The second half of the regular season kicks-off with a loaded Saturday slate with a total of six ranked matchups — and two games between Top-10 teams. 13th ranked Mizzou heads to No. 9 Ole Miss as Austin Simmons returns to Oxford. Let’s pick ‘em (with odds from FanDuel Sportsbook).
Standings recap after Week 6:
Stava: 23-11
Gustafson: 21-13
Matejka: 15-4
Lewis: 15-4
No. 13 Missouri Tigers at No. 9 Ole Miss (-5.5) (2:30 p.m. CST on SEC Network)
Sammy Stava: This game essentially feels like a toss-up, and
that usually favors the home team. I want to take Mizzou here, but can’t until Drinkwitz proves he can beat a ranked team on the road. 35-30, Ole Miss unfortunately.
Matthew Gustafson: I can’t really explain it…and I don’t fully know why….but I just have a good feeling about the Tigers heading into this matchup. Call it a gut feeling, more than anything. MU’s defense has found itself at the perfect time, and Chip Lindsey’s offense will do more than fine as long as the offensive line and the run game look like they did last week. Mizzou finds its next level and launches itself into the status of genuine CFP contenders with a 34-31 upset of Ole Miss.
Josh Matejka:
Jaden Lewis:
No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes (-3.5) at No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers (11:00 a.m. CST on FOX)
Sammy Stava: Even with the loss to Texas, Ohio State still has a case as the best team in the country. The Buckeyes have enough offensive firepower to get it done on the road in Bloomington. 28-24, tOSU.
Matthew Gustafson: Ohio State has been pretty convincing since its loss to Texas, while the Hoosiers have experienced their fair share of bumps and bruises on the way to a 6-0 record. Looking at the way these two teams have played this season, you’d be inclined to pick Ohio State. But doubting Curt Cignetti has burned me one too many times in this article for me to go against the Hoosiers. Give me IU, 24-21.
Josh Matejka:
Jaden Lewis:
No. 16 Mississippi State Bulldogs at No. 22 LSU Tigers (-16.5) (11:00 a.m. CST on ESPN)
Sammy Stava: LSU is in need of a bounce back, and Lane Kiffin’s team is fortunate enough just to be at home. The Tigers should handle a good, but not great Mississippi State team. 24-20, LSU.
Matthew Gustafson: If LSU hadn’t lost a heartbreaker last week in Lexington, this would be a dramatically different story. People have gotten too low on the Bulldogs after a rough loss to Alabama, and I think this will be a really fun matchup. But the Bayou Bengals are playing for their playoff lives right now, and I don’t expect the nail in the coffin this Saturday in Baton Rouge. LSU lives to fight another week, 35-31.
Josh Matejka:
Jaden Lewis:
No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide (-7.5) at No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers (2:30 p.m. CST on ABC)
Sammy Stava: Alabama is the more complete team, and they’ll be motivated after a tough loss to Georgia. While true freshman Faizon Brandon is talented, I don’t think he’s ready for a big stage like this. I trust Keelon Russell more at the QB position, even on the road. 31-20, Crimson Tide.
Matthew Gustafson: When perusing Tennessee’s results so far, I was caught by surprise for just a moment that the Vols still have only one loss on their record; I guess a one-score win over Arkansas feels a lot like a loss these days. Meanwhile, the Tide are going to be understandably peeved after a close defeat at the hands of Georgia that featured a debatable no-call during the final minutes of the action. I expect Alabama to roll in this one and reinforce their status as a playoff-caliber squad, 38-24.
Josh Matejka:
Jaden Lewis:
No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-10.5) at No. 8 BYU Cougars (6:30 p.m. CST on ABC)
Sammy Stava: Tricky game for the Irish on the road at BYU, but if Notre Dame has National Championship expectations — this is a game they need to win. CJ Carr outplays Bear Bachmeier at the quarterback position. 38-27, ND.
Matthew Gustafson: This Notre Dame team has steamrolled just about everyone in its path heading into its biggest matchup (up to this point) of the season. What’s the quality of that competition been like? Meh. Although BYU hasn’t exactly faced a murderer’s row of opponents either. The Cougars will have a rocking LaVell Edwards Stadium behind them, but it won’t be enough. I’ll take the Irish, 31-24.
Josh Matejka:
Jaden Lewis:
