Top teams need second half comebacks; It’s Homecoming Week for the SEC; Should Penn State retain Terry Smith; Should Lane Kiffin leave Oxford for Gainesville; And Virginia Tech begins the James Franklin Era. It’s Tailgators on two. Hut! Hut!
The Opening Drive:
1st Down: Tale of Two Halves:
Texas A&M’s comeback
QUIET DOWN: Texas A&M quieted critics with its comeback victory against South Carolina. / Source: Southeastern Conference Indiana’s slow start
Ole Miss avoids getting bit by Gators
Georgia Tech rallies against BC
2nd Down: CFP Rx: The guys discuss the latest rankings for this season’s post season playoff.
The Miami/Notre Dame conundrum???
Group of 5: JMU? Tulane?
ACC: Georgia Tech? Did Finebaum really say this?
3rd Down: HR Wants 2 C U:
James Franklin & Virginia Tech: A Perfect Match
Lane Kiffin: Should I Stay or Should I Go
Terry Smith Stays at Penn State? Brian thinks so.
4th Down: SEC Homecoming Weekend: How did this lame tradition start? Was it so the top teams would each have one less loss than Big Ten teams? Clemson plays Furman.
Watch Tailgators Setup Podcast on Substack:
John’s Game of the Week:
Game of the Week: Tennessee at Florida, TBD; Nebraska at Penn State, TBD;
No. 22 Missouri at No. 8 Oklahoma 12 p.m. ABC
Missouri tries to play spoiler to Oklahoma’s CFP hopes.
No. 17 USC at No. 8 Oregon 3:30 p.m. CBS
A classic
Pac-12Big Ten battle. Both teams are fighting for a CFP spot. The Ducks are in full control of their destiny.
Pitt at No. 16 Georgia Tech 7 p.m. ESPN
Pitt holds all the cards in the race to the ACC championship game. Georgia can punch its own ticket with a win.
No. 12 BYU at No. 25 Cincinnati 8 p.m. FOX
The Cougars are on the outside of the CFP, but a win helps their cause.
The (#notsponsored) Hooters Pick’em Challenge:
Last week, Brian picked upsets, but they were the wrong upsets.
Last Week:
Gary: 19-4
John: 18-5
Brian: 16-7
Season Totals:
John: 193-67
Gary: 191-69
Brian: 177-83
Here’s this week’s picks:
Gary’s Cocktail of the Week/The Stadium Series:
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (aka The Swamp)
Swamp Ass
1.5 oz vodka
3 oz orange Gatorade
1 oz simple syrup
.75 oz lemon juice
Fill shaker with ice. Combine vodka, Gatorade, simple syrup and lemon juice. Shake and strain into glass with ice. Garnish with lemon wedge.
Carib Brewery
Swamp Ape
10% ABV Double IPA
200 Imperial BlvdCape Canaveral FL
The Heisman Watch:
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana: The front runner heading into December.
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State: Continues to impress. Might teammate Jeremiah Smith split some voters?
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech: The defensive player of the year. Continues to make plays for the Red Raiders.
Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia: Quietly putting together a superb season for one of the top teams in college football.
