Alabama and Auburn with some SEC tests, Bama on the road at A&M and AU at home vs Ole Miss. Very winnable games for both teams, but both need to play well to keep their respective momentum going. Bama facing an A&M team that’s improved and skilled, and it’s on the road at College Station, so it should be somewhat of a challenge. The Crimson Tide has been hit by injuries on defense again with the loss of Da’Shawn Hand to a knee sprain last week. He’s expected to miss a couple of weeks. Punt returner Trevon Diggs is out with a foot injury, and he’s expected back in the next week or 2. Auburn is playing well on both sides of the ball, but my question is have they really been tested after facing a pretty bad Missouri team two weeks ago, and a beaten up team physically last week in Mississippi State which had just gotten blasted mentally and physically by Georgia the week before. So the jury is out on the Tigers and the Tide needs to overcome some injury concerns. Some key SEC matchups in Nashville and on the Swamp and some compelling national games to breakdown. Here’s a look at the slate this week in college football.
Last week: 20-2
Overall: 92-20, 82%
No.1 Alabama@ Texas A&M
6:15 PM CT
ESPN
Joe Tessitore, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe
Bama by 26 1/2
Kind of a challenge for the Crimson Tide. Jalen Hurts is playing well, the line and running game are clicking and if the defense can overcome some injuries, Alabama should be fine here. But A&M has a pretty electric young quarterback in Kellen Mond and some good skilled players and College Station will be rockin. Still like the Tide to take care business here and keep moving forward with SEC championship aspirations in tact along with national championship hopes.
Alabama 45, A&M 14
Ole Miss @ No. 12 Auburn
11 AM CT
SEC Network
Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic
Auburn by 22 1/2
Tigers should be in good shape here against a decimated Ole Miss squad. Like Jarrett Stidham, Kerryon Johnson and the offense to excel and the defense to keep on cookin.
Auburn 48, Ole Miss 14
No.5 Georgia @ Vanderbilt
11 AM CT
ESPN
Mike Patrick, Tubby, Paul Carcaterra
Dawgs by 17 1/2
Vanderbilt won at Georgia last year in a dramatic way as Zach Cunningham blasted Isiaiah McKenzie on 4th and 1 to preserve the upset victory for the Dores. But the Dawgs are a much better football team this year and in the thick of the national picture. The Dawgs handle the Dores relatively easily.
Georgia 38, Vanderbilt 17
LSU @ No. 21 Florida
2:30 PM CT
CBS
Brad, Gary, Allie
Gators by 2 1/2
The line has dropped from 5 to 2 1/2 so the gamblers are thinking this will be an upset, a minor one at that. But I don’t believe in LSU at all. Troy went down to Death Valley and posted a monumental upset. Troy’s a good team, but LSU is totally dysfunctional. Gators outlast the Bengal Tigers.
Florida 21, LSU 17
Arkansas at South Carolina
3 PM CT
SEC Network
Dave Neal, Matt Stinchcomb, Dawn Davenport
Arkansas by 2
I like the upset here.
South Carolina 31, Arkansas 30
Missouri at Kentucky
6:30 PM CT
SEC Network
Taylor Zarzour, Andre, Olivia Harlan
Kentucky by 9 1/2
Kentucky is fading a little bit to me. I’m going to take the upset in this one too.
Missouri 31, Kentucky 28
Tonight
No. 17 Louisville @ No. 24 North Carolina State
7 PM
ESPN
N.C. State will give Louisville everything they want, but I like Lamar Jackson and the Cardinals to barely survive.
Louisville 35, N.C. State 31
No. 11 Washington State @ Oregon
7 PM
FOX
This looked like it could be an upset, but Oregon’s starting quarterback is out with an injury and they have some other injuries and Mike Leach’s team is trending well and looking like a contender to win the PAC 12 and be in the thick of the national conversation if they keep this up. They’re playing some defense now.
Washington State 38, Oregon 34
Michigan State @ No.7 Michigan
6:30 PM CT
ABC
What is usually a competitive game that can go either way doesn’t look that way this year. The Wolverines have lost their starting quarterback for a while, but their backup is pretty good and Michigan State is not a heavyweight any more. Michigan’s defense is for real.
Michigan 30, Michigan State 14
Other scores
TCU 45, West Virginia 30
2:30 PM CT
FOX
No. 13 Miami 28, Florida State 17
2:30 PM
ESPN
No.2 Clemson 38, Wake Forest 14
11 AM
ESPN 2
No.3 Oklahoma 48, Iowa State 28
11 AM
FOX
No.4 Penn State 35, Northwestern 31
11 AM
ABC
No.6 Washington 45, California 14
9:45 PM
ESPN
No. 20 Utah 31, Stanford 30
9:15 PM
FOX Sports 1
Navy 34, Air Force 31
2:30 PM
CBS Sports Network
Lousiana Tech 35, UAB 31
3 PM
C-USA TV
Stanley Cup prediction
The NHL opened their season last night. A long season with an always captivating postseason. I like the Pittsburgh Penguins to shine once again. The team has the drive and tenacity to get the trifecta done. Sydney Crosby captures another MVP award in the NHL and the Penguins overcome the awesome 20 year old Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers to capture their 3rd straight Stanley Cup.
Penguins over Oilers in 6
4 Responses
Thanks DW, you are still above 80% which is strong. Should be a great game tonight. Looks like we have Dysfunction Bowl II with LSU and the Gators.
Looks like it Walter. Thanks.
You had another good week last week DW. You have been on a roll. Like your selections for this week. I agree with South Carolina over Arkansas.
Thanks Logic! Yes, like a couple of upsets this week. South Car over Arkansas is a mild upset as is Utah over Stanford. Mizzou over KY is a little more of a reach, but I like it nonetheless. Thanks again for today! Had a blast!