3 quarters into their game with Syracuse. Quarterback Kelly Bryant had declared his intention to transfer earlier in the week and starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence was knocked out of the game in the first half with a neck injury. But backup QB Chase Brice bailed his team out on a 4th and 6 completing a 16 yard pass to Tee Higgins and Travis Etienne ran it in from 4 yards to help the Tigers survive Syracuse at Death Valley, 27-23. This week, with Lawrence back and Brice looking like a very capable backup, the Tigers feel better about themselves.
Clemson 45, Wake Forest 20
Indiana (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) @ No.3 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0)
Ohio Stadium, Columbus
3 PM CT
FOX
Ohio State by 26
After surviving Happy Valley last Saturday Night, 27-26, thanks to a 4th and dumb call by Penn State Coach James Franklin, the Buckeyes have a lot easier time of it this Saturday.
Ohio State 48, Indiana 21
Florida State (3-2, 1-2 ACC) @ Miami (4-1, 1-0)
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Beach
2:30 PM CT
ABC
Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Allison Williams
Miami by 13 1/2
This game has lost its prestige some this year with FSU struggling, but it’s a great rivalry. Like the Canes to get the job done at home.
Miami 38, FSU 31
Arizona State (3-2, 1-1 Pac-12) @ Colorado (4-0, 1-0)
3 PM CT
Pac 12 Network
Colorado by 2 1/2
I’m liking this Colorado team. They play more SEC type football like VA Tech, Clemson and FSU usually. Mike McIntyre, the Buffaloes coach, is the son of George McIntyre who coached at Vanderbilt in the 80’s and had some pretty competitive teams. Believe in Mac. ASU is pretty solid, Herm Edwards is doing a nice job in his first year, but I like the Buffs at home.
Colorado 31, Zona State 28
Utah (2-2, 0-2 Pac 12) @ Stanford (4-1, 2-0)
9:30 PM CT
ESPN
Adam Amin, Rod Gilmore, Quint Kessenich
Stanford by 5 1/2
I like Kyle Whittingham and his Utes to turn it around this week and knock off the Cardinal.
Utah 30, Stanford 28
10 Responses
I like your picks DW, Blacksburg should be rocking! Hopefully this will be the last Brunch game that Bama has to play this year. The Auburn vs State game should be a good ole fashioned Slobbernocker.
I think this is Walter Pittman. Thanks WP!
Good picks DW! Agree with your analysis on the games.
A few games of great interest tomorrow. Auburn at the State Bulldogs. Auburn will need their best to beat this group of cowbell ringers. Simple good defense might not get the job done. A productive offense with Stidham stepping up his play will be needed. A win here by State is a season maker for their new coach as well as a busted season for the Tigers. Malzahn will need to keep his foot on the accelerator. Enough with my analogies and euphemisms. Auburn must win in this spot.
Thanks Logic, Spike,. No doubt Spike. It’s critical for Gus and the Tigers.
DW- Va Tech?? ODU owns them and if ND can get by them, they have an easy road down the stretch. I like So Car to handle the Show Me team Mizzou at home. Au Vs Miss St will be a headbangers ball. Usually when everyone likes a low scoring game, the offenses shine. These two teams seem very defense minded though. Should be a good one.
Thanks Bama. I think the VA Tech loss to ODU was an aberration. They came back last week and blasted 22nd ranked Duke, which is pretty legit, at Duke. They have their backup quarterback playing and he’s kind of a stud. Like the way they blasted FSU to begin the season. Don’t trust South Car after last week’s debacle at Kentucky, so I see Mizzou going in there and prevailing. Auburn-State could be an ugly one.
I like ND over Va Tech DW. AU looking like a bad team on offense. If either team gets to 20 they win. I think UK beats aTm.
DW – Really hope you’re right about the AU-MSU game. As an Auburn fan, I’m nervous. Looking forward to watching Kentucky-A&M. I think A&M gets it done at home.
Thanks JC!