The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry enters its 121st meeting as the No. 10 Auburn Tigers go to battle with the No.1 Georgia Bulldogs on the Plains. It’s not only a major rivalry game, but also the game has massive national implications. The No.2 ranked Crimson Tide, trying to heal up from a slew on injuries on defense, will head into hostile territory in Starkvegas to take on the 16th ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs. Critical national games include No.3 Notre Dame @ No.7 Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. It’s another win or you’re not in game in the national picture for these 2 storied programs. And another major contest with important win or you’re out implications features 6th ranked TCU at No.5 Oklahoma. The playoff picture will most likely work itself out with these elimination games coming up in November. This weekend is a precursor of the electricity that lies ahead in college football this month and the riveting games that will march on into the conference championship contests in December. Here’s a look at the this weekend’s compelling action.

Last Week: 21-9

Overall: 172-58, 75%

 

No.1 Georgia @ No. 10 Auburn

2:30 PM 

CBS

Brad, Gary, Allie

Georgia by 2 1/2

The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry enters into its 121st edition with the Georgia Bulldogs owning a 57-55-8 advantage over the Tigers. Kerryon Johnson has rushed for 868 yards and 15 TDs for the Tigers, while Jarrett Stidham has completed 147-of-220 passes, 67%, for 1,996 yards, 11 TDs and 3 interceptions. Kerryon will get a heavy workload, but Stidham will have to make plays in the passing game. The Dawgs will rely on their stable full of running backs led by the great Nick Chubb and the awesome Sony Michel. Georgia true freshman qb Jake Fromm will have to make plays in the passing game. But I also see the stellar defenses on both sides having a major say in the outcome of this classic. An interception at a key time or a key fumble recovery could decide this one. I’m looking at a lower scoring outstanding game that will determine the postseason fates of these 2 programs.

Georgia 17, Auburn 14

 

No.2 Alabama @ No. 16 Mississippi State

6 PM

ESPN

Dave Pasch, Greg McElroy, Lugues

Bama by 14

The Crimson Tide has really been battling injuries on defense, particularly at the linebacker position. Two linebackers, Christian Miller and Terrell Lewis, were lost for the season after game 1. Mack Wilson, who came in and played well at linebacker, is out indefinitely with a foot injury. Rashaan Evans has been battling a groin injury. Shaun Dion Hamilton was lost for the season three weeks ago as he tore an ACL in his knee. And beyond that, defensive end Da’Shawn Hand is questionable Saturday with a knee injury, while the awesome Minkah Fitzpatrick is playing through a hamstring injury he suffered last Saturday against LSU. The Tide needs to stay healthy the rest of the way. They need Fitzpatrick, Rashaan, and Hand to play. Those 3 are the leaders on defense. The Bulldogs feature quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, who is an explosive player but prone to throwing interceptions. Jalen Hurts played one of the best games of his career last week in the 24-10 victory over LSU. Hurts was solid and was a playmaker. The Tide needs him to be that kind of player the rest of the season. I like Hurts and the offense to get the job done this week,  Minkah,  Rashaan and Da’Shawn to be healthy enough  and play well, and the rest of the defense to be strong enough to withstand the trip to Starkville. I see Bama getting game changing interceptions from Ronnie Harrison and Minkah that will help them to move on both in the SEC and nationally. 

Alabama 31, State 14

 

Florida @ South Carolina

11 AM

CBS

SC by 6

South Carolina gave Georgia everything they wanted last Saturday in Athens. They are at home against a totally discombobulated Florida program. The Gamecocks keep their resurgence going under Will Muschamp as they matriculate towards a bright future.

South Carolina 28, Florida 20

 

Arkansas @ No. 24 LSU

11 AM

ESPN

LSU by 17

Arkansas had a highly impressive come from behind victory at Ole Miss a couple of weeks ago, but struggled just to get by Coastal Carolina last Saturday at home. The Bengal Tigers are getting better and better. They may be beaten up a little bit from last week’s massively physical contest with the Crimson Tide, but they’ll take care of business in Death Valley.

LSU 35, Arkansas 17

 

Tennessee @ Missouri

6:30 PM 

SEC Network

Mizzou by 11

Missouri blasted Florida at home last week and Tennessee has been in a nosedive it seems like forever under Butch Jones. I like the Missouri Tigers to win here and keep the atmosphere highly toxic in Knoxville. 

Missouri 45, Tennessee 31

 

Kentucky @ Vanderbilt

3 PM

SEC Network

Vanderbilt by 2 1/2

I was more than happy to pick my team to be victorious last week. I’ll do it again.

Vanderbilt 34, Kentucky 31

 

Louisiana-Lafaytette @ Ole Miss

11 AM 

SEC Network

Ole Miss by 20 1/2

The Black Bears got a huge victory at Kentucky last week scoring a TD in the last 10 seconds to emerge victorious in Lexington. I like their stellar offense to keep it going. Their quarterback, Jordan Ta’amu, played a super game last Saturday. I see him doing that again.

Ole Miss 45, Louisiana 28

 

New Mexico at Texas A&M

6 PM

ESPNU

A&M by 17 1/2

Kevin Sumlin is probably on his last go round at A&M. I think he’s ready to move on just as much as the A&M leadership is ready to move on. A&M could struggle against this  triple option team, but will hang on and barely get by.

A&M 42, New Mexico 38

 

No.3 Notre Dame @ No. 7 Miami

7 PM

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Maria

Irish by 3 1/2

This is another cliffhanger that will decide the fates of these 2 storied programs.  The survivor stays alive in the playoff hunt. I like the Canes at Hard Rock.

The U 28, Notre Dame 27

 

No.6 TCU @ No.5 Oklahoma

7 PM 

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny Dell

OU by 6 1/2

I really like Kirk Herbstreit’s commentary. Herbie is right on the mark many times. But he really is bullish on Baker Mayfield. Mayfield is a good player no doubt, but he did throw a key interception late in the game last Saturday at Oklahoma State that gave the Cowboys a chance to come back and win though the Pokies couldn’t get over the hump. Mayfield is an good quarterback, but can throw some key ints. I like the TCU defense to hold him in check enough and for the TCU offense to exploit a highly vulnerable OU defense. I’ll take the upset here in a key win or no playoff game.

TCU 38, Oklahoma 35

 

Florida State @ No. 4 Clemson

2:30 PM

ESPN

This game had all the makings of a blockbuster at the beginning of the season, but after FSU lost quarterback Deondre Francois in the opener against the Crimson Tide, they haven’t  been the same. Clemson got a key victory over N. C. State on the road last week, 38-31, but gave up a pretty fair amount of points. I see the Tigers bouncing back and staying right in the thick of things in the playoff picture.

Clemson 34, FSU 17

 

No. 20 Iowa @ No.8 Wisconsin

2:30 PM 

ABC

Wisconsin is undefeated at 9-0, but has played a soft schedule so they have not reached the top 6 in the rankings because of the weak schedule. They get tested this week against an Iowa team that is fresh off a trouncing of Ohio State at home. This should be a challenging game for the Badgers, but I like them to deliver. They’re consistent. They play Michigan next week in another challenging game that could enhance their resume if they’re victorious. They control their own destiny. If they win out, they’ll get in the playoff, as the other contenders will knock each other out of it after the conference championship games. But the Badgers have some serious work left starting this Saturday. Badgers freshman running back Jonathan Taylor has rushed for 1,368 yards and 12 TDs. He’s the real thing. 

Wisconsin 35, Iowa 31

 

No.9 Washington @ Stanford

Friday, 9:30 PM 

Fox Sports 1

The Huskies have quietly hung around. They are a quality team, and with the other teams ahead of them knocking each other out, the Huskies have a chance to get into the Final Four if they keep winning and keep getting help. I am still high on this team and Coach Chris Peterson. Stanford is a team that is hard to figure out. They seem to have a lot of talent and have a pretty good record at 6-3 and 5-2 in the PAC-12 North, but can’t seem to win the critical games. I like the Huskies to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Washington 34, Stanford 27

 

No. 12 Michigan State @ No. 13 Ohio State 

11 AM

FOX

Both of these teams will have to win out and hope for a ton of help in front of them to have any shot at the playoff. I don’t see that happening, but it’s not totally impossible with the chaos that could ensue nationally. Michigan State got a key victory at home last Saturday over Penn State, while The Ohio State was destroyed by Iowa on the road. I like the upset here, too. 

Michigan State 31, Ohio State 30

 

No. 15 Oklahoma State @ No. 21 Iowa State

11 AM

ABC

Super matchup here between a couple of very explosive offenses. I like the Cyclones on defense better and see them pulling  off the upset at home at the electric Jake Trice Stadium.

Iowa State 42, Oklahoma State 38

 

UAB at UT San Antonio

6 PM

WTTO, Birmingham, Channel 709 on Charter, Channel 21 on DirecTV

I like the Blazers to go into San Antone and pull off the upset here and keep a stellar season going.

UAB 34, UTSA 31

 

No. 11 USC @ Colorado

3 PM

FOX

The Trojans have been erratic this season, but will have just enough to overcome a Colorado team that has struggled some this season, but always plays hard and makes you earn it.

USC 34, Colorado 31

 

Connecticut @ No. 18 Central Florida

11 AM

ESPNU

I’m bullish on this UCF team. They look like the team that can represent the Group of 5 conferences in a New Year’s Six bowl. They’re a strong outfit.

UCF 48, UConn 30

 

No. 17 Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech

11:20 AM

ACC Network

The Hokies are trying to bounce back from a deflating loss to Miami last week, 28-10. They’ll have a tussle on their hands against the Ramblin Wreck on the road, but I see them barely surviving.

VA. Tech 35, GA Tech 34

 

No. 19 Washington State @ Utah

4:30 PM

PAC-12 Network

I’m going with the 1 point underdog. Utah was impressive last week against UCLA and they are at home, so I’m high on them this Saturday.

Utah 38, Wash State 35

 

SMU @ Navy

2:30 PM

CBS Sports Network

I usually like picking the Academy in games, but I’m going to take the Ponies in an upset on the road this week. Chad Morris has his team believing they can win a lot of games now.

SMU 42, Navy 38

 

Purdue at No. 25 Northwestern

6 PM

ESPN 2

I’m a big fan of  the 25th ranked Wildcats. They’re an elite school that plays hard-nosed, solid football and they do it the right way academically and athletically all the time. Purdue is showing signs of emerging and it’s a fine school too, but I like Northwestern at home to keep their hopes alive for another solid season and another solid bowl under Pat Fitzgerald.

Northwestern 35, Purdue 30

 

No. 23 NC State @ Boston College 

11 AM 

ABC or ESPN 2

I’m a believer in Boston College. They’re impressive. If you want to read a really good non- fiction piece, pick up or get on Kindle The Red Bandana by ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi. It’s about a late Boston College student who saved several lives in 9-11. Super story.

Boston College 31, NC State 28

 

Arizona State @ UCLA

8:30 PM

PAC-12 Network

I’m going with Zona State to pull off the upset in the Rose Bowl. 

Zona State 45, UCLA 42