Week 6 Predictions – 2026
Last Week: Ohio State proved two things last week. One, the Buckeyes can go on the road and get a quality win and two, with their dominance over the Hawkeyes, we now know for sure “Michigan Still Sucks!” And that includes their former players as Desmond Howard was 0-4 in our game picks last week! As to our staff predictions, John Siebert, Joe Hylton and Gregg Watson were all 4-1, and 8 others were 3-2. As the dust settled on the weekend, Steven Smith and Josh Watson are tied for the overall season standings.
This Week’s Games: Ohio State returns to the ‘Shoe for their only home game in October to take on Maryland. The only real question for this one should be how many more receptions will Jeremiah Smith collect? …. Indiana goes on the road for their biggest challenge of the season, at least on paper, as they head to Nebraska. Are the Huskers truly as good as their unbeaten record? …. Texas and Oklahoma will meet in their annual showdown in the Cotton Bowl. Any chance for the Sooners to knock off the top-rated team in the country? …. Both LSU and Kentucky have marque wins on the season. Which one will come out on top this weekend? …. The biggest match-up this weekend will be Georgia at Alabama. Who will make the biggest splash this weekend, one of the teams or the weather?
Buckeye Greats: As in the past, we will continue to include former Buckeye players in our prediction fun, and we are thrilled to have Vaughn Broadnax back with us as a regular participant for the 12th straight year.
Let’s have some fun! Here we go with our Week 6 Picks – Good Luck to All – Gregg
Maryland @ (5)Ohio State
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Ohio State 49 Maryland
Andy Steger: Maryland statistically isn’t a terrible football team, they’re the 49th best total offense in the country and 55th best total defense in the country allowing around 5.32 yards per play on average to their opponents. They are a pass-first offense attempting 207 passes to just 152 rushes on the season, so expect them to try and test the Ohio State secondary with their quarterback Malik Washington. I don’t think Ohio State has anything to worry about here. Ohio State has one of the top scoring offenses in the country and their secondary which I mentioned Maryland will try to attack is only allowing on average 168 yards passing to their opponents and has only given up 2 passing touchdowns this season. None of this matters, with Jeremiah Smith being unstoppable and the running game seeming to finally be coming together Ohio State has a balanced and potent offense. Ohio State 42 Maryland 10
Cory Steger: Maryland decided to stick with Mike Locksley for the 2026 season, and it’s not paying off. The Terrapins are coming off three consecutive losses, where they were outscored 137-52. Malik Washington has thrown six interceptions, but only has seven touchdowns, and Maryland struggles to run the ball with any consistency. Ohio State had arguably its best performance last week on the road against Iowa. The Buckeye defense forced an interception, had two sacks, and limited Iowa to just 39 total rushing yards. Facing a Buckeye team that is starting to hit its stride, and playing at home, Maryland does not stand much of a chance in this game. Ohio State 48, Maryland 7
Dave Culver: Ohio State 48 Maryland 12
Gregg Watson: I still question the decision to bring Maryland and Rutgers into the Big Ten but people smarter than me obviously thought it was the right thing to do. I guess their purpose is to pad the competitive conference teams with wins. The Buckeyes are 9-0 all-time against the Terps and have an average game score in those games of 55-22. This should be nothing more than a stat padding game for Ohio State. How many yards will Julian Sayin throw for, how many more receptions will Jeremiah Smith grab and which running back will step up this week? This game will serve as a warm-up for what may be the biggest game of the season next week when Ohio State travels to Bloomington. Plus the fact that OSU is unbeaten in games that kick-off at 4:15??? Go Bucks! Ohio State 60 Maryland 10
Jason Harris: #5 Ohio State returns home for Homecoming against Maryland after an impressive 31-14 road win at #14 Iowa. The Buckeyes are 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play, while Maryland enters having lost three straight, including a 48-23 defeat at Nebraska last week. Ohio State’s offense has continued to produce behind QB Julian Sayin and Heisman favorite Jeremiah Smith, who is coming off another Heisman Trophy performance at Iowa. Maryland has some weapons of its own, particularly wide receiver Chris Durr Jr., who ranks second nationally in receptions per game, but the Terrapins will have to find a way to slow down an Ohio State offense that has scored at least 31 points in four of its five games.
This should be one of the more straightforward matchups on Ohio State’s remaining schedule. Maryland has struggled badly against Big Ten competition, while the Buckeyes have shown they can win both high-scoring games and defensive battles. Ohio State should be able to establish the run, create pressure defensively and pull away early, allowing Ryan Day to get some younger players on the field in the second half. Maryland may make a few plays through Durr, but the overall talent gap is simply too significant and the Buckeyes should establish dominance from the opening kick, rolling into next week’s signature matchup at Indiana with momentum. Prediction: Ohio State 52 Maryland 10
Joe Hylton: Ohio State
John Siebert: If you’re Ohio State, this should be a “pick your score” game. Goal should be to jump on the ‘Terps early, then play the backups most of the second half. Ohio State 58 Maryland 7
Josh Watson: Ohio State returns to Columbus after earning an impressive 31-14 victory at No. 14 Iowa. Julian Sayin threw for 324 yards, Jeremiah Smith accumulated 206 receiving yards and the Buckeyes controlled the game after Iowa scored on its opening possession. The defense held the Hawkeyes to 132 passing yards and only 14 points, responding well after its uneven performance against Illinois. Maryland enters at 2-3 after consecutive blowout losses. The Terrapins fell 54-3 to UCLA before losing 48-23 at Nebraska, allowing 102 points over that two-game stretch. Ohio State is also 9-0 all-time against Maryland and has averaged more than 50 points per meeting. For the Buckeyes, the challenge is maintaining their focus during Homecoming weekend with a trip to undefeated Indiana waiting next week. The offense should continue developing its running-back rotation, but Maryland’s struggling secondary makes another enormous game from Smith possible. The Terrapins may generate an early scoring drive, but they do not possess the defensive depth to remain competitive for four quarters. Ohio State gets its starters out early and covers the large number. Ohio State 49, Maryland 10
Steven Smith: “What’s your prediction on tonight’s contest?” “Pain!” This one could get ugly early. OSU 48-10
Stefan Armintrout: Maryland is a bad team. It’s surprising that their coach wasn’t fired last year. I don’t see the Buckeyes having any issues with the Terps. JJ should have another record breaking day and I’m hopefully the Buckeyes can get the run game going. Ohio State wins big. (Ohio State, 55-7)
Final Score: Ohio State 45 Maryland 16
(7)Indiana @ Nebraska
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Indiana 28 Nebraska 24
Andy: Who thought this would be a good matchup this year given how much Nebraska struggled last year finishing 7-6, they’re off to a great start going 5-0 so far with an impressive offense. Nebraska looks to be balanced on offense, but they have two talented backs Jamal Rule and Mekhi Nelson who have combined for 9 rushing touchdowns. Despite losing 5 star quarterback Dylan Raiola who transferred to Oregon, the Cornhuskers found a capable replacement in Anthony Colandrea who has thrown an impressive 13 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions. Indiana under Curt Cignetti has been a run first offense at IU. The Hoosiers are the 9th best rushing offense in the country right now rushing the football on average 254 yards per game. This will make for an interesting matchup stylistically because Nebraska has the 30th best rush defense in the country only allowing an average of 100 yards on the ground per game to their opponents. I feel the X-Factor matchup here is Josh Hoover the Hoosiers Quarterback and his top two wide receivers Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh. Hoover has thrown 15 touchdowns and zero interceptions this season and Becker catches nearly everything thrown at him. I see Indiana winning on the road. Indiana 34 Nebraska 13
Cory: Indiana is finally starting to get to the hard part of its schedule, and now we’ll find out just how good the Hoosiers are. First up is a trip to Nebraska to face an unbeaten Cornhusker team that also has not really played anybody tough yet. Much was made of Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover having trouble with interceptions, but he is yet to throw one this season. While Hoover has been good, the Hoosiers are starting to get healthy again at running back now that Turbo Richard is back in the fold. Slowing Nebraska’s run game will be the primary key for Indiana to win this game as the Hoosiers likely do not think Anthony Colandrea can win it on his own.Still, the Hoosiers have not been blowing people out yet this season so expect a tough road win for them. Indiana 31, Nebraska 24
Dave: Indiana 24 Nebraska 10
Gregg: Not many people would have had both these two teams unbeaten this far into the season. And it is a crime to see the Huskers unrated. You have to go back to 1943 to see a time when an SEC team was 5-0 and not rated. But if Nebraska wants the rating, they can earn it with a win this week. Most college fans know the powerhouse that Nebraska has been over the years, and the doormat Indiana has been but all time the Hoosiers lead the series 11-9-3. I do believe the Hoosiers will win this one, but I think it will be closer than most expect. Should set up for a big game next week in Bloomington. Indiana 24 Nebraska 17
Jason: #7 Indiana travels to Lincoln for one of the biggest Big Ten games of the weekend, with both the Hoosiers and Huskers entering at 5-0. Indiana is coming off a dominant 47-15 win at Rutgers and has won 21 straight games dating back to last season, while Nebraska is off to its best start since 2016 after beating Maryland 48-23. The Hoosiers have been excellent on both sides of the ball, ranking in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense and scoring defense although against inferior competition, while Nebraska is averaging 43.6 points per game and has scored at least 30 in every game. The Huskers have also won all five games by at least 18 points, setting up their first matchup against a ranked opponent this season.
