The best team in the country is playing in Tuscaloosa, Alabama this weekend?
It sure feels like a winner No. 2 Georgia, No. 6 Alabamawill be able to make a strong case for that designation after this weekend. Both teams are unbeaten and in a great position to bounce back College Football Playoff this season.
Alabama leads the nation in explosive plays and has the nation’s No. 3 offense, while Georgia ranks in the top 10 in rushing defense and scoring defense. Hurricane Isaias is strong in a game that could be affected by weather conditions as it moves toward the state on Saturday.
You’ll want to join No. 21 UCLA at No. 13 Oregon (3:30 p.m. ET on CBS) before Alabama and Georgia kick off Saturday night. The Bruins are riding high under first-year coach Bob Chesney and could be the 2024 version of Indiana if they can follow through with a win over Oregon.
The Ducks have bounced back nicely since their first, shocking loss to Oklahoma State, but will likely be without quarterback Dante Moore against UCLA. A loss on Saturday would be devastating to Oregon’s CFP hopes — the odds drop to 19.6%, according to our CBS Sports forecasting and projections team.
Elsewhere in the Big Ten, undefeated No. 7 Indiana visits undefeated Nebraska. Matt Rhule would like to end the Cornhuskers’ 31-game losing streak against top-25 teams.
Can we get a trap game on Saturday? Other top-25 teams in potentially tough matchups include No. 1 Texas vs. Oklahoma has No. 9 Ole Miss at Vanderbilt, No. 10 LSU at Kentucky, No. 14 Missouri at Texas A&M and No. 19 USC at Penn State.
Texas vs Oklahoma prediction, picks
3.30pm on ABC, Fubo (try it for free): It’s always dangerous to bet a big line in a big rivalry game, but it’s harder than ever to believe Brent Venables’ team will go through. Three of Oklahoma’s four games against Texas under Venables have been 17-point wins, and this Sooners team might be the worst yet. College football surprises you sometimes, but…this would be a surprise. Pick: Texas -8.5 — Shehan Jeyarajah
Oregon vs UCLA prediction, picks
Noon on CBS CBSSports.com, CBS Sports Programming Paramount+ Premium: UCLA’s bread and butter is running. But four of the Bruins’ wins are against teams ranked 65th or worse in the CBS Sports 138, and three of those four teams are outside the top 100 in run defense. Oregon is ranked 38th. What if the ground game hits the wall and the Bruins fall behind on the road against a team with superior talent? They didn’t show the pass rush necessary to overcome the deficit, especially not against a team of Oregon State’s caliber. The Ducks are looking to buckle down and remind the nation why they were ranked No. 2 in the preseason. Pick: Oregon -11.5
LSU vs. Kentucky forecast, picks
7pm on ABC, Fubo (try it for free): That’s dangerous for the visiting Tigers, especially if Kentucky can hold its own at the line of scrimmage and get the running game going early to keep LSU’s explosive offense off the field. The Tigers have been virtually flawless on both sides of the football since a Week 3 loss at Ole Miss, where they downed Texas A&M by 29 points before McNeese’s 63-point baptism last week. Much like last month’s 45-17 loss to Alabama, Kentucky must avoid giveaways and extra possessions to keep LSU within that number. Pick: LSU -10.5
Alabama vs Georgia prediction, picks
7:30pm on ABC, Fubo (try it for free): Can Alabama really beat Georgia in three straight regular season games? Kalen DeBoer dominated Kirby Smart during the regular season — however, Georgia beat Alabama in last year’s SEC Championship — in memorable fashion the last time the two teams played each other in Tuscaloosa. The weather is the final unknown, but I think they favor Georgia who isn’t as dependent on the aerial pass attack. It’s always going to be as close as it gets in the regular season, but the Bulldogs make it happen late. Selection: Georgia +1.5
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