Week 10 delivered 7 ranked-vs-ranked matchups and more chaos than a Weight Watchers bus breaking down in front of a Krispy Kreme. The CFP fallout: Georgia is the new No. 1, Miami slides but stays alive for a Top-4 seed if it wins out, Notre Dame finally has the signature W the committee kept asking for, and with only Utah and UCLA still unbeaten, the Buckeyes, Wolverines, and Tigahs are thumbing through bowl brochures instead of bracketology. Bottom line: the playoff picture is tighter than a ballerina’s hair bun. Get ready for more this week with 5 Top 25 matchups and several classic “trap” games. Enjoy!
Late Friday Update: With the FAA implementing a nationwide ground stop, teams will have issue traveling but we will prognosticate on the “known” at this time. Teams potentially impacted are as follows:
Noting the impact on the games and potentially the CFP, it is important to quickly determine the cause of this issue. A Pigskin Prognostication exclusive has learned who was behind this as noted below:
The press and the Pigskin Prognostication must go on!!!!!
Pigskin Prognostication Accountability Update: Padre was on fire at 11-2 with ZT logging in at 9-4. What does that mean? After 10 weeks, they are dead even at 69-38 for the season!!
The Padre is Up First – Possibly from a corner of an Airport Terminal…
Well, don’t believe the hype. Last week did not live up to the billing. Even worse, my Gators have decided to go back to their Napier 2.0 phase – or maybe this is Napier 24.0 or something. But hey, we are spending 1.5 billion on a stadium renovation! Who needs players when you have new luxury boxes? Let the players eat cake!
Here is hoping this week, which looks weak on paper, gives us the games we were hoping for last week.
Bama vs. Vanderbilt: Austin (Mack, that is) is coming to Nashville. With Russell out, maybe Vanderbilt has a chance? – Naw. I think there is a better chance of Garth Brooks not singing over-the-top sappy songs at the Grand Ole Opry than there is of Vanderbilt winning this game. Bama-34, Vanderbilt-16.
Duke vs. Miami: Was it a catch? – I say “yes,” but of course, I am still living in 1995 when it comes to my football preferences. And after listening to the press conference about the grounding of all the planes, it sounds like our air traffic control is still in 1995 (CD-ROMs?!?!?!). For entertainment purposes, I would love for this to be a good game – but I think Miami will respond following the heartbreaking loss last week. Hurricanes-33, Duke-20.
Northwestern vs. OSU: I so badly want to pick the Wildcats. I think I would pick them if this game were in Chicago, but it is in Columbus. And, well, if ifs and buts were candy and Bucknuts, the ghost of Woody Hayes would play Santa Claus. And he would cuss out the kids for asking for soccer balls. Ohio State-23, Northwestern-13.
Tennessee vs. Texas A&M: Bobby Hill is coming home! (Just research it.) Somehow, 4-5 A&M is favored. I hate picking Tennessee, but I don’t think their wins have been accidental. Vols-26, A&M-17.
Wake vs. SMU: My wife got a second graduate degree from Wake Forest. I sent a lot of money to that school. Therefore, I find myself occasionally pulling for the Deacs. I also have found myself getting a little irritated at the seemingly disrespect Wake has been getting in the polls. They are now the Rodney Dangerfield of college football. Therefore, it would make sense that I pick them in this game. But I am going to reverse-uno-card this thing and go with the Mustangs. SMU-31, Wake-30.
USC vs. Indiana: What does a California dude do while visiting the state of Indiana? Well, I can promise you it won’t be playing defense. Southern Cal is not Saved by the Bell in this one. Indiana-34, USC-17.
Michigan vs. Oregon: Does anybody else think that Kyle Whittingham may only last one season at Michigan? Does anybody else think Oregon may be rising to the level we expected earlier in the year? Does anybody else think this will be a boring game? Ducks-27, Michigan-7.
Mizzou vs. Georgia: A few weeks ago, Florida had beaten Texas in Austin and Georgia had lost at home to Auburn. All was right with my football world. Fast-forward a few weeks, and Georgia is #1 and Florida cannot score on a JV high school football team or stop Oklahoma’s offense (which has been so bad that comparing it to a JV football team is fair game). I really think Kirby Smart should try the NFL. I really think he couldn’t care less what I think. I really think Georgia is really good. Dawgs that belong in the SEC-41, Tigers that don’t belong in the SEC-13.
Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma: This game has been moved to Sunday and begins at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. The same time NFL RedZone begins. I have a feeling the TV numbers for this game will be about as low as my expectations of “Bran the Broken’s” ability to lead the realm at the conclusion of Game of Thrones. I’ll take Ole Miss in this one. Rebs-24, Oklahoma-23.
