As my man 44&4 wrote on my comments section, week 2 “pales” in comparison to week 1, but Bama is in a pretty interesting matchup and AU is trying to get the ship righted, particularly at quarterback. Some other solid SEC matchups and Tennessee in a pretty epic game, not exactly because of their opponent or them for that matter, but because of the venue. Here’s a look at this week’s action with predictions. Week 3 promises to be a classic led by Bama @ Ole Miss (2:30 PM CT, CBS) and Texas A&M @ Auburn (6 PM CT, ESPN, or the Deuce)

Last week: 12-7, 58%

Western Kentucky (1-0) @ No.1 Alabama (1-0)

Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa (101,821)

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

ESPN 2

Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht, Rocky (Yo Adrian) Boiman

Sunny, 91, wind 5 MPH

Line: Bama by 29

Western Kentucky is no slouch. They finished 12-2 last season, won Conference USA at 8-0, and defeated South Florida in the Miami Beach Bowl, 45-35. Their starting quarterback last year, Brandon Doughty, threw for 48 TDs and 5,055 yards. He was drafted in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins, but the HIlltoppers look like they haven’t missed a beat. South Florida transfer Mike White completed 25-of-31 passes for 517 yards and 3 TDs against 0 ints against Rice last Saturday in a 46-14 Western KY victory. Nicholas Norris at 5’9″, 175, caught 7 passes for 147 yards and 2 sevens. Taywan Taylor caught 5 passes for 165 yards, and Nacarius Fant caught 5 passes for 44 yards and a seven. They only ran for 97 yards, but they’re always a passing team. 

For Alabama, it appears that Jalen Hurts is the guy after last week’s stellar performance against SC, but S is still kind of keeping his options open with Blake Barnett to keep it competitive. Jalen had a terrific game with 2 touchdown passes, both to the awesome ArDarius Stewart, and two rushing TDs. He already looks like Blake Sims part 2. But we’ll see what S and Kiff decide to do this week. Stewart was super with four receptions for 113 yards and two TDs. Calvin Ridley only caught 2 passes for 9 yards, but there’s no concern for Calvin or O.J. Howard, who will both be a big part of the offense this season without a doubt. Gehrig Dieter, the transfer from Bowling Green, caught a 45 yard TD pass from Barnett late in the game. Looks like another Richard Mulaney type, who was a valuable transfer receiver last year for the Tide. The Tide won 52-6 by the way over Southern Cal. The defense was tremendous. Marlon Humphrey broke open the game with an 18 yard pick 6  after a USC player had stomped on Minkah Fitzpatrick’s midsection and got the team really charged up. SC is a disaster and Bama destroyed them. 

So while Western Ky might have a highly potent offense, they won’t play a defense in Jeff Brohm’s tenure like the one they’re about to face. Damien Harris ran for 138 yards, and had a very good game. He doesn’t have the total take it to the house speed, but he’s quite good. Bo Scarbrough is due to have a big game. 

The Tide is the obvious choice here, the only question is, by how much? I’ll go with this final.

Bama 45, Western KY 14

 

Arkansas State (0-1) @ Auburn (0-1)

Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Plains (87,451)

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET

SEC Network

Brent, Jess, Jeannine Edwards

Weather: Mostly sunny, 89, wind 5

Line: Auburn by 19 1/2

Last week was pretty terrible for the Auburn offense, but the defense played really well against Deshaun Watson, Wayne Gallman and the potent Clemson offense. So maybe the defense can carry the Tigers until the quarterback situation and the whole offensive situation straightens itself out. It needs to happen sooner rather than later for Gus’s sake. Arkansas State is not a very good team. They lost to Toledo, 31-10, at home last week They were 9-4 a year ago, but got clobbered by Louisiana Tech in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, 47-28, so when they face formidable competition, they seem to fold. By the way, La Tech put a huge scare into Bielema and Arkansas last week. They’re an underdog to watch this season. But Auburn should be in good shape here and maybe the offense can find a solid running game, though Kerryon Johnson did play a good game last week but he needs some help. And they’ll need good quarterback play whether it’s Sean White, who will start, or John Franklin, who will play. I like the Tigers to get back on track this week and set themselves up for a huge match up against A&M next Saturday Night @ home on the Plains.

Auburn 52, Ark State 10

 

Kentucky @ Florida

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville (88,548)

2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET

CBS

Verne (never misses his 6 squares a day) Gary and Allie 

92, t storm possible, wind minimal, 4-6

Line: Gators by 16 1/2

The Gators weren’t overly impressive last Saturday Night in defeating UMass, 24-7, but they’re a pretty good team, and Kentucky is not too swift on defense under third year coach Mark Stoops, who is supposed to be this defensive guru, but like his brothers, Bob and Tom, who run Oklahoma’s defenses, he never get the job done when it counts. Stoops is hanging on by a thread, and if this season goes South again, he could be unemployed and co defensive coordinator at Oklahoma next season. Kentucky lost to a pretty good Southern Miss team 44-35, but it was at home and they had a 35-7 lead in the second quarter. Just a colossal meltdown by Stoops and his team. Coach Mac gets it going this week, but they’ll get some resistance. Still, the Gators will take care of business.

