Not a lot of heavyweight matchups this week on the college schedule, but some solid games and there are always some twists and turns every weekend.
The No.2 Crimson Tide, coming off a 62-10 victory last Saturday over New Mexico State, travels to Columbia to face the South Carolina Gamecocks at 2:30 PM CT on CBS. The No.8 Auburn Tigers host Kent State as Auburn tries to rebound from a below average performance last Saturday Night against Tulane. Auburn-Kent State kicks off at 6 PM CT on ESPN2. Florida travels to Kentucky for a Saturday Night matchup at 6 PM on ESPN.
There are some pretty interesting national contests and some others involving SEC versus out of conference teams. Here’s a look at this week’s matchups.
Last week: 21-5
Overall: 39-13, 75%
No.2 Alabama (2-0) @ South Carolina (1-1)
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia
2:30 PM CT
CBS
Bama by 25 1/2
With starting quarterback Jake Bentley now likely out for the season with a broken foot, Gamecocks freshman Ryan HIlinski stepped in last week and completed 24 of 30 passes for 282 yards with 2 TDs and 1 int in a 72-10 Gamecocks victory over Charleston Southern. This isn’t Charleston Southern. Tua and the receivers keep excelling for the Crimson Tide. Tua was 16 of 24 for 227 and 3 TDs last Saturday in the Tide’s 62-10 victory over New Mexico State. Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle are the best receiving quartet in the country. The Crimson Tide looks like they’ve found a good kicker as well as Hoover freshman Will Reichard connected on field goals of 48 and 49 yards last Saturday. I like the Crimson Tide to roll here.
Alabama 49, South Carolina 10
Kent State @ No.8 Auburn
6 PM CT
ESPN2
Aubs by 36
For Auburn to even be in the conversation in the SEC, Bo Nix is going to have to get a lot better and JaTarvious Whitlow is going to have to stop fumbling. Nix can’t stay in the pocket. He starts running around and running backwards before there is much pressure. He needs to learn to stay in the pocket. Whitlow rushed for 96 yards last Saturday Night against Tulane but fumbled 3 times losing 2 of them. Auburn has to really clean up things if Gus and company think they have any chance at A&M next Saturday.
Auburn 45, Kent State 7
No.1 Clemson @ Syracuse
6:30 PM CT
ABC
Clemson by 27
The Clemson Tigers may be better on defense this season than they were last year even after losing their top 5 starting defensive lineman, 3 of which got drafted in the first round. Syracuse upset Clemson 2 years ago at the Carrier Dome and took the Tigers to the limit last season in Death Valley. But Trevor Lawrence wasn’t on the field for either of those games, not in the first one and he missed the entire second half of last year’s game with an injury. Clemson showed they’re as good as advertised in thoroughly dominating A&M last Saturday at home, 24-10. Kellen Mond had no clue against the Clemson defense. That’s the story to me right now with Clemson. We know Trevor Lawrence, Justyn Ross, Travis Etienne and Tee Higgins are super players, but now the Clemson defense looks better than ever under Dabo Swinney and Brent Venables. Syracuse got destroyed by Mike Locksley and Maryland last Saturday. I see Clemson having their way after some resistance in the first half.
Clemson 48, Syracuse 20
No. 9 Florida @ Kentucky
6 PM CT
ESPN
Florida by 8 1/2
Florida had defeated Kentucky 31 straight years before last season. Kentucky went into Florida and knocked off the Gators 27-16. Florida has a couple of key injuries with wide receiver and electric playmaker Kadarius Toney and super cornerback C.J. Henderson on the shelf with injuries. Kentucky starting quarterback Terry Wilson is out for the season after an injury last Saturday and Troy transfer Sawyer Smith takes over. That’s not all bad. Smith is a good player. I like the Gators to prevail in a hard fought contest.
Florida 28, Kentucky 24
Georgia 48, Arkansas State 13
11 AM CT
ESPN2
Dawgs by 33
Jake Fromm has found a new target in 5 star freshman George Pickens from Hoover who made a couple of acrobatic receptions last Saturday. Could really help their offense.
Mississippi State 31, Kansas State 28
11 AM CT
ESPN
State by 8
I like a close game here. State better watch themselves in this one. Kansas State has a new coach, Chris Klieman, who just won 2 straight FCS National Championships at North Dakota State and he’s brought in a lot of energy to the Little Apple. State gets by barely.
No.5 Oklahoma @ UCLA
7 PM CT
FOX
OU by 22
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Jalen Hurts is thriving under Lincoln Riley and the electric Sooner offense. They keep it up against an abysmal Chip Kelly coached team.
OU 52, UCLA 24
No.19 Iowa @ Iowa State
3 PM CT
Fox Sports 1
Iowa by 1 1/2
The Hawkeyes look like a really solid team once again. The Cyclones are a solid team as well and good at home in Ames, but I’ll take the Hawkeyes here.
