Sooners should make it 2-0; Texas and Alabama highlight Saturday’s games; Georgia #1…..

Alabama just a point better than Texas

OU to ease past SMU

Week two will have, again, a limited slate of good games for college football fans.  Here is my take on college football this Thursday.   I will give my ratings, my predictions, and finally, my updated top 25.

I have Alabama over Texas in as close a game as possible.  If Texas can get a knockout performance from their defense, against a inexperienced Alabama quarterback, and the Horns get much better play from the offense, including their quarterbacks, they can win this road game. Coaching mismatch says Tide by one.  

Oklahoma will score at will against SMU and we will see how much the defense in Norman has improved.  OU should win with ease but how much the Ponies move the ball will answer a lot of questions about the Sooners for 2023.

Oklahoma State could get upset in Tempe on Saturday night but OSU will prevail with a nice performance by the Poke offense.  Gunnar Gundy will play a significant role in the win.

Top 25

1.  Georgia

2.  Alabama

3.  Florida State

4.  Michigan

5.  Washington

6.  Texas

7.  USC

8.  Ohio State

9.  Texas A&M

10.  Penn State

11.  Kansas State

12.  Notre Dame

13.  Oregon

14.  Tennessee

15.  Oklahoma

16.  North Carolina

17.  Clemson

18.  Utah

19.  Oregon State

20.  LSU

21.  Ole Miss

22.  UTSA

23.  Wyoming

24.  Miami, Fla

25.  Univ. of Central Florida

Big 12 Power rating

1.  Texas

2.  Kansas State

3.  Oklahoma

4.  Univ. of Central Florida

5.  Kansas

6.  Texas Tech

7.  TCU

8.  Iowa State

9.  Oklahoma State

10.  Houston

11.  BYU

12.  Cincinnati

13.  Baylor

14.  West Virginia

Big 12 predictions 

Friday, Sept 8

Kansas 31 and Illinois 21

Saturday, Sept 9

Utah 35 at Baylor 17

Kansas State 27 and Troy 14

BYU 17 and Southern Utah 10

Iowa 12 at Iowa State 10

Oklahoma 38 and SMU 25

West Virginia 48 and Duquesne 12

Pittsburgh 24 and Cincinnati 17

Houston 19 at Rice 7

Oregon 34 at Texas Tech 29

Alabama 20 and Texas 19

Central Florida 48 at Boise State 26

TCU 50 and Nicholls  14

Oklahoma State 23 at Arizona State 17

National games to note

Friday, Sept 9

Notre Dame 28 at NC State 17

Colorado 37 and Nebraska 27

Ole Miss 48 at Tulane 27

Texas A&M 26 and Miami Fla 24

Washington State 38 and Wisconsin 31

Feature Photo:  Oklahoma’s Drake Stoops (12) scores a touchdown during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.  BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN