Football 2018: Week Three

It seems like it just started, but after Saturday, the regular college football season will be 25 percent completed. It's still too early to expect a wide range of interesting TV games. These are the ones I'll probably spend time viewing:

• The SEC showcase game on CBS at 2:30 will feature LSU at Auburn, with the home team favored by 9.5 points. College Football News believes Auburn's defense is better than LSU's quarterback, and expects LSU to suffer its first loss of the year (24-20). Update: I got sidetracked and didn't see any of this game. Texas A&M plays both of these teams later this season, and will be tested by both. LSU pulled off the upset, winning 22-21.
• In a previous year, Alabama at Ole Miss might be worth watching for at least a quarter, but in 2018, the Tide is a three touchdown favorite on the road. The game is on ESPN at 6:00 PM, and I won't see more than 30 minutes of it. CFN predicts the Tide will overwhelm the Rebels in a 55-20 blowout. Update: This turkey was more one-sided than the CFN prediction, with Alabama shredding Ole Miss 62-7. Two more SEC West opponents that A&M will face. Ole Miss looks very beatable. Alabama does not.
• Finally, the University of Louisiana-Monroe visits Texas A&M at 6:30 on SEC Network, in a classic example of a sandwich game. The Aggies are coming off a close loss to Clemson, and have Alabama upcoming in game four. In previous years, this schedule would set up a lackluster performance by A&M against a lesser opponent, with half the Aggies moping over the loss and the other half looking ahead to the reigning national champs - resulting in a final score that suggested a hard-fought game. It'll be surprising if that happens Saturday, based on the performance of the team in its first two games under Jimbo Fisher and his staff. ULM is a 26-point underdog, and CFN forecasts a comfortable 45-17 win for A&M.

Update 10:14 PM Saturday: The first half looked a lot like the trap games I watched before Texas A&M started paying football coaches the kind of salary Jimbo earns. At the half, the score was 24-10, and one Aggie TD was scored on the return of a blocked ULM field goal attempt. The Aggies were ahead, but weren't dominating the game on offense or defense. The second half was an improvement. Final score 48-10.