Week 2 was a “weight watchers special” with not much meat on the schedule but the Golden Corral is wide open this week with lots of juicy games on the slate!

Prognostication Update. Padre 9-6 with ZT ( still the 1st loser! ) 8 -7. Also note that ZT is only 1 pick better than a coin flip…just sayin those discount brain supplements he takes are misfiring!!!

Padre up First!

For some reason—probably an obvious one—the picks this week feel far less important. College football seems trivial given how dark the world feels right now. Still, I’m reminded that the world has always had its darkness—yet darkness holds no power over light. So, while football pales in comparison to real-world problems, I’ll go ahead and make my predictions. This week, though, they’ll be less about football cynicism and more aligned with the most important thing in my life: my faith. Football is fun. It’s not life or death. The usual light-hearted, harmless cynicism will return, but this week’s picks will humorously highlight school traditions or something similar in the prediction. Go Gators.

College Football is so amazing because of the traditions and pageantry. Let’s get started….

Wisconsin vs. Bama: The Badgers will do their joyous bouncing, but Rammer Jammer definitely Yellow Hammers those who jump around, 41-16.

Arkansas vs. Ole Miss: A dear friend of mine is a die-hard (and perpetually tortured) Razorback fan. I’d love to pick them for him, but the Hogs get Sooey’d by Oxford’s powder blues. Rebels take it, 37–23.

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech may be Ramblin’, but they won’t be a Wreck for Clemson (Dad jokin’ it up in here). The Yellow Jackets hang around, but the Tigers pull it off late. Clemson escapes, 26–23.

USF vs. Miami: Miami’s best tradition? — Running through the smoke.
USF’s? — Beating Florida (ouch).
But the Bulls fun ride ends in the fog. Canes dominate, 37–13.

Florida vs. LSU: According to the song we sing at each home game, Florida does not back down — but we do back away from end-zones. My Gators fight hard, but then they fall hard late. Tigers win, 30-13. (Okay, a little cynicism on this one.)

A&M vs. Notre Dame: Lassie’s cute, but Touchdown Jesus is, well…Touchdown Jesus. The Irish win a tough one in South Bend, 23–16.

Vandy vs. South Carolina: The Gamecocks are ranked, yet the spread is just a couple points? Interesting. I say Vegas knows something, and the anchor drops right in the middle of the Sandstorm. Vandy surprises with a win, 20–19.

Georgia vs. Tennessee: The game of the week, and I think the Vols may be the trendy pick. But the Dawgs were (sadly) my National Champion pick. Therefore, I will say the Dawgs hunker down and leave Rocky Top with a win — and familiarity with a certain song.

Enjoy the games—and remember: it’s just a game.

And then feel free to remind me of that when I inevitably let a bunch of 20-year-olds control my mood on Saturdays…or when 25- to 30-year-olds do the same to me on Sundays—because my fantasy team continues to underperform.

Until then, God bless.

ZT ready for some prognostication acceleration this week!!! When your 8-7, no one really wants to hear much from you so let’s get started…

Wisconsin Badgers @ #19 Bama 11am

Hmm…. What a difference a week makes. Bama fans NOT happy but 73 – 0 with 3 QBs throwing multiple TDs in a game for the first time in program history beats watching HC DeBoer look like Karl from Sling Blade on the sideline. It was noted, DeBoer needs his Hoodie ( which many Bama fans don’t like ) like Samson needed his hair. 4 of Bama losses under DeBoer occurred when he was NOT wearing a hoodie on the sideline including the FSU beat down. Most Bama fans would wrap themselves in honey & bacon and run through the bear exhibit at the zoo naked for a W so wear the dang hoodie dude!!! Badgers come to T-Town 2-0 with wins over Miami Ohio & MTSU. Tide heads to an off week so no reason not to take care of business at home. Hoodie Boys 31 Fat Weasels 17

ACC Key Game

#12 Clemson Tigers vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 11am

There was a TV show in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s called “ To Tell the Truth” ( Google it young people ) where a celebrity panel listened to a story from the host and then they asked questions of the 3 people to determine who was the person described by the host. ( thanks ZT for a TV lesson before they were shown in color!! ). 2 would lie and 1 obviously told the truth. That brings us to Clemson. Many ( Including Reece Davis ) had them as their #1. Ok, they get clipped at home by LSU but then were trailing the men of Troy into the 3rd quarter, again, at home. Now they have to pack their bags and visit the Yellowjackets, who took at Coach Prime on the road in the opener and ran it up on Gardner-Webb last week. It’s always dangerous in Atlanta, seriously, and also in Bobby Dodd Stadium. Is this the week for Dabo to get it together? ZT says YES ( ok, at 1 game over .500 in 2 weeks ZT, you better be right!!! ). Tigers 31 AAA Towed Jalopy. 24

6 Georgia Bulldogs @ #15 Tennessee Volunteers. 230pm – SEC Key GAME

ZT liking Vols QB Joey “My Boy” Aguilar leading them to a 2-0 start….most know he was at Appy State but he started at Diablo Valley Kings ( Same school that produced Willie McGee of the St Louis Cardinals ) and last week was his first game in Neyland Stadium. Will be different this week when the Dawgs and QB Gunnar “I’m just funner” Stockton come to Knoxville. Bad time for Vols to have both starting corners out with injuries but both these teams are “next man up” schools so Heupel will have a plan. Dawgs O-line banged up a bit. Big question…Vols have lost the last 8 in this series (and most were beat downs ) so hard to break out of that funk. This may be toughest road test for Dawgs. Do believe this is battle of the best QB play on Saturday. ZT liking “his boy Joey” in this one. UPSET SPECIAL Vols 27 Puppies 24

State of Florida Rivalry

#18 USF Bulls Vs #5 Miami Hurricanes 330pm

USF may want to buy the rights to the old Schlitz Malt Liquor Commercial “Look out for the Bull!” HC Alex Golesh said in the post game presser “This ain’t the same old South Florida, my brother!” Key will be to handle the distraction of the national attention. No question Canes HC Mario “Crystal Ball” is loving this. No worries about The U overlooking the Bulls with the Gators up next week. Loving the Bulls but they will be converted to Steers on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium. Hurricanes 31 Buffalo Burgers. 21

Arkansas Razorbacks vs #17 Ole Miss Rebels 6pm

HOGS and Rebels….hmm…didn’t hog hunting start in the South?? Ark QB Taylen Green has looked great in the air and on the ground in the 2 tune up games and the defense shut down the paycheck teams. Rebels will continue to just let QB Austin Simmons & the RBs work fast and outscore everyone they play. Hogs need to control the tempo and if they can extend drives, that typically doesn’t help teams that like to play fast. If in Fayetteville, maybe…..but its at the Grove. Rebels 38 Pulled Pork Sandwiches 31

Florida Gators @ #3 LSU Tigahs 630pm

The last place an injured gator needs to go is the Louisiana Bayou but that’s what they get. Gator HC Napier is feeling more heat than a bald headed roofer in July! Gets no easier with Miami, Texas and resurgent A & M to follow. Tigahs have one of the Louisiana directional schools next so no distractions. LSU Defense, particularly the front is good. They will pressure Lagway and Gators can’t afford FGs in Baton Rouge. Tigahs 31 Fried Gator Tail. 21

Marcus Freeman Game Update

#16 Texas A & M Aggies vs #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 630pm

Aggies with QB Marcel “ any defense I CAN” Reed have hung 40+ in the first 2 games and ready for a trip to South Bend. Sure both games were warm ups but they needed that. What will HC Marcus Freeman ( ZT not wasting one of his court allowed “love you man” statements on this posting ) do? Run the ball and run the ball with Jeremiyah “Muskrat” Love ( ZT, did you really just reference a 1976 Captain and Tennille song? ) and then allow C J Carr to pressure in the air as needed. South Bend and ND is the better team. Irish 27 Texas Agony 20

Vandy @ #11 South Carolina Gamecocks 645pm

Look at Vandy gettin all sporty in the SEC. One issue, the Rodney Dangerfield effect of “We don’t get no respect” is plaguing them at the moment but a W in Columbia will change all that. Note Gamecocks & Vols were the only teams that whipped up on Vandy in 2024. SC also has a 16 game win streak going vs. Vandy. But Commodore QB Deigo Pavia only played in 1 of those games so get ready in Columbia noting he lit up Va. Tech last week. Gamecocks and LaNorris “Dolores!” Sellers will keep the streak going but it wont be easy. Gamecocks 24 John Boat Captains 23

That’s it for CFB 2025 Week 3 except for……

Dad Joke of the Week:

Why don’t football players wear glasses?? It’s a contact sport!!