College Football Weekend Preview: Highly Anticipated Match-up

College football fans have been looking ahead to this match-up since toe met leather this season. Saturday night the new look Alabama Crimson Tide welcome in Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs for a top five match-up that almost always lives up to the billing.

While both teams come into this game sporting 3-0 records — both have had moments of greatness; Bama blowing out Wisconsin on the road and UGA smashing Clemson to start the season — but both teams have shown vulnerability this season as well. Bama struggled with South Florida for 50 minutes and UGA squeaked out a win at Kentucky. 

Rest should not be an issue as both teams had bye weeks last Saturday in preparation for Saturday night. The game, set for a 7:30pm kickoff at Bryant-Denny Stadium on ABC, is one of the most anticipated match-ups of the season.

These two teams have combined for three of the four previous national champions, and the winner of this game on Saturday will have an inside track to a playoff bye or home playoff game come December.

Both quarterbacks would love a strong game to cement their status in the Heisman race as Jalen Milroe (+750 on FanDuel) and Carson Beck (+1500) are falling behind the leaders Cam Ward (+350) and Jaxson Dart (+500). 

While the college football world will have all their eyeballs in Alabama Saturday night, there are two other games to keep an eye on. 

Illinois is fresh off their upset win at Nebraska and will look to make it two straight ranked road wins as they head to Happy Valley to take on the 9th ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. That one is also set for a 7:30PM kickoff on NBC.

Earlier in the day, 16th ranked Notre Dame will play host to 15th ranked Louisville for a 3:30PM kick-off, but note that this game is on Peacock only. So get that account up and ready if you want to see if the Golden Domes can pick up a much needed ranked win or if Louisville will move to 4-0 after their big win last week over Georgia Tech. 

Enjoy your Saturday and make sure you have a seat and a remote ready.

Wood is host of the Taste of Country Mornings With Wood and Nicole, which can be heard every morning from 6-10AM CT on the Taste of Country app, on local affiliates where available and online at tasteofcountry.com.