We will get some pretty good clarity in the SEC this week. Vols vs. Dogs to set up the East and Tide vs. Bengal Tigers for more clarity in the West. Other “factors” include Auburn putting Harsin on the “Money Train” out of town with the first 2 names as his replacement being Neon Deon and Lane Kiffin ( love the Ole Miss distraction on a bye week with Bama up next! ).
CFP Rankings out and not too much to be concerned about noting only that Clemson likely has the easiest path but this has worked itself out every year so in the words of Bobby McFerrin and the last IRS agent I met with…”Don’t Worry, Be Happy!”
ZT been on the road and in the air for work. Plenty of snacks picked up a Buc-ees to include Beaver Nuggets ( no, not what is left over after Oregon State plays ), breakfast tacos, Kolaches, etc. In the air, it is typical nuts, etc. but continue to eat more humus in 2022 than I have in any 10 year period prior. Also, ZT will no longer fly in the main cabin with so many flying again. The picture below explains why. Enough and on to prognosticating!
#19 Tulane Green Wave @ Tulsa Golden Hurricanes 11am cdt
The 7-1 Green Wave vs. the Golden Hurricanes. Always watch out for Hurricanes period and this year is no different. Played Ole Miss and Cincy pretty well and can score points! Tulsa QB Davis “tough skin” Brin has over 2,000 yds with 17 TDs but 7 INTs. Favorite target is Keylon Stokes with 53 catches. Tulane HC Willie Fritz has been here since 2016 after a couple of solid years at Georgia Southern. He has led the Wave to 3 bowl games and likely a 4th this year, possibly a big one ( ZT says NOTHING wrong with the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl based on his love of stuffed potato skins but..). These guys don’t get a lot of press and that is good when your team resides in NOLA!! Tulane QB Michael Pratt has thrown for over 1700 yds and 12 TDs but only 3 picks!. RB Tyjae Spears, the junior from Ponchatoula not Pascagula that wants to go pro to make some moola ( ZT…Come on Man! ) has 9 TDs and is a passing threat out of the backfield. Remember, this team beat Kansas State in Manhattan and ECU as well. They finish November with UCF, SMU, and Cincy but should have enough to win a shoot out on the road. Waves of Green 38 Golden Disturbances 28
Texas Tech Red Raiders @ #7 TCU Horned Frogs 11am cdt
The Phrynosoma cornutum is the largest of 15 species of horned lizards in the US and the ones in Fort Worth are playing large in 2022! Also, it’s the OFFICIAL Texas state reptile and normally hibernate starting in November ( OK ZT, this is NOT the Animal Planet Channel! ) kinda like TCU used to do in football but not this year! 8-0 and looking for more! Frogs continue to find ways to win and have no reason to believe QB Max Duggan and crew will slow down. Maybe a little extra motivation being ranked behind Bama in the 1st CFP ranking. For now, they just need to win and keep that TT bell ringer from having anything to be happy about. ZT says they will. TX State Reptiles 41 Sad Bell Ringer 31
#2.1 Tennessee Volunteers @ #1 Georgia Bulldogs 230pm cdt with Gary D
Game of the Year as of November 5th!! ZT will not go into details as Gary “I don’t recognize I am not a good announcer” Danielson and Brad ” I am worse than a hanging chad” Nessler will talk ad nauseam until 69.4% of America vomits. ZT will take Dawgs QB Stetson Bennett IV over Hillbilly Hooker in Athens. Close, but Dawgs get the W. Dawgs 35 Vols 28
#6 Bama @ #15 LSU Tigers 6pm cdt
Both teams off a bye week and ZT believes the Tigers have a little extra Mojo with a home date after nice W’s over Florida and Ole Miss following their shellacking by UT ( Ok ZT… “shellacking” is like the guy on the Progressive “becoming your parents” Commercial asking for a John Hancock instead of a signature!!…..Come On Man! ). Tiger QB Jayden Daniels has improved nicely while the Bama secondary only has 3 INTs. Bama defense has improved, since the loss in Knoxville but like the LB match up vs. the LSU O-line. ZT says Bama gets the W but in a close one on the road. Elephants 31 Bayou Tigers 21
