Latest / Game Day Collective / Alabama vs Georgia Preview | College Football Week 6 Picks & Predictions 2026

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Alabama vs Georgia Preview | College Football Week 6 Picks & Predictions 2026 · Game Day Collective

• Josh Mahler: Georgia and Alabama are going to be facing off for the SEC hierarchy there. We're going to see some quarterback play, national title implications on the line. They're in Tuscaloosa. Red River Rivalry is also this weekend. A lot of fun games. Indiana, Nebraska, kind of a surprising little sneak up kind of game there as well. So there are plenty of games to talk about here in week six. Getting into it, we've got a ton. We've got our upset alerts, locks of the week. game of the week, which is that Alabama, Georgia game, and so much more here on the Game Day Collective College Football Show. Welcome in everybody. Make sure to hit that live like button, hit that subscribe as well. If you're watching live, jump in the live live chat with us. we definitely want to hear from you guys. That's why we go live. So, of course, starting now, we're going live all every Thursday at 7 p.m. Eastern time. So jump in the live chat with us. Let's get rolling with it. But of course Not by myself, joined by my co-host partner Crime here on Game Day Collective. Got Wyatt Zhang. Wyatt, it's a very fun week coming up. And of course, before we get started, got to mention that this episode is presented by Outlier. the number one bet betting research platform, go check it out. Outlier is an amazing app where you can find all kinds of just comparing odds. you can find the best odds, you can find all kinds of research. It's extremely helpful. So don't bet without Outlier. Of course, be responsible, bet responsibly. must be 21 or older to use Outlier or betting as well. So check out that that link down in the description below to check out Outlier and try it for 30 days completely free. But Wyatt, looking at this week six slate, man, it's gonna be a really fun one. It's very stacked, very packed, full with even games like Red River, which you know is not very exciting this year, but It's just that anticipation. I think a lot of people are even talking about that one. Like it it's it's such a great rivalry that it's hard to just overlook it. but of course, even things like we've got an after dark game that we're going to talk about with Boise State going on at Fresno, some G six implications there. there's all kinds of stuff, man. But looking at week six from the outside, which game do you see outside of Georgia, Alabama? Because I think that's the obvious one. Which game do you look at that seems like it changes the national conversation this week? Yeah. I look at Nebraska, Indiana, because you have two five and football teams in the Big Ten. And if you if you're Indiana and you lose that football game, you have a six and Nebraska team that probably jumps inside the top fifteen and you have a one loss Indiana team. And that not only changes the national conversation, but it also changes the Big Ten in a huge way, because you now have Ohio State with a loss, you have Oregon with a loss, you'd have Indiana with a loss, you'd have Michigan with multiple losses, Penn State with multiple losses, USC with a loss. you only undefeated team in that conference, I believe, would be Nebraska, unless they figure out a way UCLA figures out a way to win their game. But I gotta say, if Nebraska wins that game and upsets Indiana, that has huge national implications plus Big Ten implications for both teams. Honestly, Nebraska, huge win, but if Indiana gets a win, then they solidify that they are still a national championship contender this year. Yeah, I mean that one is really huge and It's we're gonna talk more about that one, so I don't want to get too far into it. But yeah, I mean that you you brought that up. That wasn't even one that I was thinking of, but really good game to bring up because it's a sneaky good one. It's two five and teams, but Nebraska's not been talked about in the national ranks. Nobody's really looking at Nebraska. And they look a lot better right now than they have in years past, especially in in under under Matt Rule and you know, looking really good. Anthony Calandria has been clean with the football. I think there's some things that he could clean up. in and getting into Big Ten play, but it's one of those games, man. I think it's like a sneaky one. If Nebraska beats Indiana, all of a sudden they jump up into the top twenty five for sure after that win. and, you know, then all of a sudden that streak is is broken where they can they seek seem like they can't beat anybody ranked. really big things going on in Lincoln this week, no doubt. Let's jump into it, man. Do you want to start us off with your upset alert of the week? Yes, I can start off with my upset alert of the week. I have UCLA against Oregon. I love this matchup. Both teams, both teams have great quarterbacks, Nico Limaliava, Dylan Ryle and not Dante Moore. He's not clear for this week. But man, I look at that twelve point twelve and a half point spread and I just say that's too big. I love UCLA in this matchup. Not necessarily love them to win, but I think this is very high if you had to put a a one to ten scale on this upset. I would put it in the seven range. I think this is a very pot upset potential type game because UCLA has a run game that's averaging two hundred and eighty-one yards per game right now, which is insane. And then you have Oregon, who has struggled defensively this year. You've seen they gave up 39 against Oklahoma State, they gave up 27 against Boise, they even gave up, I believe, twenty seven to U USC. So they're not like a fundamentally sound defense. So if UCLA can get things going on the ground with Wayne Knight and if Nico Iomoyaba has a, I don't know, 250 and two touchdown type game, nothing like world breaking, I think UCLA can win this matchup. And Bob Chesney to get that win. my goodness. If he was five and at this point, that would be incredible for him. I mean, people are already calling it like 2026's Indiana. So this would be like the like Maybe. This would be the maybe moment if they can pull this win. So I think that this is a huge upset potential for UCLA and kind of their chance to show that they're back on the national scene. At least up to this point too, I think the comparison between UCLA and twenty twenty six, I guess twenty twenty five, Indiana, right? I I think the comparison is like right there because it it you look at the brand and it's not a brand that y that you're you're looking at that logo and giving them the respect that they deserve. And yeah, it's better. 50 years. Yeah, I mean it they're they're winning games though right now and they're doing it decisively. And you know, like they just whooped up on Maryland. so it's it's definitely one of those teams that like what's funny is so we have a a a model that that we created for GDC for Game Day Collective, and we we plugged in a bunch of numbers to crowd it try to create something as similar to like the BCS as possible. So we did this all through Excel. And that way it takes all the stats and all the the games and all that information and it crunches all that and tries to rank teams similar to how the BCS did. And after week two, I did that and it was putting it UCLA like really high, like in the top five or top ten. And I was like, what is it doing? Like, okay, yeah, they're a good little team. They're gonna be decent this year. I have a lot of faith in Bob Chesney and what he's doing there at UCLA, but they're not a top ten team. And then week you know week three, week four, week five, we get into week six and I'm like, I don't know. They they come away with this win this week. Yeah. Yeah, they come away this week and they're a top ten team for sure. Mm-hmm. But yeah, you Go for it. Yeah, you're ex sorry. Yeah, you're exactly right. I mean, UCLA in the preseason wasn't, I mean, anywhere near anybody's top twenty five, let alone a top ten. And for you to to bring that up, I think that that's a good indicator of you know, you think about James Madison, they put out Kurt Signetti, they put out Bob Chesney. What's Billy Napier gonna do? Is he gonna turn things around? Who knows? Yeah, maybe maybe all of sudden he he comes back back down to Florida and runs things in the swamp. I don't know. We'll have to see. Let's hope not. I love Jonathan. Yeah. All right. Let's let's move on. I guess I've got my l upset of the week as well. And I'm going right out there to to Lincoln. what we were just talking about. I again, these aren't necessarily picks that we think that that team will upset the the favorite, but it's just one of these I don't know. I I look at it on paper and again I was looking at the model and and seeing, and I think the model had Nebraska one and a half point favorites in this game. Which I'm looking at that and I say, I agree with the model. It's at on if Indiana's on the road. Indiana has not like looked it super impressive. They had their struggles. I know people want to say Northwestern. That wasn't really struggles. Northwestern's just a pretty decent team right now. And we have to give them the credit for that they that they deserve. a lot of people don't remember that Northwestern has Chip Kelly over there calling the calls on offense. Hello. and they also have a I believe Aiden Childs was a five star quarterback coming out of high school, if I remember right. But Oregon State, yeah. Yeah. So very high, highly recruited player. So they they've got some talent over there. Okay. We're just not giving them the credit that they deserve. But they Indiana did have a slow, slow paced game against Western Kentucky. They just haven't really looked dominant. They haven't really covered the spread a bunch this year. And so people are just kind of looking at Indiana and thinking like they've taken a step back, but that's not a bad thing from going sixteen and a season ago. They're on their 21 game win streak. Nebraska is 0-30 against AP top 20 teams since 2016. They haven't beaten I I it might even be AP top twenty-five. It's been since twenty sixteen. So since really since I've been out of high school, I graduated back in twenty fifteen. they haven't they haven't beaten a top, at least a top twenty. I think it's top twenty-five. I just put top twenty because I didn't feel like searching that whenever we made the graphic. Yeah, it's it's incredible. So I look at this Nebraska team and I think that they really could come in. I think Anthony Calandria has looked really good. I don't know where Jamal Rule is right now, but the freshman running back, they've got a couple of other running backs too. I didn't write all down, but this Nebraska team, man, I I think that this Nebraska team deserves a little bit of respect because they've they so the thing with these cupcake games, they had let's see, they had Ohio, North Dakota, Bowling Green, and I forget who it was last they had Michigan State recently. Maryland. Are you talking about Nebraska? Yeah. Did they just beat Maryland as well? Is that the last last week's game? Michigan State and Maryland, yeah. Okay, yes. So they've they've beaten two Big Ten opponents. They've handled them pretty pretty easily. I mean, Maryland gave them some fits there early in the game, but they turned things around. They have definitely been a