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Bama-FSU, Auburn-Florida and a Border War in Oxford headline Week 3 of College Football. College Football Playoff Projections

September 17, 2026

Virginia Tech transfer linebacker Caleb Woodson has made a huge difference at inside backer for the Crimson Tide. (Photo courtesy of Instagram).

The Crimson Tide is out for a little vengeance, and the Auburn Tigers are in a critical rivalry game as their two talented young coaches renew a rivalry of their own from the American Conference. Meanwhile, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium will be extremely raucous as a villain and his team enter the confines.

There will be several other meaningful SEC matchups, with all teams in action, along with some SEC versus non-conference games and a couple of key national matchups featuring heavyweights from the Big Ten, at least I thought so until last Saturday Night in Austin, competing against lighter-weight opponents.

Here’s a look at all of that, along with predictions and projections for the fluid landscape of the 12-team College Football Playoff, on White’s World Sports Confidential.

Last Week’s Record/Overall Record

Straight Up: 15-3, 39-7, 85%. ATS: 8-10, 21-25, 46%. O/U: 13-5, 28-18, 61%.

All game times are Central. All games on Saturday unless otherwise noted.

Florida State (1-1) @ No.10 Alabama (2-0)

Bryant-Denny Stadium, 2:30 P.M., ABC.

Bama by 18 1/2, 48 1/2

After a rough first half, I thought the Tide settled down, played superb defense and got the offense started cookin’. Running back Daniel Hill rushed for 104 yards on 18 carries, 5.8 attempt, with a long run of 31 yards and a TD in a 31-7 road victory over Kentucky. I liked what I saw in the second half.

I like the Tide to exact revenge on FSU on Saturday. I think this team believes that what happened last season at Doak Campbell was unacceptable.

Alabama 35, Florida State 10

I like Keelon Russell and the Crimson Tide to be solid on Saturday as they matriculate this season. (Photo courtesy of *Yahoo Sports*).

Omar Mabson and the Tigers ran the … “heck” out of the ball last Saturday Night in Jordan-Hare. (Photo courtesy of Facebook).

Florida (2-0) @ Auburn (2-0)

Jordan-Hare, 6 P.M., ESPN

Florida by 1 1/2, 53 1/2

I loved the Tigers running game last Saturday, even though Alex was pretty upset about the effort against Southern Miss.

The Tigers rushed for 350 yards last Saturday night in a 43-8 victory over Southern Miss. They were led by Omar Mabson II’s 108 yards, Byrum Brown’s 88 and Jeremiah Cobb’s 85.

Florida has a solid team under first year coach Jon Sumrall, who renews a rivalry with Coach Golesh. Sumrall coached at Tulane and Golesh at South Florida the past several seasons. Sumrall and Tulane defeated Golesh and the Bulls 45-10 in New Orleans in 2024.

The Tigers special teams will have to be solid to corral Florida punt return man Vernell Brown III, who already taken two punts back to the house this season.

With that said, I always like the home crowd at Jordan-Hare and I love the DJ Durkin defense and the running game. Give me the Tigers in a slight upset.

Auburn 27, Florida 24

Are KIffin and LSU doing what they always do? Lie? (Photo courtesy of Instagram).

No. 7 LSU (2-0) @ No.8 Ole Miss (2-0)

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, 6:30 P.M. ABC

LSU by 1 1/2, 57 1/2

What a blockbuster, with massive storylines. Kiffin returns to the place where he’s public enemy number one. The LSU availability report on the SEC website lists quarterback Sam Leavitt as doubtful, meaning there is a 25 percent chance he’ll play. But do you really trust that? It looks like more deception and sandbagging from Kiffin and the Bayou subterfuge machine.

Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacey are still in Oxford, so even if Leavitt starts, I like Chambliss, Lacey and the Rebels to get the better of LSU.

Ole Miss 31, LSU 27

UTSA (2-0) @ No. 1 Texas (2-0)

DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, 7 P.M. SEC Network+

Texas by 29, 58 1/2

Texas couldn’t even get it right after they defeated then-No.1 Ohio State in Austin last Saturday night. After a colossal choke job by Ryan Day, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, quarterback Julian “Just” Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Texas completed an impressive comeback from a 23-3 second half deficit to win 24-23.

While Arch Manning and Steve Sarkisian look like heroes, Sarkisian blew off ABC’s Holly Rowe after the game without giving her the courtesy of an interview. Sarkisian just ran off and said “Hook’em” or something like that looking for his big buddy Matthew McConaughey, who wants to believe he’s a coach despite the fact that he’s all fiction.

Then, on Monday, Manning laughed at and called some sort of spoof of Sarkisian slapping Rowe, “hilarious.” Real classy, Arch.

I’m still not a complete believer in Texas. I still doubt the team’s toughness. Ohio State is never tough under Ryan Day, so Texas defeating the Buckeyes wasn’t really about toughness.

The jury is still out on Texas, in my opinion. The Longhorns have purchased a lot of talent, but can Sarkisian and Manning really get it done when it matters? That’s still my biggest question about them.

Texas 42, UTSA 14

No.2 Georgia (2-0) @ Arkansas (1-1)

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, 11 A.M. ABC

Georgia by 24 1/2, 54 1/2

Georgia is for real, but can Kirby Smart get it done when it really counts? Gunner Stockton and all that talent sure give him a shot. Smart is known for making questionable decisions in the clutch that can cost his teams crucial games, but the Dawgs are highly talented and physical. Arkansas, under first year coach Ryan Silverfield, has a ways to go before it is competitive in the SEC.

Georgia 45, Arkansas 14

Kentucky (1-1) @ No. 9 Texas A&M (2-0)

Kyle Field, College Station, 2:30 P.M. ESPN

A&M by 17 1/2, 50 1/2

Kentucky Coach Will Stein may want to rethink his arrogant comments at SEC Media Days that he’s the reason the Wildcats will excel. It was kind of shocking when he was asked why he thought Kentucky would be successful, and said, “Because of me.” Though Mike Elko’s shown a propensity to collapse in the postseason, he and his Aggies will teach Stein another lesson in life in the SEC. The former Oregon offensive coordinator will get it handed to him again.

A&M 35, Kentucky 14

Mississippi State (2-0) @ South Carolina (2-0)

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, 3:15 P.M. SEC Network

Gamecocks by 3 1/2, 58 1/2

I like LaNorris Sellers and Shane Beamer to just barely get by a much-improved Mississippi State team that went to Minnesota last Saturday and blasted the Golden Gophers, 38-13. I almost want to pick the Bullies and Jeff Lebby, but I’ll take the home-field advantage here.

South Carolina 31, Mississippi State 28

Kennesaw State (1-1) @ No. 15 Tennessee (2-0)

Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, 6:45 P.M. SEC Network

Tennessee by 35 1/2, 59 1/2

Vols freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon has been good so far, but the competition, Furman and a down Georgia Tech team, hasn’t been too strong.

Tennessee 49, Kennesaw State 14

Troy (2-0) @ No.20 Missouri (2-0)

Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Missouri, 6 P.M. SEC Net+

Missouri by 26 1/2, 50 1/2

I like Missouri to win but not cover.

Missouri 34, Troy 10

New Mexico (2-0) @ No.24 Oklahoma (1-1)

Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, 6:30 P.M. ESPN

Oklahoma by 20 1/2, 46 1/2

Another SEC team I like to win, but not cover. Brent Venables, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer were a disaster in 17-10 loss to Michigan at Ann Arbor. All three look like they’re out of their league right now.

Oklahoma 31, New Mexico 14

NC State (1-1) @ Vanderbilt (2-0)

FirstBank Stadium, Nashville. 11:45 A.M., SEC Network

Commodores by 3 1/2, 50 1/2

Five-star freshman Jared Curtis finally gets the start and bails Clark Lea out. This move could definitely change the trajectory of the Commodores program this season. Maybe Curtis can get Lea to six wins and a bowl game victory and more momentum with Curtis the centerpiece of the future.

This is a tough game for the Commodores on Saturday, however. They need to win these out of conference games because the conference ia a beast starting @ Auburn a week from Saturday, 9/26.

Vanderbilt 27, NC State 23

Good games Nationally

No. 16 SMU (2-0) @ No. 23 Louisville (1-1)

L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, Louisville, 2:30 P.M., ESPN2

Louisville by 1 1/2, 59 1/2

I’m looking at a really solid game here, with SMU almost pulling it off. But the home-field advantage gets the job done. Two good teams.

Louisville 31, SMU 30

Friday

No. 22 Houston (2-0) @ No.13 Texas Tech (2-0)

Galaxy Stadium? Lubbock, Texas, 7 P.M., FOX

Texas Tech by 7 1/2, 51 1/2

Lubbock, we’ll have a problem. Taking the upset.

Houston 34, Texas Tech 31

Friday

No. 5 Miami (2-0) @ Wake Forest (2-0)

Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, Winston-Salem, 6:30 P.M., ESPN

Miami by 20 1/2, 55 1/2

Miami looks good, like a top-three team in the country, but the competition has been pretty light. I like’em to win and cover here, though.

Miami 42, Wake 17

Back to Saturday

Michigan State (2-0) @ No.3 Notre Dame (2-0)

Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana, 6:30 P.M., NBC

Notre Dame by 29 1/2, 52 1/2

Notre Dame, who knows yet? I like’em to win at home but not cover.

Notre Dame 42, Michigan State 17

West Virginia (2-0) @ No.25 Virginia

Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina, 6:30 P.M., ACC Network

UVA by 9 1/2, 53 1/2

I love UVA, but I think this’ll be a tough game because Rich Rod is good at West Virginia.

Virginia 28, West VA. 24

Joke National Games

Western Kentucky (0-2) @ No. 4 Indiana (2-0)

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, 3 P.M., Peacock

Indiana by 44 1/2, 60 1/2

Indiana with its typical joke of a non-conference schedule. Come on, Cignetti!

Indiana 49, Western Kentucky 10

Kent State (1-1) @ No.6 Ohio State (1-1)

Ohio Stadium. 11 A.M. Big Ten Network

Ohio State by 52 1/2, 59 1/2

Ryan Day can win the cupcake games, but he hasn’t historically proven that he can defeat the better teams. I’m never sold on Day, even though he won it all two years ago. They spend more than anybody in college football.

Ohio State 58, Kent State 7

One more thing: Dan Lanning may be the most overrated coach in college football. He just can’t ever get it done when it matters. Oregon lost to Oklahoma State 39-31 last Saturday at Stillwater. Oklahoma State has a good new coach in Eric Morris from North Texas, but nearly all of his players are transfers. So, there is no excuse for that. Lanning proved again that he gags in the clutch.

Playoff as of today. It’ll change.

1. Miami 2. Georgia 3. Texas 4. Alabama 5. Notre Dame 6.Ole Miss 7. Texas A&M 8. Indiana 9. Ohio State 10. Houston 11. Virginia 12. Boise State

First Round. All games at the Higher-Seeded Team’s Home Stadium

Friday, December 18, 2026

No.5 Notre Dame over No.12 Boise State, 7 P.M. ESPN

Saturday, 12/19/26

No.6 Ole Miss over No.11 Virginia, 11 A.M. ESPN

No.10 Houston over No.7 Texas A&M, 2:30 P.M. TNT/truTV

No.8 Indiana over No.9 Ohio State, 6:30 P.M. TNT/truTV

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, 12/30/26, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, 6:30 P.M., TNT/truTV

Ole Miss over No.3 Texas

Friday, 1/1/27. All Three Other Quarterfinal Games

Goodyear Cotton Bowl, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, 11 A.M., TNT/truTV

No.4 Alabama over Notre Dame

Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, 3 P.M., ESPN

No.2 Georgia over Houston

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 7 P.M., ESPN

No.1 Miami over Indiana

Semifinals

Thursday, 1/14/27

Capital One Orange Bowl, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, 6:30 P.M., TNT/truTV

Alabama over Miami

Friday, 1/15/27

Allstate Sugar Bowl, Caesars Superdome, N’Awlins, 6:30 P.M., TNT/truTV

Georgia over Ole Miss

National Championship Game

Monday, 1/25/27, Allegiant Stadium, Vegas, 6:30 P.M., ESPN/ABC

Alabama 24, Georgia 23

National Champion

The Alabama Crimson Tide

Most Valuable Player

Keelon Russell

Week 2 College Football features massive game in Austin, Bama on the Road in the SEC, Tigers at home, Riley Green music video

September 10, 2026

Auburn’s Eric Winters with the defensive play of the season so far for the Tigers last Saturday in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Photo courtesy of *Tik Tok*).

Alabama and Auburn emerged victorious last Saturday with the Crimson Tide having a relatively easy time of it despite some hiccups, and the Tigers surviving a strong Baylor effort with one of the best form tackles you’ll ever see to save the game.

This weekend, the headliner is in Austin where the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes and their prolific wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who sure looks like the Heisman leader right now though Miami’s Malachi Toney can give him a run, will square off with Arch Manning and the No.4 Longhorns for a primetime Saturday night game.

The Crimson Tide travels to Kentucky in what will be a good first test for Keelon Russell and the Crimson Tide offense and Yhonzae Pierre and the defense.

The Auburn Tigers after barely getting by Baylor in what turned out to be a riveting final quarter of football, get a home game versus Southern Miss.

There are some other nice matchups with SEC teams playing key national opponents and all the best teams in action.

Last Week- Straight Up-21-0, Overall-24-4, 86%, ATS, 9-12, 13-15, 46%. O/U-11-10, 15-13, 54%.

As usual, all games Saturday unless otherwise noted and all games Central time.

No. 12 Alabama (1-0) @ Kentucky (1-0)

Kroger Field, 2:30 P.M., ABC

Crimson Tide by 10 1/2, 49 1/2

Keelon Russell passed his first test last Saturday. It’ll get a little tougher in Lexington on Saturday. I like what I’m seeing out of freshman running back EJ Crowell. He looks like he’ll be stellar. I like Alabama to get a lot better from game one and have good success in Lexington.

Alabama 38, Kentucky 14

Southern Miss (1-0) @ Auburn (1-0)

Jordan-Hare

6:45 P.M. SEC Network

Tigers by 32 1/2, 56 1/2

Strong safety Eric Winters saved Auburn from a heartbreaker last Saturday with a game- saving tackle of Baylor tight end Matthew Klopfenstein on Baylor’s two point conversion attempt as the Tigers salvaged a victory, 17-16 after being outplayed by Florida transfer quarterback DJ Lagway and the Bears.

Coach Golesh was poised afterwards, but said the team has a lot of work ahead of it, if it wants to have a successful season.

I like the Tigers to get a little better in game two at home.

Auburn 35, Southern Miss 14

No. 1 Ohio State (1-0) @ No.4 Texas (1-0)

DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium

6:30 P.M. ABC

Texas by 1 1/2, 49 1/2

It’s going to be hot and windy in Austin with game time temperatures in the mid 90’s and wind gusting to 18. So this might be a lower scoring game than first thought. I’ll take the Buckeyes and Jeremiah Smith to survive this one. Smith caught 8 passes for a buck fifth one and 2 TDs last Saturday. I see him right now as the best player in college football. He’s the difference-maker for Ohio State.

Ohio State 20, Texas 17

No.11 Oklahoma (1-0) @ Michigan (1-0)

Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor

11 A.M. FOX

OU by 5 1/2, 43 1/2

Michigan is incredibly lucky to have won their game with Western Michigan. After a failed Hail Mary with the clock saying 0:00 left, the Big Ten refs somehow said there was a second left. It was a travesty. Western Michigan should have won that game. Bryce Underwood and Michigan are not impressive.

Michigan has a lot of work to do. I don’t know if new head coach Kyle Whittingham, who came up to Ann Arbor from Utah, is that great.

