PREVIEWS AND PREDICTIONS: COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 10 EDITION

Week 10 arrives with the first College Football Playoff rankings out and a loaded Saturday slate. Miami sits at No. 1 at 8-0. Georgia is No. 2. Utah is No. 3 and still perfect. Alabama is No. 5. Kentucky is No. 6. Ole Miss is No. 10. These are the five games to watch nationally — using the College Football Playoff rankings.

JPWEST MEDIA GAME OF THE WEEK

1. No. 2 Georgia (7-1) at No. 10 Ole Miss (6-2)

Saturday, Nov. 7 — 4:30 p.m. PT | Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (Oxford, MS)
Live on: ABC

PREVIEW:

This is the highest-ranked SEC matchup of the weekend and the cleanest high-stakes game on the board. Georgia handled Florida 27-8 last week in Atlanta. Gunner Stockton was efficient but limited through the air (13-of-23 for 101 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions). The ground game did the work — 217 rushing yards, with Nate Frazier and Dwight Phillips Jr. each finishing with 67. The defense forced turnovers and kept Florida off the board until the fourth quarter.

Ole Miss rolled Auburn 45-15 at home. Trinidad Chambliss was 22-of-34 for 263 yards and two touchdowns while adding 65 rushing yards and a score. Shekai Mills-Knight stepped up with 71 yards and a touchdown in the absence of Kewan Lacy. The Rebels scored 28 unanswered after the third quarter and converted 13 of 16 third downs. Chambliss has been productive against Georgia in recent meetings.

Georgia is 5-1 in the SEC and tied for first. Ole Miss is 4-2 and still in the mix. The Rebels have won two of the last three against Georgia. Oxford on a Saturday night with ABC cameras is a different environment than the controlled rivalry setting in Atlanta. Stockton needs more consistency through the air. Chambliss has the dual-threat ability to create explosives when the windows tighten.

PREDICTION:

Georgia’s defense travels and limits the explosives early. Chambliss finds a couple of chunk plays and keeps Ole Miss within a score into the fourth. The Bulldogs’ balance and experience in these spots close it.

JP’s Pick: Stockton stays clean, the front gets home late, and Georgia leaves Oxford with the statement. Georgia 31, Ole Miss 24.

FIVE GAMES TO WATCH NATIONALLY
(Using the College Football Playoff Rankings)

2. No. 1 Miami (8-0) at No. 11 Notre Dame (7-1)

Saturday, Nov. 7 — 4:30 p.m. PT | Notre Dame Stadium (South Bend, IN)
Live on: NBC

PREVIEW:

College GameDay is in South Bend. Miami survived North Carolina 38-35 on the road. Darian Mensah finished 22-of-29 for 274 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Malachi Toney had seven catches for 75 yards and two scores. The Hurricanes are averaging over 49 points per game and have the most explosive offense in the country.

Notre Dame beat Navy 35-13. CJ Carr completed 19-of-29 for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Nolan James Jr. rushed for 107 yards and two scores. The Irish defense has been one of the better units nationally, but Miami’s tempo and weapons are a different test. Notre Dame’s only loss came at BYU. Miami has not lost.

JP’s Pick: Mensah finds Toney in space early and the Hurricanes pull away in the second half. Miami 38, Notre Dame 27.

3. No. 9 BYU (7-1) at No. 3 Utah (8-0)

Saturday, Nov. 7 — 9:00 a.m. PT | Rice-Eccles Stadium (Salt Lake City, UT)
Live on: ABC

PREVIEW:

The Holy War with both teams highly ranked and essentially undefeated. Utah dismantled Cincinnati 49-25. Devon Dampier threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns while the ground game piled up 268 yards. Wayshawn Parker and Daniel Bray both scored on the ground. The Utes are 5-0 in the Big 12 and control their path.

BYU edged Arizona State 27-20 at home. Bear Bachmeier was solid through the air. The Cougars have won the last three meetings and need this one to stay in the Big 12 race. Utah has the inside track to the conference title game. Rice-Eccles on a Saturday morning is loud.

JP’s Pick: Dampier stays efficient and Utah’s balance protects the streak at home. Utah 34, BYU 24.

4. No. 5 Alabama (6-2) at No. 14 LSU (6-2)

Saturday, Nov. 7 — 12:30 p.m. PT | Tiger Stadium (Baton Rouge, LA)
Live on: ABC

PREVIEW:

Both teams enter off byes. Alabama is 4-2 in the SEC after wins over Texas A&M and earlier quality results, with losses to Georgia and Tennessee. LSU is 3-2 in conference play after a strong stretch that included a shutout of Mississippi State. Tiger Stadium is still one of the toughest environments in the league, and this is the final annual meeting under the current schedule. Little margin for error for either side in the CFP race.

JP’s Pick: Alabama’s defense travels and limits the explosives. The Tide leave Baton Rouge with the win. Alabama 27, LSU 20.

5. No. 6 Kentucky (7-1) at No. 13 Tennessee (6-2)

Saturday, Nov. 7 — 3:15 p.m. PT | Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, TN)
Live on: ESPN

PREVIEW:

Both teams enter off byes. Kentucky is 5-1 in the SEC and tied for first in the conference. Tennessee is 3-2 in league play and still fighting for positioning. Neyland is a difficult place, and Kentucky has been one of the more consistent teams in the SEC this season under Will Stein. The Wildcats need to prove they can win a true road test against a ranked opponent. Tennessee needs a signature win to stay relevant in the CFP conversation.

JP’s Pick: Kentucky’s balance and the bye week rest make the difference. Kentucky 31, Tennessee 24.

UPSET WATCH

• Ole Miss over Georgia — Chambliss has been productive against the Bulldogs before, and Oxford is a different animal.
• LSU over Alabama — Death Valley at night with both teams coming off byes is a classic setup for an upset.
• Tennessee over Kentucky — Neyland Stadium and a desperate Vols team looking for a statement.