second half team, and they've they've handled things e pretty pretty well. Now, for the first three games, whenever you think of Ohio, Which is a really good Mac school. you you think of Ohio, you think of North Dakota, who is also an FCS program to not take lightly, and also bowling green, those three schools, you're not gonna learn a whole lot about a team like Nebraska or let's say Alabama, for example, or you know, Ohio State. You're not gonna learn a whole lot about those teams as whether they're contenders, but you are gonna learn if they're not a contender. And Nebraska didn't look like they weren't a contender against those teams. They handled business. They did what they need to do. And we just keep on overlooking them. I don't know. I mean, I understand why the AP poll doesn't have them in the top twenty five, because I can see the argument for all the teams above them. I think you've got Northwestern, Wisconsin was even kind of ranked above them, not in the top twenty-five yet, but they were above them in in votes. I don't agree with that one so much. but you know, like you think of teams like Boise, U s USC. Iowa, you know, there's there's some teams up there that I can understand ranking them ahead of Nebraska. And so it's hard to put them in the top twenty five. I actually don't see that one. Yeah, I I don't agree with it, but I can I can understand the logic. Okay. But then it comes down to it and it's like I I don't know, this is a team if if they win this week, they're I don't know, what what do you think they jump up to in the A P pool? You talking about Nebraska or India? Nebraska, if Nebraska wins. I mean, if you like I rank teams off of resume, the AP poll ranks them off of I don't know, whatever they feel like that day. Yeah. So in the AP poll, probably like top top eighteen in my poll, probably like top fifteen. I I think they should be top fifteen. They should be ahead of Indiana. So wherever Indiana drops, they should be one spot ahead of them. So I guess it's how do you value that loss and how do you value that win for each of those teams? So I would say like kind of middle of the pack, maybe. But me personally I think they'd be close to the top ten. Nebraska to twelve, Indiana to thirteen, something like that. Yeah, something like that would be perfect. I I don't always agree with just because I beat you, I should be ranked ahead of you. But in this instance, I mean the the week after it just happened. It's also the fact that it's so early in the season and you've only really played two opponents. The other three were like no names. So you have like s if you have the same record and it's so early. Like if you're nine if you're like nine and two and the other team is o eleven and and they lose to you, they're you're not gonna jump ahead of them. So I guess it's like kind of context too. Yeah, and you know, when when you look at it too, I think that you know, Nebraska and Indiana both, they don't really have the resume to build upon it. You know, I'm not sure I d I I guess I'm not looking at the rankings right in front of me. I'm not sure if they get into the top ten yet. But I agree with you, I think like top fifteen is worthy because you beat the reigning national champs who are on a twenty one game Winning streak right now. Longest winning streak in America. Last time I checked. So yeah, I think this is gonna be a really fun game. it's gonna be electric there in Lincoln. for anyone who's ever been to Lincoln for a game, you can sit in the nosebleeds and your ears are still ringing. That's how crazy that fan base is. They they have the consecutive sellouts, and I know people are like, but donors. Yeah, I know donors help the sellouts, they do that all over the nation. But Nebraska, they're still packing that place and they're still very energetic. I don't ever see a a a single person sitting down in the first quarter, regardless of the game. so yeah, this is gonna be a very fun one. All right, let's jump on to our locks of the week. I'll start us off since you started us off on the upsets. I'm going with the under in this Oklahoma. And I I locked it in at 39 and a half. I don't I think it moved last. I was just checking earlier and it might have moved down to thirty eight and a half. I would still take it at thirty eight a half. Yeah, I'd I I I would still take it at thirty-eight and a half. I would take it at thirty-six and a half, possibly. I'll get to my score prediction later on in the show, but I I I look at this game and I think, you know, both offenses Oklahoma's offense has been atrocious. They're not that we don't even have to talk about that. There's not gonna be many scores on that side of the ball unless they magically fixed everything, unless they magically trained their offensive line to push forward when you're run blocking. I don't think that's happened here in the bye week for Oklahoma. both teams coming off of bye week two, which is really fun, leading into the Red River rivalry. I I always say not that I think that Oklahoma, Texas is the best rivalry, because I think that's very competitive. I think that when you look at Auburn, Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan, I think those two are are up there for me. but when it comes down to the rivalry game, there is no game Greater than Red River. You go down to the cotton bowl, around around you is is surrounded, you're you're completely surrounded by the Texas State Fair. you you've you've got burnt orange on one side and split at the 50, you've got Crimson on the other. When you're running out of the tunnel, so both teams run out of the same tunnel. If you're what depending on which side is which, you know, like if you're Texas running out and there's Oklahoma fans on the side of the tunnel, you're running out and you're hearing booing. And by the time you get to the 50 yard line, you're hearing cheers. And and vice versa. You're you're hearing cheers, and then you get out to the 50 yard line, you're hearing boos. You're down on one side of the field, you can't hear anything when you're calling plays on offense. The other side, they're quiet and cheering for you. It's j it's a totally crazy atmosphere that is unlike anything in the rest of college football, the greatest game. And in years past, Oklahoma has not done well without a quarterback. This year they have a quarterback who is completely broken. So last year you can blame it on the thumb, and I do think that that plays a part of it. I think the thumb also created a lot of uncertainty about John Mateer and then he tried working on mechanics, and I think that might have just created more uncertainty. so I I look at this one, both defenses are doing really well, regardless of what Georgia put up on Oklahoma. Their defense was very stout in that game. that score is completely misleading. and John Matir himself, I think, did the math and it was something like you could you could make an argument that it was like a 38 point swing just from John Mattir himself, a complete swing. and so I think I I'm I'm gonna jump ahead of myself and say, I think Texas wins this game. I do think it's gonna be a little bit closer than some expect just because it's a rivalry game and Oklahoma's defense is not going to lay down and and completely give up. Yeah, I mean, when you look at this game, for me it's like if Oklahoma's gonna find a way to win, I know we'll break down this game really, but if Oklahoma's gonna find a way to win, it's like can you get like seventeen points? Like can you get like twenty points? Like 'cause for me it's like that's like been Oklahoma the last two years. You go back to last year. If they could have just scored twenty points, they could have won the games that they lost. So it's like you just gotta be able to score something on offense to help your defense out. I know you have John Mateer and it's like he's fifty fifty. Like you'll get a a version of him that's not bad and you'll get a version of him that, you know, throws the ball backwards. Like you don't really know what you're gonna get with him. But for me, if you can get 1720 points, because Arch Manning isn't like he's not great. He's not a world beater, he's not a top ten Heisman. Like we we've seen what he is. He's an okay college quarterback right now who has a lot of learning to do. And I think he's coming back to college. I believe that's the rumor. So for me, if Oklahoma wants to win Like I know it's a rivalry game and when you go back to former rivalries like Ohio State, Michigan a few years ago when they were what Michigan was twenty one point dogs and they won. It's like it's mainly like it's a rivalry. You throw records out, you throw past, you know, performances out the window. So I don't see a world where Oklahoma I mean, I kinda do, but I I think Texas is definitely a heavily favorite or a heavy favorite. So if i i'm not sure if you've seen this graphic floating around. I'm I've I've got a little bit more Oklahoma in my timeline on on social media. So I I get these kinds of things. But if I were to give you these two quarterbacks and and one was 73 for 115, the other was 72 for 109. the the back to QBA, he has eight hundred and sixty-two yards. QBB has eight hundred and eighty-three yards. QBA has seven touchdowns. QBB has Has eight touchdowns. QBA has three interceptions. QBB has four interceptions. You look at that, it's very comparable. And if anything, QBB is kind of we kind of feel like he might be the better quarterback. But that QBB is John Matthew. And QBA is Arch Manning. That is really crazy to look at. And I don't think it's telling. Arch Manning has a team around him that that helps a lot as well. He's got an offensive line. That helps out a lot. you know, so John Mateer's biggest issue against Georgia, for example, was the fumbles and just not seeing things. He's not seeing things on the field. Arch Manning's biggest issue is that he just tries a little too hard at moments and and it gets himself into into trouble that he doesn't need to be in. So yeah, I think this game's gonna be a really fun one regardless, just because of the rivalry and because of the game itself, the what surrounds this game, it's gonna be a lot of fun. We'll get more to it. but why what's your lock of the week? I did want to add one more thing on that game. Yeah, go for it. I saw a a it was similar to you, it was a stat on the game. It was on Joel Clatt's show, I believe, this morning. He talked about it. Oklahoma and Texas both are in, I believe, the one to one tens in explosive play rankings. Like they do not have explosive like or maybe it was like yards per play. It was yards per play. They're both in the one tens in terms of like yards per play. So like these teams offensively are like Exactly the same. It's crazy. Yeah. Yeah. It's going to be defensive. So that's why my lock is I don't know if I've made that clear. My lock is under 39 and a half. Yeah. So for me, my lock is Florida versus South Carolina. I have a minus 11 and a half. South Carolina has Lenore sellers. They have this team, but I feel like they're like we when you think about boxing, like they're the team that's like down on the mat and it's like one, two, and you're about to hit three. It's like South Carolina's dead. Like I don't think they're getting back up off the mat. Like I hate to say it. And Florida coming off that forty five seventeen loss. I feel like it's going to be Florida just like almost like infuriated and just ready to go out and just rip someone's head off. I feel like Florida's gonna come out. Jane Baugh's gonna have a huge game again, having thirteen it was like twelve carries, thirteen yards last week. I think he's gonna get it going. He's gonna have like one fifty on the ground. That's what I believe. And I think Florida's gonna win this. I gave like a score prediction. it was I forget what my score prediction went, but I believe it was like thirty eight to like I don't even know, fifteen or thirty eight, like fourteen, something like that. I just don't see South Carolina giving a fight. So I like Florida minus eleven and a half. I don't think it's gonna be relatively close. I think it'll be a good three scores. Yeah. and you gotta think too, being down in the swamp, you're you know, you're getting back home after an embarrassing loss against Missouri because you got your butts handed to you. so you know, it's one of those games that you've really got to to bounce back and you've got to get back into the favor of the AP voters because eventually those AP voters persuade the the committee that really matters. So and the the good thing about John Summerall and his situation right now is you you had a hiccup against a team you shouldn't have had a hiccup against, but you also performed really well against a couple of teams that nobody really expected you to perform well against. So if you can kind of iron some of those those things out, you're in a good spot. this is also only year one. So you don't have to make the playoffs this year. But to get yourself back on track and make it the first into the playoffs in your first year wouldn't be such a bad thing for for John Summer and the and the Florida Gators. But all right, another huge SEC matchup. We've got Alabama, Georgia. This is always a fun marquee game. A game that is impossible to overlook. you know, you've got two true top dogs in the SEC between Alabama and Georgia, and they always prove that year in and year out. And you know, you you look at this, I I meant to pull up a weather report too, because that was gonna kind of per persuade my my pick on this game just a little bit. But I saw that there w we might be expecting some weather in that game. Yeah, I think they said that the it was the Tropical thunderstorm was supposed to come in, I believe, throughout the morning and they said potentially be cleared out by the evening. I think is the last report I've heard. So, like kind of like college game day time is when the storm's gonna come through. So I don't know, they'll probably go in like inside the building or something. But yeah. Yeah, I so I'm looking at it right now and it looks like hopefully by by game time, it should be sixty eight degrees, which is chilly down there. sixty eight degrees, maybe a little wet. so I don't know. I'm not sure if that that really affects me too much because they've got playmakers on both sides, man. you you look at Georgia, starting off with Georgia, they're they're very efficient. Every possession is a an is an efficient one. They've got a lot of really good rushing success. And that that sets up manageable passing situations. Gunnar Stockton is not talked about nearly enough. I think the last couple of weeks has really gotten him up on the map with the way that he's been performing. but You know, I think that this is a very dangerous Georgia offense. And then you go look at Alabama and what they've been doing. They've been extremely, extremely explosive on offense. They had a slow start to the beginning of the season. I started to wonder if Keelon Russell was even the guy that everyone was kind of hyping him up to be. I bought into the hype because I'd heard so many reports about Keelon Russell. He's the next star of the SEC. He's gonna win the next, you know, Heisman at at Alabama. I'd heard all these reports and I looked at him the first couple of weeks and I said Is that the same guy you were talking about? Cause I'm not convinced. But then he turns things around. I think it was in the Kentucky game that he really sold me. He turned things around after that first half and just lit it up, lit it up on the scoreboard. And he did the same against Florida State. He did the same you know, last week against Mississippi State. So this is a a team that is a very good offense, very explosive offense. They're able to get some extended plays. they can score really quickly and make it very difficult for Georgia to to come back on them. so I guess w I the big thing for me, Wyatt, is which defense do you think kind of forces the opponent the opponent away from their preferred game plan on offense? I think I would have to go with Georgia's defense because George's had a great defense and you think about it like it's Kirby Smart's defense. He's going to always be defensive oriented. I like George's defense to kind of The I mean their goal ultimately ultimately in this game is gonna be able to try to keep Keon Russell in a box and make him beat you from the pocket, which I think he has the capability to do. But if you take away that quarterback run game, that takes away a full part of their offense. So I mean, if you're Georgia, if you can do that, I think that already gives you a great chance to win this game. Not that you didn't have a good chance already, but I I think if Georgia can do what they've been doing offensively, where Gun Gunnar Stockton doesn't have to be great. That's one of the things that's So beautiful about watching George's offense is that Gunnar Stockton like is not going to be the greatest numbers guy because he's so good at the like I I heard one of the guys, I believe it was it might have been Brooke Sawson that said this. He's like with Kenny Minchie, he's so good at doing boring things because he does those well. It's Gunnar Stockton. He does the boring things well. Like he drops back, he throws the ten yard out route so well because he doesn't have to Go throw for 300 in a game because their defense is so good. You saw what their defense did against Oklahoma, Arkansas. Like they're getting practice reps against Arkansas. Like their defense is at a very elite level, and Alabama's is too. But I like I have seen worse with Alabama's defense this year. Not that it's bad, but I've seen worse games. Like the Florida State game. That first half, I mean, Florida State was down the field with Ashton Daniels, Deuce Robinson. The first half of the Kentucky game was a little scary. So there's just certain points this season, but then you get like the Mississippi State side where it's like they have like thirteen rushing yards on the game. So it's like I it's tough for me because I feel like both defenses are good at certain points. So Alabama's is a little less consistent. So I'm gonna go with Georgia's defense to be the better defense in this game. I like it. Yeah, and and I going back over the eye, I do think that this is gonna be more of an offensive strategic game. I don't know if it if if it's gonna be like high scoring. I'm not sure yet. I'm still undecided on that. it's just I think that the offenses are really where a lot of the focus is gonna be. And and you look at I've already mentioned Gunnar Stockton, but I think Nate Frazier, man, he's another guy, just an animal. he's he's had over eight yards per carry entering in this into this week. and I think that run game is is really what helps Georgia's offense. it's just they they don't ever have to fight for a third and long. Because their running game always keeps them ahead of the sticks. and then of course you you mentioned Keelon Russell and with the downfield threat that he has. He's so efficient close, you know, close up, but he can also drop, you know, drop a long ball if he needs to and and kind of lure these defenses up closer to them and then go over top. And I I look at Alabama, the secondary has been very suspect here this year, where it seems like they should have been like a top five secondary. coming into the season and I really had a lot of high hopes for them. but it it hasn't quite been that. and so I think that, you know, looking back over at Georgia, I think they've got a lot of opportunity there if if Gunnar Stockton can hit that long ball. but you look back over to Alabama's offense with with key with Keelan Russell, against Mississippi State, he had 285 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. and that offense scored 56 points against Mississippi State, who's doing doing pretty well. I mean, they're they're not a A stout defense or anything like that. I know you and I were both pretty high on Mississippi State and what they were able to do and have been able to do so far this season. Very impressive win for them. So I think looking at at Gunnar Stockton, I think just being able to keep that that Georgia offense on pace, on schedule, and and just take the available completions. Not trying to do anything cute with the get back to how he was in those first few games, you know, before Oklahoma, because Oklahoma's defense did force him into a lot of just incompletions, not not able to connect with his receivers and things like that. So just a really tough defense there. And I think being able to just be consistent and take the open guy, take the check down when it's there, when you don't have anything downfield, I think that's huge. And then for Keelon Russell, I think this Alabama offense, just because it's built around this, I think that they really need to find ways to find explosive plays, even when, you know, your original play is completely broken down. Because one thing that makes Keelon Russell very special is his ability to extend plays. And so you know, I think just being able to to get over you know on on both offenses, being able to get over on on top of the other the other defense is gonna be really crucial in this game. Yeah, I agree with you. like you said it's gonna be a an offensive game, I feel like, but not like a super high scoring. It's gonna be like strategic long drives, I feel like, down the field. for me, Georgia, of course Chansey Ballens is out in this game. I heard Georgia's second running back, but Nate Fraser's back. So like you said, he's gonna be a beast in this game. I also like the fact that Georgia's kind of finding a wide receiver one with Taylon Taylor because coming into the season they didn't have a receiver one. Now they kind of do. And so I really like that with them on the Alabama side. I think one of the things that's being missed with Alabama, and I talked about this on my show, the biggest thing that's being missed in this matchup. is if you go back to the last few Alabama versus Georgia matchups, Alabama has beaten Georgia eight out of ten times the last like ten times they played. And the last ten meetings were the only time Georgia beat Alabama was in the SEC Championship and the National Championship. That's the only time Kirby Smart ever beat Alabama. Other than that, he's lost. he has never beaten Alabama in the regular season. He's 0-2 against the Boer in the regular season. He is one and two against the Boer total because he beat him in the SEC Championship last year. So keep an eye on that. Like they Kirby Smart never beat Alabama in the regular season. but going back to Alabama's team, I think the running back Daniel Hill has to make a difference in this game. He has to be a 100 plus yard rusher. I think that's really where you start to establish who's going to win this game because if it's a rainy game and And the ball's wet and it's heavy and it's hard to throw, like you're not gonna get the the forty, fifty, sixty yard plays, like you're not gonna get that. You're gonna get the the slow five put or five yards here, ten yards here, three yards here. That's kind of the style of this game. So for me, it's who establishes the run quicker and better. Like if Nate Frazier goes out and he's just balling out, I like George's chances. Like if you get Bo was it Bo Walker? also in in the running back room to have a good game, I think it's it's probably Georgia's win. But if you're Alabama and you get Daniel Hill and Keon Russell gets outside the pocket and he starts making plays, I think that's that's where it becomes a total 50-50 pick game at that point. So also for Georgia, one of the things that's being under talked about is Gunnar Stockton's rushing ability. Because Gunnar Stockton can rush a little bit and a lot of people don't give him credit for that. Like The guy can get outside the pocket and the and he can make runs. He's a big like he's a very built, solid dude. Like he can take some hits and yeah, he literally literally looks like a linebacker who can play great division one quarterback right now. Or great I don't even know what I'm saying. Well, lost my train of thought. but Alabama versus Georgia in this matchup, I think it's all about whoever establishes the run quicker in this matchup. Yeah. And I think it it comes down to two things for me too, whenever I look at this game. When I look at Georgia, I see consistency. They've been consistently dominant. I I haven't seen a moment like where, yeah, they had a little bit of a slow start against Vanderbilt, but I I haven't seen a moment where they haven't just been consistently who they are. for Alabama, it's being able to create something out of chaos when there's absolutely nothing on the table, finding a way to create something out of it. y you think of their game against Kentucky, you think of their game against Florida State. Those were two specifically that just nothing is going right for you. Florida State game was all the weather against you. You had all these delays. And you come out and you find a way to just destroy afterwards. and so it I I look at those two things. So when you look at this this game, because I I think you and I both agree it's it's gonna be kind of coming down to which offense can perform. I the both of the defenses are gonna hold their own. but it is gonna come down to an offensive strategy type of game. Which offense and and specifically which which quarterback do you trust more if their team were to get down by two scores? Consistency is Gunnar Stockton, but I think if it's tough because, like like I said, Gunnar Stockton's so consistent to where it's like I want to say him, and I think the answer is him, but Keon Russell this year has been just dialing it up. Like there hasn't been a time where I've been like, Keelon Russell, I don't know about this drive, or you know, he's not playing well. Like Keelan Russell really hasn't had a game where he's like just not looked good. Like he's looked good in almost every game. So it's tough for me to say, Gunnar Stockton, because I think I feel like I'm leaning towards Gunnar Stockton, but I also love the playmaking of Keon Russell. I I I hate to say it, but I feel like it's pretty even. Like I feel like this is a such an even that I mean there's a reason that that spread is like one or Georgia minus two and a half. It was one and a half at one point. I think it might have moved to one and a half today. So Yeah, it's basically a pick'em. Like there's a reason for that because these teams Are the top dogs in their conference, pun intended? Like they are literally the two just pinnacle brands of college football. In my opinion, I want to ask you this question: whoever wins this matchup, Georgia or Alabama, are you gonna are you going to put them number one in your pool? And do you think they'll be number one in the AP pool? I can't remember for sure if I haven't already put them number one in my pool. It's just I don't think they've been number one in the And the game day collective pool. But I'm I'm pretty sure I always have Georgia right there. Alabama beats Georgia. Would you put Alabama one or would you I think regardless? I think regardless. So it depends on what Texas does. If Texas just runs all over Oklahoma, that's impressive. Regardless, you know, like let's say they're able to do similar to what Georgia did. and let's say that Oklahoma just plays a pretty solid game, let's say less than than two turnovers, and Texas is still able to do that against Oklahoma, something similar, then I'm keeping it Texas at number one because they do have the better resume when you when you take into like if they're able to score on Oklahoma's defense, anybody's gonna be impressed with that. But I think if Texas kind of does what I think will happen in that game and it's just kind of a gritty game, it's a rivalry game, so we we look at that. I think regardless, you know, of who wins this game, I think I could I very well might put them at number one. Depending on how everything looks. because I I do I do take a lot of eye test with my rankings as well when I'm when I'm com comparing teams. that's why I think I've kept Georgia at number two is because it's like, man, Texas had the better had the better resume up to this point. It's really hard for me to overlook. I know it was just one miracle quarter against Ohio State, but they still pulled it off. And to fight back like that is impressive. So it was really hard for me not to put them number one because of all of that. And when you look at the eye test, it was like Georgia's looking really good, but they haven't been punched in the mouth. They haven't been bloodied up. and you know, it I I think it's gonna come down to in this game, who's who's more used to being punched in the mouth? I look at Alabama and they've been punched in the mouth quite a bit this season. They've gotten behind quite a bit this season. People are like looking at the scoreboards thinking man, is Florida State really going to beat Alabama? Is Kentucky really going to beat Alabama? And they still respond. So that's why going back to to what we you were talking about with, you know, the two quarterbacks, I think I trust in Keelan Russell and Alabama's offense if they're down by two scores. Because for one, you're in Tuscaloosa. So that's a huge help in your favor. two, you've been in this situation. Regroup, recenter yourself and get out there and kick some butt. and that that's that's all it takes. And so I I I am I don't know. I I am very split. It definitely is a pick'em in this game. I'm very split. I'll get to my score prediction here later on whenever we get to our pick'em. But I yeah, I I think that both of these both of these teams have so much in their favor. That's a that's what makes it so hard in this matchup. Mm-hmm. I agree. I'll tell you this for sure. I I can I'll put this on the record on this channel because I said it on my channel. The winner of this game will be my new number one team. Like that's just they'll have the resume over Texas because they'll have this win. Now, maybe not over Texas, but Texas hasn't looked great. Like like if you look at Texas's offense, yes, the the defense looks phenomenal and they're a top five defense easily. But the offense for me has looked very bad. And if you take away the the last quarter against Ohio State, like literally it's one quarter. It's it's one quarter against Ohio State. If you if you take away fifteen minutes of football, then Texas is a one loss team right now and and that's a blowout loss to Ohio State. So I I I get it they came back and they figured out a way to win. But I don't I don't love the fact that it's only been like one singular quarter and even against Tennessee, like that was like a a kind of ugly game for both offenses. So like I'm not learning a ton about Texas. I I still have the questions I did in the preseason Like when I ranked Texas, I believe I had them seven in my preseason poll or around there. A lot of people are like, Well, what do you what are you doing? Like Texas at seven. It's like w because they don't look like a great team right now. And like you think about Miami. Miami looks like a great team. I get it they haven't played anybody. But like Alabama played competition and they look really good. Georgia, they played Oklahoma, they played Vanderbilt, they played Arkansas. Those are like actual living breathing teams and they've crushed them. Especially Oklahoma. Like Oklahoma's a decent team. They're not great, but they're decent. And they blew out of the water. So for me, it's like either one of these teams, whether they get the win, whether it's, you know, fifteen, fourteen, some stupid score, and it's like a ugly, you know, gritty game, I think whoever comes out on top shows that they're like a true national championship favorite. Like I I feel that whoever wins this game is going to be my my number one team and probably in the AP poll. I don't know, depending on what they I don't know what their thought process is at all. I I think they will jump to number one in the AP and probably our polls. most likely whoever wins this game. But I could see a scenario where, yeah, Georgia or Alabama, whoever wins, they won, but both teams just really looked really sloppy in this game and it was really hard for us. It was like they both came into it with pregame jitters and just didn't look like themselves. Like Keelon Russell's looking like John Mateer back there. And Nate Frazier fumbled the ball with nobody on him, ran into his own line several times. Like where they're just not looking like themselves, that would make me hesitate to put them up at number one. I don't think that's going to be the case. I think the winner of this game is going to be like they fought really hard and won a very gritty game. I think that's what this one's going to come down to, but we'll get to our score predictions later. For now, of course, we always bring up a game that Maybe after all of the the fun games are over, the games that we were all looking forward to, there's always like a sneaky good game that's on really late at night. And that's what we call our game day collective after dark game of the week. And this week, Boise makes it back in the into the the lineup again. Boise State, a very fun team this year. If you haven't really watched, I think some people watched Boise State against Oregon. and and the thing with with Oregon is I think that Oregon has been a good team all along. I think week one against Boise. Boise State was a good team and they proved that. And Oregon had some hiccups. They they had some things that like some rust to work off, but they still found a way to win. And then week two, they go against Oklahoma State down in Stillwater. And they lose that one. And everyone's like, Oregon sucks. See, they struggled against Boise. They struggled against Oklahoma State, who just got beat by Tulsa. Then it turns out, no, maybe Oklahoma State's just a pretty good team. And, you know, Oregon just struggled a little bit. and and now, you know, Oregon's kind of come through with the huge win over the, you know, the school of the deaf and blind. And then you know, then you have that