Lots of distractions late in the season that can trip up a team…..watching the polls, looking ahead to rivalry games, concerned about that differential equations test ( sorry, that only applies to Vandy and Stanford! ), etc. etc. Can be the college football equivalent of a ship hitting an iceberg at night. Happened to 2 more of the previously undefeated teams this week along with some additional upsets and near upsets.
The 2 to fall from grace this week?
Sparty goes down 1 week after beating their instate rival. Ok….Rose Bowl still in the picture as ZT expects THE Ohio State University to be in the CFP.
Wake Forest…..it was just a matter of time before they looked in the mirror and pulled an Admiral Stockdale….”Who are we and why are we here??” ( google it if you don’t recall that one! ). They lose a defensive battle 58-55….by defensive ZT means the conversation each D. Coordinator tried to have with their respective Head Coach about their preparation and game plan afterwards…. ZT smells a trip to the San Diego Credit Union Holiday Bowl in their future.
Only 4 teams remain undefeated: Georgia aka The New Bama, Cincinnati aka the ugly step sister to Cinderella of Columbus, Oklahoma aka Bama’s future step brother from another mother, UT San Antonio aka the fun cousin from TX that does NOT have a deranged pole swinging monkey.
ZT predicts: Georgia – Runs the Table. Cincy – loses to either SMU or those crafty pirates from East Carolina. Oklahoma finishes against 3 teams who’s cumulative record is 21-6 with 2 of 3 on the road. Not calling the “trip up” yet but…. UTSA has an UPSET ALERT when they play UAB on 11/20 but it is at home. Not going to make the CFP regardless but ZT likes this team!!
Oh yeah..UMASS needs to change their name from the Minutemen to the “We’ll get around to it” men as they finally fire their coach who had won only 2 games in 3 years and fresh off a thumping by FCS University of Rhode Island Rams. ZT noted the last time anyone publicly commented on UMASS football ( other than ZT several times this year….hmm, possible job opportunity as sports information director??? ) was in 2020 when they announced they would actually play a fall schedule…..
Good Story of the week??? TCU with interim HC Jerry Kill takes out #12 Baylor the week after longtime HC Gary Patterson resigned…..NICE!!!!!
ZT in South Florida……staying at hotel where everyone is in skinny jeans…..everyone but ZT who made 7 trips to a pizza street vendor, in his Joseph A Banks Khakis from 2008, while those skinny jean people were requesting tofu lightly seared in virgin olive oil…..ZT wins that one too!!!
New Mexico State Aggies vs. #3 Bama 11am
Which Bama shows up this week? Defense Bama or Offense Bama? With NM State, it doesn’t matter. Bama starts a little slow when they see the “aggies” on the field until they realize it ain’t A & M. Bama 55 The OTHER Aggies 3
#9 Michigan Wolverines vs #23 Penn State Nittany Lions 11am
Wolverines must run the November table and the 1st course of that meal comes in Happy Valley. ZT thinks PSU HC Franklin should also be considered for the UMASS job since his name comes up for all the other openings and even the Valley people aren’t that happy with him. Wolverines 27 Confused Lions 24
#8 Oklahoma Sooners vs. Baylor Bears 11am
Sooners feel slighted by the CFP committee at 9-0. Baylor Bears got caught in a trap ( ZT really going same Elvis song reference 2 weeks in a row? ) last week by TCU and likely looking ahead to this one. Well, here it is so what ya gonna do now?? ZT says Boomer Sooner keeps on rolling but it won’t be easy. Sooners 31 Bears 28
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. #16 Auburn Tigers 11am
Note that MSU HC Leach called for “Open kicker tryouts for anyone who could find the athletic facility” and is now playing AU with the best kicker in the SEC and maybe nation in Anders Carlson. Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes……that is all ZT needs to know after watching Bama struggle with kickers for years. Tigers 27 Bulldogs 21 ( no FGs this week either Leach! )
#1 Georgia Bulldogs vs Tennessee Volunteers 230pm
UT offense will be better than most the Bulldogs have faced…..both teams average just over 38 points per game. Key difference, Georgia defense doesn’t even allow their grandmother to cross the 20 yard line on a Tuesday!!! GA allows under 7 points per game while the Vols are like their stadium security and let most anything through! Will be a little tight early in Knoxville but Dawgs have bigger jaws and eat up the Vols ( Is ZT using that stupid Rhyming App again?? ) Dawgs 38 Vols 14
