Coach DeBoar leads his Crimson Tide team into battle Saturday Night at Bryant-Denny versus fellow juggernaut Georgia. (Photo courtesy of Roll Tide Wire-USA Today).
As Sly Croom once said, “It doesn’t get any better than this.”
The No.2 Georgia Bulldogs invade Bryant-Denny Stadium to collide with the No.4 Alabama Crimson Tide in what looks more like a national championship game than a regular season contest. But, luckily for the fans of both teams and for college football fans, we get an earlier rendition of this epic.
Jalen Milroe vs Carson Beck is riveting. First year Bama Coach Kalen DeBoar versus Kirby Smart is an intriguing contrast in coaching styles. The matchup of the Alabama offense and defense versus the Georgia defense and offense, respectively, is through the roof interesting. Does the Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd factor with a presidential contender in attendance take the Tide over the top? Or do these agitated Dawgs find a way to emerge out of Tuscaloosa victoriously? The individual talent on both sides is totally stellar. Can the more relaxed yet focused approach of DeBoar prevail over the hyper-intense, competitive, irritated Smart approach?
Here’s a look at the Tide-Dawgs preview/prediction along with the other promising games this weekend.
****All games Saturday unless otherwise noted. All times Central****
Record
Last week, Week 4. SU-11-3; Overall-40-16, 71%
ATS: 8-6; overall-34-21, 62%
****All games Saturday unless otherwise noted. All times Central****
No.2 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) @ No. 4 Alabama (3-0, 0-0)
Bryant-Denny Stadium, 101,821
6:30 PM
ABC
Chris, Kirk, Holly
UGA by 2
Safety Malachi Moore and outside LB Qua Russaw are probable for the Tide defense, which is a major plus. Georgie has some injuries. The key loss, as Excedrin astutely pointed out to me yesterday, is Georgia offensive guard Tate Ratledge; the team’s best O Lineman. Excedrin pointed out to me that Ratledge is the top rated o guard on the NFL draft board. So I agree with E on that. Can Milroe outplay Beck, and can the skill players of Alabama, RBs Jam Miller and Justice Haynes, the great 17 year old wide receiver Ryan Williams, etc.. outplay the vaunted Georgia defense and can Malachi Moore and the defense shutdown Beck and company. enough The answer to those questions to me are a barely affirmative. If Nick Saban, who was 5-1 against Smart head to head, picks Georgia on GameDay Saturday morning there may be a riot in T-town. But 30 minutes later, the Great One will be forgiven and it’ll be 5 o’clock somewhere. Trump has the Quarter Pounders with cheese covered.
Alabama 24, Georgia 21
Other SEC Scores
Auburn 21, No.21 Oklahoma 20
Jordan-Hare
2:30 PM
ABC
Sooners by 2
The losing coach of this game will be in scolding hot water. I know the Auburn players don’t want to lose this game and be thrown under the bus by Hugh. If Hugh loses this game, he may get run over by the bus.
No.1 Texas 45, Mississippi State 3
Darrell K. Royal Stadium, Austin
3:15 PM
SEC Network
Hook’em by 38 1/2
Like Sark and Arch to have a good afternoon. I guess Arch is keeping the position in shape for Quinn Ewers? Arch is pretty strong. The Horns have a good day against a rebuilding State team under first year coach Jeff Lebby.
No.6 Ole Miss 31, Kentucky 21
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford
11 AM
ABC
Rebs by 18
I like the Wildcats to give Jaxson Dart and the Rebels a little trouble. Kentucky has improved. Lane and the Black Bears haven’t played anybody, so It’s hard to get an accurate read on this team. They look good on paper and the results look solid so far and their schedule is pretty favorable with the toughest games being @ LSU, Saturday, Oct. 12th, and Georgia at home on Saturday, 11/9. So a playoff appearance/run could be in the cards for Lane and company. But that’s still to be determined for sure..
No. 24 Texas A&M 31, Arkansas 28
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX.
2:30 PM
ESPN
A&M by 4
Always a hard-nosed tussle. Like the Aggies barely.
No.14 LSU 45, South Alabama 28
Tiguh Stadium, Baton Rouge
6:45 PM
SEC Network
Bengal Tigers by 22
Not sure what to think of Brian Kelly’s team. As usual, they’re loaded with great athletes, but they don’t have their chemistry down yet. Star inside/outside linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. is out for the season with a knee injury. That hurts the defense and the team. I like South to keep it closer than anticipated.
Off in the SEC: Tennessee, Missouri, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Florida
National Predictions
No.3 Ohio State 34, Michigan State 27
Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Mich.
6 PM
Peacock
Buckeyes by 23 1/2
Not sure what to make of Ohio State either because they haven’t played anybody yet. Jonathan Smith is going to do some good things at Michigan State. He had a lot of success at Oregon State and he’s an excellent coach. They give Ohio State everything they want on Saturday Night.
No.8 Oregon 45, UCLA 17
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
10 PM
FOX
Ducks by 25 1/2
Starting to get very bullish on Dan Lanning and his Oregon squad. Their demolition of Oregon State on the road two weeks ago has me believing. Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel is for real.
No. 10 Utah 27, Arizona 17
Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City
9:15 PM
ESPN
Utes by 11
I like ‘Zona to beat the spread. Strange things are going on at quarterback for Utah, with Cam Rising, the seventh year senior, now available to play, but freshman Isaac Wilson slated to start Saturday. Almost sounds like a Tom Brady-Drew Bledsoe maneuver by Coach Whittingham. That worked out pretty well for Bill Belichick and company in New England. Kyle Whittingham is usually trustable, so we’ll see how this develops. Utah is a real possibility to win the Big 12 and earn a spot in the 12-team playoff. A lot of football left, but the victory @ OK. State last Saturday was huge.
No.17 Clemson 35, Stanford 28
Memorial Stadium, Clemson
6 PM ‘
ESPN
Tigers by, dadgummit, 21 1/2
Unlike others, I’m not on board with Clemson yet. The Cardinal had a nice victory on the road @ Syracuse last Friday Night. They’ll hang tough.
No.6 Notre Dame 30, No. 15 Louisville 27
Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend
2:30 PM
Peacock
Irish by 6 1/2
The Fighting Irish survive this contest.
No. 22 BYU 28, Baylor 27
McLane Stadium, Waco
11 AM
Fox Sports 1
Baylor by 3 1/2
When are people going to start believing in the Cougars? What else do they have to do? They’re the Rodney Dangerfield of College Football. Give me the Cougs all day in the upset. They destroyed Kansas State at home last Saturday Night. They deserve respect despite the fact that they aren’t getting any.
Friday
No.7 Miami 42, Virginia Tech 21
Hard Rock Stadium, South Beach
6:30 PM
ESPN
Canes by 19 1/2
Believe in Mario Cristobal, quarterback Cam Ward and this football team. Oregon and them have me believing.
No. 12 Michigan 21, Minnesota 10
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor
11 AM
FOX
Mich by 9 1/2
Love what Coach Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines did last Saturday at the Big House in defeating then No. 11 USC, 27-24. Quarterback Alex Orji threw for just 32 yards and 0 TDs, but the Wolverines ran for 290 yards, led by Kalei Mullings’ 159 yard , 2 TD performance, and Donovan Edwards’ 74 and a 7. Mullings was awesome in his interview afterwards with Jenny Taft of FOX Sports as well. What a super kid, who loves playing football and playing for his team. Michigan cornerback Will Johnson threw in a 42 yard pick 6 for good measure. Moore won 4 games last season for the Wolverines when Harbaugh was suspended. I’m starting to believe in this running game and defensive team. Orji will have to throw it better, but he’s capable.
No.23 Kansas State 31, No. 20 Oklahoma State 17
Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Little Apple, KS. No Broadway
11 AM
ESPN
K State by 5
If someone predicts OK State to win this game, I’ve got some lakefront property in Moscow I want to sell them.
Here’s an entertaining 2010 music vid by Eli “Paperboy”Reed. Quite a set of pipes. Have a better one.
12 Responses
Nice piece DW! I cannot find a pick I disagree with. I too believe AU will get it done this week especially with all of the injuries facing OKL.I hope Bama will pull it off but it will be a great test. Thanks for all and the bonus tune.
I do not like it when Gameday is in T Town our record is nine wins and nine losses. I am a little worried about our field goal kicker. He is 0-1 this year and it is a significant difference between kicking for Miami of Ohio and playing in front of one hundred thousand fans in a top five match up. That would be a big win for Hugh in the bus game.
Thanks for the analysis and previews, DW! Alabama vs. Georgia Should be quite a matchup! I concur with your Alabama pick. Georgia OG Tate Rutledge is a mauler in the run game. Not having him available to play will impede Georgia’s ability to run the ball. Like your Auburn pick!
Thanks Fellas! Great commentary.
Dave, love your picks. Big one for the Tide. Looking for a great victory. WT
Thanks, WT!
Great record with your pics last week and like yours this week too!
I’ll be in Tuscaloosa early for the big game because they are saying it could take 2 hours to get in with Trump there. I’m feeling confident about Bama with the home crowd, but we shall see. Going to take in the first half of the UAB at Protective too, so excited for the day and great results in each.
Appreciate it, D!
Derrick with the double header is a full day of football. Love that.
I think Alabama wins because Milroe and s better than Beck.
I don’t see how AU can win with current QB situation. Game is a QB game unless you are Uber committed to a run game like Michigan was. I hope I’m wrong.
Thanks, MB. Good commentary.
It was amazing to listen to sports radio (JOX) around noon today. The line had flipped 6-7 times within a 2-hour period (from Bama – 2 points or less to pick ’em to UGA minus 2 points or less). Even Ms. Terry was able to move the line. Bottom line: NOBODY KNOWS. The talent is pretty close to a wash. UGA has the advantage of a fairly stable coaching staff (for now), but Kirby is suffering the pains of success every year when he loses a coach or two. DeBoer and his coaches are learning the players Saban left and vice versa…how much will UGA be able to exploit that? Bama has the best QB and slight edge in receivers, but UGA has the #1 pass defense in the country. UGA has a better defense overall but Bama is showing progress (we think/against whom we’ve played thus far), unless UGA shows us differently. David, I like your pick…but it may require an overtime!
Thanks, BP. Wow, quite an analysis!