Utah vs. Arizona: Two of the most beautiful places I have ever been: Bryce Canyon in Utah and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. I saw both of them when I was 12 years old. I say that because I honestly remember those two experiences more than I remember a single player on either of these teams. SEC bias is real, y’all! I am indeed living in a bubble. So, with little to go on because of my southern disease, I will take the home team in an upset. Arizona-26, Utah-24. (By the way, it may not be my SEC bias. It may actually be that these games start at like 2:00 a.m.)
Florida vs. Kentucky: I picked Florida to win last week. They lost. At home. Badly. To a team that had just fired its OC because they couldn’t move the ball against the wind on a day with no breeze. I am loyal to my team, but I know what I see. To paraphrase Forrest Gump, “I may not be a happy fan, but I know bad football when I see it.” Kentucky-30, Florida-13.
Baylor at BYU: Every single Gator fan I know disagreed with me when I said we should have kept DJ Lagway. Well, guess what? I think Lagway is going to take his Bears into Provo and shock the Cougars. Baptists-27, Mormons-24.
Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State: One program was built by the late T. Boone Pickens. The other, a program on the rise because of oil billionaires. They say money can’t buy you love, but it seemingly can buy the players who win games – which fans sure love! I think the Cowboys find a way at home. Okie St-34, Texas Tech-30.
Texas vs. LSU: Who do I dislike more? Texas and their Lamborghinis, or LSU and its whole entire athletic department that clearly has no shame or concern for anything but winning. I guess I will personally take the Lamborghinis. But while I have made my 2026 vote between the lesser of these two evils, I think Death Valley is the difference. LSU-26, Texas-23.
That’s it for the week. I have promised myself I will not get angry at my Gators today – because why get angry at what you know is coming? Y’all just wait until 2045, when we get this ship turned around and on the right course! Hopefully, we humans don’t blow up the world before then.
Gator out.
ZT is back from eating one of his cold weather favorites: Brunswick Stew Can only say that “good things happen when ZT eats Stew!”…..So get ready America!!
Duke Blue Devils vs. Miami Hurricanes 11am
Hurricanes must get over the warm waters of S. Florida and reorganize quickly after the ND loss and defend their 6-0 ACC record. Blue Devils get in the conversation with a road W. Duke didn’t come to South Florida just to hold somebody’s flip-flops so this one should be good. Cristobal worked for Saban….Manny Diaz didn’t….. Hurricanes 31 Very Blue Devils 24
Northwestern Wildcats vs. Ohio State Buckeyes 11am
Wildcats lost 2 in a row and THE Buckeyes are trying to find a new vibe with QB Sayin out for the season after 2 losses to former Pac 12 teams. Buckeye fans are one more bad Saturday from putting REM’s “Everybody Hurts” on repeat…which is also ZT’s playlist when the buffet switches from breakfast to lunch before he gets seconds. Neither coached with Saban. ZT likes Braun ( the NW coach, not the shaver for his head ). THE figures it out at home. THE Buckeyes 20 Smarty Cats 17
Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. SMU Mustangs 11am
ACC title game and winner stays in the “WE are one of the 12” conversation. Somebody’s leaving this one singing “I Want It That Way”…the other gets a Pop Tarts bowl invitation and a sad little glass of warm milk. Two 11am games with satanic referenced mascots and offenses that should put up more than 1 point per minute. Upset Special Evil Deacons 31 My Little Ponies 30
Bama vs Vanderbilt Commodores 1145 am
Ok BAMA….you have 1 job….get a W in Nashville. Sure the Commodores finish with Florida and Tennessee but trust ZT…this is the one they want!! Bama better treat these Commodores like Nashville hot chicken…get cocky on the first bite and you’ll spend the fourth quarter negotiating with the Stadium EMTs and the fans when you get back to Tuscaloosa ( which will be much worse )….Closer than Vegas thinks and ZT notes Vandy K Brock “like a rock“ Taylor is one of best Kickers in CFB ( ask Mississippi State! ). Bama 28 Captain goes down with the ship 20
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Texas A & M Aggies 2pm
Vols…..get by the 12th Man and not look ahead to a visit by some injured LSU Tigahs next week. Do that and see you in the CFP vs. sitting home and watching Deliverance, again, on VHS. Looking past the Aggies would be a real “Dude, Where’s My Car?” move…except the Vols would be wandering the parking lot looking for their playoff spot. Vols 24 Even More Agony 23
