Yes, we got a whacky game between instate rivals that was as sloppy as you can get, but it was college football. And we will take what we can get at this point.
But the good news is we finally have the first full weekend in college football. This is what we have been waiting for since the championship game ended with Clemson taking Alabama off its high horse in early January.
As we look to Saturday, I find it sort of funny that Ole Miss is miffed about being a 5-point underdog at Memphis Saturday. Remember the train wreck that was Rebel football in 2018.
Maybe I am putting too much stock in the new coordinators in Oxford, but I think the Rebels win this one and set the tone for what could be a sizzling start to the season — with winnable games against Arkansas, Southeastern Louisiana and Cal before the matchup with Alabama.
But first things first, the Rebels have to pull the mild upset before they can think about win streaks.
Unlike Ole Miss, Mississippi State is a big favorite in New Orleans Saturday. If the Bullies don’t cover the 21-point line, it could be a sign of tougher times to come. But if Tommy Stevens comes in against the Ragin’ Cajuns and lights it up and the offense looks much better than last year, they certainly can exceed the seven-win total I have picked for Joe Moorhead’s team.
I am excited to see what happens with our two Mississippi SEC teams, but the overall weekend package is not quite as intriguing as other recent opening weekends. Saturday night’s neutral-site meeting between No. 11 Oregon and No. 16 Auburn serves as the only game that matches two ranked teams.
This has the potential to be a decisive moment for the Pac-12, and its College Football Playoff hopes. An Oregon win could impact the national perception of the depth in the SEC beyond Alabama and Georgia.
What’s assured, though: Oregon winning this game would vault the Ducks in the polls and set up what could be a highly successful season.
Much like last year’s Washington-Auburn opener, there is some pressure on Oregon to not just maintain its top-15 position in the polls, but to make a statement for the Pac-12.
The Ducks boast one of the nation’s top NFL quarterback prospects in Justin Herbert, while Auburn plans to start true freshman Bo Nix.
Herbert will take snaps behind what is expected to rank among the top offensive lines in the sport.
I can’t wait to see what might be the best defensive line in the nation get after Herbert and try to pressure him into mistakes.
That battle in the trenches could be the deciding factor on Saturday night.
