Some super games on tap in the SEC, particularly in Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Baton Rouge. Here’s a look at this week’s action along with predictions.

Last Week: 19-7

Overall: 108-47, 70%

No.6 Texas A&M @ No.1 Alabama

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET, CBS

This Crimson Tide machine just keeps on rolling. Jalen Hurts is a phenom, the defense has eight touchdowns and special teams 3. I’ve never seen anything like that at any level. To me, at this point, it’s the Crimson Tide and everybody else. There are a lot of good teams in the SEC and throughout the country, but only one great team. And it resides in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Alabama 38, A&M 17

 

No. 17 Arkansas @ No.21 Auburn

5 PM CT/6PM ET, ESPN

I really like Austin Allen at quarterback for the Razorbacks. And I’m major league bullish on play caller and offensive coordinator Dan Enos. He looks like a professor and he calls games like a genius. That victory over Ole Miss last week was highly impressive. Going to take the Hogs in an upset.

Arkansas 35, Auburn 34

 

No.23 Ole Miss @No. 25 LSU

8 PM CT/9PM ET, ESPN

I still trust Hugh Freeze and I really don’t trust Coach O overall. He’s a tremendous recruiter and a good defensive line coach, but as a head coach, I’m not sold. Leonard Fournette is playing out a soap opera this year. He’s pulling a Jadeveon Clowney/Robert Nkemdiche and not playing hard or playing with any passion as he is only focused on the NFL draft. That could cost him down the road. Neither Clowney nor Nkemdiche have done much so far in the NFL. A lack of effort in college can carry over into the pros. LSU’s best player is running back Derrius Guice. He’s better than Fournette. I’m not sold on LSU’s defensive coordinator. Chad Kelly just needs to get the ball in the air and close to those phenomenal receivers and they’ll catch it and make explosive plays. Going with another upset at Tiger Stadium on a Mississippi Saturday Night. 

Ole Miss 31, LSU 28

 

Tonight

Miami @ Virginia Tech

6 PM ESPN

Like the Hokies to recover from a tough loss to Syracuse last week.

Va. Tech 34,  Miami 31

 

Troy @ South Alabama

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET, Duh U, ESPNU

Troy has been playing well at 5-1, but Joey Jones has always been a clutch coach. Like the Jaguars at home.

South Alabama 34, Troy 30

 

BYU @ Boise State

9:15 PM CT/10:15 PM ET, ESPN

This is a super matchup. I love the way that BYU is not afraid to play anybody. The Big 12 is a joke for not letting BYU and Houston join their league. It’s a clown show in the Big 12. They handled that whole situation so clown-like. I do like Boise to barely edge out a gritty, tough Cougar team on the annoying blue turf. Should be a good game.

Boise State 38, BYU 35

 

Friday

Oregon @ California

9:30 PM CT/10:30 PM ET, ESPN 

Going with the Golden Bears to outscore the Ducks, who are pretty terrible on defense and not getting the job done under Mark Helfrich. Sonny Dykes is doing an excellent job in Berkeley.

Cal 45, Oregon 41

 

Saturday

Mississippi State @Kentucky

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET, SEC Network

State is better than their record. They have talent, they just haven’t gotten the stellar quarterback play that they had the last four years with Dak Prescott who is lighting it up with Dallas in the NFl. That’s quite a story in itself. But I like Dan Mullen and his Bulldogs to get it done in the Bluegrass state.

State 31, Kentucky 28

 

Massachusetts @ South Carolina

11 AM CT/Noon ET, SEC Network

Like the Gamecocks to break out some on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium. Will Muschamp’s  a good hire, and it’s going to show in the coming years. They’ve been competitive. He just needs more playmakers on offense and to really recruit well overall. I expect him to do that going forward.

SC 42, UMass 14

 

Middle Tennessee @ Missouri

3 PM CT/4 PM ET, SEC Network

Like the Tigers to get on the winning side of the ledger this week.

Missouri 42, MTSU 28

 

No.2 Ohio State @ Penn State

7 PM CT/8 PM ET, ABC

It’s going to be windy  @ 15-25 MPH and some rain, though it may stop at game time. This game should be more of a grind it out type of contest. Going with Urb and the Buckeyes to get the job done in Happy Valley, but it’ll be tougher than expected..

The Ohio State 28, Penn State 24

 

Oregon State @ No.5 Washington 

5:30 PM CT/6:30 PM ET, PAC 12 Network

Bullish on this Huskies team. They’re looking like a possible playoff team. I’m going with Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Louisville at this point, but Washington and Michigan are knocking on the door, though I have something to say about Jim and Michigan coming up. 

