The Number 2 Crimson Tide and No. 24 Auburn are off this week as the Tide rests up and prepares for a game @ LSU a week from tomorrow, 11-14, at 5 PM CT on CBS, while the Tigers play @ Mississippi State next Saturday (11-14) at 3 PM CT on the SEC Network.

Both are coming off impressive, dominant home victories last Saturday. Alabama annihilated Mississippi State,41-0, behind Mac Jones, the incredible DeVonta Smith, who is making up for the loss of Jaylen Waddle, and another excellent rushing game from Najee Harris.

Mac is beyond stellar this season. Last week he completed 24-of-31 attempts for 298 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 ints. On the season, Jones has completed 139-of-178 passes, 79%, are you kiddin me?, for 16 TDs against only 2 ints. He’s making a strong case for the Heisman.

And so is DeVonta Smith. Trying to make up for the seemingly devastating loss of Waddle, Smith caught 11 passes for 203 yards and all 4 TD passes from Jones. DeVonta bas now posted 56 receptions for 759 yards and 8 TDs. He’s a phenom and looking Heisman worthy along with being a top 5 draft pick next April. It’s phenomenal that he stuck around for his senior season and is it ever paying off. Najee toted the rock 21 times for 119 yards. He has now rushed for 714 yards on 124 carries with 14 TDs along with 20 receptions for 183 yards. So stellar threesome for the Crimson Tide. And the defense is really picking it up. Patrick Surtain II had an int he took back to the house. Dylan Moses is playing like the top 10 pick he’ll be. The defense has now arrived. I don’t know yet if the Crimson Tide will be tested or not in Death Valley next Saturday. Auburn destroyed them last Saturday, but they are a different team in Baaton Rouge. They either need to start the 4 star freshman Max Johnson, who came in too late against Auburn, or get Myles Brennan back. Three star freshman TJ Finley looked like a deer in headlights against the Tigers’ defense last Saturday. He’d be eaten alive by the Crimson Tide defense. Johnson actually did some good things against Auburn in mop up duty. He should be the starter in my opinion. Brennan may be back, but Johnson is better. Always interesting down on the Bayou on Saturday Night when the Crimson Tide visits. I know the Crimson Tide fans are hoping for a stress free night. Will have more on it next Thursday. Could be an epic, but also could be blowout city.

The Auburn Tigers really put it together at Jordan-Hare last Saturday. This has been an erratic season for a lot of teams due to circumstances beyond their control, but Auburn sure looked like an SEC powerhouse last Saturday. Bo Nix was superb, completing 18-of-24 passes for 300 yards and 3 TDs including a 91 yarder to the electric, elite speedster Anthony Schwartz. He used Schwartz, Seth Williams and Eli Stove frequently in the passing game. Nix also rushed for 81 yards on 11 carries, while Tank rushed for 71 yards on 15 carries. If the Tigers can get that kind of balance on offense and their defense steps it up like it did last Saturday, Christian Tutt had a 20 yard fumble return for a TD, they’ve got a chance to finish the season strongly. Just gotta be consistent. That has always been a problem for Gus Malzahn-coached Auburn teams, but maybe this year’ll be different. I know Auburn fans are hoping so.

The Crimson Tide finishes their season @LSU, Kentucky @ home, 11-21, Auburn @ home, 11-28, and @ Arkansas, 12-5. The SEC Championship Game @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is at 7 PM CT this year and will be televised by CBS.

The Tigers finish up with @State next Saturday, Tennessee @home, 11-21, @ the Crimson Tide, 11-28, and at home versus No.7 Texas A&M, Saturday, 12-5.

So riveting stuff coming up for the Tide and Tigers and college football overall. Here’s a look at this week’s compelling action.

Last week: 19=5

Overall: 108-50, 68%

No.8 Florida (3-1) vs. No.5 Georgia (4-1)

TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Cocktail Spectacle

2:30 PM CT

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jamie

Dawgs by 3

Gators quarterback Kyle Trask is the difference maker in this game. The Gator Nation will be enjoying their Bourbon and Waters a lot more than the Georgia fans.

Florida 31, Georgia 28

No.7 Texas A&M (4-1) @ South Carolina (2-3)

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.

6 PM CT

ESPN

Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Quint Kessenich

A&M by 10

JImbo Fisher and Kellen Mond are now clicking. Like the Aggies to keep being successful.

A&M 38, South Carolina 27

Tennessee (2-3) @ Arkansas (2-3)

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, ARK.

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

Vols by 1 1/2

Give me the upset here.

Arkansas 28, Tennessee 27

Vanderbilt (0-4) @ Mississippi State (1-4)

Davis Wade Stadium, Starkvegas

2:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Taylor Zarzour, Stinch, Dawn Davenport

State by 19

I know State looked pretty terrible against the Crimson Tide last Saturday, but they can handily defeat Vanderbilt. Derek Mason’s time is running out.

