Tank Bigsby sets his sights on leading the Tigers to a major victory at Jordan-Hare. Photo courtesy of the Auburn Wire part of the USA Today Network
Week 3 promises to have some more potential upheaval as good teams are still trying to gather their footing this season. The Auburn Tigers host Penn State in a major contest for both squads. The Crimson Tide tries to bounce back from a major scare in Austin last Saturday. Some key conference games, some conference teams with out of conference blockbustuhs and many national contests to take a look at. Here’s this week’s action.
Last week, Straight up, 14-4, Overall 32-8, 80%
ATS, 9-9, Overall 21-19, 53%.
No. 22 Penn State (2-0) @ Auburn (2-0)
Jordan-Hare Stadium
2:30 PM CT
CBS
Brad, Gary, Jenny Dell
Nittany Lions by 3
Tank Bigsby and the Auburn defense give the Tigers a shot, but TJ Finley is a real struggle at quarterback and Robby Ashford doesn’t throw it much better, though he adds the element of running and can throw it a little better than Finley. I like a lower scoring game here. Penn State is a pretty solid team. Not great, but who is right now. Georgia looks like the best team though they struggled in the second half against Samford last Saturday and only won 33-0 when they were favored by 52. Alabama has the talent to be a good team, but have not shown it to this point. Auburn is just not there yet under Bryan Harsin. As good as Tank and Jarquez Hunter are at running back, Auburn is too one dimensional and I see Penn State stacking the box and playing one on one coverage on the perimeter and daring Finley or Ashford to beat their corners. I don’t see that happening. Penn State scores enough against a pretty good Tigers defense and comes out of the Plains with the victory.
Penn State 24, Auburn 20
Lousiana-Monroe (1-1) @ No. 2 Alabama (2-0)
Bryant-Denny Stadium
3 PM CT
SEC Network
Taylor, Matt, Cole Harvey?
Bama by 49 1/2
What to make of the Crimson Tide after that ugly one in Austin last Saturday. I watch the Crimson Tide and Tigers games very closely on Saturdays, and read widely about them both during the days after their respective games, so I usually don’t need to rewatch either team during the week. But I did re-watch Bama and Auburn on Tuesday. Paul Finebaum was blaming it all on Bill O’Brien, and there might be a little truth to that, but there’s a lot more to it than just O’Brien’s play calling. I don’t think it’s that bad really. I think O’Brien is a fine coach. First of all, Texas played a heckuva game. They look like they’re on their way back under Sark. You never know in this inconsistent world of college football the last two seasons, but with the way his team played toe to toe with Alabama last Saturday and the way he is recruiting in the best state in the country for high school football players, you’d think that Texas could be a powerhouse in the future. As for the Crimson Tide, the penalties, 15 for 100 yards, the offensive line, the wide receivers and the secondary were problems last week. There’s a lot to work on, and I’m sure they’ve been addressing those things thoroughly this week. It’s still very early in the season and many teams have a chance to be stellar football teams come November. It’s hard to take a loss. Maybe a team can survive one at most if they want to win it all, but the Crimson Tide came out of Austin victorious and Bryce Young , as usual, really stepped it up when the Tide needed their superstar the most. Another debilitating factor out there was the 120 degree heat on the field. Certainly a factor along with an 11 AM CT kickoff. Those kickoffs are always unpredictable and the heat was brutal. Leads to penalties. Texas was really charged up as well. That last drive with 1:29 left was a thing of beauty, similar to the drive at Auburn last season to tie the game and send it into overtime where the Tide won in the 4th OT. I do think Bryce committed intentional grounding on that near sack in the end zone. The line of scrimmage was the 4 yard line and as he was going down in the end zone he tossed it away and it only reached the goal line, 4 yards short of the line of scrimmage. He was outside the tackle box, but, by rule, intentional grounding in the end zone is a safety if the ball doesn’t clear the line of scrimmage or if the quarterback is not outside the tackle box when he gets pressured and there’s no receiver in the area of his throw. Alabama caught a break there because when Texas’s kicker, named Bert Auburn ironically, kicked the 49 yarder with 1:29 left, Texas should have been ahead 21-17 instead of 19-17, which would have forced the Crimson Tide to score a touchdown. Bryce could very well have engineered a TD drive, but the Longhorns might have stopped the Tide. Would have been interesting. This Saturday, Alabama looks to get its momentum back against LA. Monroe and Terry Bowden. I see them doing that. Then they host Vanderbilt next Saturday in what will be a long night for the Commodores, 6:30 PM CT, SEC Network, then face a real test on Saturday, October 1st @ Arkansas.