Washington 45, Oregon State 24

 

Illinois @ No. 3 Michigan

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET, Big Ten Network

When is Jim going to play anybody good? He played a pretty good Wisconsin team and a pretty decent Colorado team but both games were played before 107,000 fans at the Big House. He’s had a cupcake schedule.  Michigan is good, but I’m not calling them great. Jim still has proving to do. The schedule is so easy, that it might not be till @ Ohio State before he’s tested. No wonder he’s out in California announcing the high school homecoming queen and holding the chains for a a prep game during an off week, because he sure doesn’t have to worry much about Illinois and the rest of his cream puff schedule. Well done again, Jim.

Michigan 63, Illinois 7

 

NC State @ No.7 Louisville

11 AM CT/Noon ET, ABC

The Wolfpack played Clemson down to the wire and were a missed 30 yard field goal at the end of regulation from beating them. Clemson has really lived dangerously this season. I like Lamar Jackson and his Cardinals team to keep it going at home though. The Cardinals only loss is to Clemson on the road and they gave the Tigers everything they wanted in Death Valley. Louisville is a buy for me.

Louisville 48, NC State 24  

 

TCU @  No. 12 West Virginia

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET, ABC

Usually not a big buyer in Dana Holgerson at West Virginia, but this team seems different. TCU is down this season, so I’ll take the Mountaineers at home. They’re not elite, but they’re pretty good and have a chance to win the Big 12.

West Va. 31, TCU 28

 

No. 10 Wisconsin @ Iowa

11 AM CT/Noon ET, ESPN

Like the Badgers to bounce back against the Hawkeyes.

Whisky 24, Iowa 21

 

Purdue @ No.8 Nebraska

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET, ABC

Not buying Nebraska as an elite team at all, but they’ll get by Purdue with relative ease.

Nebraska 35, Purdue 24

 

No. 22 North Carolina @ Virginia 

2 PM CT/3 PM ET, ACC Network, Watch ESPN

I’m kind of liking  the Tar Heels. Still hesitant to really be bullish on them because Gene Chizik is their defensive coordinator. But they went to Miami last week and won, and they’ve been pretty impressive this year. Virginia is in a total rebuild mode right now.

UNC 34, UVA 30

 

Indiana @ Northwestern

11 AM/Noon ET, Big Ten Network

Still like the schools that still believe in the concept of “student” athlete and not just “NFL” athlete. Northwestern is also very competitive.

Northwestern 30, Indiana 28

 

Colorado @ Stanford

2 PM CT/3 PM ET, PAC-12 Network

Like this Buffaloes team. Stanford is not the Stanford we’ve seen the last several years. 

Colorado 31, Stanford 28

 

Texas @ Kansas State

11 AM CT/Noon ET, ESPN 2

I still believe in Charlie Strong. Texas needs to give him another year so he can have all his recruits in place and have his culture firmly instilled in the program. Mack Brown left him a mess that it’s taken a while to clean up. He has had to get rid of smoothie bars at the practice field and buses from the locker room to the practice field. It’s been a challenge, but I still am a buyer in Strong. 

Texas 38, Kansas State 34

 

No. 16 Oklahoma @ Texas Tech

7 PM CT/8 PM ET, FOX

OU seems to be getting it together. They should. Stoops has a lot of talent. He should be able to do something with it.

OU 48, Texas Tech 42

 

No. 19 Utah @ UCLA

3 PM CT/4 PM ET, FOX

Like the Bruins to get the job done at the Rose Bowl.

UCLA 31, Utah 28

 

Washington State @ Arizona State

9 PM CT/10 PM ET, PAC-12 Network

Really believe in Mike Leach and what he’s doing in Pullman. His team finished 9-4 last year, they play better defense this year, and I trust Leach and his team. Looks like a shootout in the desert though.

Wash State 48, Zona State 45

 

No. 11 Houston @ SMU

6 PM CT/7 PM ET, ESPN 2

Like the Cougars to get the job done but their stock and Tom Herman’s stock have both dropped somewhat.

Houston 45, SMU 28

 

Memphis @ No. 24 Navy

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET CBS Sports Network

If the Academy can knock off Houston at home they can do the same with Memphis. Like the slight upset here.

Midshipman 28, Memphis 24

 

Eastern Michigan @ No. 20 Western Michigan

Western Michigan is becoming quite a story in college football. P. J. Fleck is doing some super things in Kalamazoo.

Western Mich 38, Eastern Michigan 28

 

Off this week

SEC: No. 15 Florida, No. 18 Tennessee, Georgia

Off Nationally

No.4 Clemson, No.9 Baylor, No. 13 Florida State