These are what I would call the 5 elite teams in the SEC West as we head into week 4. Alabama is at the top of the heap and will be there unless somebody can do something about it. Ole Miss, Arkansas, A&M and LSU are close to Bama and one or two of them could be elite teams if they can navigate the brutal schedules of SEC West. Some superb match ups in the SEC this weekend, and some pretty decent national tilts. Here’s a look at the action with predictions. 

Last week: 13-11, been in a bad mood all week

Overall: 39-22, 64%

Against the spread last week: 4-2

Overall: 11-7, 64%

Tonight

No.5 Clemson (3-0) @ Georgia Tech (3-0)

Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, 55,000

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET

ESPN

Dave Flemming, Jess, Laura Rutledge

Weather: good

Clemson by 9 1/2

I’m pretty bullish on this Georgia Tech team. Believe in Paul Johnson and I believe in quarterback Justin Thomas from Prattville, AL. They blew the doors off Vanderbilt last week with a potent rushing and solid passing attack. Thomas is an underrated passer. He’s a good passer and an excellent runner. They’re better this year on defense. Clemson has been a little bit of an enigma this season. They got by Auburn in a hard fought contest, then barely got by Troy in week 2. That’s taking nothing away from Troy, they’re a solid football team and I like their new coach, Neal Brown, who at 36 years old, is starting to make a name for himself. Troy upset Southern Miss last week and they play solid football. Like the Troy’s future under Brown. But Clemson was picked by many to win it all this year, and they’re not living up to those expectations. They’ve underperformed, and at some point, talent is not going to get it done, if you’re not performing well, especially if you go against a good team, which Georgia Tech is. Like the upset in Atlanta.

Georgia Tech 38, Clemson 35

Friday

Utah 31, USC 27

8 PM CT/9 PM ET, Fox Sports 1

Saturday

Kent State (1-2) @ No.1 Alabama (3-0)

Bryant-Denny Stadium, 101,821

SEC Network

Tom Hart, Andre, Cole Cubelic

Weather: Hot, mid 90’s at kickoff, but sunny

Bama by 43

Bama is coming off a wild one in Oxford. S takes on his alma mater. There may be some burnout for the Crimson Tide from last week’s war at Vaught-Hemingway, and with SEC games coming up. So the Tide will really need to keep their focus to take care of business. S doesn’t take a week off, so his team should be prepared. Kent State is not too swift, so the Tide should be in good shape though this could be a little sluggish at times, since staying focused being the overwhelming favorite and with some intense heat there could be some slip ups in concentration.

Bama 48, Kent State 3 

 

No.18 LSU (2-1) @ Auburn (1-2)

Jordan Hare Stadium, 87,451

5 PM CT/6 PM ET

ESPN

Mark Jones, Rid Gilmore, Quint Kessenich

88 at kickoff, sunny

LSU by 3 1/2

Auburn’s defense has played well, but the offense has been problematic to say the least. Not sure what Gus is doing right now. He’s going with Sean White this week, which is a good move as far as the passing game goes, but John Franklin III will be available and will play extensively if White struggles. We’ll see Franklin in there regardless. Auburn’s defense will keep them in this and if they can generate some fluidity to their offense, they have a shot. But I’m going with Leonard Fournette and company. Quarterback Danny Elling has given the LSU offense some life and given Fournette and the running backs a chance to find some open spaces with the threat of a passing game. Going with the LSU Tigers in this one.

LSU 28, Auburn 24

 

No.17 Arkansas (3-0) vs. No. 10 Texas A&M (3-0)

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX. 80,000, but can get over 100

8 PM CT/9PM ET

ESPN

Tess, Todd, Holly

A&M by 6

Arkansas was really impressive two weeks ago in going into Fort Worth  and getting an overtime victory over TCU. I like their quarterback, Austin Allen, their running back, Rawleigh Williams III, and their playmakers on the perimeter, Drew Morgan, Keon Hatcher and tight end Jeremy Sprinkle. Brett Bielema knows how to coach the offensive line and he has a big, powerful group again that has the chemistry and manpower to overpower opposing defenses. A&M has a really good team, but I really like Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos to get the job done here with his weaponry on offense and for Arkansas to be the more physical team and get by A&M in a classic at Jerry “Truckin Like the Do Dah Man” Jones Stadium.

Hogs 38, Aggies 35

 

No.12 Georgia (3-0) @ No.23 Ole Miss (1-2)

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 60,580

11 AM CT/Noon ET

ESPN

 Dave Pasch, Greg McElory, Luges

94, sunny

Ole Miss by 7

Like what Kirby’s doing, but also have really liked what Hugh Freeze has done over the past four years. Those wide receivers for the Rebels seem next to impossible to cover. They’re all 6’3″ or taller and have super hands. Like the Rebels to emerge victorious at home.