#26 Purdue Boilermakers vs #6 THE Ohio State Buckeyes 230pm
The Giant Killers get a shot at the 2nd highest ranked team in Ohio this week. Problem is a Buckeye is very high in tannic acid and too much of it in the raw state will cause vomiting and diarrhea…..they will also break your teeth like a jaw breaker…… pretty sure the football version will do the same to the Boilermakers this week. Buckeyes 42 Toothless Boilermakers 21
Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. #15 US San Antonio Roadrunners 230pm
Road Runners are fast on the ground. Golden Eagles are fast in the Air……..but this game is played primarily on the ground and ZT is bald so no special connection to any eagle that is not bald. ( ZT also studied ornithology after his pre-med, pre-law, and dead languages efforts ). Road Runners 41 Eagles from Mississippi with Mullet style feathers 14
#11 Texas A & M Aggies vs. #12 Ole Miss Rebels 6pm
This should be fun……Kiffin may set a record for going for it on 4th down this season. Not sure if he is following analytics or never watched the Count on Sesame Street past the number 4. Either way, Rebels do have home field advantage in this one. A & M just has more defense and ZT believes they use RBs Spiller & Achane, again, to ” da do run run run da do run run!” in this game for more ball control ( HC Fischer called The Crystals to ask their advice and this was what they said! – google it younglings! ). A & M takes one in Oxford… Aggies 34 Rebels 4 ( ok 28 but they seem to like the #4 ! )
#21 N C State Wolfpack vs #13 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 630pm
How does WF respond to UNC loss last week? Back to reality that they are still Wake Forest? NC State is fresh off beating up on the Seminoles. Both teams have high-powered offenses. ZT sees the difference being the Wolfpack defense……..we know the power of a Wolfpack! Wolfpack 35 Finally AWAKE Forest 31 – Upset Special
#7 Notre Dame vs Virginia Cavaliers 630pm
The entire state of Virginia is in flux from elections to school board meetings to below par football in Blacksburg. Good news, football in Charlottesville not as bad! They have won 4 of last 5 although losing to BYU and giving up 66 points made ZT wonder if they were watching too much local TV. Irish on a 7 game win streak and sniffing around the CFP conversation again……Concern about UVA QB Brennan “Stretch” Armstrong injury….if he is out, UVA has about as much chance of surviving as a free bleeder swimming with a great white shark. ZT counting on the trainers finding something in their bag to get him on the field but ND wins a close one. Irish 31 Cavaliers 28
#27 Arkansas Razorbacks vs LSU TIGAHS 730pm
Next stop on the Coach O farewell tour. LSU gets a “moral victory” by taking Bama to the wire last week but he does have to give back the keys since he doesn’t “own Bryant- Denny” anymore. Bacon Boys take out Leach’s comfort dogs last week and have only be truly crushed by Georgia this year ( and who hasn’t!). TIGAHS haven’t been bad but who shows up this week is key. ARK has Bama next week but ZT believes HC Pittman won’t let them miss winning the battle of the Golden Boot ( which is also what LSU is giving Coach O!! ). ZT only likes playing off moral victories when it involves morals. No place for that in SEC football… Bacon Strips 28 TIGAHS 24
Washington State Cougars vs #5 Oregon Ducks 930pm
Wazzu has improved since the anti-vac HC went into permanent quarantine from football and is now on a 4 game win streak. Interim HC Jake “you can inject me with more stuff than a lab rat for that pay increase” Dickert has this team playing better defense and working to control the clock better on offense. Cougars will need all that plus 2 lucky rabbit’s feet ( ZT notes apparently rabbit’s feet aren’t very lucky for rabbits ) for this trip to Eugene. This is Oregon’s week to keep a solid hold on the #3 CFP spot…..”escape” or as Funny Maine calls them “struggle wins” are tough to overcome in November! Ducks make it happen with a nice W to stay on track. Ducks 38 Cougars 21
Samford Bulldogs vs Florida Gators 11am Bonus Game
Word was this game was going to possibly be canceled as QB Anthony Richardson and 34 others were heard to be entering the transfer portal. That was squelched when they learned you didn’t have to do that to get on the show “Dancing with Stars” or to tryout for the off-Broadway version of Footloose. Gators cruise to a victory even with HC Mullen’s 2 left feet. Gators 51 Samford 9
ZT headed back on the road to the Midwest after the CFB games. Learning to love airport lounge hummus and knock-off Rice Krispie Treats!
Padre has been out recruiting for his Gators since no one else will during the season. Also produced a PowerPoint for the staff so they would understand 5 stars are better than 3 stars. Took a break to prognosticate so here he goes:
Florida 22,000 Fans Samford 17 Fans
Because the tickets were still “technically” sold, UF will claim 85,000 were in attendance. Come home Bob Stoops!!! Come Home!!! Heck, we will let you personally keep the crystal ball trophy we won……
Michigan 24 Penn State 20
I think that Captain Khaki goes into Happy Valley and somehow gets the win over the only coach in history who is both rumored for the LSU/USC jobs while simultaneously wanted out by his current fan base. Evidently, one program’s unwanted couch is another man’s “next Saban.” I think Saban has a graveyard at his N. Georgia lake house with the tombstones of all the “nexts.”
Bama – Angry Saban after LSU game performance New Mexico State– poor, innocent baby seal.
*Commentary is censored as clubbing is horrific and should be illegal—-like these pointless games!**
Miami 38 FSU 28
Miami is the best team in the state of Florida. My Gators may now be worse than FSU. My home state has always been known for poorly run elections, poorly behaved men who find their way in the newspapers, and poor tasting sulfur water. But now the worst of it all has happened – we are known for poorly played football. We have gone from Jimmy Johnson, Steve Spurrier, and Bobby Bowden, to the 27th minute highlight of the 11pm SportsCenter broadcast.
Ohio State 44 Purdue 24
How is it we all knew that when Ohio State lost to Oregon early in the season that they were still going to make the CFP??? Well, the answer is because if the CFP was a spoof movie, this part of the movie would be the Groundhog Day joke part!!!
Auburn 27 Mississippi State 20
I have seen more games in Auburn’s stadium than anywhere but Florida. I have seen the refs give the game to Auburn in that stadium more than anywhere – well, just anywhere. I could give examples, but I will pass. The War-Felines will survive the K9-Pirates. I still love ya Aubies. Hey, don’t get mad. You could be a Gator fan. We lost to South Carolina!! I realize that any trash talking I do is completely negated by that debacle.
Wake Forest 41 NC State 37
These two teams are ranked! These two teams can win their division!! These two teams are having better seasons than the Florida Gators– Wake and NC State. I am actually going to the game!! And I am actually wearing black. To support Wake??? Spsssssssssshhhhh. NO. To mourn the fact that BOTH OF THESE TEAMS AREA HAVING A MUCH BETTER SEASON THAN MY ONCE MIGHTY GATORS! ** You remember that “Da Bears” skit on SNL where Farley keeps pretending it’s 1985??? Well, I am going to start doing that! It’s 1996 and that’s the truth! And as my recruits keep saying when they flip from Florida to Georgia: “Respect My Decision.”
Arkansas 30 LSU 27
The Boot ( trophy ) goes back to Fayetteville. Coach O goes back to Baton Rouge to prepare for his new Marvel show on Disney : “Cajun Man.” It will be the only show in history where the hero will save the world—and then be banished to a desolate planet 22 months later.
Ole Miss 33 Texas A & M 30 Tall Coffee Upset of the Week
I just read that Kiffin is the most liked coach in the country. Think about that compared to eight years ago. Kiffin may seriously be the first famous person to ever go from most hated to most liked BY NOT REALLY CHANGING MUCH AT ALL!!! Anyway, I have been to Oxford—the REAL Oxford. I have also had a beer at the famous pub where C.S. Lewis and JRR Tolkien used to hang out. I don’t have anything to add beyond that. That’s enough. I am forever cool ( or a dork, depending on your outlook), and I have an Oxford T-shirt to back it up. Lane Kiffin ain’t got nothin’ on me!!! Oh, they also serve a free tall glass of “freshwater” at that bar in England.
Baylor 33 Oklahoma 30 Grande Coffee Upset of the Week
The Baptists take down the “Ok, Boomers!” I cannot believe that I just now realized you can do that with Oklahoma!
Tennessee 30 Georgia 27 VENTI Coffee Upset of the Week
Call me crazy, but…..yeah,I am crazy. This is nuts. But, I’ll stick with it. I never thought I would say this, but “GO VOLS!!” Yeah, I am crazy. You can call the doctor on me.
Padre going to CVS and Walgreens to see what they have to clear his brain after the UT-GA prognostication then back on the road to save some UF recruits!!!
Until next week…..
Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin 