#15 Missouri at #10 Vanderbilt(-2.5)

Missouri: 6-1, 2-1 SEC

Vanderbilt: 6-1,2-1 SEC

Series Record: 12-4-1, Mizzou

Last Matchup: Week 4 2024, Missouri beats Vanderbilt 30-27(2OT)

Biggest Deficit: Week 8 2020, Missouri beats Vanderbilt 41-0

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College Gameday is in Nashville for a top-15 matchup between two historically bottom-half SEC teams. Although being in the SEC for nearly a century, the Vanderbilt Commodores have never captured an SEC title and our one of two SEC teams to have a losing record all time. While Mizzou has had back to back 10+ win seasons and could very well be on their way to another one, much of their time in the SEC has seen them closer to the bottom of the standings. Now both teams are serious contenders and vying for a college football playoff spot. Both teams coming off huge wins, with Vandy defeating a ranked LSU team, and Mizzou getting a road win against Auburn. Another similarity is their only loss coming to number four ranked team, Alabama. It’s easy to see that these teams are pretty evenly matched and this game should be very close. Vanderbilt has more star power, with QB Diego Pavia, TE Eli Stowers, and RB Sedrick Alexander leading the offense have looked great, but they are facing off against one of the best defences in the nation. Mizzou is ranked 4th in the nation in yards per game allowed and has been the main reason for their two SEC wins against South Carolina and Auburn. Although the Tigers offense has looked sporadic, but a pretty solid run game might be another factor to Mizzou’s success on Saturday.

Prediction: MISSOURI 24, VANDERBILT 23

#8 Ole Miss at #13 Oklahoma (-5.5) 

Ole Miss: 6-1, 3-1 SEC

Oklahoma: 6-1, 2-1 SEC

Series Record: 2-0, Ole Miss

Last Matchup: Week 9 2024, Ole Miss beats Oklahoma 26-14

BIggest Deficit: Week 9 2024, Ole Miss beats Oklahoma 26-14

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Two one loss teams will face in Norman, with much pressure on both squads. Lane Kiffin, coach of the Ole Miss Rebels has consistently had good seasons but hasn’t yet had a great season, similar to a coach who just got fired in James Franklin. Coming off a tough loss against Georgia, can his team bounce back and continue their early season success into a possible college football playoff berth? While the pressure on Oklahoma comes from what has been a disappointing offense and blowout loss to rival, Texas.  Oklahoma goes as John Mateer goes, the Washington State transfer was the Heisman favorite coming into the season and has not lived up to the hype, but in his defense he was out with a hand injury and is still recovering. On the other side Ole Miss’ offensive attack is a little more balanced, with RB Kewan Lacy averaging 4.5 yards per carry and also QB Trinidad Chambliss using his legs to make plays. Oklahoma’s offense has struggled through their first 7 games but their defense has been outstanding, being the number 1 defense in the country, and having the best yards per game allowed. This game will be decided if Ole Miss can maintain a run game against such a great front seven from the Sooners.

