First Tier
6. Texas A&M at 1. Alabama (-18) 2:30 pm CBS – Can Aggies do it again? We all remember the Johnny Manziel game a couple years ago in Tuscaloosa. We all remember Trevor Knight dominating the Tide in a bowl game. This team isn’t afraid. Biggest thing for Texas A&M is they need to avoid turnovers and big special teams plays. That’s the way Alabama makes this a blowout. Jalen Hurts is not a guaranteed success and had trouble when Tennessee applied pressure. This game is really close. We’re due for an Alabama gets tested and finds a way to win game. That’s happening here. Hurts gets a late touchdown for the win. BAMA 31-27

TCU at 12. West Virginia (-6) 2:30 pm ESPN2 – Is West Virginia’s this year’s Iowa? A team who flies under the radar all year before it’s mid-November and we all say ‘Holy shit West Virginia!’ They are damn good. I’m a believer in their defense, and Skyler Howard is a great game manager for Dana Holgorson’s system. TCU hasn’t figured it out all year. Kenny Hill isn’t good, and their defense has been trash. Mountaineers in a rout. WVU 38-14

17. Arkansas at 21. Auburn (-10) 5:00 pm ESPN – After I didn’t give Arkansas any respect, Vegas did the exact same thing this week. Hogs get zero love heading to Auburn to face the upstart Tigers. Austin Allen continues to be great, and they may have found something with Rawleigh Williams at tailback. Tigers are back to running the football led by Kameryn Pettaway who is a complete stud. Arkansas will have their hands full. Auburn has the better defense and that’s the difference in this one. AUB 26-17

Second Tier
19. Utah at UCLA (-7) 3:00 pm FOX – This is about the least amount of respect I’ve seen a ranked team in awhile. Utah convinced Joe Williams to play football again in one of the weirder stories of the season. The running back had 179 yards last week but will be challenged versus UCLA’s defense. Bruins don’t know who will be at quarterback. It could be Josh Rosen or Mike Fafuel who looked okay versus Washington State. Both teams are banged up, but the Bruins QB situation scares me enough to ride Troy Williams in a close, defensive battle. UTAH 16-13

23. Ole Miss at 25. LSU (-6.5) 8:00 pm ESPN – Not sure what to make of Ole Miss… Their defense stinks, Chad Kelly is still playing grab ass with Mia Khalfia and the team looks a little tethered. On the other side, LSU gained their swagger back on both sides of the ball. They’ve become the power team that people thought we would see all season. Coach O will get the boys ready for this one, and it’s going to be a welcome back party for LSU as they wipe out Ole Miss with questions arising about Hugh Freeze’s job. LSU 31-14

2. Ohio State (-20) at Penn State 7:00 pm ABC – Another night game for Buckeyes who head to Happy Valley where Penn State has played them close through the past couple of years. We saw how Nittany Lions were handled by an elite team earlier this year. Sequon Barkley should be able to do some things versus Ohio State’s front seven who didn’t look strong last week. But I can’t see anyone on Penn State slowing down J.T. Barrett. They’re too green on defense to pull the upset. Back door cover hurts Buckeyes bettors. OSU 40-24

Upset of the Week
16. Oklahoma (-14) at Texas Tech 7:00 pm FOX – What makes one think Texas Tech can knock off Oklahoma after getting embarrassed at home last week? Well, Sooners still do not have a great pass defense. Pat Mahommes should have a day out there slinging the ball. I get Baker Mayfield-Dede Westbrook combo is the Desus and Mero of duos in college football. Mayfield tries to do too much in his return to Lubbock leading to a couple unforced errors. Red Raiders pull the late stunner. TTU 45-42

Bet of the Week
Memphis (-1.5) at 24. Navy 2:30 pm CBS Sports Network – Um why is Memphis the favorite here? Sure, they’ve only allowed three defensive touchdowns all year, but I’m not sold on the competition. Riley Ferguson is putting together a great year, but Navy’s defense is good enough to keep him in check for this one. Will Worth has this team going in the right direction plus the fact they had two weeks of rest, I really like Navy in this spot. NAVY 34-31

Bar Watch of the week
Oregon at California (-3.5) (Played on Friday) 9:30 pm ESPN – This isn’t a pretty week for the bar watch. There’s no game on Saturday worth watching so for those out Friday, you have a game with Ducks-Bears where points will be aplenty. Royce Freeman should have a big day on the ground, and Davis Webb should do work versus the putrid Ducks defense. It comes down to who can you trust more to make a stop? I’m going with Golden Bears. CAL 52-49

Third Tier
NC State at 7. Louisville (-19.5) 11:00 am ABC – Rough slate of games for NC State. They travel to Clemson and Louisville in back-to-back weeks. This might be a good week to bet Louisville. NC State might be a little beat up physically and mentally heading into this one. I don’t think Wolfpack have the horses to keep Lamar Jackson down. UL 38-10

22. North Carolina (-10) at Virginia 11:00 am ACC Network – Tar Heels are one of the more puzzling teams in football. Mitch Trubisky is going to eat all day against this poor Cavaliers defense. They won’t be able to keep up with Heels offense, and this turns into a rout. UNC 41-21

11. Houston (-21.5) at SMU 6:00 pm ESPN2 – SMU isn’t a good team especially on the defense side of things, but Houston hasn’t been right since Navy. This would be a good time for their defense to find themselves again. It’s close for the first half, but Cougars pull away with a big Greg Ward game. HOU 52-17

Sleep Off Your Hangover
Illinois at 3. Michigan 2:30 pm Big Ten Network
Oregon State at 5. Washington 5:30 pm PAC 12 Network
Purdue at 8. Nebraska 2:30 pm ABC
Eastern Michigan at 20. Western Michigan 2:30 pm ESPN3