Texas Longhorns @ #13 Kansas State Wildcats 6pm cdt
Purple Power Cats chewed up and spit out some Cowboys from OK last week and now want to eat some Beef from Texas! Interesting as the Longhorns come off a bye week AFTER losing to that same OK State team a week earlier. Key battle is K State ground game vs. Longhorn defense. Can Texas QB Ewers bounce back from bad week? Will it be Martinez or Howard at QB for K State? Well. tune in to FS1 ( ok, toggle with the Bama/LSU game as ZT will be doing on his IPhone at an ill-planned dinner ) to see. Upset Special Wildcats 28 1/4 pounders by Monday 27
#20 Wake Forest Demon Deacons @ #21 N. C. State Wolfpack 7pm cdt
Love ACC teams who are happy just being mentioned in the Top 25…. Nice way to lock in the invite to the Taxslayer Bowl ( told all 84,000 new IRS agents will be attending ). Wake was getting some looks till the Demon Deacons were smacked by the improving Louisville Cardinals…..ok 4 fumbles, 4 INTs, and 8 sacks helped but you can’t ignore that offensive meltdown. Wolfpack digs out a W vs. Va Tech with back up QB M J “not THAT MJ” Morris who threw for 265 yds and 3 TDs. Burn me once, shame on you, burn ZT twice Wake Forest, and will not say Demon Deacon again until Auburn has a new head coach…. Demon Deacons 28 Wolfpack 24
ZT’s The Peanut Festival is in town quick snack selections
Florida Gators @ Texas A & M Aggies 11am cdt
Simple for ZT…..jaded by just having to look at Jimbo Fisher on camera and twice as bad when he actually opens his mouth……would rather listen to Roseann Barr try to sing the National Anthem again. Gators want this one, in a big way, and their ground game should be the difference maker. Upset Special Gators 27 Head Coach collecting over $1,000,000 per game even if they suck 24
Maryland Terrapins @ Wisconsin Badgers 11am cdt
What Up Terrapins?!? 6-2 with Baby Tua slated to start after missing 3 weeks with a sprained MCL. If any issues, Billy Edwards JR. ( his dad, B.E.,SR. is out of eligibility) has done a nice job in relief. 5 turtles have over 20 catches while RB “GO”Roman Hemby is averging 6.5 YPC on the ground. Badgers interim HC Jim Leonhard ( named after Leon Spinx head ) hopes he is a candidate for the permanent position and is 2-1. This game is critical if he is to have a chance. Will be a lot of jumping around at Camp Randall early but ZT calling another upset… Turtles 27 Badgers 21
#23 Liberty Flames @ Arkansas Razorbacks 3oopm cdt
OK….Hogs do NOT like Flames….they have seen too many of their family members end up on a bun after being exposed to them. Liberty is 7-1 with only a close loss to Wake Forest and fresh off a big win over BYU. HC Hugh “Mr.” Freeze ( old Batman reference ZT? ) just got an extension through 2030. Newsflash..his name has popped up as top candidate for the Auburn job. Add in they have a QB concern with Bennett out with the flu and Brewer still out with a hand injury. Nate “the skate” Hampton would be next in line. None of this is good when headed to Fayetteville. Sam Pittman drinks a case of Bud after this one. Beer Drinking Hogs 38 Flickers 21
#5 Clemson Tigers @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish 630 pm cdt
Clemson off a bye week while ND turned the Orangemen into Orange Pulp. Also beat UNC on the road. Irish scored 40+ in each game, yet also dropped games to the Stanford “no fun” Trees and Marshall so which team shows up. QB Drew “I no longer ride the” Pyne has played well since taking over for the injured Buchner. Clemson has a bit of a QB issue but nothing to scare the rock rubbing faithful. BUT….its getting closer to Christmas ( based on the Hallmark Movies and cards in the discount drug store where ZT gets his 50% off brain supplements) and believe TD Jesus will help the Irish make it happen at home. Upset Special Inspired Irish 24 Dang it Dabo 21