Florida 28, Kentucky 10 (already in line at Rupp

Arena)

 

Arkansas (1-0) @ #15 TCU (1-0)

Amon G. Carter Stadium (some rich dude from Texas) Fort Worth, TX (50,000)

6 PM CT/7 PM ET

ESPN

Tess, Todd, Holly

81, fine, wind 10 MPH, somewhat of a factor for a late game tying or game winning field goal.

Line: TCU by 7 1/2

Bielema keeps it close, he’s got a pretty good team, but he doesn’t get it done at the end as he tries something stupid like a fake punt on his own 40, TCU stops it, and scores the game winning TD.

TCU 35, Arkansas 31

 

South Carolina (1-0) @ Mississippi State (0-1)

Davis Wade Stadium, Starkvegas (55,082)

6 PM CT/7 PM ET

ESPN 2

Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham, Laura Rutledge

Weather: Sunny, 86, wind 5 MPH

Line: State by 6 1/2

Dan Mullen pulled his usual gag job in big games as Joey Jones and his South Alabama team came into Starkville and defeated the Bulldogs when Westin Graves gagged on a 28 yard attempt as time expired and South Alabama pulled off the improbable upset, 21-20. Super effort by Joey Jones and his team, and typical Mullen. Joey is just a much better coach than Mullen, and his team is for real. They’re going to beat a lot of people this year. Will Muschamp and his Gamecocks impressively went into Nashville on a Thursday Night and beat Vanderbilt, 13-10,  on super coaching job by Will and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, who made the adjustments when they counted to win the game, and a gag job by Derek Mason and his offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig. Like Will and his team to give Mullen everything they want. I’ll go with Mullen, but just because he has the better overall at this point and it’s at home.

State 24, South Carolina 21

 

Virginia Tech (1-0) vs. No. 17 Tennessee (1-0)11  

Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee (150,000)

7 PM CT/8 PM ET

ABC

Rece, Herbie, Sam, Punch, Marty Smith

Partly cloudy, 78, wind 5 

Line: UT by 11 1/2

The Battle at Bristol is not so riveting a game as Tennessee looked average last week against App State, and Virginia Tech is rebuilding under first year coach Justin Fuente. But it should be fine. Joshua Dobbs still hasn’t proven to me he can throw the ball downfield. He can’t. But he’ll be able to run enough, throw some, and Jalen Hurd will get it done on the ground and the Vols will survive. Not sold on this Tennessee team and Butch Jones at all though. I haven’t been sold on Butch Jones since day one. Starting to like Georgia a little better in the East because Nick Chubb is back. 

Tennessee 28, Va Tech 24

 

Upset City

Middle Tennessee State 28, Vanderbilt 24

South Alabama 31, Georgia Southern 28

Texas Tech 42, Arizona State 38

Other SEC scores

No.9 Georgia 45, Nicholls 7

SEC Network, 11 AM CT/ Noon ET

No. 20 A&M 52, Praire View A&M 0

SEC Alternate Channel, 612 on DirecTV  11 AM CT/Noon ET

What is that with these 2 games. What jokes.

No. 21 LSU 34, Jacksonville State 31

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

Les gives us another indication that he’s not capable of being a big time coach in the SEC. Meanwhile former Spain Park High School John Grass is a very good coach at Jax State.

No. 19 Ole Miss 45, Wofford 7

3 PM CT/4 PM ET, SEC Network

Hugh Freeze and Chad Kelly try to bounce back from the second half disaster in Orlando Monday Night. Florida State is highly legit, especially their quarterback, Deondre Francois. 

Missouri 31, Eastern Michigan 3

6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM SEC Network

National scores

Utah 28, BYU 27

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

No.2 Clemson 42, Troy 3

11:30 AM CT/12:30 PM ET, ACC Network

No.3 Florida State 55, Charleston Southern 0

11:30 AM CT/12:30 PM ET, ACC Network

Fish turns to a cupcake after the Ole Miss win. 

No.4 Ohio State 49, Tulsa 17

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

No.5 Michigan 55, Central Florida 7

11 AM CT/Noon ET, ABC

Harbaugh schedules another powerhouse after his week one blockbuster against Hawaii. Nice job, Jim.

 

NFL predictions

NFC Championship game: Seahawks over Panthers

AFC Championship game: Steelers over Patriots

Super Bowl 51 @ NRG Stadium in Houston,

February 5,2017

Trying to get redemption from Super Bowl 49 in which Tom Brady got the better of them, Russell Wilson gets it done in Houston. Pete Carroll makes up for the most  unconscionable decision in Super Bowl history two years ago with winning the Seahawks their second Lombardi Trophy in four years. This time, Carroll doesn’t mess it up, and Russell and company get it done in an outstanding game. 

Seahawks 35, Steelers 31