Bama/UT, Auburn/GA., key SEC games and national blockbusters this week on the slate in CFB, Week 7

College Football Week 7 is the best week of the season so far, and it may be the best weekend all year though week 10 is strong as well with the Crimson Tide @ LSU among other games. But this weekend has more blockbusters. Here are previews and predictions.

Last week, SU: 9-5, overall, 84-24, 78%. ATS: 7-7, 56-52, 52%. O/U: 7-7, 62-46, 57%.

All games are Central time and all games on Saturday unless otherwise listed.

No.6 Alabama (5-1, 3-1) @ No.14 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1)

Neyland Stadium

2:30 P.M.

ABC

Crimson Tide by 8 1/2, 51 1/2

The Crimson Tide faithful is still irate over the pathetic officiating last Saturday Night in Tuscaloosa that cost them a victory over Georgia. There was an pretty clear interception by QB Reese that was ruled an interception on the field and inexplicably overturned on review in the third quarter that would have put the Tide in the redzone, a face mask penalty that was missed. A targeting penalty by Georgia safety KJ Bolden on Ryan Coleman-Williams that was also inexplicably missed by this substandard crew. And the worst, was the missed pass interference call by the refs that cost the Tide from having the ball first and goal from the two yard line.

If a pass interference penalty occurs in the end zone from the 17 yard line to the goal line of the offending team in their territory, the ball is placed at that opponent’s two yard line.

Referee Kyle Olson’s crew was horrifically bad. On the missed pass interference call, back judge Tom Fimmen should have seen it and called it, center judge Chris Garner should have flagged it, line judge Chad Lorance missed it too, as did umpire Rod Tucker. That’s four flags that should have come out. Bolden of Georgia was the offender once again. It was a travesty and an embarrassment to officiating. The Crimson Tide deserved better. Georgia is good, but Alabama is the better team in my opinion. Georgia played a good game, but won because the officials were terrible. Those guys should be suspended.

But now the Crimson Tide has to turn the page and get ready for a tough one in Knoxville. I still like this team very much and see them handling business even with injuries to Coleman-Williams and starting center Racin Delgatty. Love what Kalen DeBoer is doing with his football team. A lot left to play for, for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama 31, Tennessee 21

Auburn (3-2, 1-2) @ No.1 Georgia (6-0, 4-0)

Sanford Stadium, Athens

2:30 P.M.

ESPN

Georgia by 21 1/2, 49 1/2

It hasn’t been going well on the Plains. It’ll probably be a long afternoon. Kirby Smart needs to clean up his act. No wonder players have so many arrests over there listening to that guy talking to them all day.

Georgia 35, Auburn 13

Florida (4-2, 2-2) @ No.7 Texas (4-1, 1-1)

DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin

11 A.M.

ABC

Texas by 11 1/2, 52 1/2

I don’t trust Texas very much, but Florida has imploded the last couple of weeks.

Texas 34, Florida 21

No.13 Missouri (5-1, 2-1) @ No.9 Ole Miss (4-1, 2-1)

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxvegas

2:30 P.M.

SEC Network

Ole Miss by 5 1/2, 58 1/2

It’ll be close, both teams are good. But I like Trinidad and the Rebels to get the job done at home.

Ole Miss 31, Missouri 28

No. 16 Mississippi State (4-1, 2-1) @ No.22 LSU (4-2, 1-2)

Tiguh Stadium, Baaton Rouge

11 A.M.

ESPN

LSU by 14 1/2, 57 1/2

I really like what State has done this year, though the Crimson Tide exposed them a couple of weeks ago. It’s not going according to the plan for Lane and the LSU brass. Natives will be restless if they lose another one down the road.

LSU 38, Mississippi State 17

No. 15 Kentucky (5-1, 3-1) @ Oklahoma (3-2, 1-1)

Memorial Stadium, Norman

6:30 P.M.

S-E-C Network

Sooners by 6 1/2, 43 1/2

I love what Will Stein is doing in Lexington. I like them to go on the road and pull off another upset.

Kentucky 23, Oklahoma 21

Arkansas (2-4, 0-3) @ Vanderbilt (3-3, 0-3)

FirstBank Stadium, Nashville

6 P.M.

ESPN2

Vandy by 6 1/2, 50 1/2

Arkansas played Tennessee tough at home last Saturday, losing 24-17. Vanderbilt has imploded and just dismissed a player for strangling a person at a downtown fight last Saturday Night. Not going so swiftly for Clark Lea right now. He’s a wordy guy. Probably bores his players to death.

