Rock M Pick ‘Em: Week 10

It might be the best College Football Saturday on paper … maybe ever? According to the first CFP rankings — there are seven ranked matchups — and four in the SEC. That includes No. 18 Mizzou hosting No. 7 Texas in a huge opportunity for Eli Drinkwitz’s Tigers. Let’s pick ‘em for Week 10 (odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook).

No. 18 Missouri Tigers vs No. 7 Texas Longhorns (-2.5) (11:00 a.m. CST on ESPN)

Sammy Stava: Texas is banged up health-wise, and Arch Manning has been too inconsistent on the road which makes the Longhorns plenty vulnerable. Simmons outplays Manning at the QB position and Missouri takes advantage of homefield. 28-24, Mizzou.

Matthew Gustafson: Predicting these matchups has felt a fool’s errand at times for me this year, and because of that fact I legitimately considered pulling a Costanza with my picks this week. I ended up deciding against it — but I will predict the chaos continues. Mizzou’s already completed a circle of parity with Ole Miss and Florida … why not complete one with the Rebels and the Longhorns, too? The Tigers win 27-24.

Josh Matejka: We’ve reached the point of every Mizzou season where I can’t discern where my head stops and my heart begins. I know that Mizzou is a less talented team than Texas. Hell, they’re probably less consistent too. Even with the home field advantage, they’ll need to ball out to beat the Longhorns and keep their CFP dream alive…

But I think they can do it. Arch Manning consistently holds the Horns back, and Mizzou’s defense has proven itself capable of flustering quarterbacks this season. Manning isn’t Kamario Taylor or Trinidad Chambliss, even if he has the physical tools. And I think if Mizzou can get a solid game out of Austin Simmons, the defense will do enough to put Texas on skates. Mizzou wins 24-21.

Jaden Lewis:

No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 14 LSU Tigers (-6.5) (2:30 p.m. CST on ABC)

Sammy Stava: Alabama at No. 5 in the first CFP rankings with two losses? Man … I don’t know about that. LSU playing at home as a desperate team. I think the edge goes to the Tigers here as they find a way to get it done. 24-20.

Matthew Gustafson: A lot of folks were … surprised, to say the least, when the CFP ranked Bama fifth. And while that decision was certainly …. something, the Tide also have one of the clearest paths to make the playoffs of any team in the conference. LSU presents the toughest remaining challenge for Alabama, and Kalen DeBoer should have plenty of motivation: win and you’re in barring a late surprise loss, lose and you may very well get fired. I think DeBoer likes his job (or at least his $12.5 million annual salary), so I’ll say he figures things out enough to hold off LSU and win 30-24.

Josh Matejka: Boy oh boy oh boy oh boy. This is really a put up or shut up game for the Alabama Crimson Tide, who have a massive target on their back after falling forward into the CFP’s top 5 this week. You just know LSU, which is fighting for its own playoff hopes, would love to put the Tide in their place and vault themselves into the upper echelons of the rankings. I do think ‘Bama is the better team, but LSU has been really good this year, especially in Death Valley. I think the committee eats a little humble pie and the Tigers put Kalen DeBoer’s tenure on thin ice. LSU wins 30-24.

Jaden Lewis:

No. 6 Kentucky Wildcats at No. 13 Tennessee Volunteers (-5.5) (5:15 p.m. CST on ESPN)

Sammy Stava: I’m a believer in Kentucky in Year One under Will Stein, but on the road at night against Tennessee might be too tall of a task. Vols find a way to win at home in a rivalry game, 38-35.

Matthew Gustafson: This matchup should finally tell us which of these teams is for real and which is the pretender. So it’s unfortunate for the Wildcats that this takes place at Neyland, where Tennessee has played its best ball this year. I’ll take the Vols, 28-24.

Josh Matejka: Kentucky is a really good, fun team. But they’re also nowhere near the sixth best team in college football. I say this with no joy in my heart, as I would absolutely love to see them keep the momentum up ahead of their trip to Columbia (how good would a Mizzou win look in that case?) Sadly, I think Tennessee will feel aggrieved about their somewhat low ranking this week, and knows they still have work to do to prove themselves to the committee. A win over a Top 10 team would do it. Vols raise their profile and hand the Wildcats their second loss, 31-24.

Jaden Lewis:

No. 1 Miami (FL) Hurricanes at No. 11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-7.5) (6:30 p.m. CST on NBC)

Sammy Stava: Miami (FL) is the best team in the country right now, but Malachi Toney is a huge loss for the Canes offense. — especially going on the road against a Notre Dame team in need of a quality win to boost their resume. CJ Carr leads the Irish to a statement win, 35-31.

Matthew Gustafson: It takes a lot to get to 8-0, but Miami just hasn’t shown much to truly make me think it’s the nation’s top team. With this one taking place in South Bend (and almost certainly without Malchi Toney on the field), I think Notre Dame gets its first big win of the year and takes down No. 1. Give me the Irish, 35-31.

Josh Matejka: Losing Malachi Toney is a big blow for the country’s top offense, especially in what should be its biggest game of the season. Now that Notre Dame knows where they stand with the committee, they’ll be desperate to add a high quality win to their resume. I think they get it done and hand the Canes their first loss of the season, 33-27.

Jaden Lewis:

No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs (-3.5) at No. 10 Ole Miss Rebels (6:30 p.m. CST on ABC)

Sammy Stava: Georgia just looks like the best, most consistent team in the SEC. Sure, they lost to Auburn at home a couple of weeks ago, but they’ll be plenty motivated from here on out. Ole Miss will present a tough challenge in Oxford — but UGA wins this one, 31-23.

Matthew Gustafson: Georgia has the strongest argument as the SEC’s most complete team this season and enters Oxford with a signature road win already in its back pocket. Ole Miss is a strong squad in its own right, but the Rebels aren’t the same without Kewan Lacy. The Bulldogs exit Oxford with a second primetime road win on their way to the No. 1 ranking next week, 31-27.

Josh Matejka: Remember a few weeks ago when Georgia lost to Auburn and we all thought, “wait, maybe they’re gettable!” They’re not. Sorry, Mizzou fans. They’re (in my opinion) the best team in the country and will prove it this weekend by rolling into Oxford and

Jaden Lewis: