Sorry about my two week hiatus. I was working on some final details on my novel and watching my Rangers do work. How ‘bout them Rangers. My younger daughter, Fairbanks, and I were ecstatic. We saw the Rangers in June with her boyfriend, Hayden, at the epic Globe Life Field in Arlington, a game in which the Rangers won 2-1 over the Seattle Mariners in two hours and five minutes. The stadium was superb, Jon Gray pitched a beauty and Marcus Semien and Corey Seager were doin’ serious work at the plate in the clutch, as usual. It was a glimpse of what was to come for the World Series champions. Semien went off at the plate in games 4 and 5 of the Fall Classic, and Seager was a long ball and defensive machine as the 29 year old Charlotte, North Carolina native claimed the Most Valuable Player award for the Series. It was Texas’ first World Series title. The organization has been around since 1961. Sixty two years. That is the longest tenured franchise without a World Series championship in MLB history. Well earned and deserved by the Rangers. Fairbanks sent me a Rangers hat for my birthday last week. It says 2023 World Series champion with a “T” underneath it and the Rangers logo below that. It’s blue, red and white. Wearing it proudly right now.

Now a look ahead at this weekend’s College Football slate. Some classics on the horizon.

Week 8 records

SU: 12-6, overall, 142-35, 80%

ATS: 6-12, 84-89, 49%. Rough ATS in Week 8.

This weekend’s matchups. All times Central. All games Saturday unless otherwise noted.

No.8 Alabama (8-1, 6-0 SEC) @ Kentucky (6-3, 3-3)

Kroger Field, Lexington, 61,000

11 AM

ESPN

Tess, JRodg, Katie

Tide by 11

The LSU victory was impressive. Two things stood out to me in that game. Of course, the play of Jalen Milroe. Milroe threw for 219, and, more impressively, ran for a buck 55 and 4 TDs. Jalen decided he was not going to let Jayden Daniels show him up. If he can run like that and add even more passing proficiency, this team will be in the thick of things come championship weekend.

The other facet of the game that stood out to me, and it’s been talked about at great length, was the non-targeting call on Dallas Turner. I’ve looked at it several times from the Alabama sideline and the behind Daniels’ angles. It looked like a launch as Turner was on his toes and launching into Daniels. He definitely hit the head area; he hit him in the chin. But the key question was: did he lead with his face mask or the crown of his helmet? It’s so simultaneous that it is very difficult to distinguish. From the angles I saw, it was targeting. But I didn’t get all the angles that referee Daniel Gautreaux and his replay crew in Birmingham got. There is an angle from behind the Alabama defense and there is an angle from the far sideline, the LSU sideline, that I didn’t see. So they could have gotten it right. I can’t be 100% certain of my judgment because I didn’t get all the angles that the refs got. They called it leading with the face mask and with the new rules for targeting, that did not constitute a targeting foul. There are plenty of opinions that called for targeting, but the refs didn’t see it that way, so I have to trust them.

It doesn’t take away from Milroe’s performance, or the defensive performance in the second half. It did help the Crimson Tide that Daniels was out of the game. But a very nice win for Alabama, nonetheless, and their playoff hopes are very much alive. If they win out, they’re in. I think that’s a clear as the Gulf in May.

The Tide is on the road Saturday at 11 AM, and as Walter has said, you just don’t know about those early games; how the team will respond. But I like the Tide to play well with so much on the line and keep “matriculating” towards the postseason. Georgia looks a little vulnerable right now, particularly without Brock Bowers, so it’ll be very interesting if these two teams collide in Atlanta on Saturday, December 2nd at 3 PM CT on CBS in the SEC Championship Game. Will be a stellar matchup if each team keeps advancing as the regular season winds down with some critical games in the upcoming weeks. Bama has a gimme versus Chattanooga next Saturday at 11 AM at Bryant-Denny, but then head to Auburn on Saturday, November 25th for a 2:30 PM kickoff on CBS and there is no guarantee at Jordan-Hare. Georgia has a tough one at home versus Ole Miss on Saturday, then go to Knoxville next Saturday, 11/18 at 2:30 PM on CBS, then finish with scrappy Georgia Tech on the road. So Georgia’s strength of schedule will improve drastically in the next three games. If they get through those and get to the SEC Championship and win that, the Dawgs could get a three-peat. But the Crimson Tide, if they take care of business, will have their say in that discussion as well.