Oklahoma 23, Michigan 17

No. 18 Tennessee (1-0) @ Georgia Tech (0-1)

Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta

6 P.M. ESPN

Tennessee by 12 1/2, 55 1/2

The Vols have a pretty tough opponent, and the weather is a little questionable as of right now with a chance of t-storms and windy. Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon looks pretty sharp. Vols skate by.

Tennessee 20, Tech 14

Arizona State (1-0) @ No. 10 Texas A&M (1-0)

Kyle Field, College Station

11 A.M. ABC

Aggies by 14 1/2, 50 1/2

Arizona State is scrappy under Kenny Dillingham. They give Marcel Reed and the Aggies some trouble, but A&M survives.

Texas A&M 31, Arizona State 27

Western Kentucky (0-1) @ No.2 Georgia (1-0)

Sanford Stadium, Athens

11:45 A.M. SEC Network

Georgia by 40 1/2, 55 1/2

As Excedrin says, “Dawgs keep it rollin’.” Injuries are the main concern for Georgia in this game.

Georgia 56, Western Kentucky 10

Friday

No.23 Missouri (1-0) @ Kansas (1-0)

Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence

7 P.M. FOX

Missouri by 5 1/2, 50 1/2

I’m looking at a pretty tight game here, but I’ll take the Mizzou Tigers to emerge.

Missouri 30, Kansas 24

Louisiana Tech (1-0) @ No. 8 LSU (1-0)

Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA.

6:30 P.M. SEC Network+

LSU by 35 1/2, 56 1/2

I’m going to stop worrying about Kiffin. He’ll always be hateable, but the team looks good. They did kill a pretty terrible Clemson team last Saturday Night. Dabo looks clueless in this era of college football. I like the old school recruiting and development approach the best, but you’ve got to change things up when things are going south. I would think Clemson has the financial ability to attract good players. Don’t know for a fact, but South Carolina can, so Dabo either needs to accept this new era of college football or call it a career.

LSU 49, LA Tech 13

Mississippi State (1-0) @ Minnesota (1-0)

Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis

2:30 P.M. CBS

Minnesota by 1 1/2, 55 1/2

I’ll take the upset here. I like what I’m seeing in year 3 at Starkville with Coach Jeff Lebby and new quarterback Kamario Taylor, who completed 22 of 34 last Saturday for 354 yards and 4 TDs and 0 interceptions as State “bulldozed” LA. Monroe, 62-13.

Give me Coach Lebby, Taylor and the Bullies.

State 27, Minnesota 24

Arkansas (1-0) @ No.20 Utah (1-0)

Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake

9:15 P.M. ESPN

Utah by 12 1/2, 55 1/2

I’ll take the Utes.

Utah 31, Arkansas 21

No. 9 Ole Miss 55, Charlotte 7

Vaught-Hemingway, Oxford

6:45 P.M. ESPN

Ole Miss by 47 1/2, 59 1/2

Ole Miss is lucky to be 1-0. Their defense fell apart against Louisville and they barely survived. Louisville’s a pretty good offense, but Pete Golding was saying how great his defense was before the season and I’m not seeing it.

Other Scores from the SEC and Nationally

Florida 45, Campbell 14

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

4:30 P.M. SEC Network+

Gators by 51 1/2, 66 1/2

Florida hasn’t been challenged, so it’s hard to tell if they’re any good.

South Carolina 49, Towson 6

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia

6 P.M. SEC Network+

Gamecocks by 42 1/2, 55 1/2

Even though they haven’t played anybody I’m getting pretty bullish on this team with OC Kendal Briles working with LaNorris Sellers.

Vanderbilt 34, Delaware 17

FirstBank Stadium, Nashville

3:15 P.M. SEC Network

Vandy by 21 1/2, 54 1/2

I don’t like at all what Clark Lea is doing with his two quarterback system. Play five-star freshman Jared Curtis and don’t play low three-star senior Blaze Berlowitz. He’s messing up the team and the momentum they created from last season.

No.6 Oregon 37, Oklahoma State 14

Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK.

11 A.M. ESPN

Oregon by 22 1/2, 56 1/2

I thought Oregon wouldn’t have major problems with Boise State, but they just got by, 34-27 at home. The question every year is do you trust Oregon? I never do trust them to go all the way, but we got a long way to go.

No. 5 Indiana 66, Howard 7

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington

11 A.M. Big Ten Network

Indiana by 56 1/2, 65 1/2

Total joke. You never know much about this team when they play these cupcakes. I do like quarterback Josh Hoover throwing a TD pass with blood all over his face.

Today

Miami 70, Florida A&M 3

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

7 P.M. ACC Network

Miami by 59 1/2, 65 1/2

Another joke game, but I do think the Canes are for real. Indiana is too for that matter. Malachi Toney caught 12 passes for 234 yards and 3 TDs for the Canes last Friday @ Stanford in a 45-6 victory. Quarterback Darian Mensah completed 27 of 30 passes for 401, 5 TDs and 0 interceptions. Certainly Heisman candidates on South Beach.

Here’s a nice music video from Jacksonville, Alabama native Riley Green.

With the NFL season kicking off tonight, here are Postseason Predictions for the National Football League; Ben Shelton shocks the tennis world, Elite Southern Music Video

September 9, 2026

The great Bo Nix, a former Auburn Tiger, aims to take the Broncos to the next level in 2026. (Photo courtesy of *Mile High Sports*).

The National Football League kicks off tonight in Seattle with the New England Patriots squaring off with the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks at 7:20 CT on NBC. The Patriots get another shot at the Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl LX (60). It’s a tough assignment for the Pats.

Thursday, the 49ers play the Rams at Melbourne Cricket Ground? Down Under in Melbourne, Australia. Men at Work performing at halftime? They got a little age on them, so I doubt it.

The game kicks off at 7:35 P.M. on Netflix. All the games listed above and below are all on the Central time schedule.

Sunday’s key games include the Bears @ the Panthers, kicking off at 12 P.M. on FOX.

The Bills play @ the Texans at 12 P.M. on CBS.

At 3:25 P.M., the Packers play @ the Vikings on CBS.

Also at 3:25 P.M., the Commanders play @ the Eagles.

Sunday Night Football features How ’bout them Cowboys! @ the New Yawk Giants at 7:20 on NBC.

And on Monday Night Football, the Broncos play @ the Chiefs at 7:15 on ABC and E-S-P-N.

Here are my Postseason Predictions for the National Football League 2026-27 season including which teams I like to make the playoffs, who will win in the postseason, and which team will hoist the Lombardi Trophy as winners of Super Bowl LXI on Sunday, February 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA., essentially Los Angeles, where the Rams and Chargers play. ESPN will broadcast the Big Game.

In my Playoff Predictions in ’25-26, I was 7-6 Straight Up, 6-7 ATS, and 6-7 on the Over/Under.

Got the Seahawks over the Patriots straight up, ATS and got the O/U correctly in Super Bowl LX.

Seven teams qualify from each conference for a total of 14 Playoff teams. Top 4 teams are the division winners, with 3 wild cards in each conference, and seedings in the wild card round determined by final regular season records.

NFC

Wild Card Round

No.1- Los Angeles Rams, Get a bye

No.2 Detroit over No.7 Chicago

No. 3 Philly Eagles over No.6 Packers

No.5 Seahawks over No.4 Carolina

Divisional Round

Rams over Seahawks

Eagles over Detroit

NFC Championship Game

Rams 20, Eagles 17

NFC Champion- Rams

AFC

Wild Card Round

No.1- Denver Broncos, bye

No.2 Ravens over No.7 Bengals

No. 3 Patriots over No.6 Bills

No. 5 Chargers over No.4 Texans

Divisional Round

Broncos over Chargers

Ravens over Patriots

AFC Championship Game

Broncos 23, Ravens 21

AFC Champion- Denver Broncos

Super Bowl LXI

LA Rams vs. Denver Broncos

Two Super Bowl winning coaches in Sean Payton, who won it all in the 2009 season with the N’Awlins Saints in Super Bowl XLIV (44) at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, defeating the Indy Colts, 31-17, on February 7, 2010, and Sean McVay, who won it with the Rams in the 2021 season, on February 13, 2022 in Super Bowl LVI (56) at SoFi, defeating Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20. McVay was the youngest coach to ever win a Super Bowl at 36 years old. Payton will be 63 in the 2027 Super Bowl, while McVay will be 41.

