Game of the Week - Curator Sam Burnham
​Texas A&M vs Arkansas

I’ve seen more than one person publicly eating crow regarding their skepticism and criticism of Arkansas hiring Sam Pittman as their head coach. I don’t understand why he was so underestimated as a coaching hire. He’s a well seasoned coach, he has a varied experience, he’s a proven recruiter, and he has spent much of his career coaching hogs. I make no apologies for being partial to the offensive line. It is by far the most important role on the field. That offensive line mentality likely helps fuel Pittman’s success. Close your mouth, do your job. If you fall down, get up and do it all again.

Now the Razorbacks play host to former SWC rival Texas A&M. The Aggies are a formidable foe and the history is rich. Admittedly I do not have near the admiration for Jimbo Fisher as I have for Pittman but he’s a top tier coach who will bring a well-prepared team into this game.

Arkansas has yet to beat A&M since the latter joined the SEC in 2012. That’s nine straight losses for those keeping score at home. But Arkansas has already seen a marked improvement since Pittman’s arrival. Any success at all would be commendable, considering their schedule. But the Razorbacks showed us all just what they can do when they sent the Texas Longhorns back to Austin with their tails between their legs.

These are two good football teams. I expect more fight out of the Aggies than we saw from the Horns. But I still expect the Hawgs to come out on top.

Game of the Week - Coach Drew Burnham
Notre Dame vs Wisconsin

This game is a statement opportunity for both teams. Notre Dame looks to solidify themselves as a playoff contender following 3 consecutive attention drawing performances that have seen them escape with 3 wins, albeit by a modest 20 total points. Florida State, Toldeo and Purdue have all taken their best shot at an Irish team whose schedule is about to stop doing them favors. They’re looking down the barrel of a very talented and well coached Wisconsin team followed by a visit from Group of 5 juggernaut Cincinnati and a night game in Blacksburg, VA. That’s no easy slate and if the Irish are to survive this stretch, it all begins in Chicago on Saturday.

Wisconsin is in pure survival mode. They’re not out of the playoff hunt, but they certainly have to win out to make it and, in their position, a statement win against a playoff veteran would go a long way in the eyes of the committee. With all those chips on the table this one will be a heck of a lot of fun.

There are a couple angles to this one. First, and psychologically most difficult, Notre Dame QB Jack Coan will stand opposite his former team donning the gold and blue. I have played against a former program of mine 3 times in my career and it’s weird every time. He will be saved SOME stress with the game being in Chicago and not in Camp Randall. I’ve done it both ways and it’s definitely easier when it’s not a true road game. You try to prepare yourself and you try to think through everything as much as possible to not be caught off guard on game day, but it gets you. It wins every time. We’re professionals and we do our jobs, but something always just feels a little off about it. How Coan handles that test will go a long way in determining the Irish’s offensive success.
​
Apart from Jack’s psych battle, there is the normal chess game that will take place. Jack Coan and Irish Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees face off against Preseason All Big 10 LB Jack Sanborn and Jim Leonhard, Defensive Coordinator for the Badgers. The Wisconsin Offense sputtered against Penn State scoring just 10 points while turning the ball over 3 times. The Badgers need to keep Notre Dame’s strong offense in check and keep the score low into the 4th if they are to find a way to win this one. Leonhard is one of the best in the business, likely my favorite defensive coach in the country right now. He’s sharp and he will have a few looks up his sleeve to attack the Irish and keep Rees and Coan on their toes. That’s where this game will be won.

Something to Watch - Curator Sam Burnham
Gut Check Time for Clemson

Clemson sandwiched a cupcake between a tough loss to Georgia and a near loss to Georgia Tech. They’ve shown a few flashes of greatness, mostly in their defensive efforts against Georgia. But this team is underperforming. This is not the Clemson team we’ve come to know. They’re riding into Raleigh to face a Wolfpack team they should beat. But State is dangerous. If Clemson comes out flat or looks past State, they’re going to lose. If they hope to salvage their season, they need to get this game right. It’s gut check time for Clemson. Let’s see how they respond.

Curator’s Picks (6-9)

​Notre Dame over Wisconsin
Arkansas over Texas A&M
Oklahoma over West Virginia
Kentucky over South Carolina
LSU over Mississippi State

Coach’s Picks (6-9)

​Notre Dame over Wisconsin
Arkansas over Texas A&M
Oklahoma over West Virginia
Kentucky over South Carolina
Mississippi State over LSU

Curator Sam Burnham - Game of the Week
Auburn @ Penn State

​This week y’all are getting a double dose of this game. Looking over this week’s schedule, perhaps Auburn and Penn State deserve an award for not playing a cupcake game in Week 3. With both of us picking it, this is the game of the week.

The Tigers come into Happy Valley facing a “White-Out.” That is going to create a bit of a hostile environment for Auburn to deal with.

The Tigers have looked strong but they’re still wiping cupcake frosting off their mouths. This is really their first test of the season

The Nittany Lions picked up a quality win in Week 1 at Wisconsin. During that game penn State gained only 43 yards and one first down in the entire first half. They won despite Wisconsin controlling the ball for 42 minutes. It was only James Franklin’s second road victory against a ranked opponent. This leaves me wondering if it says more about Penn State or the Badgers.

Auburn’s SEC experience will help them in the White-Out. For a team accustomed to Tiger Stadium, Bryant-Denny, Sanford, Neyland, Ben Hill Griffin, a hostile environment is just known as “Saturday.” I’m curious to see what Bo Nix can really do. This is a great opportunity for that.

Coach Drew Burnham - Game of the Week
Auburn @ Penn State

​Often times we are forced to wait until December for these types of big name, intersectional matchups. With strength of schedule becoming a more vital piece of the playoff picture, we will begin to see more of these and it will only become more prevalent when the playoff eventually expands. There are few scenes in college football more eye popping than the white out at Penn State. It ranks high on my list of the traditions that make this the greatest sport in this country. The atmosphere is going to be off the charts electric. These teams both need this win in a bad way considering a 2-loss team is almost certainly out of the race, Penn State still has to play Ohio State and Auburn still has both Bama and Georgia remaining. A loss here reeks of the Gator Bowl for someone.
Auburn has been the definition of explosive in their 2 outings having handled 2 inferior opponents exactly as they should. They have scored at will and played stellar defense. They look to be firing on all cylinders on the field. One thing they haven’t been this season is Battle Tested. Penn State is walking tall after a big-time quality win at Wisconsin in an extremely hostile environment. They’ve been in the arena already. They’ve played in the 4th quarter. They have felt the ball in their hands with the game on the line. You can’t replicate that and you can’t practice it. Bring them home with 100,000+ of their closest friends creating the most tumultuous September blizzard you’ve ever seen for 3 hours with their battle scars and you make them extremely difficult to beat. I think the mental battle that will happen in Saturday night is a fight that the Tigers just aren’t quite enough for YET. These are the games that Coach Harsinwill have his team looking forward to soon, but not yet. War Lions.

Curator Sam Burnham - Upset Alert
Fresno State @ UCLA

​Again, the pickings are slim this week. But one game caught my eye. The Coach hypes up Fresno State and with good reason. They nearly pulled off the upset he called at Oregon. Turnovers likely cost them that game.

The Bulldogs have a relentless offense. They’re averaging 479.3 yards and 32.8 points per game. This is a team looking to make a statement. Beating UCLA would do just that. Fresno head coach Kalen DeBoer is a name you hear the Coach drop a lot. He’s an up and coming leader you’re going to hear more and more about in the years to come. Under previous leadership, Fresno has won the last three meetings against UCLA and DeBoer has already made his transition almost seamless. Why should the UCLA series be any different?

​The Bruins have had an extra week to ponder their impressive win over LSU. How they handle that success will have an impact on today’s game. UCLA has to be mentally and emotionally prepared. Last game has to be ancient history and Fresno can be their only focus. Distractions and overconfidence will both be disastrous Saturday.

If the Bruins come into this game with swollen egos and Fresno limits their turnovers, the Bulldogs will, I stress WILL, win this ball game. Those are the two factors today. UCLA needs to be mentally tough and focused on the opponent at hand. Fresno needs to hold onto the football. If both of these things happen, expect an excellent game

Coach Drew Burnham - Upset Alert
Alabama @ Florida

​t has been 657 Days since the Alabama Crimson Tide lost a football game. It has been 2,190 days since they lost to anyone besides Auburn or the National Champion that season. That was September of 2015. SIX YEARS. I will never doubt coach Saban’s ability to prepare his team for a big game. I will never doubt coach Saban’s ability to do just about anything. However, mathematically, scientifically, at some point, you’re going to lose a football game. It’s going to happen. You have a tough opponent on the road; an opponent that isn’t SO tough that you feel like your backs against the wall and the pressure makes you elevate your game, but definitely good enough to beat you. You’re in a place where the fan base longs for a home quality win desperately to announce themselves as “back”. I don’t think that the Tide will be unprepared, caught off guard or not able to preform in the moment, I just think their clock has to run out sometime and I believe that Florida has enough fire power right now to be the ones to do it. Simple as that. Additionally, Dan Mullen is one of approximately 3 FBS Head coaches right now that aren’t a previous Saban assistant (He’s an Urban Meyer guy) so we don’t have to worry about that old pesky curse that will one day be broken by Lane Kiffin. Chomp Chomp.

Curator’s Picks (4-6)

Bama over Florida
Miami over Michigan State
Birginia Tech over West Virginia
Auburn over Penn State
​Notre Dame over Purdue

Coach’s Picks (3-7)

​Florida over Bama
Michigan State over Miami
Virginia Tech over West Virginia
Penn State over Auburn
Notre Dame over Purdue

College football is back and so is Curator & Coach. C&C is ABG’s look at this week’s games with commentary from ABG Curator Sam Burnham and ABG College Football Analyst Coach Drew Burnham.