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- Jacob Rhee

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Each Saturday morning of the college football regular season, I will be predicting the outcome of the six best games of the weekend. Every time I pick the wrong team to win, it costs me $15. At the end of the year, I will use the total pot of money to buy gifts for random Glass Slipper subscribers. That’s right; you literally benefit from my failures. Let’s go.

Game 1: No. 16 Vanderbilt vs. No. 10 Alabama

The pick: Alabama wins, 28-13.

No. Not again. The Tide sleepwalked into Nashville a season ago, and found themselves in a 13-0 hole before seven minutes had elapsed. They panicked, flung their original gameplan out the window, and entered chase mode. For March Madness lovers, it was somewhat reminiscent of the infamous UMBC-UVA upset. Diego Pavia took on the Jairus Lyles role, you could say.

Like last year, Bama enters the matchup having just conquered Georgia in a thriller. I’m trusting that Kalen DeBoer has learned how to bring his guys down from such an emotional high.

Pavia has never thrown for 200 yards in a road win during his Vanderbilt tenure, and it won’t happen today. Give me the Tide.

Game 2: Boise State vs. No. 21 Notre Dame

The pick: Notre Dame wins, 38-17.

Two 2024 playoff squads. The loser of this one definitely won’t be headed back to the dance.

Is Maddux Madsen pretty good, or do I simply think he has a cool name? These are the kinds of dilemmas that take up real estate in my mind. Even if he holds his own, Maddux isn’t keeping pace with CJ Carr and the boys. The Irish tally 500 yards of total offense, and cruise to a victory.

Game 3: No. 24 Virginia vs. Louisville

The pick: Louisville wins, 30-24.

I’d love to have been a fly on the wall, in whichever room that Isaac Brown utilized to watch film on the Cavaliers. You can imagine him rubbing his hands together like a cartoon villain. Wait, they don’t fire off the ball? They don’t pursue, either? I might set a new career high!

Isaac is coming off the first true dud of his career; that kid is undoubtedly itching to take the field again. I think he submits a massive performance, and the Cardinals hop into the AP poll.

Game 4: No. 11 Texas Tech vs. Houston

The pick: Texas Tech wins, 21-16.

Each conference features a team whose sole purpose is to act as a thorn in everyone else’s side. The pesky group that possesses a nine-win ceiling, but can hang with the programs on the top floor. The Big 12 has Houston.

Because of his rocky tenure in College Station, it’s easy to forget that Conner Weigman was the third-ranked quarterback in the 2022 class. Pair his talent with an impressive defense, and the Red Raiders have a tough task in front of them. I’ll roll with a well-rested Texas Tech bunch to force a turnover late, and sneak away unblemished.

Game 5: No. 3 Miami (FL) vs. No. 18 Florida State

The pick: Miami (FL) wins, 34-23.

I’d argue that there is one squad in college football that has already secured a playoff berth. Oregon. It would require two regular-season losses for the Ducks to be in trouble, and that’s not happening.

The ‘Canes have their own opportunity to clinch a spot tonight. That second-half schedule - even for a school whose modern history includes several embarrassing collapses - is an absolute breeze. A golden ticket is within reach.

Mario Cristobal has built an elite offensive line, and I expect that crew to flex its muscles here. Miami pulls away in the fourth.

Game 6: Mississippi State vs. No. 6 Texas A&M

The pick: Texas A&M wins, 31-20.

Mike Elko went on a little rant, calling out the Aggies’ media members for not being positive enough. I totally get his frustration. In less than 23 months, A&M has completely rebounded from Jimbo Fisher’s culture-less catastrophe; it’s an unbelievably quick turnaround that deserves to be celebrated.

Mississippi State is surprisingly solid, but lacks the speed and depth to contain Marcel Reed for three hours. I have the Aggies by double-digits.

• Week 5 Results: 2-4

• Overall Season Picks Record: 15-15

• Current CFB Prize Pot: $225

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