Cooper Brannon / The Mojo Network
Author : Shane Horsley
No.12 Oklahoma v No.3 Texas
The Red River Showdown is the most anticipated game of this week. Both teams are playoff contenders. Texas has come into this season being dominant, with people already expecting this from the Longhorns. Both teams are 5-0 coming into this season, with Oklahoma being much improved with the team under Brent Venables. In the last matchup these two teams had, the Longhorns came out with a major victory, winning 49-0 and blowing out Oklahoma. With their QB, Dillion Gabriel, being out last year due to a concussion, he has returned this season healthy. Will Texas stride and continue down the road to go 6-0, or will Oklahoma turn things around to give them their first loss of the season?
No.23 LSU v No.21 Missouri
Coming into this season, LSU has had one of the most disappointing seasons this year with a 3-2 start. They were blown away by Florida State in the season opener, losing 24-45, and threw away last week's game, losing 55-49 to Ole Miss. LSU allowed 706 yards from Ole Miss' offense. They head on the road against 5-0 Missouri, with their offense taking huge steps from last year, featuring QB Brady Cook and WR Luther Burden. Cook hasn't thrown a single interception since October 22nd of last year. Will Ole Miss blow the Tigers out of the jungle, or will their undefeated streak get stopped by the Tigers?
No.11 Alabama v Texas A&M
Can Alabama make a recovery since losing to Texas? Alabama has recently depended on their running and defense to win games. In their last game against Mississippi State, Alabama ran the ball 43 times with only 12 passes, led by QB Jalen Milroe. The 2022 season for Texas A&M was rough with a 5-7 record and a loss to Miami in the second week of the season. However, since then, the team has followed up with three consecutive wins against teams like Auburn and Arkansas. Can Texas push through the Tide, or will Alabama roll through them for the victory?
No.20 Kentucky v No.1 Georgia
The Bulldogs, two-time defending national champions who have dominated the game, winning 22 consecutive games and 32 straight regular-season games, have not been quite the dogs they seemed to be going into the 2023 season. They've had to overcome 14-3 halftime deficits to beat South Carolina and needed a fourth-quarter, late-game touchdown from TE Brock Browser to beat Auburn. Kentucky, the 5-0 team now ranked No. 20 in the country, looked a little shaky playing against smaller skilled teams.
However, last week, Kentucky played one of its best games against Florida, with a monster performance by Ray Davis, who ran for 280 yards. Will that be enough to put the Bulldogs down, or will the Bulldogs be running through their yard?
No.10 Notre Dame v No.25 Louisville
Notre Dame started this season strong with a 4-0 record, but its last two games have been shaky, coming down to the wire. However, when playing against OSU, the game was fought hard, but OSU pulled out the win with a last-minute touchdown, giving Notre Dame their first loss of the season. Louisville is also off to a strong 5-0 start this season, but Notre Dame seems to step up when facing tough competition. Louisville, on the other hand, has had some close game wins against mediocre teams, with games coming down to last-minute touchdowns or field goals. Can Louisville step up and play a cleaner game to secure the win, or will the luck of the Irish be on Notre Dame's side?