your big win with your backup quarterback against USC. People are saying, okay, maybe Oregon's okay. Maybe they're back. I think Oregon has always been good. I don't think they've been top five good like we originally thought they might be, but they've been good. They've been top 15, top ten good this whole time. Boise State. And I say all that to come back to Boise State. Boise State hung in there and almost upset a very a good team, a good Big Ten team. I'd say probably still top three Big Ten team. That's what Boise State did. Now they go on the road down to Fresno to take on Fresno State. And this one's a fun one, because you got two teams who are four and one right now. both of them are one and in the Pac 12. Fun fun fact about the Pac 12, I think that's the conference I'm thinking of. all the teams in the Pac 12 end in state. So that's kind of interesting. they've just totally created a new identity out there for the for the new revamped Pac 12. I look at these two teams, Boise State coming off of a big win, 37 to 18. I picked them to win over Utah State. I did not expect them to just dismantle Utah State the week before Western Michigan dismantled them as well. Another one where it was like, yeah, I think this is gonna be a good game, close game. No, Boise State is just running through teams out there the way that they should. If they're if they're as good as I'm saying they are, they should be handling teams like this. Fresno State coming off of a really good win, one by ten points twenty-three to thirteen over Washington State. And they've completely owned the time of possession. I think that's a big thing with Fresno, is they're able to kind of grind the clock and make the other team really work for it. So that's where I think this game comes down to it. I think it's a really fun one. It's a tight spread for a reason. right now, Boise State's favored by about a touchdown. but Wyatt, I think this is gonna be really fun matchup there and one to to watch out for. Another group of six type of game that that she've gotta you know it has a lot of implications on the line. Yeah, I agree. This is a like a a game that kind of sets up the Pac-12 race, in my opinion. I I think both these teams are very capable of of making it to that game in Las Vegas. But for Boise, honestly for both teams, I think it's it's gonna be, my opinion, an offensive game. I I feel like Like I love Maddox Madsen on Boise. I love Jaden Mandel on Fresno. So both quarterbacks, very good. Fresno quarterback, Jaden Mandel, over a thousand yards this year, six touchdowns, only one pick that's tied for twelfth in the country. So he's a really good quarterback, along with Maddox Madsen. A lot of people know that name and they know he's good. But I think Boise's running back, I believe Dylan Riley is. He's got 108 carries for 685 yards and five touchdowns. Boise continues to have like quality running backs each year. And I think that Boise having that running back in Dylan Riley, I think that's what's going to set them over the top. So I do like Boise's offense a little bit better than Fresno. So I think Boise, this game's gonna be high scoring. I I think the total at 48 and a half, I would probably take the over on that one. but as for the the touchdown spread. I think it's a close game, but I think it's a high scoring game, in my opinion. Yeah, I I think I agree with you there. yeah, in fact I I'm thinking about right now. Yeah, I've I've got it over that 'cause I'm looking at my my score prediction on the on the on my paper right now and I I think it's gonna go over that. I I'm feeling pretty confident. and I even think that my score prediction is maybe a little low the more that I was looking into this game earlier today. But yeah, I I think for for Fresno Boise, I I don't think anybody's I think most people, if they don't watch, you know, a lot of games, usually I think you know, like you and I, we actually dive into Fresno State when we're when we're thinking about this game. We we look at the stats, we might look at some highlights, we might look at some of the game film. And most people don't do that. I think what makes Boise really interesting, like I said, owning time of possession, they did that really well against Washington State. I think if they're able to force Boise State, you mentioned Boise State has the better offense, and I do agree. But if If Fresno State's defense is able to force Boise State to play their type of offense, Fresno's type of offense, and slow them down, make them have to work and grind the clock rather than just kind of be an explosive. And that's why they hung in there against Oregon. They were able to get some explosive plays, some big plays to break free and get some points up on the board. I think if Fresno can kind of slow them down, force them to sustain drives, and you're gonna have to get get a couple third and sixes, third and sevens. on us and we're gonna force you to to have to make those. I think if they can do that, they can really keep themselves in this game. and ultimately if you're able to do that, you're also gonna be able to capitalize on some good field position, which helps your offense, which isn't ex as explosive as Boise's. So I I think Fresno's got way more of a chance than a lot of people are are giving them in this game. Yeah. I would 100% agree with you. Both teams, really good G six teams. I think it's gonna be a very high scoring matchup in this one. Do you have a score prediction for this game? you want me to give that now? we don't have this one on our pick'em, right? I I don't think we do. I I yeah, maybe not. I could give the score prediction anyway. I have it at Boise thirty five, Fresno twenty eight. I think Boise is going to win a very high scoring game. This will reach what is that? Sixty three? Sixty-three points in total in this game. So I think it's gonna get well over forty-eight and a half. Yeah, it's not on our pick'em. So I'm looking at the pick board. It's not on there. So yeah, we're good. full send. Boise stay. I I'm I'm p I'm with you. I think it's gonna be a higher scoring game. I do think that Fresno's gonna slow it down enough where it starts to make that that point total, like you're like, man, are they are they gonna hit the over? my my score prediction I might be a little low on it. I do like yours quite a bit. I'm going 27-23. So that puts us up at 50 points, still over that 48 and a half. So I like I like hitting the over on that. That might be one of my picks to to lock in this week as well. but yeah, looking at this game, I think it's gonna be a fun one. It's one of those that you know, if you if you don't really pay attention to college football around the the country, this is one that's gonna be a lot of fun after dark to watch. But all right, we're gonna dive into it and get into our picking board. last week, just for Wyatt and I didn't have a a great l week last week. it was just because last week's was such a weird week, like Florida getting whooped. Yeah, I I believe you went four and four. I went five and three. Just not a not a great week for us. and and you know, but we can always bounce back. I think this week's the the week to bounce back. I'm feeling pretty confident really about both of our picks. I I like like both what both of us bring to the board here. We're gonna start off with with the game one, the first one that we've got here. This is an interesting one. You've got Mizzou who's looking kind of unstoppable right now in a weird way. you got Mizzou, and they're hosting Texas AM. So Texas AM goes on the road. I I do think I look at this this game, and I think, you know, you've got Texas AM who comes in. they they had 231 rushing yards against Arkansas. Really got things going and and You you trying trying to like really stress the point of getting Marcel Reed mobile again. You can look at Missouri over there. Austin Simmons, I don't know. Is he in the discussion for like top three quarterbacks in the SEC? You got Trinidad Chambliss, maybe maybe not top three. Because I I do think you got Trinidad Chambliss, you got Keelon, Kamari Keelon. It's tough. Man, that's a lot of good SEC quarterbacks now that I think about it. He would slide in at like four. Four or five. Four or five, yeah. Yeah, like definitely top five. It's just so loaded. Yeah. It is. It it's it's loaded. Yeah. Whenever I said that, and then I stopped to think and I was like, wait, no, we've got some we've got some dudes over there in the SEC this year. Yeah. But yeah, so I I I look at this matchup and and I think it's it's really interesting because you've got a Texas AM team that is struggling. Austin Simmons has been extremely efficient, thirteen touchdowns, no interceptions. then you've got Jamal Roberts and Ahmad Hardy. I don't know if Ahmad Hardy will be in this game. But when you got a two-headed monster like that, who cares? Like we're good. We could, we can, we can handle this thing. We're at home. in in that stadium that holds a whole 22,000 or whatever it is. no, I'm just teasing. last time I was at Mizzou, it looked like it looked like a high school stadium. They have revamped, they have upgraded, so I need to stop teasing them as hard as I do about it. that's funny. But but yeah, looking at this matchup, I I think a big thing, so Jamal Roberts, huge game against Florida. If I would have told you That Jamal Roberts or that one team had two had a running back with 211 yards, the other team as a whole only had like 48 rushing yards, you would have been like, man, Florida dominated Missouri. No, they held Jaden Baugh and that Florida offense to 40-some yards rushing, and Jamal Roberts went crazy in that game. So I think the big thing here is w when you look at at Marcel Reed and the way that they were able to utilize him and his mobility last week and really Focusing on that, does that add enough of of a threat here coming into this game for for Missouri? I'll I'll let you make your pick first. Who do you got here? in your pick'em. So our pick'em is against the spread, but we can also give score predictions as we're going through it as well. Yeah. I have mine Missouri minus three and a half. I did not know it was one and a half. I I guess yeah, it says on the pick board. Yeah, so i is it three and a half now? Well, it's I think I go by ESPN. And Fandle. I don't know. What do you go by? I I think this is a like a collaborative one. So similar to like it it kind of pulls everything, but we also locked this in pretty early in the week. I think we locked ours in on like Wednesday. So it could have changed. So it is three and a half now, so it it did open up at one and a half. we're gonna keep it at one and a half just 'cause that's what we locked him in at. But Okay, we'll go one and a half. I like it. I mean either way, I'm taking Missouri. That I'll take one and a half. That that saves me a little bit. So I'll at three and a half you'll still take Missouri? I'll take Missouri at three and a half or one and a half, whichever one you want. Whichever one you can go with. I think I agree. Yeah, I think I mean when you look at Texas St. my only argument would be like their talent on their team and the biggest thing is I love I'm a huge proponent of the the letdown theory. So like you have Missouri coming off of the huge win against Florida. Most of the time the letdowns happen on the road. Like you had Florida the letdown against Missouri. Like most