After another week of big games, we're starting to see the teams that we should be paying attention to (Ohio State, Alabama, Louisville) and the teams that are simply not going to play a part in the College Football Playoff (Oklahoma, Florida State, Ole Miss). This week is when some of the bigger conference games take place and we get more of an idea of how these conferences are going to shape up.
9:00 am Slot
#12 Georgia Bulldogs @ #23 Ole Miss Rebels (-7.0) ESPN
Ole Miss has seemingly eliminated themselves from the College Football Playoff after blowing three touchdown leads to Alabama and Florida State in weeks one and three, the good news for Hugh Freeze's squad is that the schedule has to get easier for them but it doesn't get much easier in this week as they welcome Kirby Smart's young and talented Georgia Bulldogs. I'm not sure this game has as much conference implications as the other game in this timeslot, but I'm picking this game as the one to watch just because it will be a more entertaining game. It will be an interesting matchup between Ole Miss' QB Chad "Swag" Kelly and Georgia's super freshman Jacob Eason. This game should have a lot of points and blow away the over/under of 62. If Georgia wins, they'll put themselves in a position to be the other team to beat in the SEC East, with the decider of that division likely coming from Georgia vs the winner of the Tennessee/ Florida game that will take place later today. Ole Miss on the other hand, can only win out and see if they can get themselves a New Year's Day Bowl since their chances of going to the SEC Championship game went up in smoke after their loss to Alabama last Saturday.
My Pick: Georgia with the points. Ole Miss wins, but a backdoor cover will likely be in play here.
Backup: #11 Wisconsin Badgers @ #8 Michigan State Spartans (-5.0) Big Ten Network
This is a game that the pre-season prognosticators didn't think would be as big of a game as it's going to be. If they did, this game would've received the respect of being on network television but instead it's on digital television and unfortunately, many people won't be able to watch this game. This game will decide who's in that next tier in the Big Ten Conference behind the likes of Ohio State and Michigan. The team who wins this game will be the one that can run the football effectively since both defenses are averaging under 100 yards rushing allowed. I honestly think that Wisconsin is not a great team and that they were pumped up way too much by polls just because they beat an overrated LSU team in week one. Since then, Wisconsin has had a close call with Georgia State and the Badgers have made a quarterback change. This is the week I think that Wisconsin will get exposed.
My pick: Michigan State convincingly.
12:30 pm Slot
#19 Florida Gators @ #14 Tennessee Volunteers (-6.5) CBS
Who will be the team to beat in the SEC East? This game should decide it. Both teams come into this game undefeated but both teams have a lot of questions, especially at the quarterback position. Florida's quarterback Luke Del Rio went down last week so the Gators will be starting senior quarterback and Purdue transfer, Austin Appleby which may be the early favorite for the best name of the year. Tennessee was supposed to look a lot better than they have through three games, as the preseason SEC East favorite, they've looked lost on offense and out of ideas which shouldn't happen with a senior quarterback like Josh Dobbs. Much of the blame for Tennessee's performance has been laid at the hands of their offensive line who hasn't given Dobbs enough time to make the throws he's capable of making. Unfortunately, Tennessee's offensive line will have to deliver against a beast front seven for the Gators. In fact, the defensive fronts for both teams will be the units to watch in this game. This is probably the biggest game for Tennessee in almost a decade and Neyland Stadium should approach the craziness that it was in the late 90s and early 2000s where 100,000 orange-clad Tennessee fans singing Rocky Top usually meant a Vols victory. In this series, it has been the Gators who have won 11 in a row against the Vols, so for the sake of the rivalry, a Tennessee win is needed.
My Pick: Florida with the points. I think that's just too many points for me to pick the Vols, I don't see a lot of scoring in this one so I'll go with the Gators.
Backup: Penn State Nittany Lions @ #4 Michigan Wolverines (-18.0) ABC
It's pretty slim pickings other than the Florida/Tennessee game for this time slot, but if you must, check out this game and see if Penn State can make a game of it against Jim Harbaugh's young Wolverines.
My Pick: Michigan covers.
Primetime: 6:00 pm Slot
#17 Arkansas Razorbacks vs #10 Texas A&M Aggies (-6.0) at Jerryworld ESPN
I realize there's a big whole in my guide, but quite honestly there aren't a lot of matchups that are too appealing in the late afternoon slate. Sure, maybe check out the LSU/Auburn game but I don't think it's such a mouth watering contest like this one is. My plan will be to watch the first hour of Stanford/UCLA at 5 and then switch over to this one. The last two meetings between these two teams have produced back to back overtime games that have both gone to the Aggies. For whatever reason, these teams just seem to produce classic games. And after the first few weeks, there are things to like about both teams. After Arkansas beat TCU in Fort Worth, I became sold on them, and after A&M beat UCLA and Auburn they convinced me as well. So I'm just going to sit back and enjoy what has the makings of another classic matchup. This game will likely represent who Alabama will have to get through if they are to make it to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game.
My Pick: A&M to cover.
Pac-12 After Dark Slot 7:00 pm
California Golden Bears @ Arizona State Sun Devils (-4.0) ESPN2
This game will also act as a backup to the Arkansas/A&M game with the thinking being that if A&M and Arkansas becomes a stinker, the Cal/ASU game should be about to start and should be a good substitute. This game should have a lot of points and just a bunch of craziness. That's why the Pac-12 After Dark slot is such a fun way to end your College Football Saturday. Both teams can score and have defenses that can't stop nose bleeds and that's why I'm all over the over of 82 for this game.
My Pick: Arizona State to cover.
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