Football 2017: Week Six

After tomorrow, Texas A&M will have completed half of 12 regular season games. The Aggie record is 4-1, and would've been 5-0 if they'd found some way to protect a 34-point lead in the first game. The second A&M loss is headed their way, since Alabama visits as a 26 1/2 point road favorite. The one thing I know for sure is that the Aggies won't lose by squandering a 34-point lead, since they won't score 34 points, and probably won't lead after the first five minutes of the first quarter. The game will be on ESPN at 6:15, and College Football News predicts the Tide will crush A&M 45-13. This is a game I plan to watch until Alabama builds an insurmountable lead, which is probably anything over 14 points. FINAL SCORE UPDATE: I stayed with the game until halftime, when the Aggies were behind 17-3. I was expecting something like a 31-0 lead for Bama, so I was happy to see A&M keeping it reasonably close through two quarters. On the other hand, I wasn't seeing anything that caused me to believe they would be able to come from behind to win. As it turned out, the final score was 27-19, and from what I read at Good Bull Hunting, the Aggies stayed in the fight all the way to the end.   

There aren't too many SEC games worth watching on TV tomorrow.

• Ole Miss (2-2) at Auburn (4-1) at 11:00 on SEC. Auburn's favored by 21, and CFN expects them to maul the Rebels 40-16. UPDATE: Auburn won 44-23.
• LSU (3-2) at Florida (3-1) at 2:30 in the CBS showcase game. The Gators are favored by 3.5 points, and the CFN prediction is they'll cover in a close 24-20 win at home. UPDATE: In a mild upset, LSU got the win they had to have, 17-16.
• Arkansas (2-2) at South Carolina (3-2) at 3:00 PM on SEC. This is a head-to-head contest featuring what may end up being the only two SEC teams that A&M defeats this season. The Aggies won in OT against the hogs, and had to come from behind to beat the gamecocks. Arkansas is a narrow 1.5 point road favorite, and CFN is picking them to emerge with a 24-17 win. UPDATE: South Carolina won 48-22.  
• Missouri (1-3) at Kentucky (4-1) at 6:30 on SECN. Mizzou is a ten point road underdog, and CFN forecasts a 31-17 beating for them. Since I've hated Missouri dating back to the Big 12 days, I enjoy their misery. UPDATE: It was no romp, but Kentucky still beat Missouri 40-34.