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- Jacob Rhee

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. 12 Notre Dame vs No. 24 Navy

The pick: Notre Dame wins, 28-21.

I grew up in smash-mouth Big Ten country; needless to say, I’m going to love every second of this thing. We’ll have plenty of bloody elbows and grass stained-jerseys by the fourth. It would be awesome to see a service academy make the playoff, and that’s a legitimate conversation if Navy steals this one. But I think Marcus Freeman’s defense will tighten the screws in the second half, and come up with a game-sealing stop down the stretch.

Game 2: No. 21 Missouri vs No. 15 Alabama

The pick: Alabama wins, 34-16.

It’ll be a frustrated Tide team this afternoon. The program is not used to looking up at Iowa State, BYU, and Indiana in the poll. I expect Jalen Milroe and company to race out to a big lead and coast to the finish line. Bama likely needs to win out in order to have a chance on Selection Sunday, so there’s more work ahead.

Game 3: No. 20 Illinois vs No. 1 Oregon

The pick: Oregon wins, 38-17.

I just realized how weird it will be to see these two schools on the same football field. The colors don’t even feel right. A quick Google search justifies my train of thought; the Illini and the Ducks apparently haven’t shared the gridiron since 1995.

Illinois just surrendered 49 points to Purdue’s backup quarterback, which is an alarming sign heading into a clash with arguably the top attack in America. This will be close for 20 minutes or so, before the Oregon avalanche ensues.

Game 4: No. 5 Texas vs No. 25 Vanderbilt

The pick: Texas wins, 35-13.

Steve Sarkisian might’ve ruined the Longhorns’ season a week ago. I don’t really think I’m being dramatic, either. Quinn Ewers made that infamous Dr. Pepper commercial playfully dismissing Arch Manning, but there’s no forgetting about the Golden Boy now. Sarkisian revealed how little he trusts Quinn right there in Austin; from now on, Ewers will be looking over his shoulder every time he leads an unsuccessful drive.

Though the now-awkward QB situation won’t be too consequential against Vandy, I truly believe that this is a real issue long-term. The Longhorns fans in my Twitter DMs - who are around 60-40 in favor of Arch as their preferred signal-caller, by the way - can certainly feel the tension.

Game 5: No. 8 LSU vs No. 14 Texas A&M

The pick: Texas A&M wins, 30-24.

This should be the loudest Kyle Field crowd since at least 2016. More than anything, I’m excited for a really fun college football game. Two evenly-matched teams fighting to stay in the SEC title race. Two talented quarterbacks from Texas, who are each trying to boost their draft stock. Two head coaches that are still looking to fully win over the fan base. Two squads that fell in Week 1, and are now surging towards their CFP dreams. Enjoy it.

Game 6: No. 3 Penn State vs Wisconsin

The pick: Wisconsin wins, 26-23.

The Badgers have given up a total of 16 points in their opponents’ last 42 possessions. The stretch spans over four contests, all of which were against Big Ten opponents. That’s kind of, like… impossible? We shouldn’t be too surprised; dominance is what a Luke Fickell defense is supposed to deliver.

Wisconsin supporters are still waiting for their 51-year-old head coach to pick up his first signature victory with the program. Here it is. Tawee Walker stays hot, and the Badgers stun Penn State in Madison.

• Week 8 Results: 4-2

• Overall Season Picks Record: 37-11

• Current CFB Prize Pot: $165

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“So Into You” by Tamia. Have a great Saturday.