of the time they happen, you know the old miss letdown after LSU, most of the time they happen with the the team that won the week before going on the road. This one's a home game for Missouri, so I think they might avoid that. So it's gonna be Missouri minus the three and a half versus Texas AM. Yeah, I I think three and a half or one and a half. We locked him in at one and a half earlier this week. So I think we locked him in on Tuesday, Tuesday or Wednesday. and so that's that's why some of our spreads a little bit different. But yeah, I mean I I'm I'm with you. I I think I agree. I think I'm I'm picking Missouri either way, and barely if it's three and a half. but my score prediction is Missouri winning this one 27-23. I do think that Missouri. Is gonna sustain more of the the longer scoring drives. and a AM's rushing. It's it's gonna keep it close. but I just don't know. I'm I'm just not convinced this year with AM. I I'm I'm having a really hard time putting my faith in them. So that's why I'm leading Missouri. let's jump on to pick number two, Indiana, Nebraska. This is one that I told you I'm scared about how we picked in this one. But this is Man, like I I don't know if people are giving this one enough credit. I I think this might be an early game too, which is just like such a great way to start your game your day off. is this is this the big noon kickoff? It is the big new kickoff, yes. Nice. Okay. I like it. I believe they Yeah. Yeah, this one's twelve. The Georgia is seven. That's like the two big games, I think, this week. All right. I like it. This is gonna be a very fun game. And this I think this game when I look at it, we were talking about this earlier in the show, but I I think that with Nebraska, it's c can you finish can you finish your drives out? I've seen a few times where they're just not able to finish them out. Are you also able to get going in the first half of the game? I don't think that Indiana's the type of team that you're going to come back in the second half the way that they did. I I their first game against Ohio, it was like a shaky first half. They were still controlling the game. A lot of penalties going their way. They bounce back in the second half and completely destroy them. you know, and then you look at last week against Maryland. So kind of a slow start in the first half. Maryland was keeping up and and keeping ahead of them. And then Nebraska had like a huge, I think it was a pick six all the way to the house. Comes out in the second half, just lays it on them and does what they need to do. I think this is a really good Nebraska team this year. I I say that because this is a Nebraska team that has not done anything in the past 10 years, as we were talking about, hasn't hasn't won a top 20 opponent, maybe even a top 25 opponent since 2016. That's a a stat that haunts Husker fans. Like I said, if you have never been to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln for a big matchup like this one, where fans are starting to drink the Kool-Aid, they're starting to feel it. I look at this on paper and I think Nebraska should win this game. I really think that Nebraska should win this game. I just don't I it and it's all on paper. I just don't trust Nebraska. Every time that I start to buy in on Nebraska and I'm like, hey, things are looking good. They prove me wrong. And they just do it time and time again. So I'm I'm I'm buying in on Nebraska. I think they're a much better team and I think they're gonna turn things around. I think they cover the spread. Give me Indiana 31 20. Man, I I'm trying to think here if my if my score prediction was right. Yeah, so 31 25, I guess is what I'll what I'll put. Kind of a weird looking score. but I'll say thirty-one twenty-five. and I think Nebraska covers a spread, which is a good sign for Nebraska fans. so in my pick I'm taking Nebraska to cover the spread, but Indiana is still to pull away with this one. Yeah, like you said, how you're buying in Nebraska every single year. It's funny because that reminded me, I'm still haunted by South Carolina at this point. I bought in the South Carolina Lenore sellers year after year since he's been a freshman basically. I I'm finally done with it. I'm finally selling my stock. Like that's it. I don't I don't care what happens, I'm done. No more false hope. But for this game, I do like Indiana to win this game. I I like Nebraska to cover, but when I sit there and look at that Nebraska logo on that pick board that I picked them to cover, I just see like Kurtzignetti's face staring back at me. Like it I'm like, there's just it's gonna like this game is either gonna be close or it's gonna be Indiana winning by twenty five. And it like there's a world where that happens where Kurtzignetti is just like, you guys thought That we were just gonna kind of fade away after our national championship. I'm scared. I'm sp very scared, just like you. I'm gonna take Indiana to win, but I will take Nebraska plus the eight and a half. Give me twenty seven twenty. Nebraska barely covering. I think it's gonna be a close game the entire time. I think Indiana's gonna pull away in the fourth quarter and and get that touchdown to win the game twenty seven twenty. But I am very nervous in this pick. Yeah, the last time they faced off against each other back in twenty twenty four, I think it was, 'cause it wasn't last season, the season before, Kurt Signetti laid it on him and I was trying to see if I could hurry up and pull that that up real quick and I I can't see it. But yeah, I I remember they laid it on Nebraska and it was like Nebraska was thinking like, Man, we we got a chance here. Yeah, Indiana's looking okay this year, but you know, we're we're coming in, we're gonna beat and we're just gonna keep on rolling. And then Indiana knocked him down three pegs. and so I d I I I agree with you. I think there's a scenario where this is just like Nebraska's like, no, we suck again. And I think there's another scenario where Nebraska pulls this out and keeps it close. I also see a scenario, I think on paper, like I said, our model has Nebraska winning this one by a couple points, like in a tight, tight, gritty matchup. I see that scenario. I think that's totally possible. Indiana looks vulnerable this year. I see it. I just don't have faith in Nebraska to to win. So I am taking them to cover. y you and I both, but I do think Indiana ends up winning this one. Let's go on to our next one. We've got a five and pit. looking really good and won a tough game last week against Virginia Tech with their backup quarterback, starting quarterback out. but holding gir I forget how to say his last name, Gereiner, something like that. But he ends up coming in. Backup quarterback comes in, you know, and taken over. ends up winning the game against Virginia Tech. really, really good. so they had seventeen different receivers. Pitt did seventeen receivers catch a pass in that game. Seventeen. Seventeen receivers catch I guess not just receivers, but you know whoever it was, running backs, tight ends. Running backs, yeah. Seventeen guys caught passes. sorry, not in that game, in the in the for this season. so yeah. So I was gonna not as impressive. Not as impressive. But Still impressive that they've had 17 guys contributing in the in the receiving game. and so I I think with this one, can Pitt simplify the job for their backup quarterback to come in and handle this one against what is going to be a tough UNC defense? They have proven that time and time again this season so far. do you think do you think Pitt can can kind of make it manageable and comfortable for their backup quarterback coming into this game? when it comes to this game, I don't love the fact that they have a backup quarterback. I think Mason Heinschnell was kind of their, you know, their main offensive weapon. But I don't love North Carolina either. I don't love the fact that they have to go to Pittsburgh. I don't love the fact that, you know, North Carolina Bill Belichick haven't been consistent really this year, especially them going to Pittsburgh, just kind of is like the cherry on top to where I think that Pitt is probably going to win and cover. I mean, this game's happened forty five minutes away from me. And I I think people around this area are gonna be very happy after Saturday. I think they're gonna get the win. I I think they're gonna win about twenty-four seventeen. I think they're gonna win by seven. It's gonna be a closer game, just cause I don't with a quarterback out, I think that's going to be a few points, especially. and with North Carolina, I think if Billy Edwards can put something together on that side of the ball, Bobby Batrino can maybe put together a game plan to get the win. I I'm not super confident in this pick, but nonetheless I do like Pitt to win this game at home. Their defense right now is only letting up thirteen point four points per game, fifty five rushing yards per game. So they're pretty locked down on defense. So give me Pitt to win twenty four seventeen. Yeah, I like it. I I I look at this one and I I want to believe in North Carolina's defense. They started to show something against Notre Dame whenever they played Notre Dame. It was like, wow, can they can they start to piece something together? I don't trust their offense at all. and and it doesn't matter who they put over there, who who they got calling plays. I just I think that this this defense is good enough to kind of slow things down. I have a lot of faith in Pitt right now after what they did with their backup quarterback coming in early in that game, taking over, doing what they had to do, and and it was a very tough, gritty game, and it was a lot based on their defense. Their defense creating chaos, creating a lot of just setting up their their offense. So I think if if Pitts defense can do the same, I have them covering this one pretty steadily. we locked in in at minus four. I'm I'm locking that in just fine. you're and I just looked, I have North Carolina plus four. So you know what? Are you are you keeping that one plus four or you are you switching it? You can still switch it, even though that the board is a little different. I'll switch it then. I'll switch it. I was like, I was like, I don't remember picking North Carolina. Yeah, we we can we can go on and switch it. Sometimes I fat thumb and fat thumb them on there too. So I try not to look at that too much because sometimes I'm like, I I think I got that wrong. week four, I think, was where I was like, crap, like, why did I I I'm like not looking at this right. I'm picking winners rather than spreads. half the time I feel like I'll I'll break down a game on the show and then I'll predict it. And I'm like, I'm going with the team. Like I'll break down a game and I'm like, I just blade it out for this team to win and I pick the other team. Like what am I doing? Yeah. I do that all the time. I don't know why. But no, I I I agree with you. I think I'm taking minus four regardless. And I'm going Pitt 2713. I could see it being closer. I could see it being a very close game. I still think Pitt covers the four points. I like them quite a bit. I just don't have enough faith in Bill Belichick and that UNC offense to really do anything. All right, let's go on to game number four. what try to fly through these a little quick. I know we've gone over the hour mark, but Houston at Kansas State. This one kind of shocked me to see that Houston was an underdog in this game. They've been sitting right around three points. We locked him in at the two and a half points s on the spread on this one. Wyatt, give us your pick on this one. I like Avery Johnson at Kansas State. He's a great quarterback. The guy's been in college for about over a little bit over a thousand years at this point. So I think he'll be the you know, the deciding factor in this game. So I like A. B. Johnson over Connor Wigman. Still think Houston's a great team, but I just think the way they've looked lately doesn't give me a ton of confidence. So give me Kansas State minus two and a half. give me twenty that's the same score. Give me like twenty seven twenty four. Give me like thirty twenty four, Kansas State to win that matchup. I think it's gonna be like a round of touchdown. Yeah, I think this one's in the Little Apple. so I think it's it's interesting. you know, going up to Manhattan and you know, having to play there, that that creates a different a different environment, which is weird. It's not a huge in a huge stadium or anything like that, but it's Houston coming into town. I think Houston has done enough lately. I I do like the Houston running defense against Avery Johnson to slow him down and and get things going there. I think when you looked at at Kansas State right now, they're only allowing or they're they're a allowing a total of two hundred and forty-six total yards per game right now. So it's interesting when I look at this. I think it could be more of a defensive game. I think both offenses get things rolling in this one. I think it's gonna be a really close one, but I'm still leaning Houston. I have a really hard time you know, picking against Connor Wegman, seeing what they're doing on that side of the ball. Give me Houston to win this one outright. So I'm picking them to cover the spread at that two and a half point underdog. give me Houston to win this one. I have it written down as a really gross looking score, but 28 to 27. I got I got Houston winning the winning this one. Interesting. All right. Let's go on to game number five. another fun one, one that we we talked about here just a little bit ago. we've got Oregon hosting UCLA. this is a really fun matchup that I think again, you look at these two teams, UCLA, not the brand logo that you're thinking is gonna come into Eugene and take down Oregon. But I think with UCLA, you just keep that that rushing approach, keep it viable, keep it, keep it going. and just avoid chasing any kind of early you know, deficit against Oregon. As long as you can keep this thing close early and keep that close, you you don't have to do a whole lot in this game. I I think that quarterback has shown or sorry, Oregon has shown some some vulnerabilities here this season so far. of course with their starting quarterback Dante Moore out. I don't know how much that really matters to me. I think yeah Oregon still comes away with this one with a win. it's just it's gonna be much closer than what I think that spread is is giving it credit for. Give me Oregon 3124. So UCLA to cover the spread. that's where that's where I'm leaning. I do think that with Dylan Riola looking as good as he did against USC, gives me a lot of faith for Oregon to be able to still win this one. So Oregon 31-24 is what I got with UCLA covering that twelve and a half point spread. Mm-hmm. I like it. for me, I am high on UCLA right now. I I think that they're honestly there's a road where they make the college football playoff. I have their schedule somewhere. I'm gonna try to pull that up. But UCLA, like if they even if they lose this game, there's actually still a path to ten and two into the college football playoff for them. I'm trying to pull up their remaining schedule here. It's a loading, but as it's loading, I like Nico Yamaliava. I I think he's got the experience. And and when you think about Dylan Real on the other side, you have two, you know, very I feel like equal quarterbacks in terms of what they've done. Like you look at what Dylan Realwood did in that Oregon game, and he threw and he was very productive, but he also he runs the ball similar to Nico Yamaliava. So both guys have a good arm. They're both guys are accurate, but both guys run the ball. So I think this is going to be a heavy, heavy run, you know, oriented type of game. So I think both teams will have well over 200, maybe even 250 rushing yards. I like UCLA's run game a lot more than I like Oregon's, though. So With that being said, as much as I would love to sit here and take UCLA to win, I've actually been back and forth all day with whether or not I should take UCLA to win. I would love to, just because of like, I feel like that's like, you know what, I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna take UCLA to win this matchup 34 to 20 or 31 28. I'm gonna take UCLA to win. I know that's crazy, but I just I think UCLA with Bob Chesney. They're diff something's different there. Something's different. I I'm probably gonna be one of the only people on this island picking UCLA. It's a great island. You should come join me. But I want to think I I I th I like this offense. I think their offense is is, you know, miles better than Oregon's defense. Because Oregon's defense isn't great this year. You've seen what they what Oklahoma State I mean, I feel like Oklahoma State's offense is very similar to UCLA. You have Drew Mestmaker, Anico Meliovic, kind of the same style sort of of quarterback. Wayne Knight, Caleb Hawkins, two power running backs. Like both teams offensively are similar. And you saw what Oklahoma State did to Oregon. Do I think Oregon's better since then? Yes. But I like UCLA plus twelve and a half, and I'm gonna go ahead and do it 'cause why the heck not? I'm gonna take UCLA to win this matchup, and even if they don't win, I just still think they're gonna cover. So give me UCLA thirty one twenty eight against Oregon. Well and you look at the two rushing offenses too, so UCLA is actually the number one rushing offense in the Big Ten. I think they're number what are they? Number four in all of FPS and rushing offense. Yeah it's a very good running team. So I don't think you're crazy for picking UCLA. I think they've got a very good shot at winning this thing. and that's I I it's it's again another Indiana comparison. It's kind of similar to Why do we not rank Indiana at number one? Because like right now, if Alabama or Ohio State, you know, or any of these other big brand names were on the 21 game winning streak after winning a national championship, going 16 and 0 a season ago, there's no doubt we would have put them at number one. And I I agree with that notion. But you look right now, and it's because I think I think a big part of it is it is really hard To pull the trigger and go all the way and put them number one when it's IU. Like that's so hard to see. And and I think that's the biggest thing. I'm unwilling to to admit it, but I'm kind of coming out and finally admitting it now. I I don't I don't think they're number one just because of the the way that they've played so far this year, but it most teams, let's take the AP poll, for example. The AP poll would definitely have them at number one if they were a Texas or an Ohio State or an Alabama or a Georgia. regardless of how they've looked this year. And so I the same with UCLA. It's hard for me to pull the trigger and say, I want them to I they're gonna win this game. And I think the main thing holding me back is I look and I see the UCLA Bruins. yeah just it's such a weird, a weird thing, but it's the truth. I just I think there's something weird about it that just I I I like inside I'm refusing to just pick them to win it. I do think they keep it close though. I think it's gonna be a really fun game there. And Eugene this weekend. Well, that's what a lot of people like. It's all logo oriented, and a lot of people see that logo of IU, UCLA, and they think, it's it's Indiana. But for me, for that argument, I would say for me personally, I don't go by a logo. I go by resume. Like Mississippi State was a top seventeen for me. I don't care that it's Mississippi State, because like you said, if you throw a Texas logo on Mississippi State's resume before they play Alabama, that is a top seventeen. And I'm like, that's how I see it. I take your resume and what you've done and how you've looked. And I'm like, I don't care, like, other than that, I don't care if you're Georgia. Like, if you're Georgia and you lose two football games, you're not my top twenty-five. Like, it I don't care like what happens. And, you know, so for me, I I feel like the committee's kind of just resetting. Again, I'm not gonna just sit here and defend the AP pool because it sucks at this point, but that's kind of how I see it. And for me, I I try to take Ever I try to take the brand out of it and I just try to see the the the teams without a conference logo or a logo, honestly. I've known some of the AP poll voters in years past and I've thought to myself, like, how how is that guy an AP voter? Like you know him like personally? Yeah. And and I I just I don't understand it. So they they select different media members. they they they select different media members each year and sometimes the media members just don't make sense. there was a guy I knew that was a a voter and he was a media guy, but he covered baseball. That was his niche. Why is he a a football A P voter? Yeah, so it's yeah, that's that's it's suspect, no doubt. but then you got guys like Josh Pate turning it down. So maybe he's the blame. He had a good reason because it's like you don't want to work with those people like 'cause your your vote out of like, I don't know, they said sixty five other people. Your vote's gonna mean nothing when you were the only person with, you know, common sense, which I think his commissioner's poll comes out tonight. That's always a fun topic. Yeah. Yeah. The no doubt though this game is going to be a fun one. One to watch in Eugene. Going on to the next one, Red River Rivalry. Red River Shootout you can call it. I th I think the only people who are like hardcore about calling it Red River shootout are people who aren't Oklahoma Texas fans because like growing up, like yeah, that was a name for a little while, but for the most part it was always Red River rivalry. And it was always fun to say it because it's kind of a tongue twister. you know, so I I I I'm all for Red River shootout. It's fun because for a while it fit that game because it was always high scoring. Not the case this year. That's why I'm not willing to call it shootout this year. It's gonna be a low scoring game. like I mentioned earlier, my lock of the week was 39 and a half. I think this spread is actually down to eight and a half, but we locked it in earlier in the week. So we gotta stay true to our picking board. yeah, looking at looking at this this matchup, I I don't know. There's there's things about rivalry games that make me wonder. And if you've ever watched things like you know, the Auburn keeping it close with Alabama when they're on a four-win season, or, you know, d just weird things happen in rivalry games. you know, and so that's why I think this game will be a tougher fought win. I I think this is gonna be one that does come down to the wire. I'm still picking Texas to win this one as bad as that