FSU Seminoles @ Miami Hurricanes 630pm cdt
Noles as a road favorite? They did smash the Yellow Jackets while Hurricanes won in OT vs. UVA with neither team scoring a TD. It will be the FSU offense vs. Miami defense in this one. Norvell vs. Christobal. Criminals vs. Thugs. Canes need it but not today! Noles 31 Tropically Depressed 21
California Golden Bears @ #9 USC Trojans 930pm cdt
Trojans look to stay relevant in the playoff picture at the Coliseum on Saturday at 7-1. Bears got “splattered on” by the Ducks of Oregon last week and are averaging under 25 PPG. ZT says Trojans win but a little closer than Vegas says. Trojans 28 Bears still covered in Duck poop 17
ZT planning to mix some great college football with a stroll around the midway of the National Peanut Festival this weekend. Could be a funnel cake consumption record broken before Sunday
Padre has just finished a football fan counseling session and is now ready to prognosticate ( we think )….
Texas A & M 33 Florida 20
A & M has looked even worse than Florida this season. Which means they will play their best game of the year against Florida. Book it. Write that down and seal it. Just watch. Sincerely, A depressed/cynical/bitter/grumpy Gator Fan
Kansas State 27 Texas 23
I am still no sold on Texas. Last time I picked them to lose, a friend said “Texas’ losing days are over this season!” Texas lost. Not that I have any sinful pride over my being right ( cough, cough ). The Purple Men of Little Manhattan pull off the big win.
FSU 30 Miami 17
Can both lose?!?!? No? Well, Go ‘Canes than…..but FSU wins. Meanwhile, UCF is the best team in the state….AGAIN! Armageddon may be coming….and I don’t mean that awful movie with Bruce Willis. Heck, at this point, my football soul would welcome a meteor. Sincerely, the same depressed/cynical/bitter/grumpy Gator Fan.
Wake Forest 30 N C State 28
Wake was THRASHED by Louisville last week. I did NOT see that coming! For some odd reason, I believe Wake rebounds and takes down the Wolfpack. My wife also has a degree from Wake and a bunch of my money went to that school. So I guess the Methodist is pulling for the Baptists. My bank account has also earned the right for me to do that!
Alabama 31 LSU 23
LSU is much better than earlier this year. What game did it start to turn around for them?!? Oh, that would be the FLORIDA game!!! Sincerely, the same depressed…..oh you get the point.
Anyway, in all seriousness, I think LSU will fight hard. I also think Saban’s back is against the wall. And I know of no other coach who get’s his boys up better in that situation than Nicholas Lou Saban, Jr. Bama wins a big game.
Game of the Week Georgia 38 Tennessee 34
Can both teams lose (Part 2)?? Georgia is a bigger rival to my team. But Tennessee is also a rival and their success this season has brought out my 14 year old petty football jealousy/annoyance. I thought it was dead. I thought I killed that monster years ago. I am happy for my Tennessee friends—I tell myself. But the reality is that their shade of orange and the cool black unis (yes, they were cool) from last week just pierce my soul. And their success brings back images in my mind of Phillip Fulmer and Tee Martin ruining my season. I will not pull for Georgia, but I will reluctantly predict their victory. Oh, and Georgia can roll around in poison ivy for all I care. Sincerely, well, you know who….. Did I mention I am a pastor??
Upset of the Week Notre Dame 24 Clemson 23
It’s NOT the luck of the Irish….It’s the lack of Offense on the road that allows this close upset to come to fruition.
Padre going to back to finish his 24 hour Steve Spurrier press conference reruns and Tim Tebow highlight reel marathon. Back next week with more prognostications!
Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin 