“The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry” kicks off at 2:30 PM CT/3:30 ET in Athens Saturday as the Auburn Tigers face the Georgia Bulldogs in a key game for Auburn and always a colossal game for both teams. Georgia holds a 56-55-8 lead in the series now heading into its 120th matchup. It shows how competitive this rivalry is. The Dawgs have won the last two, winning 20-13 last year at Auburn. But this is a different Auburn team this season. Should be an epic. Georgia still has outside hopes of winning the East though they are very slim. But Kirby Smart wants this one for sure.

The Crimson Tide take on Mississippi State in Bryant-Denny at 11 AM CT tomorrow. S said after the LSU victory last Saturday that every game is a playoff game now and this is the next critical game on the schedule. State pulled off the major upset of A&M last Saturday in Starkvegas and looks to somehow get in the end zone against this historically good Alabama defense. 

Key SEC games in Fayetteville, College Station, Knoxville and Gainesville. It’s a blockbuster Saturday in the conference. There are some national games with playoff implications, as it’s time to dig in and start talking about the playoffs. Here’s a look at the action.

Last week: 15-2

Overall: 157-66, 70%

 

No.9 Auburn (7-2, 5-1) @ Georgia (5-4, 3-4)

Sanford Stadium, Athens, 92,746

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

CBS

Verne, Gary, Allie

The Tigers have a couple of their most important players banged up as running back Kamryn Pettway, who’s already rushed for over 1,000 yards, has a pulled muscle in his leg. Gus didn’t specify, but it looked like a hamstring, maybe a calf. He’s day to day and questionable at this point, but I expect him to play. Sean White is still bothered by a shoulder injury, but was a full participant at practice this week, and is good to go. Kerryon Johnson is finally healthy and that’s a good thing. The Tigers defense is good to go as always. 

Georgia still has the super running back tandem of  Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, and freshman quarterback Jacob Eason is going to be a superstar in this league for the next three years. The X factor for the Dawgs is Isiah McKenzie. He can take it to the house on punts, passes and jet sweeps.

Should be an excellent football game, but I like the Tigers to keep the momentum going as they survive and advance from Athens.

AU 28, Dawgs 24

 

Mississippi State (4-5, 2-3) @ No.1 Alabama (9-0, 5-0)

Bryant-Denny Stadium, 101, 821

11 AM CT/Noon ET

ESPN

Tess, Todd, Holly

The Crimson Tide, as usual, is matriculating towards December and January as this through the roof good team hosts a better than people think State team. Sophomore Nick Fitzgerald is going to be an excellent quarterback for Dan Mullen and State in the future. He ran for two touchdowns, 182 yards, and passed for two more 7’s. I’m not positive Mullen is going to stay in Starkville after this season. He hired Jimmy Sexton last week, so he could very well be looking around with Oregon a possibility. He’s done a good job at State, but he’s got a good situation there, and I wouldn’t call him elite. Fitzgerald is talented, but he’s going to have a lot of trouble with Jonathan Allen, Tim Williams, Ryan Anderson, Rueben Foster and company Saturday on the road. Jalen Hurts is the coolest customer in college football and a dynamic, superb quarterback. Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart should have good games, and I expect S and Kiff to run the ball and really try to establish that part of the offense with Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough, if Bo is healthy. The Crimson Tide advances for another shot to win it all.

Bama 45, State 10

 

No. 24 LSU (5-3, 3-2) @ No. 25 Arkansas (6-2, 2-3)

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, 72,000

6 PM CT/7 PM ET, ESPN

ESPN

Dave Pasch, Greg, Lugues

LSU is favored by 7. They gave the Crimson Tide a tough game last week and their defense was outstanding. But I like Brandon Allen and the Arkansas offense and a much improved defense to pull off the upset at home. 

Hogs 28, Bengal Tigers 24

 

Ole Miss (4-5, 1-4) @ No.8 Texas A&M (7-2, 4-2)

Kyle Field, College Station, 102,733

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

SEC Network

Brent, Jess, Kaylee

This game would have been another major blockbuster if Chad Kelly hadn’t been lost for the season with a knee injury for the Rebs. A&M lost Trevor Knight to a season ending shoulder injury, so that takes away some of the classic nature of this game. Still there are a lot of good players on offense for both teams, Ole Miss has their exceptional receivers and A&M is also loaded with playmakers led by the awesome Christian Kirk, who took a punt back 90+ yards last week for a TD against State, though the Aggies were upset and their chances of getting in the playoff done. Hugh Freeze could take  the redshirt off of Shea Patterson, the five star superstar freshman quarterback, who Freeze and the coaches are expecting epic things from in the future. Or he could stick with Jason Pellerin, a redshirt freshman, who is more of a serviceable quarterback, but not an explosive signal caller. A&M faces the same thing with Jake Hubenak. He’s decent, but he’s not going to make many explosive plays. They’ll both need help from their running games and their guys on the perimeter. Like the Aggies to  get more 7’s against a depleted Ole Miss defense. I thought after the Bama game that the Rebels were the second best team in the conference, but they were devastated by injuries on defense and just couldn’t recover. But Hugh Freeze is an outstanding coach and they’ll be competitive in this game.

