Get some extra batteries for the remote on Saturday with several big games in the SEC and ACC on tap.
LSU 35 GEORGIA 31: The winner of this game will be squarely in the national title hunt. LSU’s offense has made strides under new coordinator Cam Cameron. Georgia averaged 540.5 yards and nearly 40 points per game against Clemson and South Carolina. Tiger tailback Jeremy Hill is averaging 8.36 yards per carry. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger and Tiger receivers Odell Beckham, Jr. and Jarvis Landry against the young Georgia secondary is the key matchup of the game.
ALABAMA 28 OLE MISS 17: Ole Miss has road wins at Vanderbilt and Texas. They have won in Tuscaloosa only once in 1998 when Bill Curry was coaching Alabama. The Tide defense will be tested by quarterback Bo Wallace, running back Jeff Scott and freshman receiver Laquon Treadwell and junior Donte Moncrief, both 6-foot-3. Ole Miss has four turnovers and three of the mistakes came against SE Missouri State. Wallace didn’t throw a pick against either Vanderbilt or Texas. Alabama’s best cover man Deion Belue is returning from injury. A key to this game is the Tide’s balanced offense against the Ole Miss defense.
TEXAS A&M 30 ARKANSAS 21: Arkansas should be able to run the ball on Texas A&M ‘s No. 105 nationally ranked rushing defense that allows 218.3 yards per game. The Hogs have the SEC’s No. 2 rusher (Alex Collins, 120.3 yards per game) and No. 6 rusher (Jonathan Williams, 104.5 ypg). Arkansas needs a healthy quarterback Brandon Allen after he bruised his shoulder two weeks ago. The Hogs defense is ranked No. 17 nationally.
SOUTH CAROLINA 24 UCF 21: UCF is 3-0 with wins at home against Akron and road wins at FIU and Penn State. UCF junior quarterback Blake Bortles is completing over 70 percent of his passes and averaging 11.7 yards per attempt (third best in the nation). Former Miami tailback Storm Johnson has rushed for 308 yards averaging 5.6-yards per carry. UCF gained over 500 yards of offense in their win at Penn State. The Gamecock offense has been productive, but defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward has to be more creative with end Jadeveon Clowney during the off week. The Gamecocks have allowed 76 points in three games. Cornerback Victor Hampton and defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney and Chaz Sutton have had a week off to get healthy.
FLORIDA 24 KENTUCKY 7: The talk of Kentucky winning this game is pure foolishness. The Wildcats do not have the roster to pull off an upset. Wildcat quarterback Maxwell Smith might return from injury. Backup quarterback Tyler Murphy is in his first start against a Kentucky defense that played Louisville well. Kentucky has been solid against the pass (181.3 yards per game), but its rush defense is No. 13 in the SEC (185.67). Even without Dominique Easley, the best unit on the field is the Gator defense. Former Wildcat coach Joker Phillips returns to Kentucky as the Gator receiver coach.
MIAMI 40 SOUTH FLORIDA 3: Former Western Kentucky coach Willie Taggart has struggled at South Florida with a 0-3 start. USF lost to McNeese State in the opener. The Bulls have managed only 16 points in their last two games. Quarterback play has been a major issue, as three players have combined to complete 37 percent of their passes. USF will start Penn State transfer Steven Bench. Miami quarterback Stephen Morris should play despite sustaining an ankle injury. USF’s defense allows 160.3 yards per game rushing. The Bulls have committed eight turnovers and averaged only 12.3 points per game. Miami leads the country in turnover margin while the Bulls are ranked No. 114.
FSU 35 BOSTON COLLEGE 10: FSU has dominated the series over the past three years. Nole quarterback Jameis Winston is completing 78% of his passes. FSU is averaging 52.3 points a game. The Noles running backs are averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Boston College ranks No. 10 in the ACC against the pass and last in the ACC in total offense (5.1 yards per play). The Boston College defense has forced seven turnovers and eight sacks in three games. Boston College needs running back Andre Williams to find some holes against FSU’s run defense that ranks No. 7 in the ACC allowing 3.4 yards per carry.