College Football transitions into week 2 with some nice matchups led off by the Crimson Tide traveling to Austin to face the Longhorns. Auburn has a home game with San Jose State and there are a couple of nice matchups within the SEC. The UAB Blazers hit the road to try to avenge an embarrassing defeat at Protective Stadium last season. Some national tilts look fascinating as well. Here is this Saturday’s lineup along with predictions.
Last Week, Straight up, 18-4, ATS, 12-10
No.1 Alabama @ Texas
DKR-Memorial Stadium, Austin
11 AM CT
FOX
Gus, he’ll be more amped up than ever if that’s possible, Joel, Jenny
Crimson Tide by 20
Surprisingly, Texas leads this series, 7-1-1, with the one loss to the Crimson Tide coming in the 2009 National Championship Game. Mack Brown is still complaining that if Colt McCoy hadn’t been injured early in the game by Marcell Dareus, there would have been a different outcome. Guess we’ll never know, but could have been closer. I don’t know if you saw Brown’s locker room dance from last Saturday after the Tar Heels defeated App State, 63-61, but it was embarrassing. Wish he hadn’t done that. You’re not going to confuse Mack with Mickey J. UNC gave up 40 points in the fourth quarter. Gene Chizik’s defenses strike again. He may be better in the broadcast booth than he is on the field. We’ll see how Chiz’s defense develops. As for this game, Bryce Young is looking electric as usual, rushing for a hunge last Saturday against Utah State. He’s developing some excellent targets on the perimeter in Georgia transfer Jermaine Burton and Traeshon Holden. I liked what I saw out of freshman Kobe Prentice as well. Jahmyr Gibbs looks to be headed for a big year at running back if the line can block for him. This will be a good test for the Crimson Tide O Line on Saturday. Will Anderson Jr. looks better than ever, and can wreak havoc on Texas QB Quinn Ewers. Texas is going to be better this season and Sark is an excellent offensive coach and stellar recruiter. They are No.2 in the 247 Sports recruiting rankings for 2023 behind the Crimson Tide. They have 3, 5 stars committed, including all world quarterback Arch Manning, Peyton and Eli’s nephew, Cooper’s son, Archie’s grandson. But I like the Tide here. I see Bryce having a big day, and the defense clamping down on Ewers, though I believe in Bijan Robinson, the stellar tailback for the Horns. See him peeling off some nice runs. But the Tide advances in week 2.
Crimson Tide 42, Texas 21
San Jose State @ Auburn
Jordan-Hare Stadium
6:30 PM CT
ESPNU
Brian Custer, Dustin Fox, Lauren Sisler
Tigers by 23
The Tigers had an OK performance last Saturday. The running game was tremendous, with Tank Bigsby rushing for 147 yards and Robbie Ashford, who came on in relief of TJ Finley at quaterback, rushing for 68. Finley threw two interceptions, one right to the safety, hitting him in stride much like Tom Brady does with Mike Evans. However, Finley’s pass went to the wrong team. Ashford did a pretty solid job coming off the bench. Where is Zach Calzada? What’s happened to the guy? What has he not even been considered for the starting job? I’ve looked for it, but nobody is reporting on it. I’ll keep digging to find out. I don’t understand Bryan Harsin’s thinking here. You listen to Harsin talk and there is a lot of boring coach-speak coming out of his mouth. He’s articulate, somewhat, but there’s just not much substance there. I like the Tigers here, but they’ve got to get a lot better if they want to have a successful season. Penn State comes to the Plains next Saturday for a 2:30 PM CT kickoff on CBS.
Auburn 34, San Jose State 10
Samford @ No.2 Georgia
Sanford Stadium, Athens
3 PM CT
SEC Network
Taylor, Matt, Alyssa
Dawgs by 52
Kill.
Georgia 62, Samford 3
No.20 Kentucky @ No.12 Florida
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
6 PM CT
ESPN
Tess, Gregory, McShay, Katie
Gators by 5
I’m bullish on Billy Napier, quarterback Anthony Richardson and the Gators after last Saturday’s 29-26 victory over then No.7 Utah. I’ll take Billy and Anthony in the Swamp on a Saturday Night over a pretty solid Kentucky team.
Gators, 31, Wildcats 24
South Carolina @ No. 16 Arkansas
Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville
11 AM CT
ESPN
Bob Wischusen (questions every coaching decision imaginable) Dan Orlovsky, Kris Budden
Hogs by 8
Early start, so I like a hard nosed, physical, very good game.
Arkansas 24, South Carolina 21
No.24 Tennessee @ No.17 Pittsburgh
Acrisure Stadium, PIttsburgh
2:30 PM CT
ABC
Sean, Todd, Molly
UT by 6
I like what Hendon Hooker is doing at quarterback for Josh Huepel and the Vols. I’m bullish on this group.
Tennessee 31, Pitt 24
App State @ No. 6 Texas A&M
Kyle Field, College Station
2:30 PM CT
ESPN2
Anish Shroff, Brock Osweiler, Taylor McGregor
A&M by 19
Never sure what to make of A&M under Fish. Haynes King has talent, but he’s erratic like all quarterbacks are under Fisher. I like the Aggies to win, but they need to improve significantly if they want to have a successful season, and that means double digit wins out there. Might not be attainable unless King can develop quickly.
A&M 35, App State 10
Mississippi State @ Arizona
Arizona Stadium, Tuscon
10 PM CT
Fox Sports 1
State by 10 1/2
Give me Leach and his Bullies against a PAC-12 team after dark.
Bullies 38, ‘Zona 24
Missouri @ Kansas State
Bill Snyder Family Stadium, “the Little Apple,” Manhattan, KS.
11 AM CT
ESPN2
Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison, Stormy Buonatony, always a mouthful
K State by 7 1/2
I was tempted to pick the upset here, but I’ll stick with the favorite in a tight contest.
Kansas State 31, Mizzou 28
Central Arkansas @ No. 22 Ole Miss
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford
6 PM CT
ESPN+
Rebels by 34
I like Lane and his charges to get the job done at the Grove. Ole Miss has an excellent running game led by former TCU five star Zach Evans, who rushed for a buck 30 last Saturday against Troy. If they can develop one of their quarterbacks, it could be a really nice season for the Rebs.
Ole Miss 45, Central Ark. 10
Georgia Southern @ LSU
Tiger Stadium, Baaton Rouge, Louisiana, as Howard used to say
6:30 PM CT
SEC Network
Tom, Jordan, Cole
Tiguhs by 47 1/2
After Brian Kelly’s inauspicious start last Sunday with his special teams costing him the game, he needs to get it back together or there are going to be some upset Cajuns. Interestingly, Southern defeated Florida Memorial? 86-0. Southern University is also located in Baton Rouge.
LSU 52, Southern 3
No. 23 Wake Forest @ Vanderbilt
FirstBank Stadium, Nashvegas
11 AM CT
SEC Network
Dave, Deuce, Andraya
Demon Deacons by 12 1/2
The Demon Deacons welcome back quarterback Sam Hartman this week. He had a blood clot in August and was considered out indefinitely, but he’s full strength now. He accounted for 50 TDs last season, 39 through the air and 11 on the ground. He did throw 14 interceptions though, so if the Dores can get some pass rush, maybe that will create opportunities for their secondary. Mike Wright accounted for 6 TDs last Saturday Night in the Dores’ 42-31 victory over Elon, but the Commodores were not overly impressive in the second half as Elon very much outplayed them. It’s always a process for a new coach at Vanderbilt. Clark Lea is doing some good things, but I don’t see the Dores as good enough to prevail over Wake.
Wake Forest 35, Vandy 21
UAB @ Liberty
Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, VA.
5 PM CT
ESPN+
Blazers by 6 1/2
I had a couple of Blazer fans get on me last Thursday for not writing about their team, so here goes. UAB looks to be a strong outfit with a chance to win a lot of games this season. With their navigable schedule, they can get to double digit victories. There’s a a lot of talent on this squad. I like them to prevail on the road over Hugh Freeze and his Flames, that don’t look as good as usual.
UAB 28, Liberty 21
National games
USC 31, Stanford 21
Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA.
6:30 PM CT
ABC
Reece, Chris at U.S. Open, Kirk, Holly
Trojans by 8 1/2
I’m not declaring them back yet, but this program looks promising again under Lincoln Riley.
Clemson 42, Furman 7
Memorial Stadium, Clemson
1:30 PM CT
ACC Network
Clemson by 44 1/2
Not a buyer of Clemson, yet. Not sure their starting quarterback is that good, but maybe their 5 star freshman backup is. Not selling them either. Just holding them for right now.
No.3 Ohio State 41, Arkansas State 7
Ohio Stadium, Columbus
11 AM CT
Big Ten Network
Buckeyes by 44 1/2
Not sure I’m a believer in this group, either. A decent Notre Dame team kept it close. I’d say Notre Dame is barely above average, if that. The Buckeyes aren’t very impressive at this point.
No.9 Baylor 35, No.21 BYU 34
LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah
9:15 PM CT
ESPN
Mark Jones, RG III, Quint Kessenich
BYU by 3
This is one I might have to stay up for. Should be a classic. I’ll take the Bears in a slight upset in a hostile environment.
Oklahoma State 49, Arizona State 35
Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK.
6:30 PM CT
ESPN2
Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Tiffany Blackmon
Cowboys by 12 1/2
Derek Mason’s defense gave up 44 points to Central Michigan last Thursday Night. Central Michigan? I know about MACtion and all that, but come on, Mason. The Pokes score a lot, but Mason’s defense looks very questionable.