Arkansas will be trying to make this a November to remember by getting back in the winner’s circle, but the nation’s eyes will continue to be on Alabama to see if the Crimson Tide can position themselves to make it three national championships in a row, and four in five years.
The Tide and LSU are off this weekend and will meet next weekend in Tuscaloosa. After that, Alabama has Mississippi State, Chattanooga and finishes at Auburn. If Alabama stumbles, don’t expect it to be in the BCS National Championship. There may be too many undefeated teams.
Oregon (BCS No. 2) gets more impressive each week, but so do the Baylor Bears, whose 10th-ranked defense, which is allowing 316 yards per game, is overshadowed by an offense that is averaging 718 yards per game. Baylor (BCS No. 6) still has Oklahoma (BCS No. 10) in Waco on Nov. 7, Texas Tech (BCS No. 15) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Oklahoma State (BCS No. 19) in Stillwater and TCU in Fort Worth before getting Texas at home.
If the Bears run the table and face Oregon in a postseason game, look for it to be more than four hours of explosive offense that could total more than 1,200 yards.
Last week I went 5-1 to bring the season record to 60-17.
AUBURN AT ARKANSAS
This one might be closer than the oddsmakers, who rate Auburn an eight-point favorite, I think.
The Hogs have given up 104 unanswered points against South Carolina and Alabama, but the Gamecocks have the nation’s No. 23 defense and the Tide are No. 5. The Tigers are No. 75 defensively, giving up 405.5 yards per game. The Hogs, meanwhile, have slipped to No. 100 in defense and will try to slow down the nation’s No. 13 offense. All the numbers favor Auburn.
Gus Malzahn will never say it, but he will be trying to prove he should have gotten the Arkansas job. He might not know there was a strong political current in his way. The Gus Bus’ departure from Jonesboro might have many in the Red Wolves Nation pulling for the Hogs for the first and only time.
The week off should help the Razorbacks, but can they stop Auburn for four quarters? Auburn 28- 27.
ARKANSAS STATE AT SOUTH ALABAMA
Both teams are 3-4 and must win three of their final five games to get bowl eligible. The Red Wolves are winless on the road, but the Jaguars lost their season opener at home to Southern Utah. If there were ties in college football, that might be the pick. When in doubt, go with the home team. South Alabama 30-27.
MISSISSIPPI STATE AT SOUTH CAROLINA
The Gamecocks are still in the SEC East title hunt and the Bulldogs are in the hunt for a bowl game in Shreveport. South Carolina’s Connor Shaw is not a great quarterback, he’s just a winner. South Carolina 31-17.
FLORIDA-GEORGIA (JACKSONVILLE, FLA.)
Will Muschamp is 0-2 in this game, sometimes referred to as the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party. Both teams have suffered numerous injuries. The Bulldogs get the edge with quarterback Aaron Murray. Georgia 24-14.
TENNESSEE AT MISSOURI
The Tigers are coming off a heart-breaking overtime loss to South Carolina, their first of the season. Tennessee is fresh from a thumping by Alabama. Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel’s critics are waiting for him to stumble again this week, but another good crowd in Columbia will help the Tigers. Missouri 28-24.
ALABAMA STATE AT KENTUCKY
A great opportunity for the Wildcats to say they beat that school from the great state of Alabama. These Hornets (6-2) have won five in a row, but surely the Wildcats (1-6) know this might be their last chance to stop a losing streak that stands at five. Kentucky 21-17.
Sports, Pages 19 on 11/01/2013