Arkansas 27, Vanderbilt 23

The Citadel (2-4) @ Texas A&M (3-3)

Kyle Field, College Station

12 P.M.

SEC Network+

A&M by 45 1/2, 56 1/2

What a joke game. Right now, Mike Elko and A&M are a joke team.

Texas A&M 45, The Citadel 10

No. 4 Ohio State (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten) @ No. 5 Indiana (6-0, 3-0)

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington

11 A.M.

FOX

Ohio State by 3 1/2, 49 1/2

Give me Cignetti and Indiana. They’re the tougher team.

Indiana 24, Ohio State 21

No.2 Notre Dame (6-0) @ No. 8 BYU (6-0)

LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah

6:30 P.M.

ABC

Fighting Irish by 10 1/2, 46 1/2

Expecting a classic in prime time on Saturday Night. LaVell Edwards will be rocking. Give me Kilani Sitake and the Cougars to pull off a colossal upset.

BYU 24, Notre Dame 23

Florida State (3-3, 1-2 ACC) @ No. 3 Miami (5-0, 3-0)

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL.

6 P.M.

ESPN

Miami by 21 1/2, 56 1/2

The clock is ticking on the Mike Norvell tenure in Tallahassee. Miami was looking good, but they’ve fallen off some lately. Some are attributing it to injuries. Everybody has injuries.

Miami 37, Florida State 14

Wisconsin (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) @ No. 12 UCLA (5-0, 3-0)

Rose Bowl, Pasadena

6:30 P.M.

NBC

UCLA by 2 1/2, 42 1/2

I like an extremely close game with the Bruins barely surviving. They lost their starting quarterback for the year last week at Oregon in a 17-15 upset victory that put them on the map. It’ll be interesting to see how they “matriculate” without him.

UCLA 21, Wisconsin 20

No. 18 Oklahoma State (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) @ No. 20 Houston (5-1, 2-1)

TDECU Stadium, Rocket City

6:30 P.M.

FOX

Houston by 4 1/2, 62 1/2

I like the Cougars, on their home turf, to knock off the Cowboys.

Houston 35, OK State 30

Tonight

East Carolina (3-2, 1-0 American) @ UAB (3-3, 1-1)

Protective Stadium, Magic City

6:30

ESPN

East Carolina by 5 1/2, 48 1/2

I really like what Alex Mortensen, Todd Grantham and the Blazers are doing. They’re building something. Derrick’s going to be real happy with me.

UAB 24, East Carolina 23

Bama-Georgia in a Premier contest, other SEC matchups look riveting. National slate is strong as well. Week 6 College Football Unplugged. Updated White’s World Playoff Projections

The weather has been questionable all week for the game with a possibly serious situation taking place in Mobile, Pensacola and the Florida Panhandle this weekend with Hurricane Isaias aiming at the Florida/Alabama Gulf Coast. But the two elite voices of meteorology, Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel, and Jimmy Spanno of ABC 33/40, are predicting better outcomes with wind shear of 80 MPH working against Isaias, which could hopefully dissipate the strength of this storm.

Very hopeful and prayerful that Mobile and the Florida Panhandle get spared from a potentially serious situation.

As for the games this weekend, weather could be a factor, but not likely as serious as it looked earlier this week, especially for the No.6 Crimson Tide and the No.2 Georgia Bulldogs.

The Crimson Tide/Georgia game is the obvious headliner. Nick Saban called Georgia “the most complete team in the country” a couple of weeks ago on GameDay, but Kirby Smart is not buying that, calling it a bait and switch move by the former Crimson Tide coach.

He thinks Saban was pulling a little gamesmanship as Saban is still an employee at Alabama making almost $50K a month. Could be some real truth to that, though Georgia was looking pretty strong a couple of weeks ago. They’ll have running back Nate Frazier back, which will really help their cause. However, second stringer Chauncey Bowens is out. The Crimson Tide looks somewhat healthy, but there are some injuries on defense, though none that made a difference against Mississippi State last Saturday in a spectacular effort on both sides of the ball.

So here’s a look at this clash of the Titans and who I like to emerge along with the other key SEC games including the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl featuring the No.1 Texas Longhorns and the struggling Oklahoma Sooners.

Those games, the other SEC matchups, and some quality national competition are on the docket in an action packed Saturday in college football. The weather will need to cooperate at places including B’ham.

Here are my previews and predictions along with my playoff predictions below this week’s game capsules.

All game times Central and all games Saturday.

