WEEK ELEVEN.  FEELS LIKE HEAVEN

The temps have finally dropped here in the Southeast and it’s finally feeling a lot more like fall football, the way God intended.

We’ve fired up the outdoor fire pit, have plenty of brats and beans and all of the accoutrements required for a full Saturday of college football. Some smoky scotch and some smooth bourbon are poised for pouring to take the chill off. So we’re ready freddy for some great fall football. And, boy, we have some dandy games on tap, and lots of opportunities to make mo' money.

WEEKEND REWIND

We rebounded last Saturday with a respectable 5-3 showing. We did extra bigly with our UPSET SPECIAL pick of Purdue upsetting the hapless Huskers.

EXTRA POINTS (these are guaranteed to make you sound smart at tomorrow's tailgate...bet on it)

You miss him. Yes you do

• For the first time ever in the AP poll era, Saturday will feature two meetings between ranked team teams that are 8-0 or better…LSU vs Alabama and Penn State vs Minnesota.

• Takes a special team to lose back to back to Indiana and Purdue, after getting spanked by Minnesota. That's a heckuva job that little Scottie is doing up there in Lincoln. Has anyone dared to tell him this isn't Central Florida?

• FSU pulled the trigger on Willie Taggert. Names being mentioned are the Stoop brothers (Bob and Mark), and even Urban Meyer (although we see him headed to USC or Notre Dame if that job opens up). 

• Ohio State best not get too comfortable in their top CFP slot. The NCAA is investigating wrong doing by suspended de Chase Young. Could be some doo-doo headed their way. But probably no more than a wrist slap.

Pontoon boats make wonderful decks

• Wondering where to park your pontoon boat for the season? How about a backyard deck. Works for this Oklahoma fan.

 GAME OF THE CENTURY, PART NINE

Okay, here comes another one of those "game of the century" match ups, this time featuring LSU and Alabama, both teams sitting atop the AP Poll and positioned nicely in the first CFP rankings. Is it possible for LSU to force Bama to the side? Or will this be another big game in which Alabama exerts its will and shows the nation once again they are truly the team to beat? To help us get a handle on the big game, we've asked two of our frequent contributors, Bayou Bengal and Kenny Clyde, to throw in their thoughts.

FROM BAYOU BENGAL…..

The most feared man in Tiger-Land

This season feels different.

Sure, the standard "It's Bama Week" terror is still there. Yes, the Louisiana State Football Tigers have lost in the past...don't worry about how many games in a row to a team that clearly sold its soul to the devil long ago. And yes, both teams have continued to haul in 5 star recruit after 5 star recruit, sending those recruits to the NFL, rinse and repeat.

So what's different this year?

Is it LSU being known, for this first time in my personal fandom, as an Offensive Juggernaut?

Gone are the days of the power toss to the running back, ram the ball down the defense's throat, and only throw the ball when the sun sets in the east and the mountains fall into the sea.

Now are the days of a gunslinging QB, 3 100-yard receivers every game, and a sneakily-still-power running game. Putting up 45+ points a game is the new norm, and God rest the soul of any Vegas under bets when LSU plays a good defense.

The question is: will it be enough?

The defense is more "bend and only sometimes break" than it has been in the past under the great Dave Aranda, and one of the leaders of the Tiger defense (Michael Divinity) was just excused from the team.

With likely 1st overall pick Tua Tagovailoa more than probably back just two short weeks after a bad ankle injury, Alabama will be at favored by at least a touchdown at home. Can the Tigers roar, and master the Crimson Tide? 

I say yes! Tigers by 4!

                 

The great wise one in Bama-Land

FROM KENNY CLYDE...

Buckle up for "Game of the Century" episode 3.  

LSU and Bama square off again in a battle of the SEC's titans.

As usual, there are championship opportunities riding on this game. Not as usual, LSU is bringing a high powered offense, while Alabama's D is only B+ at best.