A&M 31, Ole Miss 28

 

South Carolina (5-4, 3-4) @ Florida (6-2, 4-2)

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, 91,916

11 AM CT/Noon ET

CBS

 Brad Nessler, Aaron Taylor, Jenny Dell

I like Will and the Gamecocks to give Coach Mac and his Gators everything they want. The Gamecocks to me are the surprise team of the SEC, and Will and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper have found their quarterback for this year and the future in freshman Jake Bentley from Opelika, AL. Bentley has been superb so far. The Gators have quarterback problems as their starter Luke Del Rio, who was struggling any way, is lost for the season, and Coach Mac will start Austin Appleby and see how he does then go from there. He’s got a talented freshman in Feleipe Franks who is ready to go if Appleby falters. I like this game to be super game,with the Gators doing enough to survive in the Swamp.  The Gators still have their SEC East goals in front of them, so I like them to edge out a team whose future looks extremely bright under Will Muschamp. 

Gators 24, Gamecocks 21

 

Kentucky (5-4, 4-3) @ Tennessee (6-3, 2-3)

Neyland Stadium, Knoxvegas, 102,455

11 AM CT/Noon ET

SEC Network

Tom Hart, Andre, Cole Cubelic

I see this as another tight game. The Wildcats have been a surprising team. Mark Stoops has recruited well since he’s been at UK, and they have some outstanding running backs. With Boom Willams, and superb freshman Benny Snell, Jr. this is a highly potent ground attack. I like this one to be tight as well. I’ll go with the upset here.

Wildcats 31, Vols 28

 

National Tilts

Tonight

No. 17 North Carolina 42, Duke 30

6:30 PM CT, ESPN

No. 15 Utah 34, Arizona State 28

8:30 PM CT, Fox Sports 1

Friday

No. 18 Florida State 45, Boston College 14

6:30 PM CT, ESPN 2

No. 2 Clemson 42, Pitt 21

2:30 PM CT, ABC

No. 3 Michigan 45, Iowa 21

Jim and the Wolverines keep advancing through their cupcake schedule. Not totally sold on this team as a national champion. They’re good, but haven’t been  tested by any means. That’ll happen at the Shoe on November 26th against the Buckeyes.

No.4 Washington 38, No. 20 USC 28

6:30 PM CT, FOX

The Huskies moved into fourth in the playoff rankings where they rightfully belong. They’ll take care of business at home, but SC has really improved. 

No. 5 The Ohio State 48, Maryland 10

2:30 PM CT, ESPN

Urb and the Buckeyes haven’t played a massively hard schedule, but it’s been tougher than Michigan’s and they’ve been to Oklahoma and annihilated the Sooners. This team is young, improving and gearing up a for a colossal showdown in Columbus vs the Wolverines.

No.6 Louisville 45, Wake Forest 24

6 PM CT, ESPN 2

Louisville may put a pounding on Wake Forest though the Demon Deacons have played good ball this year under second year coach Dave Clawson who came from Bowling Green where he had a lot of success. He’s doing a really good job at Wake and has them bowl eligible at 6-3, but this is a lot to ask @ Louisville.  Louisville remains a prominent candidate for the playoff. They’ll need some help, but they’re certainly worthy.

No. 10 Penn State 34, Indiana 31

11 AM CT, ABC

I’m not buying Penn State as a playoff team, but they’ll get by the Hoosiers, who are ready for round ball.

No. 12 Colorado 30, Arizona 17

9 PM CT, Fox Sports 1

I really like this Buffaloes team. I don’t see them as a playoff team, but a team that can win the Pac-12 South, if they can get by Utah at home on Nov. 26th, and then play in the Rose Bowl. 

Troy 41, App State 35

2:30 PM CT, ESPN 3

Like the Trojans to move to 8-1 this season as Coach Neal Brown and his team are putting together a special season.

Navy 42, Tulsa 38

11 AM CT, CBS Sports Network

Like the Midshipmen to move to 7-2 on the season at Annapolis against a favored and very explosive offensive football team in Tulsa. Ken Niumatalolo does as good a job as any coach in the country with the high academic standards he faces at the Naval Academy. Super coach who’s always going to have highly motivated players. Like the Naval Academy to pull off the upset as a 1 1/2 point underdog.