A trip to Neyland Stadium is thing to behold. The first time I was there I had the tune Rocky Top memorized before the end of the first quarter and heard it ringing in my head the next three days. I was there rooting on the Ole Miss Rebels. UT won 52-14. Ugly. Ugly game I tell you. Let us hope we don’t see anything looking close to that ugly this weekend as we enjoy the first full weekend of the 2025 College Football season. We need it. Even with all the chestnuts that roast over the business state of the game, we still need it. Your 11 against their 11. It is time I tell you!
Every week I will offer 14 games. I pick winners straight up. I don’t gamble. I can’t fathom being upset because my team only won by 12 points. That is not going to happen with this ole boy. Don’t ask.
Mississippi State beats Southern Miss… Coach Huff brought his Marshall squad with him to Hattiesburg. Won’t be enough. At least State has the guts to play USM. Ole Miss can’t claim that. Don’t tell about no-win situations.
Tulane beats Northwestern… The Green Wavers have a quality QB and more to prove.
Texas beats Ohio State… Arch Manning at QB for Texas. A redshirt freshman at QB for Ohio State? Never mind that I abhor Brutus. It’s Arch’s show and we are ready to watch.
Kentucky beats Toledo… Coach Stoops is already catching heat and the ball has yet to be kicked. The Louisville paper ran a story recently looking at possible replacements for the man. His buyout is huge. Still, let the man coach the season. Jon Gruden can stay away.
Indiana beats Old Dominion… The teams that come to Bloomington better be ready. The Hoosiers will be and if you saw the Purdue game at the end of the season last year, you better know they want to score 66 or more points on you too. The Hoosiers still have a great deal to prove. It is 2024 all over again.
Louisville beats Eastern Kentucky… Watch this powerful offense put up some monster numbers in this one.
Alabama beats Florida State… After getting beat by Vandy last year, you’ll see a much-improved Tide. They will win and win and win this year.
Georgia beats Marshall… Earlier today I was thinking about watching Rakeem Cato throw the ball to Tommy Shuler 19 times for 200 yards against Purdue in 2012 in West Lafayette. Purdue won 51-41. Doesn’t seem that long ago. Yes, UGA wins this one.
Clemson beats LSU… Cade Klubnik vs. Garrett Nussmeier. Not unlike Marino vs. Montana. One of those QB matchups. Clemson’s defense will give LSU fits, as they fly all over the place.
Ole Miss beats Georgia State… Coach Lane Kiffin is always fun. The scoreboard in Oxford had better have good batteries. Reb fans are missing Jaxson Dart. New QB Austin Simmons will do just fine.
Washington beats Colorado State… The Huskies will be improved.
UCLA beats Utah… An old PAC-12 game that is no more. UCLA and Tennessee traded quarterbacks. Nico Iamaleava traded Rocky Top for The Rose Bowl. Who could blame him?
Notre Dame beats Miami… The Irish better be ready for the South Florida heat and HUMIDITY. I am sitting here watching a ranked Boise State team wilt on a trip to take on South Florida. The Broncos are pooped, and they are behind 31-7 in the 4th quarter.
North Carolina beats TCU… Watch that Patriots coach win. Mack Brown will tell you the UNC brass gave the new guy the keys to the kingdom and the war chest.
We’re here! Enjoy it all. I will be in Bloomington Saturday for the Indiana game.