The No.1 Crimson Tide heads to College Station to square off with the No.24 A&M Aggies. Can Alabama’s defense get better, that is my question. It’ll be tested in front of a hostile crowd of 102,700+ Saturday at 2:30 PM CT on CBS. Auburn is off after what I’d have to say was a pathetic offensive performance against Florida. Bo Nix looked inept. Gus Malzahn proved once again that he fails in big games on the road.

Now the No.7 Gatuhs travel to Baton Rouge to tee it up with the No.5 Bengal Tigers. Should be a spectacle at 7 PM CT on ESPN. Another tremendously huge contest will kickoff at 11 AM on Saturday on FOX with the No.11 Texas Longhorns facing Jalen Hurts and the explosive No.6 Oklahoma Sooners.

Those are 3 of the headliners, but there are several excellent matchups throughout the country. Here’s a look at this week’s resume as teams keep trying to contend for major postseason competition.

Last week: 11-9

Overall: 102-40, 72%

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

2:30 PM CT

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jamie

Bama by 17

Alabama is struggling on defense with youth in the front 7 and a secondary that’s been kind of questionable, particularly against Ole Miss. The offense is not a struggle. But I expect this to be a closer game than maybe some anticipate. Kellen Mond and the Aggies just snuck by Arkansas in Jerryville 2 weeks ago 31-27, but Mond and his offense are dangerous. A&M plays pretty decent defense. I like a closer game.

Alabama 42, A&M 34

No.7 Florida (6-0) @ LSU (5-0)

7 PM CT

ESPN

Chris, Kirk, Maria, Tom Rinaldi

LSU by 13 1/2

Florida played some awesome defense against the dysfunctional Auburn offense last Saturday, but they were sloppy on offense as well. I like Joe and the LSU offense to do a lot better and for an improving Tiguhs defense to secure the victory.

LSU 28, Florida 14

No.6 Oklahoma (5-0) vs No.11 Texas (4-1)

11 AM CT

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

OU by by 10 1/2

I like Jalen Hurts and the Sooners to keep solidifying their chances to make a deep postseason run.

Oklahoma 45, Texas 34

South Carolina (2-3) @ No.3 Georgia (5-0)

11 AM CT

ESPN

Bob Wiscchusen, Dan Orlovsky, Allison Williams

Georgia by 24

If the Dawgs keep improving on offense, it’ll be quite a season. A lot of work left for Georgia, but this should be a game they cruise in.

Georgia 42, South Carolina 14

Florida State (3-2) @ No.2 Clemson (5-0)

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Steve Levy, Grease, McShay, Molly McGrath

Clemson by 27

Trevor Lawrence has already thrown 5 interceptions this season. You worry about complacency after a national title season. I see Clemson winning, their defense is very good, but I like Florida State to make it interesting for a little while.

Clemson 45, FSU 27

Ole Miss (3-3) @ Missouri (4-1)

6 PM CT

ESPN2

Jason Benetti, Rod Gilmore, Quint Kessenich

Mizzou by 12

I like Mizzou and quarterback Kelly Bryant, who is having a terrific season so far, to take care of business at home though Ole Miss has improved.

Missouri 38, Ole Miss 24

Mississippi State (3-2) @ Tennessee (1-4)

11 AM CT

SEC Network

Taylor Zarzour, Stinch, Alyssa Lang

State by 7

I’m going to take the Vols in an upset. I saw some improvement last Saturday against Georgia with freshman quarterback Brian Maurer.

Tennessee 31, Ms. State 28

Arkansas (2-3) @ Kentucky (2-3)

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

Kentucky by 6 1/2

Arkansas showed a lot of improvement 2 Saturdays ago on a 31-27 loss to A&M. I’ll take the upset here too.

Arkansas 24, Kentucky 20

Vanderbilt 21, UNLV 20

3 PM CT

SEC Network

Vandy by 14 1/2

No. 10 Penn State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) @ No. 17 Iowa (4-1, 1-1)

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Sean, Todd, Holly

Penn State by 3 1/2

I like Penn State to keep their high postseason hopes alive in Iowa City.

Penn State 24, Iowa State 20

Michigan State (4-2) @ No.8 Wisconsin (5-0)

2:30 PM CT

Big Ten Network

Wisconsin by 10 1/2

Wisconsin is a good team, but their quarterback play is far below that of Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, LSU and Ohio State. Notre Dame for that matter. That keeps them from making the playoff.

Wisconsin 28, Michigan State 13

No.9 Notre Dame 41, USC 24

6:30 PM CT

NBC

Tirico, Flutie, Chris Simms, Kathryn Tappen

Notre Dame by 10 1/2

Like the Irish to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Friday

No. 20 Virginia 28, Miami 27

7 PM CT

ESPN

Dave Flemming, Louis Riddick, Paul Carvaterra

Miami by 2 1/2

I like the Cavaliers to pull off the slight upset in Hard Rock Stadium.

Oregon 42, Colorado 31

9 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

Joe Davis, Brock Huard, Bruce Feldman

Oregon by 21

I like Mel Tucker and the Buffs to keep it close for a good while before Oregon pulls away some at the end.

Saturday

No. 16 Michigan 34, Illinois 20

11 AM CT

ABC

Dave, Gregory, Lugues

Michigan by 23

Still not a big believer in Jim and Michigan after their ugly 10-3 victory last Saturday over Iowa at home.

Baylor 42, Texas Tech 38

3 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

Baylor by 11

I’m looking at a close game here. The Red Raiders upset Oklahoma State convincingly at home last Saturday and gained a lot of momentum.

No. 15 Utah 35, Oregon State 20

7 PM CT

PAC 12 Network

Utah by 14

No. 14 Boise State 45, Hawaii 38

9:15 PM CT

ESPN2

Boise State by 12 1/2

No. 19 Wake Forest 38, Louisville 35

6:30 PM CT

ACC Network

Wake by 6 1/2

Washington State 37, No. 18 Arizona State 35

2:30 PM CT

PAC 12 Network

Zona State by 1

Like the Cougars to pull off a slight upset in the desert.

No. 23 Memphis 34, Temple 28

11 AM CT

ESPN2

Memphis by 5 1/2

Like Mike Norvell and his Tigers to move to 6-0 with a close victory on the road against a 4-1 Temple team.

No. 25 Cincinnati 34, Houston 31

2:30 PM CT

ESPN2

Cincy by 7 1/2

I like the Cougars to keep it close. The Bearcats are coming off a major upset victory over Central Florida.

Navy 34, Tulsa 33

6:30 PM CT

ESPNU

Pick’em

Like the Midshipmen to build off their momentum from their last minute victory over Air Force last Saturday.

Iowa State 41, West Virginia 30

3 PM CT

ESPN

Iowa State by 10

Like the Cyclones, fresh off a shellacking of TCU, to take care of business on the road.