Alabama 31, Kentucky 10

Auburn (5-4, 2-4) @ Arkansas (3-6, 1-5)

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, 76,000

3 PM

SEC Network

Dave Neal, Derek Mason, Alex Chappell

Hogs by 2 1/2

The Tigers are playing for a bowl game. That’s what Hugh wants to accomplish in his first year on the Plains. I like them to pull off the slight upset on the road.

Auburn 24, Arkansas 21

No.9 Ole Miss (8-1, 5-1) @ No.2 Georgia (9-0, 6-0)

Sanford Stadium, Athens, 92,746

6 PM

E-S-P-N

Chris, Kirk, Holly

UGA by 10 1/2

I don’t know why I’m doing this, but I’m going to do it. Lane says his team has “nothing to lose.” I like that. I think they’re ready to pull off an improbable upset between the hedges.

Ole Miss 27, Georgia 24

No. 3 Michigan (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) @ No.10 Penn State (8-1, 5-1)

Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA., 106, 572

11 AM

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Wolverines by 4 1/2

One of Michigan’s offensive linemen said this week that they’ll play the villain if that’s what people want. This Michigan fiasco is going to catch up with Harbaugh and his team. I see it happening this Saturday in a raucous Happy Valley.

Penn State 21, Michigan 20

No. 13 Tennessee (7-2, 3-2) @ No. 14 Missouri (7-2, 3-2)

Memorial Stadium/ Faurot Field, 62,621

2:30 PM

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jenny

Vols by 2

I’ll take the home underdog. A Harrison Mevis field goal of the 40-45 yard variety wins it for the Tigers.

Missouri 34, Tennesse 31

No.7 Texas (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) @ TCU (4-5, 2-4)

Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, 47, 000

6:30 PM

ABC

Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Lugues

Hook’em Horns by 12

I like the Horned Frogs to give the Horns everything they want. They have given Texas problems recently. This is not Sonny Dykes and his team’s year, but they’ll still be highly competitive at home. Quinn Ewers will be playing this week for the Longhorns, so that’ll help their cause. Give me “the Eyes of Texas,”but not by much.

Texas 34, TCU 30

Other scores

No.1 Ohio State 38, Michigan State 17

Ohio Stadium, Columbus

6:30 PM

NBC

Buckeyes by 31 1/2

The Buckeyes get another breather this week. Seems like that’s been said a lot about Michigan, Georgia and Ohio State, for the most part, this season. Michigan State is scrappy, however, and could cause them a couple of problems for a half or there quarters on Saturday.

No. 19 LSU 35, Florida 20

Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge

6:30 PM

SEC Network

Tiguhs by 14

The Bengal Tigers had a war in Ttown last Saturday and could be a little banged up from it. Jayden Daniels is a game time decision, but I still like them to take care of business regardless of it’s him or Garrett Nussmeier against a struggling Gators team. Garrett’s dad, Doug, who was the offensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide in 2012 and ‘13, is now the quarterbacks coach for the LA Chargers. Garrett just needs a shot and he’ll succeed.

Texas A&M 42, Mississippi State 14

Kyle Field, College Station, TX.

6:30 PM

ESPN2

Aggies by 18 1/2

It’s hard to see Jimbo Fisher making it a lot longer in College Station unless things change dramatically. He needs an impressive victory this Saturday, and then needs to figure out a way to carry the momentum for the rest of the season. He’s got a hard road in front of him with a game @ LSU to close out the season on Saturday, November 25th. This game and that one are must victories for Fisher. He’s got Abilene Christian before LSU to get his team tuned up. A lot of work ahead for Fisher though.

South Carolina 28, Vandy 24

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.

11 AM

SEC Network

SC by 14

Shane Beamer and his Gamecocks are 3-6, so they must win out against Vandy, UK and Clemson. All three games are at home. He needs this, but I like Clark Lea’s team to make it interesting. Lea and his team are having a rough year at 2-8 and 0-6 in the SEC. He needs to make a lot of improvement in Nashville next season to give Vandy fans some hope and to keep his job safe, quite frankly. Next year will be his fourth season, and, in fairness, he deserves five years to have all his players in place to try and turn it around. A win in Columbia on Saturday would really help his cause. I like the Gamecocks slightly.

No. 5 Washington 31, No.18 Utah 21

Husky Stadium, Seattle

2:30 PM

FOX

Huskies by 9 1/2

With Cam Rising at quarterback for the Utes, they may have also been undefeated heading into this matchup. But with his horrendous knee injury suffered in the Rose Bowl last year, Rising has been unavailable this season. The Utes have still battled with stellar defense and an improving offense and are 7-2 and 4-2 despite the Rising situation. I do like this Huskies team and their star quarterback, Michael Pennix Jr., very much. They’ve got a good shot to make the playoff, if they can win out and win the PAC-12 Championship game. Both the Huskies and Oregon have work left, but it could wind up being a rematch of the regular season classic, won by Washington 36-33 in Seattle, in the PAC-12 Championship game on Friday, December 1st, at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas. It’ll be a 7 PM kick with ABC telecasting. Will climb that predicting hurdle when we get there.

No.6 Oregon 48, USC 31

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR

9:30 PM

FOX

Ducks by 15

These Ducks are hungry and anxious to redeem themselves from the Washington loss. They’re a phenomenal team. Lincoln Riley and USC are a mess.

No. 4 Florida State 38, Miami 23

Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee

2:30 PM

ABC

‘Noles by 14

FSU has the easiest path to the Playoff, but it’s not guaranteed. They’re a very good team with a terrific quarterback in Jordan Travis and playmakers around him along with a solid D. The Seminoles have all the tools to make it to January 1st and the Playoff in a conference that’s not as stout as it appeared to be earlier in the season, though Louisville is interesting.

Tonight

No. 11 Louisville 38, Virginia 17

Cardinal Stadium, Louisville

6:30

ESPN

‘Ville by 20 1/2

I’m becoming a big believer in Jeff Brohm and his team.

No. 23 Tulane 42, Tulsa 17

Yulman Stadium, N’awlins

11 AM

ESPN2

Green Wave by 23 1/2

Big believer in Willie Fritz, quarterback Michael Pratt and the Wave as well. They’ve got another New Year’s Six Bowl locked and loaded in their sights if they can finish off the American undefeated which includes the American Championship on Saturday Dec. 2nd on ABC or ESPN. SMU and UTSA (Texas-San Antonio) are both 5-0 in conference like Tulane. Tulane at 8-1 has the Tulsa game at home, then they’re at Florida Atlantic and host UTSA on Friday, 11/24 at 2:30 PM on ABC.

No.15 Oklahoma State 35, UCF 31

FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando

2:30 PM

ESPN

Cowboys by 2 1/2

Bullish on Mike Gundy and his Pokes also. If they take care of business, like they did last Saturday in a huge victory over then No.7 Oklahoma at Stillwater in the final version of Bedlam as the Sooners are headed to the SEC, they’ll be in the Big 12 Championship game. Probably not with a chance to make the playoff as they are 7-2 right now after a slow start. But still a New Year’s Six Bowl is a stellar accomplishment, especially if you win it. That creates major momentum for recruiting in 2025 and Gundy’s program in general.

No. 24 North Carolina 41, Duke 24

Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

7 PM

ACC Network

UNC by 14 1/2

The Heels have fallen out of the playoff picture with two losses, but the Blue Devils are banged up as quarterback Riley Leonard doesn’t look available. The Tar Heels have games @Clemson and @NC State after Duke, so they need to tighten up their chin straps.

Clemson 33, Georgia Tech 30

Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C.

11 AM

ABC

Clemson by 14 1/2

Clemson’s going to barely get by these exciting Yellow Jackets that knocked off previously top 10 Miami on the road and hammered UNC at home. I’m almost taking the upset here, but I’ll give Clemson the advantage at the other Death Valley. Dabo needs to tone it down. I know the guy is frustrated, but he’s gotta be more composed than he’s been lately. It’s embarrassing for him and his program.

No.12 Oregon State 45, Stanford 21

Besar Stadium, Corvallis, OR.

4:30 PM

PAC-12 Nerwork, Channel 383 on Charter Spectrum, or on the PAC-12 App

OR. State by 20 1/2

I like this Oregon State squad very much and their coach, Jonathan Smith. With a victory, they’ll move to 8-2 and 5-2 in the PAC-12 with games versus Washington at home and Oregon on the road. They certainly control their own destiny in the conference.

UAB 42, Navy 31

Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, Annapolis

2:30 PM

CBS Sports Network

Blazers by 2 1/2

Blazers quarterback Jacob Zeno has completed 75% of his passes for 2,389 yards and 17 TDs against 7 ints this season. He was 29-of-35 for 484 yards, 5 TDs against one int in a 45-42 Blazers victory last Saturday over Florida Atlantic at Protective Stadium. With the victory over the Midshipmen, the Blazers would move to 4-6 then have a home game versus Temple and a road game @ North Texas to finish off the season. Temple is 3-6 and North Texas is 3-6, so do I hear another trip to the Bahamas Bowl, Derrick? That’s a pretty good reward. Blazers have a shot.