College Football playoffs begin here with No 4 Notre Dame taking on No 1 Alabama. Alabama laying a lot of wood in this game, currently around 19-20 points. This is the Rose Bowl, but not your normal Rose Bowl as it's been moved to Arlington, Texas from Pasadena due to Covid restrictions in California. Alabama makes it's sixth appearance in the NCAA FB playoffs in its seven year history. Alabama is an offensive juggernaut with Mac Jones at QB, Najee Harris at RB and WR DeVonta Smith that give this team a three-headed monster for defenses. The Tide have scored at least 52 points in four of their last five games and only one decided by less than 15 points. The only chance for Notre Dame here is to win the battle in the trenches and keep the ball out of Alabama's hands. If Notre Dame can't get a running game going, this will be a long day for the Irish. After what Clemson did to Notre Dame last time out I don't see how Alabama will be kept in check here today. I look for an Alabama blowout win.

SEC Championship game from Atlanta, GA here on Saturday has No 1 Alabama taking on No 7 Florida. Alabama looks to keep its perfect record in tact here on a top seed in the NCAA playoffs on New Year's day. Florida lost a shocker last week to LSU at home. LSU has had a horrible season with multiple injuries and COVID tests, but somehow pulled the biggest upset of the season. The Crimson Tide are almost a perfect team, difficult to find any weakness on this club. With QB Mac Jones, RB Najee Harris and WR DaVonta Smith they have three legitimate Heisman candidates. Alabama has won all year and won BIG! They are sending a statement the the NCAA that they are the team to beat this year and I have to agree with that. Even with Florida's excellent QB in Trask, I look for a Alabama blowout here on Saturday. I don't even know if Florida can recover from that LSU loss, let alone do so against the best team in the country. Play Alabama here on Saturday.

Conference USA Championship game here on Friday has the 5-3 UAB Blazers vs the 7-1 Marshall Thundering Herd. Marshall hasn't won in more than a month as they enter play here tonight. Marshall had their final game against Charlotte cancelled. Their only loss of the season coming at the hands of Rice where they gained just 245 total yards and QB Wells threw five interceptions. Marshall leads the FBS in points allowed, just 11.4 per game. Marshall has the 2nd best rushing defense, allowing just 73.0 yards per game. This Marshall defense will be a huge task for UAB to overcome here today. UAB hasn't won a game this year in which they have allowed more than 16 points, except their opening game against Central Arkansas. I look for Marshall to rebound from that Rice loss and use it's vaunted defense to shut down UAB. Play Marshall.

The annual USC vs UCLA rivalry game will lose some luster this week without the usual full Rose Bowl of rabid fans. USC has just four games this year after beating Washington State 38-13 and improving to 4-0 on the season. UCLA is 3-2 on the season after beating Arizona State, 25-18 on December 5. It's hard to figure who is more interested, but that appears to be USC with their perfect 4-0 record and top 20 ranking. Without the fans I have to be on the USC side in this one.

Northwestern showed just why they are one of the best teams in the Big 10 as they totally shut down Wisconsin last week, 17-7. The Northwestern defense we knew was good, but they were outstanding last week. They Cats have now covered all five games this year as they head to Michigan State today. The Michigan State Spartans were shut out two weeks ago by Indiana, 24-0. The Spartans have scored seven points combined in their last two games. Not good for now having to play the 15th ranked defense in the country. I look for another Northwestern win and possible shutout here on Saturday. Play Northwestern.

Top 25 matchup here on Friday has No 2 Notre Dame taking on No 25 North Carolina. This game looks to be the most difficult thus far for the Irish. Yes they played Clemson, but QB Lawrence missed that game with Covid. The Irish are a perfect 8-0 on the season while North Carolina is 6-2 with losses coming to Florida State and Virginia. The Tar Heels are coming off a shootout two weeks ago against Wake Forest, which they won in a come-from-behind fashion, 59-53. It follows that the Tar Heels would have the 4th ranked offense in the country. Notre Dame comes in at 24th. The Irish have a much better defense though, ranked 9th overall compared to the 68th ranked defense of NCU. These teams have met just once in the last five years and that was in 2017 with the Irish winning at Chapel Hill, 33-10. I like the Irish as it appears they are destined for a New Year's day playoff spot. They can' afford to look past any opponent, especially the Tar Heels here today. Play Notre Dame.

Looks like early week is MAC week as MAC play enters its 3rd week, at least for most teams. Some have had Covid issues and games PPD. Tonight Akron travels to play at Kent State. Kent is one of the better teams in the MAC at 2-0 on Season. They opened with a win over Eastern Michigan, 27-23, but failed to cover 5-point line. Then they went to Bowling Green where they cruised to a 62-24 win and cover. Now they host a poor Akron as they should go 3-0 tonight. Akron is 0-2 after losing to Western Michigan 13-58 and then last week at Ohio, 10-24, covering the 26-point line. Akron out gained Ohio last week 434 to 307 yards. It was the three turnovers that hurt the Zips. Kent State rolled-up 667 yards at Bowling Green last week and had 30 more offensive plays. Kent is now 6th in the country in total yards. Kent held Akron to just 3 points last year in this matchup. I'm going to lay the points with a very good Kent team tonight. Play Kent.