I’ll take Super Bowl winning quarterback Matthew Stafford over a highly talented Broncos team and their young, stellar quarterback, Bo Nix. Stafford will be 39 years old at the Super Bowl, while Nix will be 26. I love the fact that the Rams have Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald on their defensive front. Donald, at 35, came out of retirement to run it back for the Rams again. The talent on both sides will be elite. Should be a classic.

Rams 24, Broncos 21

Super Bowl 61 Champion: LA Rams

Super Bowl MVP: Matthew Stafford

Stafford hoists another Lombardi Trophy as part of his illustrious career. (Photo courtesy of Britannica).

Ben Shelton pulls off the improbable. (Photo courtesy of *Sky Sports-London*).

The prolific Carlos Alcaraz appeared to be headed towards his 8th Grand Slam title at the 146th U.S. Open as he had matriculated into the quarterfinals last night with stellar play along the way. Carlos, after being out for four months due to a broken wrist, had found his form during play at Flushing Meadows in Queens and looked unbeatable. I took a risk before the Open thinking Carlos might be a little rusty and had Ben Shelton defeating him in the quarterfinals.

I have to admit, I wasn’t completely confident Ben could do it last night. This was classic David vs Goliath. But Ben brought his slingshot and slayed the giant as he defeated the great Alcaraz in 5 sets, 6-7, 6-1,6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7). I was asleep, but Beth got up to check. My wife is so passionate about tennis that she knows every player, man and woman, where they’re from, who they date or are married to, and if they have a dog.

I was waiting for her because I wanted to know if there was any chance Ben pulled it off. When she told me he did, I couldn’t go back to sleep I was so amped up. I ended up getting out of bed at 4:30 and had a text waiting for me from Derrick! It was at 1:39 A.M. and he sent me a video of Ben acing Carlos for the victory. It was magic.

Carlos was so classy in defeat, too. Couldn’t have been a better sport/prince of a guy. No doubt, Carlos will have many more appearances and opportunities to win Slams. But last night/this morning in the City that never sleeps, it was Ben’s day at the office.

I hope my daughters, who both live in Manhattan, were asleep, because they both had to work today! I’ll find out later this week. My son-in-law played tennis at W&L and is totally passionate about the sport as well, so he may be a little weary at the office today.

So it’s onto the semifinals for Ben. He’ll face the amazing ‘Foe, Frances Tiafoe, who came back from two sets down to defeat fellow American Alex Michelsen, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6). ‘Foe was down 0-3 in the fifth and brought it all the way back. What an effort by the 28 year old from D.C.

The 22 year old Michelsen played his heart out too, but just came up a little short.

So it’s an All-American semifinal in one semi, and I’m not even thinking Alexander Zverev will be challenged on the other side and will make the final, where I’m predicting he’ll face Ben, who escapes Frances in 4 sets.

I like Ben over Zverev 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5. It’ll be a classic as the German and reigning French Open champion will be a tough out.

But give me the 23 year old from Atlanta, by way of the University of Florida, where he had a cup of coffee and won the NCAA singles championship in 2022. This would be an awesome story for the American.

A very interesting fact that commenter Carter Dukes told me. CD is the only guy in Birmingham who has a victory over Ben Shelton’s dad, Bryan, who is a superb guy and also Ben’s coach. CD did it 47 years ago. Incredible, CD.

Have Coco Gauff over Aryna Sabalenka in my women’s final, and that’s still viable.

So far, so good.

But Coco has some tough matches ahead of her to reach the final. Sabalenka is already in the semis where she’ll face Jesse Pegula. The great Gauff plays Russian phenom Mirra Andreeva today in the quarterfinals after Elena Rybikana and Qinwen Zheng finish their quarterfinal match. If she can get by Mirra, she’ll face the Rybikana/Zheng winner in the semis.

So Coco has her work cut out for her. But I believe in her.

Thursday: Week 2 College Football, Previews and Predictions