Love what Rory and Jon Rahm said about Greg Norman. They both want to see him go. Both said he’s an albatross to the game, and Rory said, “I think Greg needs to go. He needs to exit stage left.” Rahm said, “I do believe that, for conversations to take place, Greg might need to be gone. It doesn’t seem like he and Jay (Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner) will want to be in the same room together.”

I love it. Rory’s candor the last couple of years and his sticking up for the PGA Tour this year while there are so many defectors to the LIV Tour has been nothing short of spectacular. Norman is a liability to the game. I bet we’ll see both of these guys winning a major next year. Not only because of their courage to speak up for the tour, but also because they are elite players who are mentally strong. I like Rory to possibly knock down the door at the Masters and capture another of the 3 majors. See Rahm winning at the U.S. Open or the Open Championship. The 87th Masters is April 6th-9th, 2023 at Augusta National. The defending champion is Scottie Scheffler. The 105th PGA Championship will be played at Oak Hill Country Club, the East Course, May 18-21, 2023. The defending champion is Justin “JT” Thomas. JT won the 2022 Wanamaker Trophy at Southern Hills in Tulsa, OK. The 123rd U.S, Open will be played at The Los Angeles Country Club North Course, June 15th-18th, Father’s Day Weekend. It’s always a treat to watch the final round on Father’s Day. The defending champion is Matt Fitzpatrick. The Englishman won the championship at the Country Club at Brookline just outside of Boston this past June. And the 151st Open Championship will be played at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England, July 20-23rd. The defending champion is Cameron Smith, who won the 150th Open at famed St Andrews. Smith is now on the LIV Tour. The R&A has announced that the LIV players will be allowed to play at the Open. We’ll see what the other 3 Majors decide. There may be some hard feelings for the Masters after LIV presented an anti-trust lawsuit against them. I would not allow them to play. They made their choice and they knew the consequences. They can stay on their LIV Tour and play on Trump courses among others in their joke of a competitive format with 54 holes, no cut, team competition. It’s not even competitive. Laughable tour.

College Football Week 12

Getting interesting on the national landscape with teams like TCU, Michigan, Ohio State and Tennessee competing for the coveted playoff spots along with Georgia, which looks like a shoe in. Another challenge this week for those teams. If Tennessee takes care of business, I like them to get in. The Ohio State-Michigan winner will go, and depending on how competitive the game is, both could make it in. TCU is going to have to go undefeated to make it in, but they are certainly capable. Fun team to watch. There are others with a shot. USC, if they can make it through the UCLA, Notre Dame games and the PAC-12 Championship Game without an L, has a shot. A wild card for me is North Carolina. They just keep winning. They’re No.13, but if they keep winning AND show they can play defense and defeat Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, they will have a pretty strong case. Should sort itself out in the next 3 weeks. There usually is one team that has an argument at the end. Georgia will be clearly in, even if they lose to LSU in the SEC Championship Game, which seems unlikely right now. The Ohio State-Michigan winner is in. TCU is in if they win out. And I like the Vols, if they win out, to be the 4th team. It’s a fluid situation though, that can quickly change this Saturday.

Here’s a look at this week’s action.

Last Week, 12-6, Overall, 130-44, 75%

ATS, 8-9, 92-81, 53%

Austin Peay (7-3) @No.8 Alabama (8-2)

Bryant-Denny Stadium

11 AM CT

SECN+, ESPN+

Bama by 44 1/2

The Crimson Tide played an excellent game last Saturday Night in Oxford. The receivers stepped up led by Ja’Corey Brooks, who has become a weapon in the passing game. Bryce played well and the defense did a good job with the high flying Ole Miss offense in the 30-24 victory. Brian Branch made a superb pass breakup in the end zone to clinch the victory. This should be good practice for the Tide as they prepare for next Saturday’s 87th Iron Bowl at Bryant-Denny at 2:30 PM CT on CBS.

Bama 45, Austin Peay 7

Western Kentucky (7-4) @Auburn (4-6)

Jordan-Hare Stadium

3 PM CT

SEC Network

Dave, Deuce, Andraya

Auburn by 5 1/2

I like the Tigers to survive this one. The Hilltoppers are good. Carnell leads the Tigers to victory. More like Tank and Jarquez Hunter do, and the defense does its part.

Auburn 20, Western Ky. 17

UAB (5-5) @ No.6 LSU (8-2)

Tiguh Stadium, Baton Rouge

8 PM CT

ESPN2

Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman, Dawn Davenport

Bengal Tigers by 14 1/2

Brian Kelly said earlier this week that UAB is the best and most underrated team he’s faced this season. I agree with that. But can UAB handle a Saturday Night in Baton Rouge? They’ll be competitive for a while, but don’t see them pulling off an improbable upset. LSU has to keep winning to keep its outside playoff hopes alive.

LSU 35, UAB 14

No.1 Georgia (10-0, 7-0) @ Kentucky (6-4, 3-4)

Kroger Field, Lexington

2:30 PM CT

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jenny

Dawgs by 22 1/2

The Dawgs are on another mission this season. They look pretty focused on going back to back. Not a done deal though, for sure. The Wildcats were humbled by my Vanderbilt Commodores. Always happy to take the L for my Dores. I like the Cats to be a little more competitive with Georgia this Saturday.