Last Week’s Record/Overall

Straight Up: 10-2, 75-19, 80%

ATS: 5-7, 49-45, 52%

Over/Under: 8-4, 55-39, 59%

No.2 Georgia (5-0, 3-0 SEC) @ No.6 Alabama (5-0, 3-0)

Bryant-Denny, T-town

6:30 P.M.

ABC

Bama by 1 1/2, 51 1/2

It’s a battle with tremendous SEC and National implications. The loser of this game is not falling out of the playoff picture by any stretch. These are both excellent football teams, but right now I think the Crimson Tide is the most complete team in the country. And I like Kalen DeBoar, Ryan Grubb and Kane Wommack over Kirby Smart, Mike Bobo and Glenn Schumann.

Alabama 27, Georgia 24

No.1 Texas (4-0, 1-0) vs. Oklahoma (2-2, 0-1)

Cotton Bowl, Big D

2:30 P.M.

ABC

Longhorns by 7 1/2, 39 1/2

Oklahoma’s defense might keep them in it for a little while, but I like the Longhorns to play terrific defense as well, and stymie a dormant Sooner offense and “taking care of business” in the Red River Rivalry.

Texas 28, Oklahoma 10

No.10 LSU (4-1, 1-1) @ Kentucky (4-1,2-1)

Kroger Field, Lexington

6 P.M.

E-S-P-N

Bengal Tigers by 8 1/2, 52 1/2

Kentucky should be ranked by now. That’s a travesty. But I like Lane and company to get the job done on the road.

LSU 31, Kentucky 21

No.9 Ole Miss (3-1, 1-1) @ Vandy (3-2, 0-2)

FirstBank Stadium, Nashville

2:30 P.M.

ESPN

Ole Miss by 9 1/2, 54 1/2

Give me the Rebels to handle business in the Music City. Trinidad and company bounce back from the Florida debacle.

Ole Miss 31, Vanderbilt 17

South Carolina (2-3, 0-3) @ No.16 Florida (4-1, 2-1)

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

11:45 A.M.

S-E-C Network

Gators by 10 1/2, 59 1/2

Jon Sumrall and Florida got it handed to’em in Columbia, Missouri last Saturday, so they’re still “feeling the effects,” as Ken Cobb used to say after a night out on the town. I’ll take Florida, but Shane Beamer makes a more believable bid at keeping his job, though it’s in major jeopardy.

Florida 31, South Carolina 28

Texas A&M (3-2, 1-2) @ No.14 Missouri (4-1, 1-1)

Memorial Stadium, Columbia, MO.

11 A.M.

ABC

Missouri Tigers by 3 1/2, 48 1/2

A&M is the other most disappointing team in the SEC along with South Carolina. Mike Elko needs to get it together. I like how Missouri is trending.

Missouri 24, Texas A&M 20

No. 15 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1) @ Arkansas (2-3, 0-2)

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville

3:15 P.M.

SEC Network

UT-Knoxville by 13 1/2, 51 1/2

George McIntyre is expected to start at QB for the Vols as starter Faizon Brandon is questionable with a shoulder injury. They might be better off with McIntyre as Brandon really struggled against Auburn last Saturday and was benched in favor of McIntyre.

Vols running back DeSean Bishop was a beast last Saturday against the Tigers as he rushed for 220 on 34 totes with 3 TDs. He’s rushed for 540 yards this season on 88 carries, 6.1 per carry, with 7 TDs and he averages 108 per rushing yards per game. That’s impressive for a three-star out of high school in 2023 who came to Knoxville as a preferred walk-on.

Tennessee 31, Arkansas 14

Off this week: Auburn, a lot to work on, Mississippi State, still feeling the Ken Cobb effects.

Key National Games

No.21 UCLA (4-0, 2-0 Big Ten) @ No. 13 Oregon (3-1,1-0)

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR.

2:30 P.M.

CBS

Oregon by 11 1/2, 59 1/2

The Bruins look like they could be back after many years of being away from the meaningful national landscape. Bob Chesney has come out to the left coast from James Madison, where he took his team last season to the Playoff last season and has posted a 132-52 career record, and toughened the Bruins up. I like for Chesney and his team to give Oregon everything it wants. I’ll take the upset.

UCLA 35, Oregon 31

No. 7 Indiana (5-0, 2-0, Big Ten) @ Nebraska (5-0, 2-0)

Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE.

