The university football normal season ends this weekend, with lots of conference titles still hanging in the balance. Championship game and also the College Football Playoff, certainly, will comply with, with bids still perhaps riding on this weekend’s action.
CBS as well as CBS Sports Network have an additional solid slate of college football activity scheduled for the lengthy vacation weekend. Third-ranked Alabama meets Auburn in the Iron Bowl this Saturday. Arkansas, rated 25th, takes on Missouri in extra SEC activity.
Boise State faces # 22 San Diego State, with an area in the Mountain West Championship potentially on the line. And also UNLV hopes its late-season rise can lug it over Air Force. CBS’s Norm Elrod spoke with CBS Sports’ Aaron Murray concerning the competitions.
# 3 Alabama @ Auburn, Saturday, November 27, 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS
Auburn has actually shed three in a row. As well as they’re without quarterback Bo Nix, that endured a damaged ankle joint in the Mississippi State video game, finishing his period. Can Auburn stay up to date with third-ranked Alabama, or do you see the Tide rolling away with this one?
I see the tide rolling away. Clearly, for Auburn, this is a big competition. We know things obtain truly crazy, specifically at Jordan-Hare, their home stadium. I simply don’t think they have adequate firepower on infraction. They really lack consistency at the obtaining placement this year. Begun a little sluggish, obtained a bit better toward the center of the season. They made a decision to part means with their receiver trainer. They have regressed these previous pair weeks at that spot.
Tank Bigsby has actually been kind of up and down. The offending line has actually been up and down. And also clearly they shed their beginning quarterback. It’s just harsh sledding right now, for that group. I assume they’re a little bit demoralized, especially the way they’ve lost these previous pair weeks. Being up huge on some groups, they were up on Mississippi State. They returned and also won that football game. You’re up 14-0 on South Carolina. South Carolina returned as well as won. It’s been a hard three weeks. I’m questioning if they’re doing not have some confidence presently. TJ Finley is a great quarterback. I just do not believe he’s excellent enough to defeat the number-two group in the nation.
Alabama, what can you state? Offensively, they are juggernauts. Bryce Young is top-two individual for the Heisman today. He’s had the chance the past 2 weeks to make a situation for it, with this game, the championship game. A lot of rate at receiver place. And also I like their protection. I returned and viewed the game versus Arkansas. And also Arkansas actually couldn’t do a lot in the very first half. And it was simply a pair actually well put spheres from the quarterback, terrific protection just better-thrown football. As well as Arkansas likewise made some big soft-pedal the field to truly slim that space a little bit in the football video game. Alabama, I assume they take treatment of service versus Auburn.
Missouri @ # 25 Arkansas, Friday, November 26, 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS
25th-ranked Arkansas has won 3 straight and also remained with Alabama last week. Missouri has actually normally held its own this season, except against placed competitors. Will they be able to hang with Arkansas?
I hope so, because I’m on the telephone call for the video game. Football game. Connor Baselak is among my preferred quarterbacks in the SEC, dating back to last year. He’s been a little bit banged up sometimes this year. He’s been a little loosened with football, a lot of turn overs. Yet, generally, he’s a gifted thrower of the football. They do lack a top receiver outside to make his life a bit less complicated. However Tyler Badie is just one of the premier backs in the nation. Badie is an absolute stud. I like their offending line. They run a wonderful stretch scheme, where he has remarkable vision of either striking it inside, jumping outside. Arkansas is going to have to reduce down Tyler Badie.
Defensively, they’ve obtained a lot far better here the past couple weeks. They’re taking on better precede. They’re making plays. They’re getting after the quarterback. Which’s actually what’s been the biggest difference in them swaying South Carolina, and then winning versus Florida is stopping the run, making tackles, all that great things. So this is a figured out Missouri group that is playing with a great deal of confidence right now.
Arkansas, I like I enjoy Coach Pittman. I love their personnel. They have a good time. Their protective system is an outright headache to break, especially if you intend to try and also throw the football. Certainly, Alabama did their point last weekend break, however that’s that’s Alabama. It’s difficult for anybody to slow down those people down. Yet what they’re doing on that side is quite darn excellent. They have a great deal of seniors that returned this season, to make it an unique year. Senior night, you know those people are going to be playing incredibly hard, extremely tough.
KJ Jefferson has actually truly boosted a great deal this year. And undoubtedly Burks is just one of the far better receivers in the SEC. I think it’s a rather excellent matchup. Arkansas is maybe a bit much better football team. Missouri is definitely having fun with self-confidence. Protection has actually boosted.
Boise State @ # 22 San Diego State, Friday, November 26, 12:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Boise State and 22nd-ranked San Diego State both bring winning streaks and also 2 of university football’s better defenses right into this matchup. Both teams also still have their eyes on the Mountain West Championship. The Broncos are slightly favored when traveling over Aztecs. How do you see this set playing out?
I sort of like the Broncos. I’ve had the chance to cover both these teams. I covered Boise State 3 weeks ago versus Fresno. As well as I covered San Diego State two times this year. San Diego State is really comparable to what we simply discussed with Arkansas as well as what they intend to do defensively. Very difficult on that particular side. They play quickly, they’re physical, they fly around the football, remarkable system. And also they run the ball. Greg Bell is an outright beast. The intriguing thing with them is the quarterback position. They’ve been revolving guys left and also. I believe they’ve found their individual in Johnson. He’s good, decent thrower of the football.
Boise State is the more complete team. I believe they’re playing excellent defensively currently. They’ve been definitely ablaze given that the loss to Air Force. They they put it to Colorado State. They held Fresno to 14 points, as well as Fresno is among the very best offenses in the Mountain West. They held Wyoming the 13 points; you saw what Wyoming did recently versus Utah State. As well as they held New Mexico to no factors whatsoever. Soon that side of the football, they’re playing the best the’ve played this year. When it comes to a quarterback-receiver combo, and I think Hank Bachmeier and Shakir are simply outright vibrant playmakers. So I’m mosting likely to offer the small side to Boise, even if I still don’t truly trust San Diego State and their capability to score factors.
UNLV @ Air Force, Friday, November 26, 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network
Flying force is connected for the lead on the Mountain side of the Mountain West. And they still have a shot at a spot in the championship game. UNLV has actually begun of late. Sitting last in the West, they’re just playing for satisfaction at this factor. Will Air Force as well as its triple-option run all over UNLV?
Yes, Air Force is among the most effective groups in the Mountain West. Obviously take a look at the document, 8-3, 5-2 in the conference. I had their video game a couple of weeks ago against Colorado State. They’re unpleasant. They’re another team that’s simply playing well on both sides of the football. Defensively with Jordan Jackson in advance coming back. Meeks and Mock, and the backend with Bugg as well as both Taylors. Excellent protection, a significant defense.
Certainly, we understand what they can do offensively. Daniels has actually had a good year at he quarterback spot. Brad Roberts is an absolute beast at fullback. And they can throw the football. They’ve proven this year that they’re not worried to throw it down the area. Brandon Lewis is a hell of receiver, incredible stop-and-go ability. Can take the complement a defense. Kinamon does a fantastic task. So I simply assume, when you look at Air Force, they’re playing with a great deal of confidence. They’ve had some truly good fortunes since late. Also their losses were games they possibly could have won. Versus Army, they can have won that video game. And Also San Diego State, they were up by like six points. They beat Boise State,. They placed it to Colorado State. And after that a big win in triple-overtime versus Nevada. So I just like this Air Force team. I believe they’re complete. I believe they take of company in your home this weekend.