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Stay hydrated with Joe’s free newsletter, SPORTS! Happy Hour. Here’s the link to sign up. Celebrated from coast to coast by sports fans, bag men, hippies, U.S. Senators, maybe Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, bartenders across the country, mafia Dons in New Jersey, radio jockeys, theoretical physicists and fighter pilots Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero is the greatest resource for college football shenanigans on the internet. This is the 16th season for Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero in its various forms. This is the third season of the grand experiment for readers to get in on the action. Sign up for Joe’s newsletter, SPORTS! Happy Hour, to keep up with who wins the 6-0 Challenge each week. Make your picks and compare your wits against the experts (and Joe). Win the 6-0 Challenge and enjoy eternal glory. The newsletter comes out every Thursday afternoon at 4:20 p.m. Enter your email to subscribe. Joe subscribes to ol’ Billy Shakespeare’s philosophy of picking football games. “Jesters do oft prove prophets,” mused the Great Bard. What is Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero? Consider it a gift to society. THE GRAND EXPERIMENT Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for AL.com. What happens when a sportswriter picks some of the toughest games of the week and goes head-to-head against a sharp and a football expert with a Harvard education? It’s a gift for college football fans every week in the state where college football is like a religion. The Pro is Lee Sterling, a noted numbers man of national success. Sterling features his best picks on his website, ParamountSports.com, but The Pro fearlessly picks the most difficult college games of the week against Joe and the Hero. Joe is just a hack and a slacker who everyone loves to hate. No one works harder than Hero Ben Abercrombie. Ben played football at Hoover High School and Harvard, and he’s working every day to regain his ability to walk. He’s a recent graduate of Harvard University, and an inspiration to all. To thank him, we want everyone to stand up for Ben and show him some love. Show Joe no love at all. Besmirch his name at small dinner parties, and troll him with signs on ESPN College GameDay. GOODMAN: Fight like the Badger every day of your life 6-0 CHALLENGE Click the link here to make your picks for Week 10 of the 6-0 Challenge. We’re also embedding the picks form inside the post for Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero. Weekly winners of the 6-0 Challenge will be announced in Joe’s newsletter. Sign up for the FREE newsletter here. Winners will be announced on the newsletter every week. Remember, picks are against the spread. SURVEY SAYS!!! OK, first things first. Ignore the mistakes in the pie chart. Reese’s Cup and Sour Patch Kids ... I must have been hungry at some point last week. As for the poll question, we had some interesting results. Who would be a better value on the NIL market as an edge rusher, Jason from “Friday the 13th” or a werewolf? Survey says ... every great defense needs a couple dogs. LAST WEEK Joe: 1-5 straight up, 0-6 against the spread Pro: 4-2 straight up, 2-4 against the spread Hero: 5-1 straight up, 4-2 against the spread Notes: Another monster week for the Hero with hits all over the place. The Hero was the only player to pick Ole Miss’ upset of Texas A&M and nailed Vandy’s big win against Mizzou. SEASON TOTALS Joe: 33-21, 25-29 Pro: 37-17, 30-24 Hero: 36-18, 31-23 Notes: It was going to happen eventually. Joe fell flat on his face amid his best season in years. Never forget, fade Joe for dough! Meanwhile, look at those amazing records for the Pro the Hero. No.9 Vanderbilt (7-1, 3-1) at No.20 Texas (6-2, 3-1) When: 11 a.m., Sat. Where: DKR-Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas TV: ABC and ESPN App Series: Vanderbilt leads 8-4-1. Spread: Texas by 1.5 Total: 44.5 Trendy: Vanderbilt is 6-2 against the spread this season. VU GAME NOTES: Vanderbilt heads to Texas this week to face the Longhorns in Austin for just the second time in program history and first since 1903. Joe says: This is a revenge game for the Dores after last season’s close loss at home. Arch Manning isn’t completely terrible, but I don’t think he has the confidence to take down Diego Pavia and the Commodores after suffering a concussion against Mississippi State. Will Arch even play? It won’t matter who starts. Vandy is on a mission, and its defense will rise to the occasion on the road after holding Mizzou to only 10 points last week. Joe’s pick: Vanderbilt 19, Texas 13 Pro says: After opening the 2024 season 4-0 against the spread, the Longhorns have gone just 6-14. Things are so bad that preseason No.1 ranked Texas has two losses and needed overtime the last two weeks to get by cellar dwellers Kentucky and Mississippi State. The offensive line gave up 12 tackles for loss in the Mississippi State escape. Two punt returns in wins over Oklahoma and Mississippi State were key plays. Throw in the fact Arch Manning is still in concussion protocol and I’ll ride the Diego Pavia train one more week. Pro’s pick: Vanderbilt 24, Texas 20 Hero says: After an awful first three quarters and being down by 17 in the fourth, Texas found a way to win AGAIN last week. However, the Longhorns’ offense is still a mess, while having to rely on Ryan Niblett’s electric punt returns and their defense to set them up in scoring position. It’s possible that Texas’ offense will be better with Matthew Caldwell at quarterback if Arch is out with a concussion, but there’s no fixing an offensive line that ranks 116th in stuff rate. I’ll trust Vanderbilt to find a way to win. Hero’s pick: Vanderbilt 27, Texas 24 No.5 Georgia (6-1, 4-1) vs. Florida (3-4, 2-2) When: 2:30 p.m., Sat. Where: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla. TV: ABC and ESPN App Series: Georgia leads 56-44-2. Spread: Georgia by 7.5. Total: 50.5 Trendy: Florida is 1-3 against the spread when playing ranked opponents. UGA GAME NOTES: Georgia has trailed early and late in four of its SEC games this year. The Bulldogs have rallied to beat No. 15 Tennessee and Auburn on the road, and most recently, No. 5 Ole Miss in Athens. Joe says: Georgia’s defense is only allowing 91.1 yards per game on the ground. That’s a good recipe for a win in a neutral site rivalry game against a team that has pass-happy Billy Gonzales as the interim head coach. If the Bulldogs dare Florida to pass, I’m not sure the Gators are up for the challenge. Bulldogs linebackers CJ Allen, Raylen Wilson and sophomore Quintavius Johnson have started every game this season. It feels like the Bulldogs are going to be peaking at the perfect time this season. Joe’s pick: Georgia 27, Florida 17 Pro says: Each of the last four games between these two bitter rivals the betting line has always been above two touchdowns. Even with such high point spreads, the margin of each Bulldogs’ win has been between 14 and 27 points. Georgia’s offense may not have many high draft picks on their offense, but the final product is better than the individual parts and they seem to get better in the second half of games. Georgia coach Kirby Smart also seems to have a huge coaching edge over a Gators’ interim staff that is probably more concerned about landing their next coaching gigs. Pro’s pick: Georgia 31, Florida 20 Hero says: It’ll be interesting to see if Florida gets the post-head-coach-firing bump of playing good football that some teams seem to get. Either way, Georgia has gotten off to slow starts all season, especially on defense, but the Dawgs flip a switch after halftime and are the best second-half team in the country. Florida may come out swinging and even lead going into halftime, but the Bulldogs will win by double digits. Hero’s pick: Georgia 31, Florida 21 South Carolina (3-5, 1-5) at No.7 Ole Miss (7-1, 4-1) When: 6 p.m., Sat. Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Miss. TV: ESPN Series: Ole Miss leads 10-8. Spread: Ole Miss by 7.5. Total: 54.5 Trendy: South Carolina is 3-1 against the spread after a loss. OM GAME NOTES: Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss leads the nation with 2,160 yards of offense since first starting in Week 3. Joe says: South Carolina is fresh on my mind after traveling to see Alabama play the Gamecocks last week. South Carolina isn’t a terrible team, but it started to become clear late in the second half that the Gamecocks just didn’t have the talent to hold back the Crimson Tide. Things don’t get any easier for the Gamecocks, which are 1-3 against teams this season when coming off a loss. South Carolina has lost to ranked Missouri, ranked Oklahoma, ranked