Missouri Tigers vs Georgia Bulldogs 230pm
Bulldogs looking for a Top 4 CFP slot & a CFP bye noting they are likely in the last SEC Championship game. Mizzou needs to win out to have an outside shot. Mizzou’s playoff path is starting to resemble ZT’s plate at Thanksgiving…technically room for more, but somebody’s going to have to move a biscuit. Bulldogs 31 Drinkwitz drunken felines 13
USC Trojans vs Indiana Hoosiers 230pm
This one has lots of implications for the Big 10, especially if the Trojans get the Win in Chipotle, Indiana ( yes, Bloomington was renamed in a NIL deal ). USC better order the upset to go…hanging around Chipotle, Indiana, too long could turn this road trip into “The Biggest Loser” for USC HC Lincoln “the west coast life of” Riley. ZT going with the Vampire after the early games with Devils. Hoosiers 24 Wooden Horses 17
Baylor Bears vs. BYU Cougars 230pm
Mostly a Big 12 positioning game but BYU is not out noting their win over quasi-independent ( ok..kinda ACC ) Notre Dame. BYU is treating that Notre Dame win like a “Napoleon Dynamite” glamour shot…ZT respects the confidence, but you can’t show the committee the same picture every week . Cougars…go drink a Latte with an extra shot and win this one!! Caffeinated Cougars 28 Yogi’s buddies 24
Michigan Wolverines vs Oregon Ducks 230pm
Wolverines coming off a tough loss against their in-state rival Spartans. Ducks have taken out THE Buckeyes and a good Northwestern squad in the past 2 weeks. Michigan needs to run out to “Tubthumping”……..only issue would be it the tripped coming out of the tunnel. Tough times in Ann Arbor but Eugene Oregon is not a sanctuary city for largest land-dwelling member of the weasel family ( nice use of AI on that one ZT! ) Ducks 20 Fat Weasels 17
Ole Miss Rebels vs Oklahoma Sooners UPDATE SUNDAY 12 NOON
Last time a group of Rebels got beaten as bad as they did last week was in the Civil War. Sooners, with new OC Jason Witten, went to The Swamp and helped QB John “hold my beer “ Mateer look like a smart game manager vs. It’s in Norman, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain and Rebels better hope it doesn’t sweep their secondary along with it… ZT says the only thing normal about Norman is the name. Sooners 27 Johnny Cakes 23
Florida Gators vs. Kentucky Wildcats 515pm
Which team can sing that Tay-Tay song “Shake it Off” loudest?? Gators need to win out, go to a bowl and build for next year. Wildcats have 2 losses and fortunately they are to Bama and the Vols….not too shabby. A Gator and a Wildcat in the same stadium is basically a nature documentary…except nobody’s sure which one ends up as the handbag…..ZT says it will be will be gator handbags for Christmas since UF toggling between QBs. Wildcats 28 I want a belt too! 24
Utah Utes vs. Arizona Wildcats 630pm
Loving the UTES…..win out and hard to not see them as top 4. First issue? AZ Wildcats are tougher than a Saguaro cactus in August and a win puts them back in the Big 12 race. Utah’s offense is going full Sir Mix-a-Lot “Baby Got Back” on the Wildcats…they like big backs and they cannot lie ( ZT…it is known your favorite music channel on Sirius/XM is Channel 556 Hip-Hop Chronicles…cheesy way to try to get a sponsorship ZT!). UTES 31 Desert Cats 24
Texas Longhorns vs LSU Tigahs 630pm
Must win for LSU after the Bama beatdown. No way a 4-loss team with a sleazy coach makes it in this year. November Arch has got to step it up with RB Hollywood Smothers & others out for the season. ZT recalls cow tipping on a TN farm and it didn’t happen during the day ( or without a beer but..) …..it was at night…all ZT needs for this one. Tigahs 21 Tipped Cattle 20
Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Oklahoma State Cowboys 830pm
Come on Red Raiders…play a game at time ZT can stay up for 4 quarters because your games are exciting. This one is dangerous as the Cowboys are one of the best in the nation in overall offense ( 533 YPG and 43.9 PPG ). Red Raiders like track meets as well averaging 37.6 PPG. Journeyman QB “ Not doubting” Thomas Castellanos was solid in last outing. An 8:30pm kickoff means ZT will be watching the first half awake, the second half on a recliner, and the overtime strictly in his dreams. Upset Special Red Raiders 41 Cow Pokes 38
Dad Joke: When does December come before November? In the dictionary.
Dad Joke Bonus: What do you call an angry carrot? A steamed vegetable
Dad Joke Football: What do you call a football player who loses his eyesight? A referee
Padre and ZT back again next week!!