Iowa 34, Iowa State 31
No.24 USC @ BYU
2:30 PM CT
ABC
USC by 4 1/2
USC freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis completed 28 of 33 passes for 377 yards and 3 TDs in a 45-20 rout of Stanford last Saturday Night. Slovis has taken the place of JT Daniels who was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Slovis looks like he could be spectacular. BYU pulled off a huge upset at Knoxville. Jeremy Pruitt and a disastrous Tennessee team are another story, but that was quite a victory for the Cougars. But I like the Trojans to come out of Provo victorious.
USC 37, BYU 30
Arkansas 35, Colorado State 31
3 PM CT
SEC Network
Arkansas by 10
Chad Morris and the Hogs survive a scare.
LSU 48, Northwestern State 7
6:30 PM CT
SEC Network
No Line
Joe Burrow completed 31 of 39 passes for 471 yards 4 TDs and 1 int last Saturday in the Bengal Tigers tremendous 45-38 victory over Texas in Austin. O had been tipped off prior to the game that Texas turns off the air conditioning in the visitors locker room and it was a balmy 110 degrees in the stadium. O brought in fans to cool it off for his team, but a lot of the defensive players were cramping up. Still the Tigers prevailed in a terrific performance by Burrow and his receivers. I’m bullish on this team.
Texas A&M 59, Lamar 3
6 PM CT
ESPNU
A&M by 43 1/2
Kellen Mond couldn’t do anything against the Clemson defense last Saturday. He gets it together this Saturday and Jimbo gets his team prepared to face Auburn in a huge matchup next Saturday at 2:30 PM CT on CBS.
Tennessee 42, Chattanooga 17
11 AM CT
SEC Network
Tennessee by 28
Jeremy Pruitt is having a disastrous season so far. He needs to have a good game here to gain any kind of momentum he can get and not lose this team completely for the rest of the season.
Friday
Wake Forest 37, North Carolina 31
5 PM CT
ESPN
Wake by 3
I like the Demon Deacons to quell the Mack Brown hysteria this week.
Friday
Washington State 45, Houston 35
8:15 PM CT
ESPN
Wash State by 8
MIke Leach is one of the best coaches in the country. He’s a quirky guy, but winning 11 games at Washington State is quite an accomplishment, which he did last season including a 28-26 victory in the Valero Alamo Bowl over Iowa State. He has another stellar quarterback this season in redshirt senior Anthony Gordon who unusually waited his turn to get the start this season without transferring and the redshirt senior is excelling. The Cougars have a legitimate shot at winning the PAC 12.
Saturday
Virginia 38, Florida State 24
6:30 PM CT
ACC Network, 336 Charter, 612 DirecTV
UVA by 7 1/2
I’m pretty high on this UVA squad. Bronco Mendenhall has brought some serious toughness into the Cavaliers program. On the flip side, the Willie Taggert misery index keeps rising for FSU fans.
No.6 Ohio State 48, Indiana 24
11 AM CT
FOX
OSU by 15
I love what Coach Ryan Day and quarterback Justin Fields are doing in Columbus. The Buckeyes got a fresh start from Urb and it’s paying off. Justin Fields is what we thought he was and that’s one sensational quarterback.
No.17 UCF 42, Stanford 21
2:30 PM CT
ESPN
UCF by 7 1/2
The Golden Knights dominate a reeling Stanford team under David Shaw.
No. 13 Penn State 48, Pittsburgh 28
11 AM
ABC
Penn State by 17
Penn State has a good team, but not buying that James Franklin can defeat Ohio State, Wisconsin or Iowa for that matter.
Colorado 38, Air Force 34
12 PM
PAC 12 Network
Colorado by 3
Mel Tucker and his team are coming off a phenomenal 34-31 overtime victory over Nebraska. The Buffs were down 17-0 entering the second half and mounted a heroic, riveting comeback victory. The Falcons are always a tough opponent with their triple option offense and their mental toughness and discipline, but I like the Buffaloes to survive a tough challenge.
No. 18 Michigan State 38, Arizona State 21
3 PM CT
FOX
MSU by 14 1/2
Like Spartans to have a good day in East Lansing.
No. 11 Utah 38, Idaho State 14
3:15 PM CT
PAC 12 Network
Utah by 36 1/2
The Utes are a quality team with a shot at winning the PAC 12.
California 38, North Texas 20
3:15 PM CT
PAC !2 Bay Area
Cal by 14
Cal with an impressive 20-19 victory at No.23 Washington last Saturday. The Golden Bears play excellent defense.
No. 23 Washington 48, Hawaii 24
6:30 PM CT
PAC 12 Network
Washington by 21 1/2
The Huskies are still probably pretty upset that Cal came into Seattle and defeated them. They still have their sights set on winning the PAC 12. They might take it out on the Rainbow Warriors tomorrow night at home.