Ole Miss 28, Georgia 24

 

No. 19 Florida (3-0) @ No. 14 Tennessee (3-0)

Neyland Stadium, Knoxvegas, 102, 455

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

CBS 

Verne, Gary, Allie

91, sunny, humid

UT by 6 1/2

Florida was my pick in the East this year. I picked Bama in the West. But there are a couple of things working against the Gators this week; their starting quarterback, Luke Del Rio, is hurt and out for this game and for the next two or three games with a sprained knee. Secondly, Florida players have been mouthing off to the Tennessee players about their 11 game winning streak over them. Gators cornerback Jalen Tabor and a couple of others have been saying the Gators own the Vols. They have for a while, but those comments are going to cost them this time.

Tennessee 28, Florida 24

 

South Carolina (2-1) @ Kentucky (1-2)

Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, KY. 67,606

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET

SEC Network

Brent, Jess, Kaylee Hartung

80, clear

Kentucky by 2 1/2

Really like what Will Muschamp is doing in Columbia. They beat Vandy on the road in week one, and defeated East Carolina last weekend in a game many expected them to lose even though they were the favorite. I have to admit, I was one of them. But I’m starting to believe in what Will is doing, and the future looks bright for Will and his Gamecocks. Kentucky’s starting quarterback, Drew Barker, is out for this game. Like the upset here, too.

South Carolina 24, Kentucky 21

 

Other SEC games

Western Kentucky 35, Vanderbilt 24

3:30 PM CT/4:30 PM ET, CBS Sports Network

Mississippi State 42, UMass 14

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET, ESPN3

Missouri 45, Delaware State 10

3 PM CT/4 PM ET, SEC Network

National games

No.7 Stanford 34, UCLA 31

7 PM CT/8 PM ET, ABC

No.4 Michigan 45, Penn State 24

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

No.8 Michigan State 28, No. 11 Wisconsin 24

11 AM CT/Noon ET, Big Ten Network

No.9 Washington 31, Arizona 27

9:30 PM CT/10:30 PM ET, Pac-12 Network

No.5 Houston 52, Texas State 7

8 PM CT/9PM ET, ESPNU

No.20 Nebraska 31, Northwestern 28

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET, Big Ten Network

California 48, Arizona State 45

9 PM CT/10 PM ET, ESPN2

Notre Dame 35, Duke 31

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

No.3 Louisville 63, Marshall 14

7 PM CT/8 PM ET, CBS Sports Network

Florida State 34, South Florida 31

11 AM CT/Noon ET, ESPN 2

Troy 48, New Mexico State 21

6 PM CT/7PM ET, ESPN3

South Alabama 34, Nicholls 28

6 PM CT/7 PM ET, ESPN3

No. 16 Baylor 42, Oklahoma State 38

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET, FOX

West Virginia 42, BYU 31

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET, ESPN2

Oregon 45, Colorado 28

4:30 PM CT/5:30 PM ET, Pac-12 Network

Boise State 42, Oregon State 28

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET, Fox Sports 1

Western Michigan 35, Georgia Southern 27

6 PM CT/7PM ET, ESPN3

 

Tour Championship Prediction

East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta

Golf Channel, NBC will televise

 

Patrick Reed

Reed, No.2 in the Fed Ex rankings, wins the Tour Championship and the Fed Ex Cup and captures the $10 million dollar check plus the $1.485 million for winning the tournament. He won the Barclays and is behind Dustin Johnson in the rankings. Like Dustin for Player of the Year though, 3 wins, including the U.S. Open and 11 top 5’s, and I like Emiliano Grillo to capture rookie of the year honors.

Like Reed because he’s played a lot and he played in the Rio Games, which really helped him in my opinion. 

The Tour pays the winner the $1.485 million, and if he wins the Cup, which Reed will do by winning at East Lake, he will get $9 million up front, and the other $1 million in a retirement account. Not a bad weekend of work. 

Mountain Brook with a gigantic victory

Mountain Brook High School played a super football game in upsetting Spain Park on the road, 23-21. It was Spain Park’s homecoming and the Spartans were more than happy to ruin it. Junior quarterback Hamp Sisson played a superb game completing 12 of 21 passes for 103 yards and a 24 yard 7 to senior wide receiver Sims Herron. Hamp also ran for 108 yards and a 7. He was awesome.

The defense was stellar. Senior linebacker Will Wetzler led the team with 18 total tackles and sophomore linebacker Colton Yeager added 13. Senior cornerback Reid Hogue had an interception and 7 tackles, and senior linebacker Tanner Dean had 9 tackles and an interception. It was a tremendous effort by the Spartans. Mountain Brook is off this week. Next week they are at home versus Tuscaloosa County.

Super job by Coach Chris Yeager and his troops.