Indiana’s rushing attack could be the deciding factor, particularly with Turbo Richard coming off a 204 yard performance against Rutgers. This isn’t Rutgers however and Nebraska has been strong against the run and has one of the nation’s better defenses. The Hoosiers have more experience playing in high-pressure games after winning the national championship last season, but this is a much different team and playing in front of a packed Memorial Stadium gives Nebraska a real opportunity to pull the upset. The Huskers’ balanced offense should keep this close throughout. Look for this one to go the full 4 quarters with the Huskers proving they may be for real, upsetting the untested Hoosiers breaking their losing streak and sending them into next week’s big matchup with Ohio State reeling. Prediction: Nebraska 31 Indiana 27
Joe-S-U: Indiana
John: Somehow Nebraska is both unbeaten and unranked. If they were in the SEC, I’m sure they would be in the top 10. That said, Indiana will be the first team they have played that has a pulse. If the ‘Huskers pull the upset, then maybe I jump on the bandwagon, but not before. Indiana 31 Nebraska 17
Josh: One of the weekend’s most intriguing games features two 5-0 teams in Lincoln. Defending national champion Indiana has won 21 consecutive games and is now 32-2 under Curt Cignetti. The Hoosiers rank inside the national top 10 in scoring offense and scoring defense, demonstrating that last season’s championship was not a one-year anomaly. Indiana overwhelmed Rutgers 47-15 last week behind one of the most balanced offensive performances of the season. Josh Hoover completed 20 of 27 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns, while Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr. both surpassed 100 rushing yards. Hoover has now thrown 15 touchdown passes without an interception. Nebraska represents a considerably tougher assignment. The Cornhuskers are enjoying their best start since 2016 and improved to 2-0 in Big Ten play by beating Maryland 48-23. After trailing by nine late in the second quarter, Nebraska scored twice before halftime and dominated the final two quarters. Memorial Stadium will be alive for Nebraska’s first true measuring-stick game of the season. The Cornhuskers should challenge Indiana’s defense more than anyone has so far, but the Hoosiers possess too much balance and experience. Indiana survives, although Nebraska does enough offensively to keep the game inside the number. Indiana 31, Nebraska 27
Steven: Indiana QB Josh Hoover has been excellent this year, but he hasn’t really been asked to take over a game, yet. I’m not sure if Nebraska will be the team to push him, but this will be closer than most pundits expec. I like this one as a potential trap game, where Indiana sweats out a close win. Huskers make it interesting and take the Hoosiers to the 4th quarter. IU escapes in a low-scoring affair 17-14.
Trout: The Hoosiers may not be the dominant team they were last year. They’ve look fine, but they’ve also played lesser competition. On the other side, the Corn Huskers have looked pretty good. Nothing outstanding, but a step up from where they’ve been the last decade. I still think Indiana wins, but it will be close. I can see Nebraska putting up a fight for awhile, but Indiana wears them down and pulls ahead. Indiana wins in a tight game. (Indiana, 24-17)
Final Score: Indiana 20 Nebraska 17
(1)Texas @ Oklahoma
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Texas 30- Oklahoma 17
Andy: I would like to think anything can happen in rivalry games and while that is true, Texas has one of the best teams in the country this year and Oklahoma has one of the worst offenses in the country. I mean Oklahoma lost to Michigan for goodness sake. That said Texas has the 88th worst total offense in the country and they’re going against Oklahoma’s defense which is the 5th best defense in the country allowing just 238 yards per game to their opponent and only allowing 7 total touchdowns this season which is an average of just over 1 touchdown per game allowed. I see this as a low scoring game because both teams have really imposing defenses with relatively weak offenses. Texas has more offensive weapons though which is why I expect them to win. Texas 17 Oklahoma 13
Cory: Well, this game looked like a primetime matchup before the season but now that we’ve got a glimpse of Oklahoma’s offense with a healthy John Mateer, it still does not look ready to compete with the big boys. The Sooners got whipped by Georgia in their last game, and the offense was pretty bad in their other games, as well. It’s not just Mateer, though – the Sooners cannot run the ball to save their life. They’ve totaled just 396 rushing yards in four games this season. While I still have some questions about the Texas offense, I’ve seen enough of their defense to believe they’re legitimate. I’ve also seen enough to know that Oklahoma does not stand a chance in this one. Texas 30, Oklahoma 14
Dave: Texas 28 Oklahoma 14
Gregg: I think the Sooners may keep this close for a half as this is still a rivalry. I fear we will watch games on Saturday, and the SEC bias media will all day long, be pushing for the winner of Alabama-Georgia game to be the new #1 team in the polls. Hopefully, Texas wins convincingly enough to keep their rating. Hook ’em Horns. Texas 31 Oklahoma 17
Jason: #1 Texas meets Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl, with the Longhorns entering 4-0 and the Sooners sitting at 2-2. Texas has already picked up wins over #1 Ohio State and #14 Tennessee and comes off a bye week, while Oklahoma has struggled offensively after losses to Michigan and Georgia. John Mateer has thrown for 883 yards and eight touchdowns, but turnovers have been an issue and Oklahoma has scored 14 points or fewer in each of its last three games. The Sooners can lean on a defense that has been excellent against the pass, ranking fourth nationally in passing yards allowed per game.
