Welcome to Glass Slipper! It might be Sam Merrill’s year; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

**NOTICE: Glass Slipper will arrive on Sunday, Monday, and Saturday next week.

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. 8 Ole Miss vs. No. 13 Oklahoma

The pick: Oklahoma wins, 30-28.

There’s zero doubt in my mind that this is a one-score contest with five minutes to play. Lane Kiffin’s offense against Brent Venables’ defense? Each man won multiple national championships in assistant roles, but neither has secured a playoff berth as a head coach. It’ll be a fascinating chess match, to say the least.

You guys are familiar with my thought process. When it’s a toss-up, I side with the squad that I like more in the trenches. With the Sooners tied atop the national leaderboard in sacks per game, that advantage is clear. Give me OU in a thriller.

Game 2: No. 4 Alabama vs. South Carolina

The pick: Alabama wins, 24-17.

Careful, Tide. Watch your step. The Gamecocks - 3-4 record aside - are extremely talented, and they’re also getting healthy. This is no walkover.

I’m bummed for LaNorris Sellers. That kid is extraordinarily likable; it’s a shame that he’s stuck with a coordinator who seemingly hasn’t watched college football before. If Shane Beamer possesses any foresight whatsoever, he already has a list of potential replacements in mind. Chandler Whitmer should be his primary target.

Though Sellers and Dylan Stewart will put forth a valiant effort, I have Bama claiming its seventh consecutive victory.

Game 3: No. 15 Missouri vs. No. 10 Vanderbilt

The pick: Missouri wins, 27-21.

A part of me feels bad for Diego Pavia. We’re reaching the tail end of his 15 minutes of fame, and he’s still choosing to embracing the villain role. Because Vandy is the sport’s current feel-good underdog story, Pavia was essentially gifted a final chance to repair his image. Instead, he loudly decided to lean into the arrogance. Diego is undoubtedly going to look back on this period of his life and wish he had behaved like a mature adult.

While I don’t think either of these crews are anywhere near the elite tier, today’s winner will get some more time to pretend. The Tigers’ secondary stands tall late, and Mr. Pavia slinks off in disappointment.

Game 4: No. 11 BYU vs. Iowa State

The pick: Iowa State wins, 20-16.

For Bear Bachmeier’s sake, I hope my prediction is wrong. He’s tough as nails, and his teammates lay it on the line for him. There’s a reason why this middling BYU roster has yet to flinch; every human on that campus believes in No. 47.

It’s really hard to steal one in Ames, however. The Cyclones have won nine of their last 10 at home, and own a +188 point differential in those matchups. The dominance continues, with Iowa State handing our buddy Bear his first loss.

Game 5: No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 20 LSU

The pick: Texas A&M wins, 34-26.

You want to be hailed as college football’s most intimidating atmosphere? You want the Death Valley moniker all to yourself? You prove it tonight, Baton Rouge. The biggest game of the Brian Kelly era is upon us.

Even if the crowd brings it, I think LSU is in trouble. Vanderbilt just dropped 31 on this defense, and now a group with significantly superior personnel is in town. Mario Craver and KC Concepcion are absolutely lethal; with a top-five quarterback distributing the ball, the Aggies’ attack feels uncontainable at times. A&M shoves its conference foe out of playoff contention.

Game 6: Houston vs. No. 24 Arizona State

The pick: Arizona State wins, 23-14.

I’m not sure that many people realize it, but this meeting has legitimate CFP implications. One of these squads is about to climb to 4-1 in Big 12 play, with zero ranked opponents remaining on the schedule. That sounds like quite a realistic path to the bracket.

I like the Sun Devils to take care of business here. Conner Weigman gets sloppy in the second half, and Arizona State earns a critical win.

• Week 8 Results: 3-3

• Overall Season Picks Record: 27-21

• Current CFB Prize Pot: $315

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