For the second week in a row, we experienced a hell of a college football weekend. The difference between last week and the week prior, however, is that last week had expectations to live up to, and did it ever.
With the exception of the Red River Rivalry, every game on Around The Corn’s 5 Games You Need to Watch segment was decided by a field goal or less. It’s difficult to ask for much more out of a single weekend.
The close nature of the games also resulted in some shake up related to the head-to-head prediction game, too. With games so tough to call, there’s no shame in Trent’s losing record both straight up and against the spread, but that did result in the guests relinquishing the lead ATS.
The current records after Week 7:
K. Becks – 22-13 SU, 20-15 ATS
Guests – 21-14 SU, 19-16 ATS
This week my buddy Keegan will look to get the guests back on track, with a slate I’m going to dub “Prove It” Weekend. You’ll likely understand why once you see the games on the list.
But prior to looking at Week 8, let’s take a quick look back at the excellent weekend that was.

3 Things We Learned in Week 7
Pour one out for Cam Rising
Friend of the blog (we wish) Cam Rising has been unlucky, to say the least, when it comes to injuries throughout his collegiate career, but rarely had we seen the seventh-year player look so helpless when he’s actually on the field prior to last Friday night’s game against Arizona State. Following an ankle injury that severely limited his mobility for the rest of the game, Rising was a literal shell of himself and the Utah offense could only hope its run game would carry it home yet again. Unfortunately for the Utes, that didn’t happen, and with the loss we may have seen the last of Rising in the national spotlight.
With the Utes out of the Top 25 and seemingly out of Playoff contention, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for television networks to flex in Utah games moving forward, barring an unlikely run to the Big 12 title game. Rising has been ruled out for the year, too. And to add insult to injury, news of Rising’s eligibility for a ridiculous eighth year of college football was met with the following comment by the man himself: “seven years is more than enough.” Kudos for owning it, man.
Clever guy, that Dan Lanning
Say what you want about the “fairness” of such a call, but Oregon head coach Dan Lanning admitting to the fact that his team had intentionally put 12 players on the field at a critical juncture during Ohio State’s final drive and actually prepared for such a situation leading up to the game just goes to show the caliber of coach that the Ducks have running the program. Because it was legal at the time, it’s unfair genius, and it followed up an earlier call in the game to onside kick (one that was successfully recovered by Oregon), giving Oregon an easy 2-0 victory in the game in terms of craftiness.
Maybe the shenanigans are indicative of Oregon’s ability to win the game “straight up”, but when you make a call that prompts the NCAA to change a rule within a week of an activity occurring, there is no other option than to tip the cap in your direction.
The eyes of Big Red are always watching
If you didn’t get a chance to see the helmets that Western Kentucky wore during its game last Thursday, do yourself a favor and give it a look. There have been a lot of great helmet designs over the years, but the Hilltoppers raised the bar by placing the eyes of their mascot on theirs. The related marketing by the program was great, and the result on the field was even better (a 44-17 win for the Hilltoppers).

5 Games You Need to Watch This Weekend
#6 Miami at Louisville (Saturday, 12 PM ET – ABC)
The Hurricanes have been living on a prayer of sorts lately, needing a furious comeback against Cal two weekends ago and an overturned Hail Mary call the week prior to that in order to remain unbeaten. Miami is, however, coming off a bye week to prepare for this one. The Cardinals have played tough in their previous two games against ranked teams (Notre Dame and SMU) but thus far having nothing tangible to show for those performances. Although it may not feel like it, Louisville is still very much in the ACC title race if the third time is a charm in terms of pulling off an upset.
The Cardinals are solid in nearly every facet of the game, and therefore may have the personnel to finally hand the Hurricanes their first loss of the season. Though statistically the best defense in the ACC, Miami has struggled at defending both the run and pass at times depending on its opponent. Louisville has shown the ability to both run and pass on solid defenses this season and does a good job at protecting the football. Although the Hurricanes have been opportunistic defensively, I don’t expect there to be a ton of opportunities to turn Louisville over. On the other side, Louisville hasn’t forced a ton of turnovers, but for as good as Cam Ward has been this season, he is reckless with the football at times. More opportunities should exist for the Cards to improve their TO margin. Mario Cristobal’s squad has proven itself as a Playoff contender already, but the Cardinals are the best team they will have played this season and there is enough from both sides of the coin to suggest Louisville can knock off the Canes at home.
My Pick: 31-27 Louisville (covers +5 spread)
Keegan’s Take: Well, given the current state of my favorite “professional” football team, it’s time I start paying closer attention to the top college QB prospects and these 5 Games to Watch have some good ones. Last time I watched Miami play, I saw Cam Ward will his team back from down 20+ on the road and he instantly went on my radar. Cam Ward gets it done again against a pesky Louisville team. Miami – 34, Louisville – 24.
#7 Alabama at #11 Tennessee (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – ABC)
Not only did the 2022 game at Neyland Stadium between these two programs end a 15-year winning drought for the Volunteers – it ended up being the best game of that season, and arguably one of the best games of the past decade. This year Alabama returns this season with a new head coach and a team that has not looked stable at all since knocking off previously No. 1 Georgia three weeks ago. The Crimson Tide played not to lose against South Carolina last weekend, and nearly did. Tennessee can smell blood in the water, with an offense far more capable on paper of giving the Alabama defense trouble than South Carolina and Vanderbilt. However, that might be misleading, too. Since exploding onto the scene to begin the season, Nico Iamaleava has cooled off significantly and the entire Tennessee offense has followed suit.
The Volunteers may indeed be fool’s gold. Outside of SEC play, Tennessee is averaging nearly 640 yards of offense per game. Within the conference, the Volunteers average about half that. In particular, the run game has looked drastically different in conference play. Alabama’s suspect run defense doesn’t feel like as big of a concern in this game as it has in others, as even Florida’s porous defense was able hold Tennessee to under 150 yards rushing last weekend. Negativity aside, the Volunteers have been good on defense and are aggressive, and disrupting Jalen Milroe will be imperative in order for Tennessee to win this game. Despite the performances the last two weeks, I think Alabama’s offense is still very talented and Milroe is a difficult individual to truly rattle. I do not think Tennessee’s defense will be enough to overcome an offense that is struggling to adapt to the rigors of the SEC.
My Pick: 31-24 Alabama (covers -3 spread)
Keegan’s Take: Alabama recently loss to Vanderbilt and almost blew it last week against South Carolina. Sorry, Alabama, Nick Saban isn’t walking through that door, but I do think the Tide finally get their head on straight and win this one pulling away, 38-20, with Milroe making some big plays that get me excited.
#24 Michigan at #22 Illinois (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – CBS)
The secret is out about the Wolverines – offensively, they have nearly no other choice than to try to move the football without the threat of a true passing attack. None of the three quarterbacks that Michigan has trotted out on the field this season have been able to find much success through the air, and the past two games the opposing defense has been able to focus heavily on stopping what had been hiding the Wolverines’ deficiencies earlier in the season. Bret Bielema knows a thing or two about offenses predicated on the run game, as well as how to stop them, so it will be difficult for Sherrone Moore to outsmart the other sideline in this one.
Assume that Michigan will find some running room in this game. That’s alright for Illinois, too, as long as Luke Altmyer continues to operate as efficiently as he has been doing all season. Despite all the talent at quarterback in the Big Ten, it’s Altmyer who currently sits atop the conference for touchdown passes (along with Kurtis Rourke and Will Howard) and fewest interceptions thrown this season. Michigan’s pass defense has been disappointing this season and most recently was torched by Washington for over 300 yards, the first time the Wolverines have allowed that many since 2022. Although the Fighting Illini have looked more potent offensively this season than in the past, Illinois is about as comfortable running an offense that stays on schedule and capping off clock-chewing drives with points as anyone in the country. Turning this into a classic Big Ten battle won’t help Michigan much. In the end, I simply think the Fighting Illini is a better football team this season and should win this game regardless of the pace.
My Pick: 28-24 Illinois (covers +3.5 spread)
Keegan’s Take: The Big 10 is just better with Bret Bielema in it. Fighting Illini with the victory, 24-20.
#8 LSU at Arkansas (Saturday, 7 PM ET – ESPN)
The Tigers got the job done at home last weekend, ousting a tough Mississippi squad in overtime after nearly going down by two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter. It hasn’t always looked pretty this season, but the Tigers are back in the Top 10 and have navigated some poor play on both sides of the ball at times to ensure these next three weeks will make or break their Playoff chances. That stretch starts on the road against Arkansas, a team that upset Tennessee prior to its bye last weekend and has been a handful offensively.