11 A.M.

FOX

Hoosiers by 7 1/2, 47 1/2

I’ve watched a pretty good bit of IU, and still think they’re for real, though they haven’t won as handily as they did last season. New QB Josh Hoover has completed 76 of 107 passes, 71%, for 1,101 yards, 15 TDs against 0 interceptions. Still bullish on Cignetti and the Hoosiers, and still don’t believe in Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers that much.

Indiana 28, Nebraska 17

Maryland (2-3, 0-2) @ No.5 Ohio State (4-1, 2-0)

Ohio Stadium, Columbus

3:15 P.M.

Big Ten Network

Ohio State by 34 1/2, 56 1/2

I’m really sick and tired of Jeremiah Smith and some other players striking the Heisman pose after scoring touchdowns against inferior teams. That kid and a couple of others are showing a lot of arrogance, and after Texas shut him down in the second half in Austin and he dropped a couple of passes, Smith might think twice before acting so arrogantly against lesser competition. He hasn’t proven it against a real team yet this season, that’s for sure.

Ohio State 45, Maryland 14

Stanford (2-3) @ No.3 Notre Dame (5-0)

Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN.

2:30 P.M.

NBC

Fighting Irish by 38 1/2, 54 1/2

I like the Fighting Irish to win, but that’s a few too many points for me. There’s always that question of how good are they really? Miami plays at Notre Dame later this season, so we’ll find out then.

Notre Dame 42, Stanford 10

No. 19 USC (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) @ Penn State (3-2, 0-2)

Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA.

6:30 P.M.

NBC

Penn State by 1 1/2, 54 1/2

I’ll take the slight upset here. Lincoln Riley sure needs it.

USC 27, Penn State 24

North Carolina (2-2, 0-1 ACC) @ No.25 Pitt (5-0, 2-0)

Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA.

11 A.M.

ESPN

Pittsburgh by 3 1/2, 47 1/2

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi looks like he came straight out of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, but his team is good. They did lose starting quarterback Mason Heintschel for the season to an injury last Friday Night at Virginia Tech in a wild 35-33 Panthers win in which a last second field goal by VA Tech was ruled no good by the refs under the crossbars. Man, it was close. But Pittsburgh moved on. Former Auburn quarterback Holden Geriner is the starter for Pitt now, and he looked pretty good to me last Friday Night. He was a four-star out of high school in Georgia when Auburn signed him in 2022.

Pittsburgh 28, North Carolina 24

UCF (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) @ No. 18 Oklahoma State (3-1, 1-0)

Boone Pickens Stadium. Gotta love that. Sounds like a successful Southwestern oil businessman, which he was. Stillwater, OK.

11 A.M.

ESPN2

OK. State by 10 1/2, 53 1/2

I’m buying first year coach Eric Morris and the Pokes.

Oklahoma State 35, UCF 23

College Football Playoff as it stands today

1. Alabama, 2. Miami, 3. Georgia, 4. Notre Dame 5. Texas, 6. Indiana, 7. Ohio State, 8. LSU, 9. UCLA, 10. Oklahoma State, 11. Utah, 12. North Dakota State

First Round, played at home stadiums of higher seeded teams

Friday, 12/18/26

No.5 Texas over No.12 North Dakota State, 7 P.M., ESPN

Saturday, 12/19/26

No.6 Indiana over No.11 Utah, 11 A.M., ESPN

No.10 Oklahoma State over No. 7 Ohio State, 2:30 P.M. TNT/truTV

No.8 LSU over No. 9 UCLA, 6:30 P.M., TNT/truTV

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, 12/30/26,

VRBO Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ.

6:30 P.M., TNT/truTV

No. 3 Georgia over No. 8 LSU

Friday, 1/1/27

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

7 P.M., ESPN

No.1 Alabama over No.10 Oklahoma State

Goodyear Cotton Bowl, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX.

11 A.M.

No.6 Indiana over No.2 Miami

Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA.

3 P.M., ESPN

No.5 Texas over No.4 Notre Dame

Semifinals

Thursday, 1/14/27

Capital One Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens

6:30 P.M., TNT/truTV

No.6 Indiana over No. 3 Georgia

Friday, 1/15/27

Allstate Sugar Bowl, N’Awlins

6:30 P.M., ABC/ESPN

No.1 Alabama over No.5 Texas

National Championship Game

Monday, January 25, 2027

Allegiant Stadium, Vegas

6:30 P.M. ESPN/ABC

No.1 Alabama 27, No.6 Indiana 24

The Crimson Tide extracts revenge from last season’s Rose Bowl.

National Champion: Alabama

MVP, Keelon Russell