Despite the records, this rivalry has a history of producing unexpected results, and Oklahoma’s defense gives the Sooners a legitimate chance to make this a close game. Texas, however, has more offensive weapons and has already demonstrated it can win against elite competition. If the Longhorns establish the run and avoid giving Oklahoma short fields, they should control the game. The Sooners will keep it competitive for a while, but Texas’ overall talent should take over in the second half and pull away to a comfortable win. Prediction: Texas 34 Oklahoma 13
Joe-S-U: Texas
John: OU is 2-2, and somehow one of those losses is to a really bad Michigan. Strange things can happen in a rivalry game, but a whole lot of strange will have to happen for the Sooners to pull the upset. Texas 34 Oklahoma 10
Josh: The Red River Rivalry is rarely predictable, but the two teams arrive in Dallas heading in dramatically different directions. Texas is 4-0 and remains the nation’s top-ranked team, while Oklahoma has fallen to 2-2 after road losses against Michigan and Georgia. The Longhorns have already survived close games against Ohio State and Tennessee. Arch Manning has completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 862 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. He has not produced overwhelming numbers, but Texas has consistently made the necessary plays late in games. Oklahoma’s defense can keep this competitive initially, but the Sooners’ offense has struggled against its two strongest opponents. They scored only 17 points at Michigan and 13 at Georgia, and Texas presents another physical defense capable of taking away the running game. Rivalry games often disregard rankings and records, particularly in the chaotic environment of the Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma keeps this uncomfortable into the second half, but Texas gradually takes control at the line of scrimmage. A late Longhorn touchdown pushes the margin beyond one possession. Texas 30, Oklahoma 17
Steven: Oh how the mighty have fallen. Once a Heisman Trophy frontrunner, Sooner QB John Mateer has fallen off a cliff. Mateer suffered a broken bone in his throwing hand early last year and has struggled since returning to the lineup. He’s still among the top 100 passers in the nation, but firmly in the bottom half of that hundred. Unfortunately, the Sooners have not been able to overcome the poor QB play. No matter how Arch Manning looks, Texas should make a statement in the Red River Rivalry. Horns 35-14.