I will promise you that this game will not end 9-6.  Both quarterbacks will be challenged to rack up scores on every possession.

Let's break it down:
Offense? Bama by a nose
Defense?  Tigers
Kicking? Tigers
Kick Returns?  Bama
Coaching:  Tide
Tie-breaker?  Bama is batting .840 at home.

If the Tigers can keep the lid on Bama's 4-headed receiving corps, if Bama can keep Tua upright, if Joe Borough has a career game, and if LSU can limit Jaylon Waddle's return yardage it will be an overtime game.

Look for turnovers and key penalties to be the deciding factors.

Roll Tide Roll! BAMA WINS!

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THE GREAT EIGHT™ FOR WEEK ELEVEN

#1 LSU @ #2 ALABAMA…this game is won or lost on the arm of LSU qb Joe Burrows and his ability to throw against the weakest part of the Bama defense, the secondary. The Tigers will need Joe’s arm because they have no run game to speak of. It’s been a streak of eight losses to the Tide. This will be a great game but look for the streak to grow to nine. Tide rolls again.

MARYLAND vs #3 OHIO STATE…the Buckeyes are sitting atop the first CFP poll and are riding high with a perfect 8-0 record. What could possibly go wrong? Ohio State should win but the Terps have just enough in their tank to score a few points. In an UPSET SPECIAL, take Maryland and the points (42.5)…Buckeyes will not cover.

PENN STATE @ MINNESOTA…two undefeated 8-0 teams go at it tomorrow and the key to this game is the run defense of Penn State. It’s allowing less than 2 yards per carry, and the Golden Gophers haven’t seen anything like it thus far. Add in a potent pass rush and the Nittany Lions will stop the Gophers. In a close one, Nittany Lions roar in Minneapolis.

IOWA @ WISCONSIN…the key to this game is Iowa’s run defense which has played well this season, allowing just 120 yards to Penn State and Michigan. Overlay that with a pretty good pass defense which allows only six yards per pass and you might have a Hawkeye win. But not so fast. The Badger defense is one of the best in the country and should be able to handle anything that Iowa throws at them. The Wisconsin offense is also tops in time of possession and if Jonathan Taylor cranks it up, the Badgers win and position themselves nicely in the Big Ten West. Badgers bite the Hawkeyes.

TENNESSEE @ KENTUCKY…the Vols are quietly righting the ship with wins over South Carolina, Mississippi State, and a potent UAB. They’re still a work in progress with their patchwork at quarterback. What’s refreshing for Big Orange fans is the much improved play of the defense and how the young players are rallying around Pruitt. Can they keep get closing to becoming bowl eligible? The Cats have their own qb situation with a converted wr taking snaps. Their passing game is zippo and Tennessee should be able to contain the Kentucky run game. In a cold night game in Lexington, the Vols heat it up over the Cats.

 IOWA STATE @ #9 OKLAHOMA…the Sooners have had two weeks to stew after their loss to Kansas State, and they’ll be looking to put up some big numbers to impress the CFP committee. QB Jalen Hurts shouldn’t disappoint. Sooners handle the Cyclones.

BAYLOR @ TCU…the Bears are 8-0 and making noise in the Big 12. Right now they are lacking respect and will only gain that when they beat Oklahoma and Texas. For now, they need to take care of business with TCU, which impeach, convict, remove trump has the top defense in the Big 12. Key is the play of Baylor qb Charlie Brewer. A big day makes a happy day for the Bears. Bears chomp the Horned Frogs.

STANFORD @ COLORADO…after a strong start to the season, the Buffalo offense has just about disappeared, having scored 14 points or fewer in three of their last four games. And now, along comes the Cardinal with their hot qb KJ Costello who’s looking more like an NFL-caliber quarterback as the season progresses. Which is bad news since Colorado lacks a secondary that can consistently shut down passing games. Stanford slices up the Buffs.

MAKE MO’ MONEY with MARK™