Georgia 34, Kentucky 20

No. 14 Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2) @ Arkansas (5-5, 2-4)

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Tom, Jordan, Cole

Ole Miss by 2 1/2

It’s going to be 27 at kickoff and keep dropping in a raucous, hostile environment for the Rebels to try and emerge from. Great duck hunting weather that Saturday morning in Stuttgart with temperatures in the low 20’s and cloudy. And, as the late John Madden said, it’ll be “good hittin weather,” on Saturday Night.

Ole Miss 21, Arkansas 17

No.5 Tennessee (9-1, 6-1) @ South Carolina (6-4, 3-4)

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia

6 PM CT

ESPN

Chris, Kirk, Holly

Vols by 21 1/2

Josh Huepel didn’t make any friends in Missouri last Saturday by running up the score against the Tigers, particularly in the last 2 minutes scoring 2 touchdowns in a 66-24 triumph. Nice job, Josh. The Vols are locked in on getting a spot in the playoff however, so this might keep happening in the final 2 weeks.

Tennessee 45, South Carolina 17

Florida (6-4, 3-4) @ Vanderbilt (4-6, 1-5)

FirstBank Stadium, Nashville

11 AM CT

SEC Network

Taylor, Matt, Alyssa

Gators by 14

Proud of my Commodores for playing a complete game on both sides of the ball and earning the upset at Kentucky, 24-21. I like the Dores to be competitive again, but Anthony Richardson and the Gators are a hot team. I like it close and for my Commodores to have a shot at the end.

Florida 28, Vanderbilt 21

Other SEC scores

Texas A&M 38, UMass 3

Kyle Field, College Station

11 AM CT

ESPN+/SECN+

Aggies by 33 1/2

Surely Jimbo won’t mess this one up?

Mississippi State 44, East Tennessee State 7

Davis Wade Stadium, Starkvegas

11 AM CT

ESPN+/SECN+

Miss State by 39 1/2

A lot of options at 11 AM Saturday. Some interesting national games at that time as well. Oh well, big screen, computer, an Ipad and phone will lead to multi-tasking on Saturday at 11. My wife does NOT multi-task at all. She gets locked in on one thing and stays locked in. I’m a pretty big multi-tasker at times. Theo is a big multi-tasker.

Missouri 38, New Mexico State 7

Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field, Columbia, MO.

6:30 PM CT

ESPNU

Drew Carter, Forrest Conoly, good announcer names

Tigers by 29

Tigers should be f here.

National predictions

No. 16 UCLA 38, No. 7 USC 35

Rose Bowl, Pasadena

7 PM CT

FOX

Gus, Joel, Allison

USC by 2 1/2

Give me stud Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, DTR, and his team to pull off the upset.

No. 4 TCU 34, Baylor 31

McLane Stadium, Waco

11 AM CT

FOX

Jason Benetti, Brock

Frogs by 2 1/2

Give me my Frogs to keep their electric season cookin.

No. 10 Utah 28, No.12 Oregon 24

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR.

9:30 PM CT

ESPN

Dave, Rod, Tiffany Blackmon

Utah by 2

Give me Kyle Whittingham and his Utes. They have a real shot to make the PAC-12 Championship Game with help from UCLA. If they win out, they’ll be in the Rose Bowl for the second straight year. He’s quite a coach.

No.2 Ohio State 45, Maryland 14

SECU Stadium, College Park, MD.

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Tess, Gregory, Katie

Buckeyes by 27 1/2

Like the Buckeyes to keep it rolling into the Big Game next Saturday versus the Wolverines at 11 AM CT on FOX.

No. 3 Michigan 31, Illinois 7

Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor

11 AM CT

ABC

Sean, Todd, Molly

Mich by 18

Same as above. The Wolverines take care of business in the Big House and lock in on Columbus next Saturday, 11/26.

No.9 Clemson 35, Miami 10

Memorial Stadium, Clemson

2:30 PM CT

ESPN

Bob, Dan, Kris

Tigers by 19

Like the Tigers to keep advancing towards the ACC Championship Game. They aren’t totally out of it yet, but they’ll have to win out Saturday, at home against South Carolina next Saturday, 11/26, at 11 AM CT on ABC, and then in the ACC Championship Game over UNC, and get some major help. That 35-14 loss @ Notre Dame looms large with the Committee I would suspect.

No. 22 Oklahoma State 35, Oklahoma 31

Memorial Stadium, Norman

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Dave, Dusty, Lugues

OU by 7 1/2

Don’t understand why the Sooners are favored by this much or at all. Like the Pokes to pull off the upset.

No. 13 North Carolina 42, Georgia Tech 20

Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

4:30 PM CT

ESPN2

Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison, Stormy Buonantony

UNC by 21

Life is good in Chapel Hill. The football team is 9-1 and 6-0 in the ACC and the basketball team is No.1 in the country. Mack Brown and his Heels keep it up this Saturday.