Trout: The Longhorns win this game. Oklahoma is a bad team. After losing to that Michigan team, I have zero faith in them. I see Texas pulling away early, and Oklahoma will be unable to respond in kind. Texas wins the shootout in dominating fashion. (Texas, 42-10)
Final Score: Oklahoma 27 Texas 24
(10)LSU @ Kentucky
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): LSU 31 Kentucky 14
Andy: Coming into the season I wouldn’t have expected for this game to be a good matchup. However, with Lane Kiffin going to LSU and Will Stein leaving Oregon to coach Kentucky this game has a whole new perspective to it. Kentucky is 4-1 with their only loss to Alabama who is currently rated as the 6th best team in the country. Kentucky has the 92nd best defense in the country and LSU is coming to town with one of the best defenses in the country allowing just 220 yards per game to their opponents and just 9 touchdowns on the season. While Will Stein is a bright offensive mind, he and his team will struggle against this defense. LSU 34 Kentucky 13
Cory: Since the loss to Alabama in week two, Kentucky has won three straight games, two of which came over SEC opponents in Texas A&M and South Carolina. The Wildcats had an amazing comeback to beat the Gamecocks, and get to host LSU this week. LSU followed up its loss to Ole Miss with wins over the Aggies, as well as McNeese State. Kentucky has been playing to their opponents this season so I believe the Wildcats can make it a game. Quarterback Kenny Minchey has thrown just one interception this season, and he will need to play mistake-free football to upset the Tigers in this one. LSU has the talent advantage, and if they get the lead the Tigers have the potential to bury Kentucky. That said, I am concerned about LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt. He takes a lot of unnecessary hits, and has already thrown seven interceptions this season. I’m going with the Tigers, despite my lack of confidence in Leavitt. LSU 38, Kentucky 28
Dave: Kentucky 24 LSU 23
Gregg: I think both of these teams are over-rated and I want the Wildcats to win but I think LSU is just strong enough to win a close one on the road. Come on people, this is still Kentucky and this is a basketball school. LSU 31 Kentucky 24
Jason: #10 LSU travels to Lexington to face #24 Kentucky in a matchup between two 4-1 SEC teams. The Tigers are coming off a dominant 63-14 win over McNeese and have bounced back strongly from their loss to Ole Miss, while Kentucky enters with momentum after a dramatic overtime win at South Carolina. LSU has been particularly impressive defensively, leading the nation in sacks and ranking among the country’s best in defenses. Kentucky will need to protect QB Kenny Minchey against a Tigers pass rush who already has eight sacks this season.
Kentucky has already shown it can compete with quality SEC opponents, including a 31-21 road win at Texas A&M, and playing at home should give the Wildcats a chance to keep this close. However, LSU has more overall talent and has been playing at a high level on both sides of the ball since its loss to Ole Miss. If the Tigers can consistently pressure Minchey and force Kentucky into passing situations, they should control the game. Prediction: LSU 31 Kentucky 20
Joe-S-U: LSU
John: Kentucky has shown some signs of being a decent mid-tier SEC team, but that won’t be enough even at home against a really god (not great) LSU. LSU 30 Kentucky 13
Josh: LSU has quietly worked its way into the top 10 with a 4-1 record, but its performance away from Tiger Stadium remains a concern. The Tigers are 0-1 on the road, and Lexington has historically produced some strange results in this series. LSU has not won at Kentucky since the “Bluegrass Miracle” in 2002, losing its subsequent trips in 2007 and 2021. Kentucky is also 4-1 after escaping South Carolina with a 35-34 overtime victory. The Wildcats trailed 20-10 at halftime before rallying, and their ability to survive that game should give them confidence entering their return to Kroger Field. LSU owns the more explosive offense and should create enough pressure to force Kentucky into difficult third-down situations. However, the Wildcats have covered in four of their first five games and are capable of turning this into a physical, possession-by-possession contest. The Tigers end their Lexington drought, but Kentucky makes them work for it. LSU gets the victory without covering more than a touchdown. LSU 27, Kentucky 23
Steven: LSU QB Sam Leavitt has been pretty inconsistent this season where his opponent Kenny Minchey has been really good. Leavitt has been passing for more yardage, but with an 8/7 TD to INT ratio, I really don’t care how far the guy throws. LSU has been pretty disruptive defensively and currently sits 2nd in the nation in sacks with 22.Ketucky has been pretty good about keeping Minchey upright. If he stays that way Saturday, I like the ‘Cats chances. Kentucky 27-21.