Taylen Green had his best game in a Razorbacks uniform last time out against Tennessee, avoiding an interception for the first time since the opener and posting his most accurate outing of the season (70.4 percent completion rate). Green’s success against Tennessee may be a positive indicator for the matchup against the Tigers, a team that has struggled defending the pass and doesn’t force a lot of interceptions. If Green is able to soften up the middle of the defense, Arkansas could have a field day on the ground. Ja’Quinden Jackson has been excellent for the Razorbacks this season and is second in the SEC with 10 rushing touchdowns. LSU can still control the pace of the game, though, if Garrett Nussmeier bounces back from what was his worst outing of the season against Mississippi. It is worth noting that Arkansas forced four interceptions against Auburn, the only team the Razorbacks have beaten this season that have thrown for over 235 yards. I expect Nussmeier to play better this weekend and his ability to carve up the defense is why I give a slight edge to the visitors in this one.
My Pick: 38-35 LSU (covers -2.5 spread)
Keegan’s Take: Another game with a QB prospect I’ll be paying attention to in Garrett Nussmeier. LSU will be too much to handle and wins this one 31-17.
#5 Georgia at #1 Texas (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET – ABC)
The Longhorns have yet to be truly tested this season, breezing through the first half of their schedule without allowing two touchdowns in any game while utilizing two different starting quarterbacks. The stroll down Easy Street stops this weekend, though, when the Bulldogs visit DKR Memorial. While it doesn’t appear to be as dominant as the teams that nearly pulled off a three-peat, this year’s Georgia squad is still a legitimate threat to make the Playoff and win both the SEC and national titles. All of those roads seemingly run through Texas at this point, and the Bulldogs will get what has become a rare opportunity for the program as of late – a chance to emerge victorious as an underdog.
Texas’s ascension to the top has been paved as much by its dominant offensive line as the two talented quarterbacks slinging the ball around behind it. Almost inarguably the best unit in the country, the Longhorns have allowed just six sacks all season and average nearly 200 yards per game rushing despite being a backfield by committee without CJ Baxter. The ability to get a push up front should help loosen things up downfield against a Georgia defense that has struggled at times this season defending the pass. Though Georgia is unlikely to be able to rely on its defense to clinch this game, it is still in good hands when Carson Beck has the football. The problem has been that Beck’s life isn’t as easy as last season, when the talent around him was typically unmatched. Particularly, Georgia’s run game has lacked the punch to really give Beck room to work downfield, and the loss of Brock Bowers is proving to be an even bigger loss than most people predicted. It is the Longhorns that have the better talent at various positions, and it will require a great game plan from Kirby Smart to beat them. I don’t see this happening under the lights in Austin, as Steve Sarkisian has been difficult to outcoach for a minute now.
My Pick: 37-31 Texas (covers -5 spread)
Keegan’s Take: Will Quinn Ewers or Carson Beck win me over? We will find out! First big test for Texas joining the SEC, but I see UGA winning this one in a shootout 38-35.

5 Games to Keep an Eye On This Weekend
Nebraska at #16 Indiana (Saturday, 12 PM ET – FOX)
Yes, you’re reading things correctly. The Hoos are ranked and enjoying their best start as a program since 1967, thanks to a legitimate offense being orchestrated by former Ohio Bobcat Kurtis Rourke and the most underrated head coach in the country, Curt Cignetti. If it weren’t for a difficult loss (a game it could have won) against Illinois, Nebraska would surely be ranked as well.
Arizona State at Cincinnati (Saturday, 12 PM ET – ESPN+)
If it weren’t for BYU, the Sun Devils would without a doubt be the biggest positive surprise of the Big 12 this season. Cincinnati isn’t doing half bad at surprising people in a good way, either, and a win here keeps either team in the thick of the conference title race.
#12 Notre Dame at Georgia Tech (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – ESPN)
The Fighting Irish have recovered nicely since their shocking loss to Northern Illinois, but there is no room for error left. The Yellow Jackets will be a stiff test for the Notre Dame defense, especially if Haynes King continues to take good care of the football.
#14 Texas A&M at Mississippi State (Saturday, 4:15 PM ET – SEC Network)
The Aggies have quietly clawed their way back into the Top 15, but the Bulldogs, horrible 1-5 record and all, should not be taken lightly. Proverbially, there is nothing left to lose for Mississippi State, and it has hung tough against the likes of Texas and Georgia despite leading for fewer than five minutes total in games this season.
#17 Kansas State at West Virginia (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET – FOX)
The Mountaineers were unable to get the job done against Iowa State at home last weekend despite being a chic pick as an underdog, but perhaps the second time is a charm for West Virginia in a similar spot. The Wildcats showed toughness in getting the job done in Boulder last weekend and won’t be intimidated by the raucous crowd in Morgantown.