After two highly impressive victories, one on the road versus Georgia, and another at home over a probably overly-hyped Vanderbilt team-I admit I drank the PGA-the No. 8 Crimson Tide takes on another challenge in its own SEC gauntlet with a trip to COMO to take on the No.14 Missouri Tigers with an 11 A.M. kick on ABC. Can the Tide keep its awesome momentum going? They sure look pretty strong to me on both sides of the ball, and, particularly, at the quarterback position. More on this matchup in a second. The Auburn Tigers try to get up off the mat and upset No.10 Georgia in the 130th meeting of the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.” Georgia leads the series at 65-56-8 and has won the last 8 editions, starting in 2017 in Kirby Smart’s second year. It’ll be at Jordan-Hare on Saturday Night at 6:30, so expect major electricity in a stadium where magic or tragic happens, depending on which side of the ledger you’re on. And, at the Cotton Bowl, the 121st edition of the Red River Rivalry will commence at 2:30 P.M. CT on ABC. Texas holds the head to head advantage, 64-51-5. The key question for an Oklahoma team with high national aspirations is: will quarterback John Mateer get the start? He suffered a broken bone in his throwing hand against Auburn on Saturday, September 20th, and had surgery on that hand the following Wednesday, 9/24. The timeline for his return was three weeks, and it’ll just be two weeks and change on Saturday, but he wants to play, and is now listed as questionable for the game. ***Update*** Pete Thamel of ESPN reported 30 minutes ago that Mateer will attempt to play. A lot of times when players are questionable, they will play. OU Coach Brent Venables said that Mateer had not practiced, “good on good” this week, meaning he hadn’t practiced against the starters on defense. But, according to Thamel, Mateer will give it a go. Another question, this time for the opposing side, is, can Steve Sarkisian and Arch Manning get their act together and live up to what were extremely high expectations for this football team? It looks pretty dismal right now in Austin, but a victory over their arch rival would be a shot in the arm for the Horns, who are in an uphill battle right now to get back into the SEC and national narrative. Another key game transpires in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday at 2:30 CT on CBS as the No. 3 Oregon Ducks host the No.7 Indiana Hoosiers. Is Indiana for real? That’s the question that will be answered Saturday. Looks like Oregon is. There are other key games in the SEC and nationally as teams battle to position themselves into the playoff hunt. Off this week in the SEC are Vanderbilt, Diego Pavia needs it to tamp down his arrogance, sure cost him last Saturday in Bryant-Denny, Mississippi State and Kentucky. Nationally, No.2 Miami, one of the top 3 or 4 teams in the country right now, though they haven’t played out of the state of Florida, is off. No.23 Memphis, the leader in the clubhouse for a Group of Five playoff berth, is off as well. They’ll travel to Protective Stadium in the Magic City next Saturday for a 3 P.M. kickoff versus the UAB Blazers. The game will be broadcast by ESPN2. The owner of the Fennec will be locked in to this one. Man, do the Blazers need a program changing victory. Saturday is Joseph “Bama Golf’s” Birthday. Early happy birthday, Big Man. As Brombey says, “may all your six footers find the bottom of the cup this weekend.” Here are my Previews and Predictions for a riveting week 7 in college football.

Record

Last Saturday: SU: 6-4, Overall, 73-21, 78%; ATS: 4-6, 46-48, 49%; O/U: 6-4, 51-43, 54%.

All times Central. All games Saturday unless otherwise noted.

No. 8 Alabama (4-1, 2-0 SEC @ No. 14 Missouri (5-0, 1-0)

Memorial Stadium, Columbia, MO., 62,621

11 A.M.

ABC

Tess, Jess, Katie

Alabama by 2 1/2, 51 1/2

I’ve been on the short end of the stick in my last two predictions against the Crimson Tide, going against the Tide @ Georgia, and against them at home versus Vanderbilt. Ty Simpson is playing exceptional football for the Tide. He’s completed 70% of his passes, 111-of-158, for 1,478 yards, with 13 TDs against only 1 interception. I don’t like doing this the second week of October, and it’s already been talked about this week, but if he keeps this up, Ty’s right in the thick of it to win the Heisman on Saturday, December 13th, my daughter’s wedding day. I will be in New York for the wedding, she lives there, just not at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room at 6 P.M. CT on ABC. I’ll be at the Players Club in Manhattan giving my daughter away, and will be ecstatic about that. But will stay informed on the Heisman, of course. Long way to go and the Tide has a tough matchup this Saturday, but Ty is playing up to his 2022, 98, 5-star ranking he posted out of Westview High School in Martin, Tennessee, a northwestern Tennessee town of a little over 10,000 people, 135 miles to the north and slightly east of Memphis.

Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy leads the country both in rushing yards with 730, and in rushing TDs with 9. Jamal Roberts is a good Robin to Hardy’s Batman, as he has rushed for 350 yards and 3, 6’s. Hardy is averaging 7.1 yards per carry while Roberts is at 7.3. Penn State transfer quarterback Beau Pribula has found a home in Columbia as he’s completed 76% of his passes, 110-of-145, for 1,203 yards, and 9 TDs against three ints. Nose tackle Tim Keenan III and safety Keon Sabb will need to lead their defense in an attempt to neutralize a strong Tigers offensive arsenal.

But I’m not going to make another mistake again by picking against the Tide. I trust Kalen, Ryan Grubb, Ty and company to get the job done in COMO. As my wife said to me after the Georgia game, “Don’t doubt the Tide.”

Crimson Tide 28, Missouri 24

No.10 Georgia (4-1, 2-1)) @ Auburn (3-2, 0-2)

Jordan-Hare Stadium, 87,451

6:30 P.M.

ABC

Sean, Gregory, Molly

Georgia by 3 1/2, 46 1/2

Hugh and the Tigers have to break through and end this losing streak to Georgia in Jordan-Hare, right? It’s been eight long years since the Tigers last defeated the Bulldogs. I don’t see it happening this Saturday either even in the electric, magical confines of Jordan-Hare. I make enemies every week on this Blog. Last week it was Joseph, Walter, Excedrin, Spike Me Up and Derrick. Got Brownie and company mad at me this week. Sorry, MB. Life of a sportswriter.

Georgia 24, Auburn 20

No. 6 Oklahoma (5-0, 1-0) vs. Texas (3-2, 0-1)

Cotton Bowl, Big D, 92,100

2:30 P.M.

ABC

Chris, Herbie, Holly

Texas by 1 1/2, 44 1/2

This line keeps going up and down depending on the ever changing playing status of John Mateer. Four and a half hours ago, when I started this, OU was favored by a point and a half. Mateer sounds like he’s a go. If he can’t get the job done, if he’s just not ready physically, I still like Michael Hawkins Jr. to do enough and for the stellar OU defense to keep the Sooners’ playoff aspirations very much alive. Should be an excellent football game.

Oklahoma 21, Texas 17

Florida (2-3, 1-1) @ No.5 Texas A&M (5-0, 2-0)

Kyle Field, College Station, TX., 102, 733

6 P.M.

ESPN

Mark, Roddy, Quint

Aggies by 7 1/2, 47 1/2

I still think Billy Napier’s Gators are good. They are playing one of the toughest schedules in the country. After A&M on the road this Saturday, they’ll play Georgia in Jacksonville, they’re also @ Ole Miss, Tennessee at home and Florida State at home, among other games. Mississippi State and Kentucky at home are the other two. They can still salvage this season with a respectable record; possibly 8 victories. I wish Napier could pull this off for his sake. I’m not totally convinced Mike Elko’s team is that prolific. They’re a solid team, but I wouldn’t call them elite. I like them to win at home, but I like the Gators to make them earn every inch of their victory.

A&M 24, Florida 21

Washington State (3-2) @ No.4 Ole Miss (5-0)

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, 64, 038

11:45 A.M.

S-E-C Network

Taylor, Matt, Alyssa

Black Bears by 31 1/2, 57 1/2

Washington State has lost to North Texas, a really good team, 59-10, and Washington, 59-24. They defeated Idaho to open up the season, 13-10, at home. They’ve also defeated San Diego State, 36-13, and Colorado State, two Saturdays ago, September 27th, 20-3. I guess they’re not that bad, but give me a break, Lane. The Rebels have to go to Georgia next Saturday for a 2:30 P.M. CT kickoff on ABC. Better tighten up your chin straps for that one, Rebs.

Ole Miss 42, Washington State 10

South Carolina (3-2, 1-2) @ No. 11 LSU (4-1, 1-1)

Tiguh Stadium, 102,321

6:45 P.M.

SEC Network

Tom, Jordan, Cole

LSU by 9 1/2, 44 1/2

I like South Carolina to give the Bengal Tigers everything they want. The over/under for Brian Kelly’s whining session in the postgame press conference is 5 minutes. I’ll take the over.

LSU 24, South Carolina 20

Arkansas (2-3, 0-1) @ No. 12 Tennessee (4-1,1-1)

Neyland Stadium, 101, 915

3:15 P.M.

SEC Network

Dave, Fozzy, Morgan

Vols by 11 1/2, 67 1/2

Petrino? Are you kidding me? Petrino! Can’t get rid of him.

Tennessee 42, Arkansas 30

National Outlook

No.7 Indiana (5-0, 2-0) @ No. 3 Oregon (5-0, 2-0)

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, 54,000

2:30 P.M.

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jenny

Ducks by 7 1/2, 55 1/2

I think the Hoosiers are a pretty darn good team that have a good shot at making the playoff. But Oregon is elite. I do expect Indiana to give them a highly competitive game, however.

Oregon 28, Indiana 20

No.1 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 BIG) @ No. 17 Illinois (5-1,2-1)

Memorial Stadium (are there a bunch of Memorial Stadiums this week or am I drinking the Vanderbilt PGA? Good stuff back in the day at the SAE house as a rushee), Champaign, IL., 60,670

11 A.M.

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Buckeyes by 14 1/2, 50 1/2

As Burnt Muthberger (Mike Tyson special) said one time, “This is going to be a Buckeye’ Butt kicking.”

Ohio State 35, Illinois 14

Other National Scores

No.9 Texas Tech 45, Kansas 23

Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock. Named after Clifford B. Jones, and his wife, Aubrey. Clifford was the third president of Texas Tech. Jear doesn’t get credit for this. How ’bout them Cowboys.

6:30 P.M.

FOX

Red Raiders by 14 1/2, 58 1/2

I like these high flying Red Raiders to get the job done once again. They have always had prolific offenses, but now the boys from west Texas have a defense to go along with their traditional offensive arsenal.

USC 34, Michigan 31

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 77,500

6:30 P.M.

NBC

Noah, Todd, Kathryn

SC by 2 1/2, 56 1/2

The Trojans get by in thrilluh.

No.21 Zona State 24, Utah 23

Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, 51,444

9:15 A.M.

ESPN

Dave, Brock, Stormy

Utah by 5 1/2, 48 1/2

Give me Kenny “Dilly Willy” Dillingham, quarterback Sam Leavitt and the Sun Devils to put themselves into the thick of the Big 12 race and back on the national landscape with this road upset to move to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12.

No.18 BYU 27, Arizona 24

Arizona Stadium (creative), Tucson, 50,800

7 P.M.

ESPN2

Mike Couzens, Kirk Morrison, Dawn Davenport

BYU by 2 1/2, 47 1/2

I love what Coach Kalani Sitake does at BYU. They’re totally solid, as always under him, and they’re getting closer and closer to making the playoff. This could be the year, but it’s also a highly competitive Big 12 Conference.

Friday

North Texas 35, South Florida 33

DATCU Stadium, Denton, TX., 30,100

6:30 P.M.

ESPN2

Anish, Andre, Carc

Mean Green by 1 1/2, 66 1/2

The team most notably known for “Mean Joe” of Steelers’ fame-greatest NFL dynasty of all time- is really good. Should be a classic if you’re not out at dinner or carousing at the Fennec.

I was going to go through the entire playoff, but I’ll condense it for you. Like life in the NIL/Transfer Portal is, this is highly fluid.

My top 12 teams are, in this order: 1. Oregon, 2. Ohio State, 3. Alabama, 4. Miami, 5. Oklahoma, 6. A&M, 7. Texas Tech, 8. Georgia, 9. Ole Miss, 10. Indiana, 11. LSU, 12. Memphis.

Semifinals

Thursday, January 8th, 2026

Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ. 63, 400

6:30 P.M.

ESPN

No.1 Oregon 34, No.8 Georgia 33

Friday, 1/9/26

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA., 71,000

6:30 P..M.

ESPN

No.3 Alabama 27, No.2 Ohio State 24

National Championship Game, Monday, 1/19/26

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL., 65, 326

6:30 P.M.

ESPN

Crimson Tide 35, Oregon 31

National Champion:Alabama