Trout: I think the game will be close, but I think the Tigers win it. Kentucky Has been decent this year, but I think LSU is just a better team. This year in the SEC has been crazy, so I can see the game going back and forth for a while, but then LSU gets the lead late and pulls off the victory. (LSU, 22-17)
Final Score: Kentucky 35 LSU 34 OT
(2)Georgia @ (6)Alabama
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Georgia 24 Alabama 17
Andy: The match up of the week. Kirby Smart has not had the edge so far against Kalen Debeor since he has become the new head coach at Alabama. Alabama stunned Georgia twice during the regular season, and then Georgia beat the stuffing out of them in the SEC title game last year. Alabama has much improved their defense from last season which was one of their limiting factors as a team, they’re currently ranked 33rd in the country in total defense, but they still struggle to run the football outside of quarterback runs from Keelon Russel the quarterback. Georgia, no surprise to anyone, has the 9th best overall defense in the country with the 22nd best offense in the country. This matchup has been close the last few times between these two teams and I expect this time to be no different. Alabama 24 Georgia 21
Coach Rick: ‘Bama
Cory: Alabama has been pretty impressive so far this season, and freshman quarterback Keelon Russell is making his case for an invite to New York City. In his last three games, Russell has totaled 13 touchdowns with no turnovers, and that came in wins over Florida State, South Carolina, and Mississippi State. That said, there is one challenge that might be too much for a young quarterback, and that is going against a Kirby Smart defense. Georgia has limited opponents to just 13.4 points per game this season, and the Bulldogs have 13 sacks, four interceptions, and five forced fumbles. There is still a lot of concern about Alabama’s defense. It hasn’t been a major issue yet because the Crimson Tide are just outscoring teams, but they are too soft right now. I like Georgia to earn a huge road win. Georgia 35, Alabama 31
Dave: Georgia 21 Alabama 14
Gregg: Georgia has been taking care of business all season so far. Winning their games from start to finish. But now they are playing a game for the first time against a worthy opponent. Does that give Alabama an advantage? Maybe the Bulldogs can handle the storms expected but can they handle the Tide? I am still convinced Georgia is playing the best so far this year. I know people say they have not played anyone strong, they get to do that Saturday night. Georgia 24 Alabama 23
Jason: #2 Georgia travels to Tuscaloosa to face #6 Alabama in a matchup between two undefeated SEC powers. Both teams are 5-0 and 3-0 in conference play, with Georgia entering as the nation’s highest scoring team at 51.4 points per game and Alabama averaging 49.6. The Bulldogs have been especially dominant defensively, allowing just 13.4 points per game and only 57.4 rushing yards per game. Alabama, meanwhile, has been just as explosive offensively behind quarterback Keelon Russell, who has thrown for 1,414 yards.
This game could come down to which quarterback handles the pressure better. Georgia’s Gunner Stockton has been extremely efficient and has yet to throw an interception this season, but Alabama’s home field advantage and ability to create turnovers could be significant. Georgia has not won at Alabama since 2007, and Kirby Smart is still searching for his first regular-season road victory over the Crimson Tide. Expect a physical, low-scoring game with both defenses making plays, but Alabama’s home crowd gives the Tide just enough of an edge in what may be an early preview of a potential SEC championship game. Prediction: Alabama 27 Georgia 24
Joe-S-U: Alabama (The Fighting Finebaums)
John: Basically a pick-em game. Going with the home team. Alabama 34 Georgia 31
Josh: The weekend’s showcase game features two undefeated SEC contenders with almost nothing separating them statistically. Georgia averages 51.4 points per game, while Alabama averages 49.6. The Bulldogs have allowed 13.4 points per game compared with Alabama’s 20.8, and both teams rank among the SEC’s best against the run. Gunner Stockton has been outstanding for Georgia, completing 75.5 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns and only one interception. The Bulldogs have also spread the football throughout their offense, with 13 different players recording a touchdown reception. Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell has been similarly impressive, throwing for 1,414 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Crimson Tide reinforced their championship credentials last week with a 56-23 road victory over previously unbeaten Mississippi State. Alabama’s ability to create explosive plays gives it a genuine home-field advantage in what should be the Bulldogs’ first four-quarter test of the season. Georgia has not defeated Alabama in Tuscaloosa since 2007, but this might be Kirby Smart’s best opportunity to change that. The Bulldogs possess the more trustworthy defense, particularly in the secondary, and Stockton has been remarkably efficient without forcing the football. Alabama strikes first and leads during portions of the second half, but Georgia’s running game and defensive front become the difference late. The Bulldogs produce one final scoring drive and leave Tuscaloosa with the weekend’s biggest victory. Georgia 30, Alabama 27
Steven: Last week was the first game where I hopped on the Alabama bandwagon. I think I had been discounting them based upon their competition, but I think we now know that Kentucky will prove to be a good win, and up until last week’s thrashing, Mississippi State looked strong. Now, with Georgia, there’s no hiding. These are two evenly matched teams with two great QB’s. As much as we northerners like to berate the SEC, this one should not be missed. Stockton vs. Russell, Kirby vs. Kalen. It really has everything.Georgia has the higher ranked defense, while the teams are neck and neck offensively. Rolling the dice with the Dawgs. I think Stockton outduels Russell by a TD. UGA 28-21.
Trout: Alabama has been pretty good to start the year, but I still think Georgia is the better team, and they should win the game. Much like some of their past games, it will be a battle until the very end. I can see Georgia winning it with a walk of field goal. Bulldogs win and remain unbeaten. (Georgia, 31-28)