tastes in my mouth as an Oklahoma guy to say, Picking Texas to win this one. I think they win this one pretty decisively d decisively down the stretch. I think Oklahoma's defense makes this one interesting at times. but ultimately I think fourth quarter, Texas ends up pulling away and making this one a little bit more comfortable. I I keep them covering the spread. I wrote down my score prediction at twenty-three thirteen. I could also see this one being like thirty-six thirteen and then just blowing Oklahoma out because They create their own mistakes. so if John Mateer doesn't throw it back behind him himself, and and you know, start to to hand the ball off to ghosts again, then I think this could be a very close game and a very hard fought win. I could also see a crazy situation where we're thinking Oklahoma's gonna upset upset Texas. I don't see a scenario where Oklahoma wins this game, though. so I'm picking Texas to win the game. I also pick and pick in Texas to cover that spread. Yeah. I have Texas to win the game. I have them to cover. I have Texas twenty to ten. It's gonna be a lower scoring game. I like you said, the under is a great play on this game. But for me, I don't love Texas's offense. That's why I don't think they're gonna score many touchdowns. I'll probably I I guess at my score prediction, I got I got two scores and two field goals. for Oklahoma. Don't love the offense. Don't love John Meteor right now. I don't think they're in a great headspace. I think Ben Orbuckle. that fit is kind of needs to come to an end, I feel like that relationship over there. But overall, I like you said, I don't see a world where Oklahoma wins, but it is a rivalry game. It is the Red River shootout. that's lit I think it's at this point, it's probably my favorite or fifty fifty with that in Ohio State, Michigan for me. I just love this rivalry. But I would take the Texas to win and cover. If Oklahoma's down let's say that we're going into halftime, Oklahoma's down three points in a defensive game. Let's say it's like Nine to six, something s gross like that. Or the defense for Oklahoma scored one, so it's like ten to thirteen going into halftime. John Matteer's got two interceptions or just two turnovers in general. 'Cause he hasn't really been throwing interceptions as much. It's been more the fumbling issue against Georgia. Do you think Oklahoma pulls John Mateer out at halftime if that's the case? Here's my thing, 'cause I've talked about this with Saint with Texas A and Oklahoma. Your backup is not better. Like You may not like John Material but I could tell you he's mm. Is he is he th is he turning the ball over four times in a game worse? Well, if he turns ball over four times, maybe that switches my my thought process. But if you turn over turns the ball over at like four times in a game, I think you pull him. So for me, I mean you could play him this game, but like I think John Mateer's your best chance to win any games this year. Same with Texas A and Like you pull Marcel Reid, you pull Bryce Underwood. Well, actually they got a different situation because I think Tommy Carr is a really good quarterback, but that's a whole nother conversation. I don't think that you play the backup unless he throws three, four picks. But, you know, i maybe if you're like, hey, we got nothing to lose this season, throw him in, but I I don't see a world where it gets to that point. I I think you're to a point now where that Georgia game for Oklahoma fans was like you want to just gash your eyes out as slowly and painfully as possible rather than watch that game. and and all of it revolved around John Mateer throwing that game away. was Oklahoma gonna win that game? No. But if John Mateer plays manageable, you're in that game. and and thanks to your defense. And so I I I think it's been long overdue for them to pull John Matthew. because in that Georgia game, like I said, that was a 38 point swing, I think you can even argue for I think it was 42, just on John Matthew himself, with the the three turnovers that he had. and so, you know, you had one that one play where they scooped it up and ran it the other way for 90 some yards, that alone was a 14 point swing. The next drive, you throw an interception to give them good field position again. There's another, you know, seven to ten to even fourteen point swing, depending on how you want to look at it. and so, you know, it's just really difficult to to look look at at this team and I don't know. I I just I don't know. Is your backup better? No, but is he worse? I don't know how he could be at this point. John Mateir is seeing ghosts. And it's it's it's really hard to to to watch him out there playing football. I mean, like you said, he's got the same stats as Arch Manning. So True. but Arch Banning hasn't like i he doesn't fit the same eye test that John Mateer has. He has he looked good? No, he hasn't looked like Arch Banning level, like the way that he's been hyped up to be. But he also hasn't looked as bad as John Matheir. I think he hasn't looked as bad as John Mateer because of the talent around him, because of Raleigh Brown, Hollywood Smothers, you literally have two top fifteen receivers and Ryan Wingo, Cam Coleman. I think if you th switch the quarterbacks, I feel like Arch Manning is probably on a two and two football team. That's just possible I I I feel like possibly I and I feel like John Matteer's probably on a three and one team. Maybe they don't pull that Ohio State comeback. That's just kinda how I see it. Yeah. I mean it's it's definitely a debate worth worth having. I think it's interesting. it's gonna be a fun game regardless in Red River. It always is. so one to tune into for sure. All right, going on to the seventh game. Before we get to the game of the week, we got LSU, Kentucky. I'll keep this one short and sweet. LSU, man, they're back. they're they're doing things well. But I really like what Will Stein has there at Kentucky. I think going on the road and playing in Lexington is much more difficult than people give it credit for. I like what what Kentucky does with controlling possessions and and create you know forcing the game to be the the game that they want to play. And so I think LSU wins this game, no doubt. but that's a 10 points spread right now that we're looking at. We locked it in at 10. I don't know what it is now, but I think if it if we're keeping our locked in at at at what we what we locked it in at, I'm taking Kentucky for the points. I think Kentucky keeps it close. give me LSU to win this one though, 3124. Kentucky covering the spread nonetheless. Yeah. similar to you, I think except the only thing is I believe I have yeah, I have LSU minus the 10. I think when you look at LSU, their offense is really good. And I love Kentucky. I love Will Stein. I think that that's gonna work there, but I I just I don't love Kentucky's chances because I feel that they're so out talented. Like they got the win against AM and you saw just A and be a horrible team this year. When you look at Alabama, like that's kind of how I see that game going. I think Kentucky is close until halftime, but I LSU pulls away. So give me LSU minus ten score prediction. I'll go thirty one twenty. I'll go thirty one twenty in in that game in LSU to get the win. Yeah, it's kind of barely covering the spread there. I like it. All right. Going on to the game of the week, one that is always a fun game to watch. It always is just a marquee game. it's it's one of those games where it there's been times where Georgia is, you know, up big and Alabama comes back. There's also been times where Alabama's up big and Georgia comes back to make it interesting. this is one, like you mentioned a moment ago, Kirby Smart, he always has that Achilles heel and it is beating Alabama in the regular season 0 and 2 against Calen DeBoy right now. this is a really fun one. I think that it you you know, we've we've talked a lot about this game already, so there's not a whole lot more I can say, but I think it it it really is gonna come down to Georgia's consistency and their efficiency against Alabama's explosiveness and willingness and and and their ability to be able to create something out of nothing. I'm I had a really hard time back and forth with this game. This one's down in Tuscaloosa. I love the Georgia Bulldogs. And I try really hard not to let tendencies swap, you know, sway my decision one way or another. Tuscaloosa is a very difficult place to play. I could see if this one is still really wet that Georgia wins it. And I think they win it comfortably. I know this one's at a one and a half point now, but we locked it in at two and a half. I'm taking Alabama the at the two and a half. I'm taking Alabama to pull off this win. give me Alabama thirty-one twenty seven. Yep. I have Alabama also or I have Georgia winning, but like you said, I I would love are we allowed to switch our pick? Yeah, yeah, go for it. I mean yeah, the the the lock that we have on on the the pick board, we can always get it changed up. So we we have until game time to officially lock it in. I'm gonna stick with Georgia. I'm gonna take Georgia, but I will tell you this. If if if I wake up or you know, when I go to bed Saturday night and if Alabama wins this game, might not be able to make it to the Sunday show. I might be dead at that point. That would be a tough one for me because I I have thrown it all out on my show on this show. I think Alabama, like I painted the path for them. I think their path is clear, but I will take Georgia to win. I just don't love the the fact that the Kirby has struggled against Alabama. I I think that I guess I think that's gonna end here. I don't love that pick, but I will take Georgia minus the two and a half. Give me like 24-21. It's gonna be really close. It's gonna be really close. It's gonna be tight. It's gonna be a really fun game too. I'm really looking forward to this one. definitely a marquee game. Again, no matter what the year is, no matter what's going on down there in the south, these two teams always bring it. And give us the biggest game of the weekend. Of course, you can join in on our pick'em as well, and you can even share your pick'em board. Go over to gamedaycollective.media. go up to the that college football, select the the pick'em board. We've also got fan polls that you can go through and make your selections, and all of those get locked in the following week. So you get to see your records and all of that. So much more over at gamedaycollective.media. Go check out the website for all football coverage and so much more. We're diving in where we're gonna be getting into more. college sports as well. but ultimately we enjoy being able to being able to bring this to you here on a fine Thursday evening. We've got a lot in store for week six. make sure to hit that like button, hit that subscribe button if you're watching on YouTube, if you're watching anywhere else, just jump over to YouTube real quick and hit that like button. Hit that subscribe button. Help us keep on growing. We're looking for a big October of course, subscribe on YouTube. You can also subscribe and follow on podcast platforms. Give us a five star review too to help us grow on those platforms. And follow Game Day Collective on X, Instagram, and Facebook for keeping up with the show and so much more. Again, we appreciate everybody so much for tuning in. We'll catch you next time.