College Football Weekend Preview

Morning Games

Georgia (2-0) vs. Arkansas (1-1) — 9:00 AM PT

The DAWGS head into the Fayetteville heat looking to keep rolling.

Arkansas is coming off an absolute dismantling at the hands of a tough Utah team on the road—a game that was essentially over by halftime. Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, the schedule isn't offering them any sympathy.

Now they get Georgia, one of the most complete teams in the country.

Georgia should have a massive advantage on both sides of the ball, and if the Dawgs get rolling early, this could get ugly in a hurry.

If you're an Arkansas fan with tickets to this game, get to the tailgate early and enjoy yourself.

Because the game might be a major disappointment.

Prediction: Georgia 48, Arkansas 3

Best Bet: Georgia Team Total Over 40.5

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North Carolina (2-0) vs. Clemson (1-1) — 9:00 AM PT

Bill Belichick has North Carolina fans fired up after the Tar Heels' impressive start to the season.

More importantly, the famed Belichick defense appears to have officially arrived in Chapel Hill.

Now comes the real test.

North Carolina travels to Clemson with an opportunity to make some serious noise in the ACC. A win here would immediately change the conversation around the Tar Heels—and turn the pressure surrounding Dabo Swinney up another notch.

Would a loss to North Carolina bring even more questions about Dabo's future at Clemson? Absolutely. But even with the recent struggles, moving on from one of the most successful coaches in program history would be a massive decision.

I expect this to be an old-fashioned defensive battle.

North Carolina keeps it close, but Clemson finds just enough offense late to survive at home.

Prediction: Clemson 16, North Carolina 13

Best Bet: Under 43.5

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Afternoon Games

SMU (2-0) vs. Louisville (1-1) — 12:30 PM PT

This game is going to be fun.

Kevin Jennings leads SMU and the Pony Express into Louisville to face Lincoln Kienholz and an explosive Cardinals offense.

We knew Louisville would have a strong running game coming into the season, but Kienholz's quarterback play has elevated the ceiling of this team. He showed exactly what he's capable of in Week 1, when Louisville nearly knocked off Ole Miss in an early-season classic.

Of course, talking about quarterbacks in this matchup without mentioning Jennings would be disrespectful.

Jennings has provided SMU with leadership and, more importantly, wins since taking over as the starter midway through the 2024 season. He led the Mustangs to the College Football Playoff in his first season as the full-time guy and continues to give SMU a chance against anyone on its schedule.

This feels like one of those games we're going to look back on later in the season and realize just how important it was.

The winner puts itself in an excellent position in the ACC race.

Give me Louisville at home—but barely.

Prediction: Louisville 31, SMU 28

Best Bet: Isaac Brown Anytime Touchdown

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Florida State (1-1) vs. Alabama (2-0) — 12:30 PM PT

Revenge game.

Alabama hasn't forgotten what happened in Tallahassee last season, and now Florida State has to walk into Tuscaloosa against a Crimson Tide team looking to return the favor.

Things aren't exactly peaceful in Tallahassee either.

Four SMU turnovers still weren't enough for Florida State to pull off the upset, increasing the pressure surrounding Mike Norvell and the direction of the program.

Now they get Alabama.

Fantastic timing.

The Crimson Tide enter this matchup with momentum after dismantling Kentucky on the road, and this feels like a terrible matchup for an FSU team searching for answers.

If Alabama gets rolling early, this could get ugly.

Really ugly.

Prediction: Alabama 56, Florida State 10

Best Bet: Alabama Team Total Over 34.5

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Mississippi State (2-0) vs. South Carolina (2-0) — 1:15 PM PT

If you like athletic, explosive quarterbacks, do not miss this game.

Kamario Taylor leads Mississippi State into South Carolina for a showdown with LaNorris Sellers and the Gamecocks.

This has all the ingredients for an instant classic.

Both quarterbacks can hurt defenses with their arms and their legs, and both teams enter the matchup undefeated with an opportunity to make an early statement in the SEC.

I expect both programs to reach bowl eligibility, but South Carolina has the higher ceiling.

If the Gamecocks win this game and steal another big matchup or two later in the season, they could put themselves into the College Football Playoff conversation.

The difference for me is defense.

South Carolina has the edge on that side of the football, and I expect the Gamecocks to make just enough stops late to pull away from Mississippi State.

Prediction: South Carolina 31, Mississippi State 28

Best Bet: South Carolina Moneyline

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Late Afternoon & Evening Games

Florida (2-0) vs. Auburn (2-0) — 4:00 PM PT

Now we find out what Florida is made of.

Auburn has already been tested, surviving a tough season-opening matchup against Baylor in Atlanta. Florida enters Jordan-Hare undefeated but facing its first legitimate measuring-stick game of the season.

Both programs are under new leadership, both are 2-0 and both are trying to send the same message to the rest of the SEC:

We're back.

For Auburn, keep an eye on Byrum Brown.

Brown was a superstar at USF and already knows a thing or two about playing Florida after being part of the USF team that upset the Gators last season.

His ability to create with his legs could be the difference in a game I expect to stay close into the fourth quarter.

Jordan-Hare gets loud.

Brown makes a couple of big plays.

Auburn survives.

Prediction: Auburn 23, Florida 17

Best Bets: Under 53.5 | Byrum Brown Over 40.5 Rushing Yards

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Virginia Tech (2-0) vs. Maryland (2-0) — 4:30 PM PT

James Franklin and Virginia Tech face their toughest challenge yet against an undefeated Maryland team.

And considering how many players followed Franklin from Penn State to Virginia Tech, there might be moments where this feels more like Penn State-Maryland than Virginia Tech-Maryland.

The biggest question for the Terps will be whether they can match Virginia Tech's physicality for four quarters.

I think they can—for a while.

Maryland has enough talent and experience to keep this competitive, but as the game wears on, I expect Virginia Tech's ground game and physical style to start taking over.

Close through three.

Virginia Tech pulls away in the fourth.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 27, Maryland 20

Best Bet: Virginia Tech Moneyline

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LSU (2-0) vs. Ole Miss (2-0) — 4:30 PM PT

Oh, this is going to be hostile.

Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford.

That sentence alone should tell you everything you need to know about the atmosphere surrounding this game.

Kiffin led Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff before leaving Oxford for LSU, and he didn't exactly leave quietly. Several players eventually followed him to Baton Rouge, adding another layer to what was already going to be an emotionally charged reunion.

Needless to say, Ole Miss fans probably haven't circled a game on their calendars this aggressively in years.

And the tension won't be limited to the stands.

There are players on both sidelines who know each other extremely well, and there will be plenty of emotion from the opening kickoff.

Once we actually get to the football, however, LSU has already shown why it possesses one of the most talented rosters in the country.

And whatever you think about Kiffin's departure from Ole Miss, the man knows how to coach offense.

Ole Miss will have the crowd.

They'll have the emotion.

They'll have revenge on their minds.

But LSU has the talent to survive all of it.

Give me the Tigers in what could become one of the most memorable games of the regular season.

Prediction: LSU 35, Ole Miss 32

Best Bet: LSU Moneyline