Alabama 55, LA Monroe 3
No.1 Georgia (2-0) @ South Carolina (1-1)
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia
11 AM CT
ESPN
Sean, Todd, Molly.
Georgia by 24 1/2
I thought before the season that this would be a tricky game for Georgia. I still do. The Gamecocks lost at Arkansas last Saturday 44-30, but they were in it for a good while and had some key injures on defense that really hurt their cause. I think they’re a solid team and I like them to play well at a strong home field advantage. Georgia will get by, but I like a close contest for most all of the game.
Georgia 28, South Carolina 14
Mississippi State (2-0) @ LSU (1-1)
Tiguh Stadium, Baton Rouge
5 PM CT
ESPN
Tess, Gregory, Katie
Ms. State by 2 1/2
Bullies QB Will Rogers is prolific most of the time, but he can tend to throw some costly interceptions. I’m going to take Kayshon Boutte and the Bengal Tigers in a slight upset this Saturday Night in Bato’n Rouge.
LSU 31, Mississippi State 30
No. 13 Miami (2-0) @ No.24 Texas A&M (1-1)
Kyle Field, College Station
8 PM CT
ESPN
Chris, Kirk, Holly, McShay
A&M by 6
I like A&M to bounce back. Miami is better under Mario Cristobal, but give me the Aggies at home this week. How about App State and the Fun Belt?
A&M 31, Miami 23
No. 20 Ole Miss (2-0) @ Georgia Tech (1-1)
Bobby Dodd Stadium, ATL
2:30 PM CT
ABC
Dave, Dusty, Lugues
Rebs by 16 /2
Lane hasn’t totally figured out who his starting quarterback is between Jaxson Dart and Luke Altmyer, but maybe he can use this game to decide. Watched a little of Ole Miss and have been impressed, but want to watch them completely this Saturday, so I can give you a more informed opinion on who should be their starter.
Ole Miss 42, GA. Tech 24
Akron (1-1) @ No. 15 Tennessee (2-0)
Neyland Stadium, Knoxvegas
6 PM CT
ESPN+/SEC Network+
UT by 47 1/2
I thought the Vols toughed out a super victory over then No. 17 Pitt on the road last Saturday, a 34-27 Vols overtime victory over the Panthers, now No.23. I like them to keep on rolling at home.
Tennessee 52, Akron 0
Missouri State (2-0) @ No. 10 Arkansas (2-0)
Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville
6 PM CT
ESPN+/ SEC Net+
Hogs by 23
Pretty bullish on the Hogs, though I need to see some more. Like what Sam Pittman and his team are doing. We’ll see how they stack up against A&M next Saturday, 9/24, in Jerryville, 6 PM CT on ESPN, and then the following Saturday, Oct. 1, when they host the Crimson Tide. I’m predicting a 2:30 PM CT CBS game for that one. Bobby Petrino is the Missouri State coach. Unknown whether he’s bringing his bike and his newest affair girl with him.
Arkansas 42, Missouri State 17
Youngstown State (2-0) @ No.9 Kentucky (2-0)
Kroger Field, Lexington
11 AM CT
SEC Network
Dave, Deuce, Andraya
Cats by 25 1/2
Early start like Georgia-SC, but I’m a believer in Mark Stoops and his Cats. They’re for real. All right Bama and Derrick, you guys deserve credit for going with Kentucky over Florida last Saturday.
Kentucky 44, Youngstown State 3
South Florida (1-1) @ No. 18 Florida (1-1)
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
6:30 PM CT
SEC Network
Tom, Jordan, Cole
Gators by 24
Florida got it handed to'em last Saturday Night by Kentucky. I still think they’ve got a shot to be good, and can be a pretty solid team in November. Need to progress this Saturday.
Florida 38, South Florida 7
Vanderbilt (1-1) @ Northern Illinois? Are you kiddin’ me? (1-1)
Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, IL.
2:30 PM CT
CBS Sports Network
Carter Blackburn, Randy Cross
Huskies by 2 1/2
Derek Mason left Vanderbilt in shambles. Clark Lea is still having to totally rebuild this program in his second season. It might take some time. I know Vanderbilt fans are hoping to be much improved this season, maybe win 6, go to a bowl game and win it and then take it from there. The Dores are better, and I’ll take’em as a road dog..
Vanderbilt 35, Northern Illinois 34
Abilene Christian? are you kiddin me? (2-0) @ Missouri (1-1)
Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field, Columbia, Mo.
11 AM CT
ESPN+
Courtney Lyle, Dave Steckel, Tamara Brown
MIzzou by 33
What kind of game is this? Eli Drinkwitz and his team need to get their act together or it’ll be a long season.
Missouri 45, AC 7
UTSA (1-1) @ No.21 Texas (1-1)
DKR-Texas Stadium, Austin
7 PM CT
Longhorn Network
Horns by 12 1/2
This is a pretty tough opponent for the Longhorns coming off a grueling game with the Crimson Tide last Saturday. But I like Sark and his team to get the job done.
Texas 42, Texas San Antonio 21
Georgia Southern (2-0) @ UAB (1-1)
Protective Stadium, B’ham
2:30 PM CT
Stadium, App on computer, Ipad or Phone
Blazers by 11 1/2
I don’t know what I think about the Blazers, but I really believe in Clay Helton, his Eagles and the “Fun” Belt. Going into Nebraska last Saturday and winning was tremendous.
Georgia Southern 38, UAB 35
Other Scores
No. 12 BYU 38, No.25 Oregon 34
Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR.
2:30 PM CT
FOX
Jason Benetti, Brock, Alliston
Ducks by 3 1/2
Taking Kalani Sitake and his hard nosed Cougs. Jaren Hall is one of the best QB’s in the country that nobody knows about. They will after Saturday.
No.7 USC 45, Fresno State 31
Memorial Coliseum, L.A.
9:30 PM CT
FOX
SC by 12
Lincoln Riley, Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison have it going on in Hollywood.
No. 6 Oklahoma 31, Nebraska 17
Memorial Stadium, Lincoln. NE.
11 AM CT
FOX
Gus, Joel, Jenny
Sonners by 11
Like OU to take care of business with Nebraska now searching for a new coach after the disappointing tenure of Scott Frost. Never understood why Frost couldn’t win in Lincoln. Seemed like a good coach. Just couldn’t get over the hump in close games.
Washington 31, Michigan State 27
Husky Stadium, Seattle
6:30 PM CT
ABC
Mark Jones, RGIII, Quint
Huskies by 3 1/2
Give me the Huskies at home in a really good football game.
UCLA 35, South Alabama 28
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
1 PM CT
PAC-12 Network
Bruins by 15 1/2
I like the Jags to give UCLA everything they want. The Jags are 2-0 having defeated Nichols, 48-7, and Central Michigan, 38-24. Central Michigan scored 44 points on No.8 Oklahoma State in a 58-44 Pokes victory in week 1.
App State 30, Troy 20
Kidd Brewer Stadium, Boone, N.C.
2:30 PM CT
ESPN+
App State by 12 1/2
Love what App State and the Fun Belt are doing after the Mountaineers went to College Station last Saturday and shocked A&M. That, along with Georgia Southern’s victory at Nebraska, and Marshall’s victory at Notre Dame made for an exceptional day for the Sun Belt Conference. There could be a New Year’s Six Bowl team out of this league. But I like Troy, another Sun Belt team, to make it hard for the Mountaineers on Saturday.
No.3 Ohio State 42, Toledo 6
Ohio Stadium, Columbus
6 PM CT
FOX
Buckeyes by 32
Still trying to figure this team out. Will let you know what I think in the near future. Need to get Jaxon Smith-Njigba, their stud receiver back. He could be back this week. He’s a game changer to go along with Marvin Harrison Jr on the perimeter. They’ve got real potential as always.
No.4 Michigan 41, UConn 7
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor
11 AM CT
ABC
Bob Wischusen, Roddy Jones, Kris Budden
Michigan by 47 1/2
Jim looks like he’s made a decision on his quarterback, as far as I know, going with former 5 star/now sophomore J. J., McCarthy who was 11 of 12 last Saturday for 229 yards and 3 TDs in a 56-10 Wolverines victory over Hawaii. They haven’t played anybody yet, and they won’t Saturday.
Wake Forest 38, Liberty 31
Truist Field, Winston-Salem, N.C.
4 PM CT
ACC Nefwork
Wake by 16 1/2
Like Hugh Freeze and his Flames to give Wake everything they want. Wake is excellent, but the Flames are always a tough out. Just ask UAB.
Friday
Florida State 28, Louisville 24
Cardinal Stadium, Louisville
6:30 PM CT
ESPN
Roy Philpott, Andre, Carc
FSU by 2 1/2
Like Mike Norvell and his Noles to keep their resurgence going.
Morgan Wallen
He’s no “looker,” as Beth might say, but he’s a terrific singer and this is an awesome song. Nothing like young love. Still feel young with Beth. Hope you enjoy.