Tennessee’s trip to Texas headlines a loaded Saturday slate, and the Vols are getting points for a reason. Josh Heupel’s team has cruised through the first three weeks with wins over Furman, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State, and freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon has been a machine in that offense, piling up nine total touchdowns without an interception.
Texas is coming off a 30-6 win over UTSA after that stunning comeback against No. 1 Ohio State, but this feels like the kind of game where Neyland’s energy travels even with the early kickoff.
Arch Manning should get out of his uncle’s place with a victory, though not by much if he does.
Ole Miss is in the same kind of spot, laying just a point and a half against Florida. The Rebels knocked off Lane Kiffin and the Tigers 32-24 in one of the program’s biggest wins, and Trinidad Chambliss is climbing the Heisman board after throwing three touchdowns in that performance.
Florida is unbeaten at 3-0 in the Jon Sumrall era after winning at The Plains, and Jadan Baugh has been the engine for the Gators with 54 carries and eight touchdowns already. Gainesville should be loud for this one, but Ole Miss has already shown it can play like one of the most dangerous teams in the country.
Pete Golding’s group gets it done as a small underdog and stays on top of the SEC standings.
Vanderbilt is another underdog worth a look at +9.5 against Auburn. The Commodores pulled off a wild one last week against NC State, recovering a fumble for a touchdown in the final seconds to steal the game.
Freshman quarterback Jared Curtis made his first start and delivered three touchdown passes along with two interceptions. Auburn, meanwhile, lost 44-39 to Florida in a game that exposed the defense, especially against the run, where the Tigers gave up 243 yards.
Byrum Brown has been steady for Auburn, but the rest of the roster still looks like it’s missing a gear. Home field should help, but Vanderbilt has enough to keep this within a score.
Alabama is another team expected to handle business, this time against South Carolina with an 11.5-point cushion. The Tide came back again last week, rallying in the second half to beat Florida State 50-36 for their second straight comeback win.
Keelon Russell has been a breakout force, throwing for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns against the Seminoles. South Carolina enters after blowing a 16-point lead in a loss to Mississippi State, even though LaNorris Sellers threw for nearly 300 yards.
Coach Beamer may have his team fired up for the upset try, but even if Alabama starts slow, this one still looks too steep for the Gamecocks. DeBoer’s team should win by at least two touchdowns before heading to Starkville to face Kamario Taylor and the Bulldogs.
West Virginia has also earned respect, even if it’s just by a point and a half over Oklahoma State. The Mountaineers upset No.
25 Virginia at home last weekend to improve to 3-0, and former Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. has been a real weapon on the ground with 322 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Oklahoma State bounced back from its huge upset over Oregon by beating Murray State, with North Texas transfer Drew Mestemaker throwing five touchdown passes but also dealing with turnover issues.
This one has the feel of one of the weekend’s best games, with the winner moving to the top of the Big 12 and into the top 25. Rich Rodriguez and West Virginia get another big home win to open conference play.
The late-night matchup in Los Angeles has Oregon as a slight favorite over USC, and that one should have plenty of noise around it. The Ducks responded to their loss to Oklahoma State by unloading on Portland State in an 84-0 rout.
Dante Moore has been excellent, nearly reaching 900 passing yards with nine touchdowns in the first three weeks. USC is 4-0 after escaping Rutgers 42-35, and Jayden Maiava leads the nation in passing yards and touchdowns as he tries to push the Trojans back into relevance with a win over Oregon.
A lot of people are down on the Ducks after that Oklahoma State loss, but Dan Lanning should have them ready for this must-win spot and leave Lincoln Riley with the defeat.
In Other News...
Five-Star Kellan Hall Just Gave Georgia Fans A Reason To Watch
Five-star recruit Kellan Hall is back on the road this week, and Georgia will get an important in-person look as he visits Athens during the Bulldogs game against Oklahoma. Hall has already drawn plenty of attention on the recruiting trail, and while Oklahoma has long been viewed as the predicted landing spot, he remains uncommitted and has kept Georgia in his top 10.
The timing of the visit makes it especially notable for Georgia fans, since it comes with the Sooners in town and adds another layer to a high-profile matchup. Even with Oklahoma still considered the favorite, Halls presence in Athens gives Georgia a real chance to make a late impression, and it keeps his recruitment very much worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia's Biggest Edge Vs Oklahoma Just Got More Important
Oklahoma is heading into its matchup with Georgia already dealing with issues up front, and those problems only sharpen the focus on where this game could be won or lost. Brent Venables confirmed that left tackle Michael Fasusi is out and defensive tackle David Stone is questionable, a development that puts even more pressure on a Sooners team trying to withstand one of the SECs most physical fronts.
Venables framed the meeting as the kind of game where line play matters as much as anything else, and that is exactly why Georgia will view this as a chance to lean on its size and depth. With the Sooners preparing for a difficult night and a few key pieces uncertain, the Bulldogs biggest edge now looks even more significant than it did at the start of the week. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Just Got A Massive Backcourt Boost For March Push
For a Georgia program trying to keep its momentum rolling into another March run, the latest news in the backcourt matters. Blue Cain and Marcus Millender both turned down transfer interest and will return for their senior seasons, giving Mike White a pair of experienced guards who already know the demands of playing in this system and the expectations that come with it.
White said both players had been presented with lucrative opportunities elsewhere, but chose to stay and help build on the Bulldogs recent NCAA Tournament appearances. Millenders decision carries an added family angle, too, with the chance to suit up alongside his older brother Kemauri after his recent move to Athens, giving Georgia a little more continuity and a little more depth where it can least afford to lose either. [Read more 🡒]