Prediction:OLE MISS 30, OKLAHOMA 24

#3 Texas A&M(-2.5) at #20 LSU

Texas A&M: 7-0, 4-0 SEC

LSU: 5-2, 2-2 SEC

Series Record: 35-21-3, LSU

Last Matchup: Week 9 2024, Texas A&M beats LSU 38-23

Biggest Defecit: 1914 Texas A&M beats LSU 63-9

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A rivalry game on a fall Saturday night is magical, also magical is Texas A&M season so far. An undefeated Aggies team has seen them climb to number three in the rankings, their highest mark in nearly 30 years. Their offense is highly explosive and have performed when needed the most, scoring upwards of 40 points in tough games like Notre Dame and Arkansas. This is going to be a tough test for sure, night game in Death Valley and a hungry Tigers team hanging on to their college football playoff hopes after the loss to Vanderbilt. We saw a quarterback matchup in Grant Nussmeier for LSU and Marcel Reed for Texas A&M play out last year, and will see it again on Saturday which is rare for college football nowadays. A&M went with more of a run-heavy plan last year and was able to get the win, Nussmeier threw for over 400 yards but threw 3 interceptions. Nussmeier has got to be great if LSU wants to pull off the upset, he could very well be based on the Aggies being a more offensive orientated team. A QB that was looked at as a Heisman contender in the beginning of the year, hasn’t cracked over 300 passing yards in a game and has thrown a pick in 3 out the 4 SEC games thus far. Meanwhile, Marcel Reed, the Texas A&M QB has looked terrific in his first year as a full time starter, top 10 in yards per completion, utilising his great targets in Mario Craver and KC Concepcion. 

Prediction: Texas A&M 37, LSU 24

North Dakota State at South Dakota State(-7.5)

North Dakota State: 7-0, 4-0 MVFC

South Dakota State: 7-0, 3-0 MVFC 

Series Record: 65-47-5, North Dakota State

Last Matchup: FCS Semifinals 2024, North Dakota State beats South Dakota St 28-21

Biggest Deficit: 1903,  North Dakota State beats South Dakota State 85-0

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This might not seem like a big game because its an FCS vs FCS matchup, but this is also the number one ranked FCS team in North Dakota St and the number two ranked FCS team in South Dakota State. Yes these are two undefeated and dominant forces in the FCS, but this also a historic rivalry, seeing the the two squads face off over 100 times and they play for one of the most unique trophies in the sport. The Marker, an actual state marker that is on the North Dakota/South Dakota border, they’ve been playing for the Marker since 2004. There isn’t any pro sports teams in these states, so the fandom for the two sides is great, this will also be the 3rd out of the last 4 times they’ve played that it is a 1v2 matchup. It simply just means more in this game, we saw NDSU head coach Tim Polasek rip up papers at his news conference, and saying “it’s about what happens on the field.” SDSU has played a little bit harder of a schedule and seems more tested and ready. Also this game being played in Brookings, South Dakota is a huge deal as SDSU has won their last 33 home games, the 4th longest home winning streak inFCS history. NDSU’s QB Cole Payton is an elite talent and had a game of over 400 total yards of offense.

Prediction: NORTH DAKOTA STATE 22, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 25

#11 BYU at Iowa St(-2.5)

BYU: 7-0, 4-0 BIG 12

Iowa St: 5-2, 2-2 BIG 12

Series Record: 5-0

Last Matchup: Week 11 2023, Iowa St at BYU 45-13

Biggest Deficit: Week 11 2023, Iowa St at BYU 45-13

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An impressive start for the Cougars, can they continue their early season success on the road against a solid Iowa St team. This is now back to back seasons that BYU has made it to this point of the season without a loss, the season kind of fell apart last year with back to back losses after starting 9-0. So will this be a different story for this year’s Cougars team? They are coming off an impressive win over rival Utah, but that win was at home, their on the road this week. Iowa St started the season off hot but has been upset by Cincinnati and Colorado puts them at 5-2 and barely hanging for BIG 12 Championship hopes. The Cyclones have an experienced QB in Rocco Becht and two decent running backs to boost the offense in Abu Sama III and Carson Hansen. BYU has been great in close games and making clutch plays, they’ve already racked up 3 wins in one score games but they’ve played nowhere near as tough as the road atmosphere then what they’ll face in Ames this weekend. Dating back to last season, Iowa St has gone 9-1 at home. This is a big game for both sides, BYU trying to prove themselves as legit and Iowa St trying to turn the season around.

Prediction: BYU 27, IOWA ST 35

Other Notable Games (predictions)

#18 USF at Memphis: 37-31

#23 Illinois at Washington 28-31

#4 Alabama at South Carolina 27-9

Houston at #24 Arizona St 27-28

UCLA at #2 Indiana 30-40