Note: Week 4 of the college football season is here. Make your picks for Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero with the form embedded in the column or using this link. Each week, winners of the 6-0 Challenge will be celebrated in Joe’s weekly newsletter, “SPORTS! Happy Hour.” Don’t forget, picks are against the spread.
This is an opinion column.
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Welcome to Week 4 of the college football season where Georgia is taking a pit stop to refuel its muscle cars and Florida coach Billy Napier is suddenly out of gas in the middle of Gator country.
First, a look at this week’s lineup. We’ll give Florida top billing because it’s unclear if Napier will be around by the time this column is finished.
Florida at Mississippi State, 11 a.m., ESPN, Florida by 5.5
The Sickos Committee will be in Starkville for this one. Will call it the Misery Bowl because the way this season is going there’s no way either team makes the postseason. It says a lot that Florida (1-2, 0-1 SEC) is only a 5.5-point favorite against a Mississippi State team (1-2, 0-0) that was embarrassed by Toledo 41-17.
Ohio at Kentucky, 11:45 a.m., SEC Network, Kentucky by 19.5
Bobcats vs. Wildcats. Kentucky (1-2) nearly pulled the biggest upset of the season last week, losing to Georgia 13-12. Go ahead and put Big Blue on upset alert, though. Ohio (2-1) is no pushover and Kentucky is dead last in the SEC in scoring offense (16.3 points per game) and 120th in the country.
UCLA at No.16 LSU, 2:30 p.m., ABC, LSU by 24.5
The game of ill-fitting imposters. Which is more awkward, Brian Kelly at LSU (2-1) or UCLA (1-1) in the Big Ten?
Arkansas at Auburn, 2:30 p.m., ESPN, Auburn by 4
Auburn (2-1, 0-0) made its quarterback switch just in time to prepare for its conference schedule. The rushing attack for Arkansas (2-1) could cause some problems, but AU defensive coordinator DJ Durkin is familiar with Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino after coaching together last season at Texas A&M. Hat tip to Tigers coach Hugh Freeze for hearing my public pleas to give Malcolm Simmons more touches.
Vanderbilt at No.7 Missouri, 3:15 p.m., SEC Network, Missouri by 21
This one could be the stunner of the week in the SEC. Missouri (3-0, 0-0 SEC) struggled to 27 points against Boston College, but opened up a three touchdown favorite against Vanderbilt. Make it make sense. Vandy scored 22 points in the fourth quarter last week in its loss to Georgia State.
No. 6 Tennessee at No.15 Oklahoma, 6:30 p.m., ABC, Tennessee by 7
This game is personal for Tennessee coach Josh Heupel, who was a national championship quarterback for Oklahoma and an offensive coordinator for the Sooners. Bob Stoops fired him, though, and then Heupel watched another former Oklahoma assistant get the call to be the Sooners’ new coach. Heupel and OU coach Brent Venables go way back to their OU days. Welcome to the SEC, Boomer Sooners. Am I saying that right?
Bowling Green at No.25 Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+/SECN+
Texas A&M (2-1) broke into the AP Top 25 after its bludgeoning of Florida. Turns out that Texas isn’t the only SEC school in the Lone Star State with a capable backup quarterback. Do the Aggies have a quarterback controversy brewing after Mercel Reed’s star turn in the Swamp? If Reed blows up against Bowling Green (1-1), then Connor Weigman could get Wally Pipped.
Akron at South Carolina, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU, South Carolina by 27.5
South Carolina (2-1) is in classic midseason form after blowing it last week against LSU.
Georgia Southern at No.5 Ole Miss, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network, Ole Miss by 36.
When will Ole Miss (3-0) break a sweat? The South waits. Georgia Southern (2-1) actually isn’t that bad, but this should be light work for the Rebel Land Shark Black Bears as long as our good friend Lane Kiffin leaves his tin horn at home.
UL Monroe at No.1 Texas, 7 p.m., ESPN+/SECN+, Texas by 44.5
Good luck to former UAB interim coach Bryant Vincent, who is now in charge at UL Monroe (2-0). Take a moment and appreciate Texas’ lemonade-stand for a schedule. The Longhorns (3-0) get Mississippi State next week and then have an off week to prepare for rival Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown. It’s good to be the king.
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer checks the scoreboard after a touchdown by Old Dominion during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)AP
WHO HATES BIRMINGHAM THE MOST THIS WEEK?
Levels of disdain for SEC officials are already peaking at South Carolina and Kentucky.
The Gamecocks had a pick-six called back after an unnecessary roughness call. The flag cost South Carolina the game. Who knows, maybe LSU loves Birmingham in this new era of the SEC. Over at Kentucky, the refs let Georgia practically rip the helmets off the Wildcats.
Conspiracy theories abound with the SEC hoping to land four and maybe five teams in the College Football Playoff.
Keep an eye out for SEC shenanigans in Columbia, Mo., this week. We’re putting Vandy on the Birmingham Hate Watchlist.
PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS
There are currently six SEC schools ranked among the top seven teams of the AP Top 25. They are No.1 Texas, No.2 Georgia, No.4 Alabama, No.5 Ole Miss, No.6 Tennessee and No.7 Missouri.
How many teams can the SEC land in the first 12-team playoff. I’m sure that commish Greg Sankey will want five or six, but four seems like a more reasonable number. I’m not yet convinced that multiple two-loss SEC teams will backdoor their way into the playoff. It raises some interesting questions about the value of the SEC championship game.
ESPN College GameDay is in Norman, Okla., this week for the Sooners’ debut in the SEC. As eye tests go, Tennessee is averaging an absurd 63.37 points per game behind star quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Tennessee coach Heupel doesn’t get enough respect, and I have to admit that I’ve remained skeptical despite all signs pointing towards a return to the top of the league for the Volunteers.
A win against Oklahoma would boost Tennessee’s street cred for the 12-team playoff, but blowout victories against Chattanooga, N.C. State and Kent State aren’t really doing anything for me. I’m beginning to wonder if the new eight-game conference schedules will end up hurting the SEC in the end.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning, left, is raised by Texas lineman Connor Robertson after Manning ran for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA football game against Colorado State, Saturday, August 31, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Texas won 52-0. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)AP
NEXT MAN UP
A team’s playoff chances are only as good as their backup quarterbacks. Maybe that’s not a cliché just yet in college football, but we’re working on it. Texas moved up to No.1 this week based on the strength of its backup quarterback, Arch Manning. At Texas A&M, the backup led a 33-20 victory in the Swamp against the Gators’ second-string quarterback.
Watch for backup quarterbacks to fetch $1 million transfer fees in the offseason. Here are Top 5 backups in the SEC:
5. Gunnar Stockton, redshirt sophomore, Georgia: Coach Kirby Smart has a history of changing quarterbacks early in the season.
4. Ty Simpson, redshirt sophomore, Alabama: Simpson has waited patiently at Alabama for his turn. Mobile quarterback Jalen Milroe will probably need some help at some point this season.
3. Drew Pyne, grad student, Missouri: Pyne played at Notre Dame and Arizona State before joining the Tigers.
2. Marcel Reed, freshman, Texas A&M: Reed prepped at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville. He dazzled in his debut against Florida.
1. Arch Manning, freshman, Texas: Does the No.1 team in the country have a quarterback controversy?
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)AP
SPEEDING TICKETS
In honor of Georgia, we’re handing out moving violations to the Top 5 speed merchants of the league. Speed thrills…or something like that. Drive your NIL-mobiles responsibly, kids.
5. Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma: Second in the SEC in receptions (22) and tied for second in receiving touchdowns (three). Burks will be in the spotlight this week against Tennessee.
Citation: The Purdue transfer was too fast for the Big Ten.
4. Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama: The freshman phenom is tough to cover. He leads the league in yards per catch (28.5) and is second in touchdown catches (four).
Citation: Is he even old enough to drive?
3. Ryan Wingo, WR, Texas: A super freshman. Wingo has been clocked in the 100-meters at 10.55 seconds. That’s toasty. He’s second behind Williams in yards per catch (28.14), but Wingo only has seven catches on the season.
Citation: Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s biggest problem is finding enough touches for everyone.
2. Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss: Leads the league in receiving yards (403) and receptions (27).
Citation: Pro Football Focus named Harris the top receiver in the country after the Rebel Land Shark Black Bears’ Week 2 victory against Middle Tennessee State.
1. Jalen Hurts, QB, Alabama: Hurts is built like a linebacker and runs like a receiver. Good luck in the open field. Oh, and throws a nice deep ball, too.
Citation: Leads the league in total offensive touchdowns with 14.
MAILBAG
Got a question for Joe? Want to get something off your chest? Send Joe an email about what’s on your mind. Let your voice be heard. Ask him anything.
Ralph from Montgomery writes …
Enjoy your column. Question: Has anyone, especially in the media, sabotaged their own career more than Tim Brando?
This guy was the face of the SEC not much more than 10 years ago. He was the host of the SEC on CBS every Saturday afternoon. At the time he also had a nationally syndicated radio show. He would trash or belittle the SEC (his boss) regularly. Around 2011 he said that the PAC-12 South was better than the SEC West.
Keep in mind LSU, Bama and Auburn had recently won national championships. After Bama won the natty in 2012, he stated that Bama was not a dynasty, but that Oregon was. Crazy as that sounds, it’s true he actually said and tweeted that.
It wasn’t long after that the CBS brass cut ties with him, just about the time the SEC Network launched. Coincidence, I doubt it. At a pivotal time in his career, he had bad mouthed the SEC (his boss!) so much that CBS cut ties with him and there was no room for him at the new SEC Network. Now he does obscure mostly late night games on Fox or FS1.
He’s releasing a weekly Top 15. In his most recent (Week 3), he has Bama at almost making it, No.16 or 17. This guy comes across as bright and articulate. Why does he continue to shoot himself in the foot with these crazy and dumb opinions? Do you think he is purposely sabotaging his career, or do you think it’s a strategy to make outrageous claims with the hope he gets lucky and one of them hits? By the way, none have so far and a promising career has taken a mighty fall.
ANSWER: Elephants never forget!
Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the book “We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of Nick Saban’s Ultimate Team.”
