Our weekly national college football gameday guide starts with our viewing guide on what to watch this weekend:
Lamest time window: Primetime. The evening slate has drama but no ranked matchups.
Noon: Something weird will happen when No. 20 Florida visits LSU, but keep your remote close in a fun window that includes No. 12 Oklahoma State at No. 25 Texas, Auburn at No. 17 Arkansas and Nebraska and USF scrambling for wins against Minnesota and Tulsa.
3:30: No. 11 Kentucky at No. 1 Georgia gets top billing. If it gets out of hand, see if Miami shows a pulse at North Carolina, or watch No. 19 BYU travel to Baylor for a sneaky good game.
7: Pity Mississippi State, which must face No. 5 Alabama after a loss. Gulp.
7:30: Mississippi’s Lane Kiffin returns to Tennessee for the first time as a head coach. Get your popcorn ready.
10: I keep expecting Herm Edwards’ No. 18 Sun Devils to collapse under the weight of an NCAA investigation. Maybe that happens at a Utah team that’s starting to play better?
Nick Saban after a loss
How Alabama has fared the week after its last five regular-season losses (excluding Iron Bowls):
2019
Lost 46-41 to eventual national champion LSU
Next week: Crushed Mississippi State 38-7 in Starkville
2015
Lost 43-37 at home to Mississippi
Next week: Blew out overmatched Louisiana Monroe 34-0
2014
Lost 23-17 at Mississippi
Next week: Beat Arkansas 14-13 on a fourth-quarter touchdown pass
2012
Lost 29-24 to Johnny Manziel’s Aggies
Next week: Blew out Western Carolina 49-0
2011
Lost to LSU 9-6 in a Game of the Century
Next week: Topped Dan Mullen’s Bulldogs 24-7
GameDay breakdown
I hope No. 11 Kentucky has enjoyed its first 6-0 start since 1950. Beating No. 1 Georgia is a Herculean task. Maybe Kentucky’s luck (minus-eight) turns around and Georgia (plus-three) slips. The other upset path is a big special-teams play, like the blocked field goal that helped beat Florida.
Eye on the NFL draft
Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis’ production has dipped, but the 6-foot-4, 275-pound junior remains a first-round prospect. Though he probably won’t line up against Iowa star center Tyler Linderbaum often, the No. 2 Hawkeyes are known for their linemen (like the Bucs’ Tristan Wirfs). A big game will help his draft stock and give the Boilers a prayer at upending Iowa.
• • •
Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook.