Week 2 was a surprise with the Crimson Tide going down to a locked in, lockdown Texas Longhorns team, 34-24. The Longhorns controlled the game and showed the Crimson Tide it has a lot to work on. So my first question is, who will be the quarterback if Jalen Milroe struggles once again in the first quarter this Saturday in Tampa? Tyler Buchner, the Notre Dame transfer, looks to be the next man up. Ty Simpson could get a shot. This is a fluid situation for the Crimson Tide. They are @ South Florida, so this is a game they can try to figure out their best option going forward. Possibly. No.17 Ole Miss comes to Tuscaloosa next Saturday, 9/23, for a 2:30 PM kick on CBS, so I’m sure it would be nice for Coach Saban and his team to know who will be under center giving the Crimson Tide the best chance to win against the Rebels. The offensive line struggled last Saturday against a strong, quick Texas pass rush. The defense had several issues as well in pass rush and coverage. Texas did play an awesome game, so they deserve a lot of credit. They may be back. There’s a lot of football left, but the Horns look poised to make a strong run in the Big 12 and nationally. Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide will look for some answers this Saturday.

The Auburn Tigers barely scraped by the Cal Bears last Saturday Night in Berkeley. Auburn is a work in progress as well. There are injuries at linebacker and in the secondary as Samford comes to the Plains for a 6 PM kick this Saturday on SEC Network+ and ESPN+. Payton Thorne has been decent. Robbie Ashford showed off his prolific athletic skills in week one against UMass, but wasn’t nearly as effective last Saturday Night in Berkeley. The Tigers will try to figure themselves out Saturday. The Tigers will be @ Texas A&M next Saturday, 9/23, for an 11 AM kick on ESPN, so I know Coach Freeze wants to get this team playing sound football heading into a blockbuster matchup in College Station.

Here’s a look at this Saturday’s slate. The No.1 Dawgs host the Gamecocks in what looks like it could be another blowout, though Georgia has not been overly impressive this season, so far. LSU is @ Mississippi State. Maybe State coach Zach Arnott can control himself and not throw out one of his expletives like he did last Saturday his interview with Cole Cubelic after the Zona overtime victory. That was incredible after the 31-24 overtime win. I thought I was listening to Chris Rock give a postgame interview. Ole Miss, Arkansas and Missouri are in some interesting non-conference tilts. It’s about to get very interesting in the SEC next week, but this week has promise. Here’s this week’s previews along with predictions.

Last Week’s Record

SU-27-3, Overall, 52-9, 85%

ATS, 16-13, GA. was favored by 42, won by 42. Overall: 30-30

****All Game Times Central. All games Saturday unless otherwise noted.****

No.10 Alabama @South Florida

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

2:30 PM

ABC

Tide by 32

South Florida is 1-1 as they’ve lost to Western Kentucky, 41-24, and defeated Florida A&M, 38-24. They’re still trying to figure it out. So is Jalen Milroe, the offensive line and the defense at Alabama. I like them to have success here. They need to with the Rebels heading into Tuscaloosa next Saturday.

Alabama 45, South Florida 10

Samford @ Auburn

Jordan-Hare

6 PM

SEC Net+

No Line yet

Samford is 1-1 having defeated Shorter? 69-14, and having lost to Western Carolina, 30-7. Auburn needs to get healthy on the back end of their defense. They need to play well to get ready for @A&M next Saturday.

Auburn 49, Samford 3

South Carolina @ No.1 Georgia

Sanford Stadium, Athens

2:30 PM

CBS

Dawgs by 27 1/2

Georgia wins comfortably, but the jury is out still on how good this Georgia team is. They’re good, no doubt. But great? Still to be determined.

Georgia 41, South Carolina 17

No.11 Tennessee @ Florida

The Swamp

6 PM

ESPN

Vols by 6 1/2

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton said this summer, “I don’t lose to Florida.” With that comment, he loses to Florida.

Gators 31, Vols 30

No.14 LSU @ Mississippi State

Davis-Wade Stadium, Starkvegas

11 AM

ESPN

Tiguhs by 9 1/2

I like LSU to take care of business in an early kickoff.

LSU 30, State 20

No.4 Texas 38, Wyoming 17

DKR Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin

7 PM

Longhorn Network

Horns by 30

Like Texas to win, but be challenged for a while by a team that likes to slay the giants.

Arkansas 31, BYU 21

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville

6:30 PM

ESPN2

Hogs by 8

Like Sam, and QB KJ Jefferson to handle business at home. The Hogs go to Baton Rouge next Saturday for a 6 PM kick on ESPN. Star running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders is injured and being held out of this game. He’s got a knee injury and his status for next Saturday is questionable at present.

No. 17 Ole Miss 42, Georgia Tech 23

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford

6:30 PM

SEC Network

Rebs by 18

Lane and his squad prepare to invade Tuscaloosa next Saturday.

No. 15 Kansas State 27, Missouri 24

Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field, Columbia, MO.

11 AM

SEC Network

K State by 3 1/2

Looking for a tight one in Columbia with the K State Wildcats just hanging on.

Texas A&M 42, UL Monroe 10

Kyle Field, College Station

3 PM

SEC Network

Aggies by 36 1/2

Not a hard one for Jimbo. He’s not too swift in the hard ones. He’ll get a shot again next Saturday when Auburn comes to town. Miami laid the wood on him and his team last Saturday.

Kentucky 42, Akron 14

Kroger Field, Lexington

6:30 PM

ESPNU

Wildcats by 25

Not much to comment on this game except to say the Wildcats open conference play next Saturday @ Vanderbilt with an 11 AM kick on the SEC Network and will try to sharpen their tools for that contest.

Vanderbilt 27, UNLV 24

Allegiant Stadium, Vegas

6 PM

CBS Sports Network

Vandy by 4

The Dores just hang on in that mecca of a football stadium. The Dores need to improve dramatically if they expect to have any shot against the Wildcats next Saturday.

UAB 20, Louisiana 17

Protective Stadium, B’ham

6 PM

ESPN+

Blazers by 2 1/2

Blazers edge this one out. It’ll be a good victory if they can get it. Next Saturday Night at 6:30, they try their best @Georgia. ESPN2 will televise that bludgeoning. No shame in that. That’s a next to impossible task for a lot of teams.

National scores

No.3 Florida State 34, Boston College 7

Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA.

11 AM

ABC

FSU by 26

The ‘Noles are rolling into a conference game. Like the trajectory of this team.

No. 18 Colorado 35, Colorado State 28

Folsom Field, Boulder

9 PM

ESPN

Prime by 23

Coach Prime is getting real proud of himself and so are his players. They find it tough sledding this Saturday at home.

No.7 Penn State 31, Illinois 16

Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL.

11 AM

FOX

Nittany Lions by 14 1/2

Penn State should be in good shape on the road at Champaign (Jam) and get ready for the high flying No.25 Iowa Hawkeyes next Saturday at 6:30 PM on CBS. Watching Iowa’s offense is about as exciting as watching paint dry.

No.2 Michigan 49, Bowling Green 7

Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor

6:30 PM

Big Ten Network

Wolverines by 40 1/2

This is another joke Michigan game. James serves his last game of his 3 game suspension. Rutgers comes to Ann Arbor next Saturday, so a little bit of a test next week with Jim back roaming the sideline.

No.6 Ohio State 52, Western Kentucky 21

Ohio Stadium, Columbus

3 PM

FOX

Buckeyes by 29

Lady Gaga could win this game coaching the Buckeyes.

No.8 Washington 35, Michigan State 10

Spartan Stadium, East Lansing

4 PM

Peacock

Huskies by 16

Washington is very good and the Mel Tucker drama is traumatic for the Spartans and the university. Sheesh.

No. 13 Oregon 55, Hawai’i 14

Autzen Stadium, Eugene

7 PM

PAC-12 Network

Ducks by 37 1/2

Ducks earned a hard fought, outstanding victory in Lubbock last Saturday Night over Texas Tech, 38-30. I like this Ducks team a lot. They’ve got a shot to win the PAC-12 and that’s saying a lot with USC, who’s off this week, Washington, Utah, Colorado, Oregon State, Washington State and UCLA right there with them. It’ll be a spectacle in the PAC-12 this season, in its last season, unfortunately. Prime and his Colorado Buffalos come to Autzen Stadium next Saturday for a 2:30 PM kick on ABC. That’s huge.

No.9 Notre Dame 42, Central Michigan 7

Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend

1:30 PM

Peacock

Irish by 34 1/2

Believer in Marcus Freeman and his team. He’s instilled a toughness into the program that didn’t exist with Brian Kelly. The Irish entertain Ohio State next Saturday Night at 6:30 in what will be one of the games of the season so far. Should be stellar. NBC and Peacock will televise.

No. 16 Oregon State 45, San Diego State 14

Reser Stadium, Corvallis, OR.

2:30 PM

Fox Sports 1

Beavers by 24 1/2

Love what Coach Jonathan Smith, quarterback DJ Uiagaleiei and the Beavers are doing this season. DJ looks like a different quarterback at Oregon State from what he was at Clemson. The Beavs are in the hunt in the PAC-12. They go to Pullman next Saturday to face the No.23 Washington State Cougars at 6 PM on FOX. Next Saturday is going to be a dandy in college football.

No. 23 Washington State 49, Northern Colorado 3

Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA.

4 PM

‘PAC-12 Network

No line as yet

The Cougs gear up for a blockbuster against Oregon State next Saturday.

No. 18 Oklahoma 48, Tulsa 21

Champion Stadium, Tulsa

2:30 PM

ESPN2

Sonners by 27 1/2

OU has been impressive so far, though taking care of business against way inferior competition. They’re @ Cincy next Saturday in a tougher game. The Red River Rivalry is set for Saturday, October 7th at the Cotton Bowl in Big D. Should be epic.

No. 20 North Carolina 34, Minnesota 30

Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

2:30 PM

ESPN

UNC by 8

The Heels edge out the Golden Gophers @ home.

No. 21 Duke 35, Northwestern 17

Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, N.C.

2:30 PM

ACC Network

Blue Devils by 18 1/2

Still think Northwestern is scrappy even with the hazing fiasco. Duke looks pretty legit right now though.

TCU 35, Houston 30

TDECU Stadium, Rocket City

7 PM

FOX

Horned Frogs by 7 1/2

The Frogs edge out the Cougars in a thriller.

Tonight

No.22 Miami 56, Bethune-Cookman 3

Hard Rock Stadium

6:30

ACC Network

‘Canes by 51

The ‘Canes destroyed Fish and the Aggies last Saturday @ home. This game doesn’t seem interesting though Miami is a very interesting team. The ‘Canes are off next Saturday then play Tech at home, Saturday, 10/7 and Saturday, October 14th, they go to Chapel Hill in a stellar matchup with major ACC and national implications on the line.