State 42, Vanderbilt 17

Off the Week

Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, LSU, Kentucky,

Missouri

No.1 Clemson 35, No.4 Notre Dame 28

Notre Dame Stadium

6:30 PM CT

NBC

Tigers by 5 1/2

Why is this game on NBC? I know they have a contract with Notre Dame, but this game belongs on ABC with Chris, Kirk and Maria. Only reason this game is close is because Trevor Lawrence is out with Covid. But freshman D.J. Ulagalelei, that’s harder than Tua, is a stud, who will be prolific in the future, and very good this Saturday Night. Really high on D.J.

Tonight

No. 9 BYU 35, No. 21 Boise State 30

8:45 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

BYU by 4

Boise State is tough at Albertson’s Stadium and that atrocious field, but I’m a believer in quarterback Zach Wilson and the Cougs. Should be a classic.

Saturday

No.3 Ohio State 55, Rutgers 14

6:30 PM CT

Big Ten Network

Buckeyes by 38

Big believer in quarterback Justin Fields and the Buckeyes.

No.12 Oregon 35, Stanford 21

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Maria

Ducks by 9

Bullish on Mario Cristobal and his team. They’ve got a shot if they win out to get into the Playoff. They’re at home, so really like them here.

No.6 Cincinnati 38, Houston 24

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Sean, Todd, McShay, Moily

Bearcats by 13 1/2

Definitely buying Cincy. Believe in what Luke Fickell is doing there.

No.19 Oklahoma 63, Kansas 21

2:30 PM CT

ESPN

Sooners by 38

Sooners have their backs against the wall as far as making the Playoff this season, so they have to win out impressively and get a lot of help. Do think they are becoming a Playoff caliber team though.

No.23 Michigan 31, Indiana 27

11 AM CT

Fox Sports 1

Wolverines by 3 1/2

Michigan survives a trip to an up and coming program with an excellent quarterback in Michael Penix Jr.

West Virginia 38, Texas 35

11 AM CT

ABC

Texas by 6

I’ll take former Troy Coach Neil Brown, a superstar in the making, and the Mountaineers to upset the Longhorns in Austin.

No.14 Oklahoma State 37, Kansas State 31

3 PM CT

FOX

Cowboys by 12

I’ll take the Pokes in a hard fought contest.

No.17 Iowa State 42, Baylor 27

6 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

Cyclones by 14

No. 20 USC 28, Arizona State 24

11 AM CT

FOX

USC by 10 1/2

I like the Sun Devils to give the Trojans everything they want and for the Trojans to barely escape. Herm Edwards is building a solid program in Tempe and I still don’t trust Clay Helton at USC, though he has a very good quarterback in Kedon Slovis. There might be some tired football players starting at 9 AM Pacific Time.

No.18 SMU 52, Temple 28

11 AM CT

ESPN+

SMU by 17 1/2

Tonight

No.11 Miami 34, N.C. State 31

6:30 CT

ESPN

Miami by 10

Saturday

No.18 Marshall 55, UMass 10

1:30 PM CT

ESPN+

Marshall by 44 1/2

Marshall looks pretty solid. Not elite like some other group of 5 teams, but solid.

Michigan State 27, Iowa 24

11 AM CT

ESPN

Iowa by 6 1/2

I like the Spartans, like they did in Ann Arbor last Saturday, to go into Iowa City and pull off another upset. Really like Mel Tucker. Excellent coach.

Northwestern 34, Nebraska 28

11 AM CT

Big Ten Network

Wildcats by 3 1/2

Love what Pat Fitzgerald is doing in Evanston, IL. The Wildcats move to 3-0.

Penn State 42, Maryland 31

2:30 PM CT

Big Ten Network

Penn State by 25

Taulia Tagovailoa showed that he can be as good as his big brother last Friday Night in the Terps home victory over Minnesota, 45-44 in OT. He keeps them in this game and leads them to a lot better days. Is James Franklin really as good as he thinks he is? I’m not seeing it.

UCLA 34, Colorado 21

6 PM CT

ESPN2

Bruins by 6 1/2

This is the year Chip Kelly starts putting it together in L.A.

TCU 38, Texas Tech 34

2:30 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

TCU by 9

Close one in Fort Worth in a very good rivalry game..

No. 15 Coastal Carolina 42, South Alabama 17

7 PM CT

ESPNU

Coastal by 18

Coastal keeps putting together impressive victory after impressive victory.

Virginia Tech 35, No.25 Liberty 31

11 AM CT

ACC Network

VA Tech by 16

Hugh Freeze and Liberty keep this close with a shot at the upset.

North Carolina 41, Duke 28

11 AM CT

ESPN2

UNC by 11

This Tar Heels team is a tough one to figure out. Like them to play well this week. Quarterback Sam Howell is stellar.

Florida State 27, Pittsburgh 24

3 PM CT

ACC Network

FSU by 2

I like Mike Norvell to get this program turned around in the next year or 2. They’ve shown some signs of progress.

Louisiana 42, Arkansas State 27

11 AM CT

ESPNU

LA by 14 1/2

Still a believer in Billy Napier and his Ragin’ Cajuns. They still have a shot to win the Sun Belt if they can win out and defeat most likely Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Championship game. They’re a quality team.

The Utah-Arizona game, I originally predicted, is postponed due to Covid cases on the Utah team.