No 9 Miami Florida hits the road today for a conference game at Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes are 6-1 on the season and while they likely won't make a CFB Playoff, they are in line for a good bowl game. The Canes lost last year at Virginia Tech, 35-42, but outgained Tech 563-337. It was a five turnover day that did in the Canes. Miami beat North Carolina State last week, 44-141 as a 11-point favorite. The Canes had 620 total yards and no turnovers in the win. Virginia Tech lost at home to a nationally ranked Liberty team, 35-38 as a 16.5 point favorite. Liberty ran 80 plays to just 58 for Tech. Virginia Tech could be without their top RB here today in Khalil Herbert. Herbert is nursing a hamstring injury and is questionable. Herbert has 804 yards on the season with seven TD's. I like Miami here as a small dog. Points likely won't come into play here, so I looking at a Miami straight up win. Play Miami Florida.

Central Michigan won a shootout last week at home over Ohio, 30-27. The Chippewas gained 427 yards to Ohio's 345 yards. In addition, they have 30 more offensive plays then did the Bobcats. Northern Illinois lost at home last week to Buffalo, 30-49. The Huskies had 29 more offensive plays, but just 40 yards more and yet were still outscored by 19 points thanks in part to a -3 turnover ratio. When these teams met last year that game was also in Nothern Illinois as Central won easily, 48-10 as a small dog. Central Michigan has really owned this NIU team, covering the last five years. I expect that again here tonight. I'm taking the road team in this one. Play Central Michigan.

The MAC finally got underway last week and Kent State was in a dog fight with Eastern Michigan. Kent pulled out the win and cover, 28-20. Kent had 431 yards of offense to just 302 by Eastern. In addition, they had a very balanced offense with 212 yards on the ground and 219 yards through the air. Bowling Green is one of the worst teams in the nation and it showed last week at Toledo. BG lost 3-38 as a 18-point dog and was almost doubled in yardage, 267-524. In addition, BG turned the ball over three times. Last year's meeting between these teams was not pretty for BG, as they lost at Kent, 20-62 and gave up 750 yards of offense! Kent has covered the last two in this series and that's just wahat I expect here tonight in another Kent rout. Play Kent State.

Cincinnati is flexing its muscles in the AAC conference after dismantling Memphis last week, 49-10 as a 6.5 point favorite. The Bearcats had 513 yards to just 321 by Memphis. That included 242 yards rushing. Cincy improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play. Houston comes into today's contest at 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the AAC. Houston will have its hands full this week with a 15th ranked Cincinnati defense and top defense in the AAC. Cincinnati hitting on all cylinders right now and that's what I like. They have their sights set on a New Year's day bowl game and I expect another Bearcats blowout here today. Take Cincinnati.

Tennessee was manhandled last week on their home turf by Kentucky, 7-34. That was the second loss in a row for the Vols. Meanwhile, Alabama came off a huge win last week over Georgia, 41-24. Even with the loss of QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Henry Ruggs, the offense has been clicking under QB Mac Jones. Jones ranks first nationally in QB rating and completed 78.3% of his passes with 12 TD's and just two INT's. Tennessee will need better production from its QB's. Jarrett Guarantano has started all four games, but tossed two pick-six INT's last week vs Kentucky. Don't expect a letdown here today by the Tide, Saban always has his teams prepared. Tide will roll here today. Play Alabama.

No 11 Texas A&M is 2-1 on the season and has been a scoring machine through the air.  Mike Leach's Mississippi State Bulldogs are just 1-2 and under performed thus far this season. The Aggies had a big come-from-behind last week for one of their biggest victories when they defeated Florida, 41-38. The Aggies trailed 17-28  in the third quarter. The Bulldogs have to curtail their turnovers if they hope to have a chance here today. Costello threw four Interceptions against Kentucky. His backup, Rogers, came in and threw two more. Arkansas showed how to beat MSU and I believe Leach will take a page out of that playbook this week. I like A&M laying less than a TD here on the road today. Play Texas A&M. 

A pair of undefeated college football teams meet here on Wednesday night as Louisiana Ragin Cajuns take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in a Sun Belt conference matchup. Coastal opened the season with a win at Kansas followed by wins over Campbell and then last week against Arkansas State, 52-32. Louisiana was a program best 11-3 in 2019 and have won back-to-back Sun Best West divisions. Coastal has the conference's best offense so far this season, averaging 44.3 ppg and 6.9 yards per play. The Louisiana defense is holding teams to 5.2 yards per play. Louisiana is led by their offensive line and running attack, which Coastal will have to contend with tonight. Elijah Mitchell leads the team with 210 rushing yards and that is even after missing the Georgia Southern game. Big game for both teams as Coastal wants to prove they can play with Louisiana. Meanwhile, Louisiana can likely crack the top 25 with a good showing here tonight. Getting 7.5 points looks good with such a good offensive team as Carolina is tonight. Play Coastal Carolina.

 ESPN game here as Florida takes on Texas A&M. The Florida Gators are 2-0 on the season with A&M Aggies coming in a 1-1. The Aggies lost last week to Alabama, 24-52. Won't get any easier this week as they play an explosive Florida team. The offense is averaging 44.5 ppg so far and 7.8 yards per play. TE Kyle Pitts will pose a huge problem for A&M here. Pitts has has been a TD machine thus far and he's big and fast and it looks like the Aggies don't have an answer to covering him here today. The A&M secondary was destroyed last week by Alabama for 435 yards and four TD's. I don't see that getting any easier today against an equally explosive Florida offense. Take Florida in a blowout.

Two teams that will likely contend for the Sun Belt title meet today. Coastal Carolina is 2-0 to start the season. The Chanticleers have a solid QB in McCall. McCall had over 200 yards in their win over Kansas with five Td's. Arkansas State has been rotating QB's with Logan Bonner and Layne Hatcher. Starting RB Marcel Murray returns today after missing both of the first two games. A bit surprised that the Chanticleers getting points at home in this one. For me, I'll take this very good Coastal Carolina plus the points and won't be surprised by a straight up win.