5. No. 9 Florida St. @ Boston College
Friday, 8 p.m. EST, ESPN
Friday night feels like sort of a revenge game for Boston College after last seasons loss by a field goal to FSU. This game is getting overlooked by many people but could be one of the weekends best. FSUs offensive line struggled in their win over USF and without Dalvin Cooks ability to make players miss the USF game would have been much closer. Everett Golson has struggled on offense and if Boston College can shut down the run they will give themselves a chance. Boston Colleges offense has looked good behind Troy Flutie, and their defense shut down Howard holding their offense to 4 yards passing and 20 yards rushing. They scored 76 points on Howard and will be the highest scoring offense FSU will have faced. This game could shape the ACC season early as it could take many peoples ACC favorite and give them an early playoff hindering loss.
4. No. 6 USC vs. Stanford
Friday, 8 p.m. EST, ABC
Two weeks ago everyone thought Stanford had a shot to be in the Pac 12 championship game. Now after losing to an underestimated Northwestern team and getting their first win against UCF people are wondering how good is this Stanford team. There offense finally got going things going against UCF but the defense is still getting adjusted with their 8 new starters. With Cody Kessler under center for USC, Stanfords defense needs to be able to lock down in the secondary and force USC to run. The biggest problem for Stanfords offense is ability to score in the red zone as they have struggled this year and last at getting touchdowns close. If Stanford can keep Cody Kessler off the field they have a chance to pull the upset and blow the Pac 12 wide open.
3. No. 14 Georgia Tech @ No. 8 Notre Dame
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EST, NBC
In the third quarter of Notre Dames last game against Virginia they lost their QB Malik Zaire to a season ending ankle injury. Back up QB DeShone Kizer was put in the game and lead Notre Dame to a last second game saving touchdown. There offense looked like it struggled at times with Malik Zaire and were worse with Kizer. With there back up running back out for the along with Zaire it makes already a tough game against Georgia Tech even tougher. Georgia Tech runs an option offense which Notre Dame has not seen this season. There offense has been dominate behind Thomas under center and running back Jordan. Georgia Tech with a win could prove themselves as the best team in the ACC. This game will all come down to Notre Dames ability to stop this run heavy Georgia Tech offense.
2. No. 13 LSU vs. No. 18 Auburn
Saturday 3:30 p.m. EST, CBS
This game seemed so much more enticing one week ago. This game will be more about finding out how good these two teams are more than a battle for number two in the SEC. Auburn fell from the ranks of the elite after there near loss last week. After there offense looked horrible against Jacksonville St. many questions remain for the Tigers. They could not get anything going on offense the fourth quarter and ]OT. Jeremy Johnson did not look like the QB everyone expected to see this year. LSU came out against Mississippi St. and look very good on the road. Leonard Fournette looked as advertised in his season opener and looks like he could run all over Auburns defense. Will Muschamp was supposed to have an amazing defense this season as Auburns new defensive coordinator but it has not showed up yet. Auburns defense gave up 438 total yards to an FCS opponent at home for the first time ever. The only way Auburn can win this game is if they stop LSU on the ground and force them into the air which seems a stretch after last week. LSUs passing attack was not the strongest against Mississippi St. but their run game bailed them enough. This game acts as almost a playoff game and we are only three weeks into the season.
1. No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 15 Ole Miss
Saturday 9:15 p.m. EST, ESPN
I believe this game will decide who wins the SEC West. Ole Miss has been the only other SEC team other than Alabama that has been solid both weeks. Their high flying offense has scored at least 73 points in both games and never took a break. Alabama although struggling early in their game against Middle Tennessee St. has looked a lot better than many expected. Derrick Henry has earned himself the right to be at the top of the Heisman list. Ole Miss has to stop the run or at least contain it to have any chance to beat Alabama and Derrick Henry. Chad Kelly needs to have an amazing game and continue his success through the air. Ole Miss has done an amazing job at sharing the running load between running backs but Alabama’s defense line is one of the best in the nation. The winner of this game will take the lead in the SEC West and be my favorite to win the West. If Ole Miss is going to win they are going to have to force Alabama to put the ball in Jake Coker and force him to make plays.
Honorable Mention: No. 7 Georgia vs. South Carolina
Saturday, 6 p.m. EST, ESPN
It doesn't sound like much of a game after South Carolinas horrible loss to a sub-par Kentucky team. But anytime South Carolina and Georgia meet its a good game. Every time these two teams get together it normally battle for the SEC East and these seems no different. South Carolinas biggest issue is going to be trying to slow down Heisman candidate Nick Chubb. If South Carolina can do that they will force Greyson Lambert to throw. In Lambert's last game we learned he is not as good as Georgia fans had hoped yet. If South Carolina can get there offense flowing like there were glimpses of against NC this will be a closer game than most think.
PICKS FOR THIS WEEKEND: So far this season I have 9-3 -- let's see if we can keep it going!
Georgia vs. South Carolina: Georgia in a close game.
Florida St. @ Boston College: Boston College in a big upset!
USC vs. Stanford: USC 2 touchdowns.
Georgia Tech @ Notre Dame: Georgia Tech close.
LSU vs. Auburn: LSU big.
Alabama vs. Ole Miss: Ole Miss by a touchdown late.