LSU and ranked Alabama. Is a letdown game coming for Lane Kiffin, who is being rumored for the coaching gigs at Florida and LSU? I don’t see Kiffin’s offense taking it easy after missing out on the playoffs last year. Joe’s pick: Ole Miss 31, South Carolina 20 Pro says: The path for Ole Miss to make the CFB Playoff seems doable. After this game, only Florida at home, The Citadel and Mississippi State remain. The Gamecocks might have left it all on the field — especially their defense — in a close loss at home to Alabama last week. South Carolina’s offensive line is a mess and not talented and this seems like the game where LaNorris Sellers throws multiple interceptions or fumbles trying to do too much when trying to mount a comeback. Pro’s pick: Ole Miss 37, South Carolina 17 Hero says: The Ole Miss offense is humming behind Trinidad Chambliss, and I expect that to continue this week. But the Rebels’ defense has struggled to get off the field against dual-threat quarterbacks, and LaNorris Sellers is the most talented one they’ve faced yet. It’s a given that Ole Miss will put up points, but I think LaNorris Sellers, despite not having much help around him, can do enough on his own to stay within two touchdowns. Hero’s pick: Ole Miss 35, South Carolina 23 No.18 Oklahoma (6-2, 2-2) at No.14 Tennessee (6-2, 3-2) When: 6:30 p.m., Sat. Where: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn. TV: ABC and ESPN App Series: Oklahoma leads 3-2. Spread: Tennessee by 2.5. Total: 56.5 Trendy: Oklahoma is 2-0 against the spread as the away team. OU GAME NOTES: Oklahoma has registered 11-plus tackles for loss in each of the last six games (a combined 76), the program’s longest streak of double-digit TFLs since at least the 1976 season. Joe says: I’m beginning to have doubts about the Sooners’ offense. First there was the loss to Texas (excusable, rivalry game, etc.), but falling at home to Ole Miss revealed even more flaws. This is a do-or-die game for both teams when it comes to making the College Football Playoffs, and I like Tennessee at night under the Neyland Stadium lights. The Volunteers’ defense had plenty of film to correct this week after giving up 34 points to Kentucky, but if it turns into another shootout, why would I pick the Sooners? Joe’s pick: Tennessee 38, Oklahoma 30 Pro says: Oklahoma lost twice this season when they were a favorite and certainly could have lost the Auburn game if the refs didn’t have so many blown calls. After their first loss, the Sooners defense clamped down on the South Carolina offense the following week. In his three-plus seasons, OU coach Brent Venables is a strong 2-1 as a rare road dog. Quarterback John Mateer is also one week further away from his hand surgery. Toughest game on the board to handicap, so I’ll take the quarterback with the better pedigree. Pro’s pick: Oklahoma 28, Tennessee 24 Hero says: John Mateer has struggled since returning from injury, and their offensive line has had a tough time protecting him, ranking 93rd in sacks allowed per game. This works in Tennessee’s favor as their defense averages over 3 sacks per game. The Tennessee offense has been great all year, averaging 45.6 PPG, and can give Oklahoma some of the same headaches Ole Miss did last week. While I suspect the Vols defense will give up big plays, they should be able to put enough pressure on Mateer to force him into enough mistakes for a Tennessee win. Hero’s pick: Tennessee 34, Oklahoma 29 Kentucky (2-5, 0-5) at Auburn (4-4, 1-4) When: 6:30 p.m., Sat. Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala. TV: SEC Network and ESPN App Series: Auburn leads 28-6-1. Spread: Auburn by 10.5. Total: 45.5 Trendy: Auburn is 0-2 against the spread as the home favorite. AU GAME NOTES: Despite facing the top four rushing teams in SEC play the last four weeks, the Tigers rank second in the SEC in rushing defense in conference play (94.4). Joe says: The Tigers are better than their record indicates. Jackson Arnold is out and new quarterback Ashton Daniels can actually complete passes downfield. The win against Arkansas felt like a breakthrough. I know Kentucky had five touchdown passes in its last game, but Tennessee’s defense wasn’t very motivated in the second half of a blowout. Auburn’s second-half surge continues and coach Hugh Freeze keeps his job for another week. Joe’s pick: Auburn 18, Kentucky 13 Pro says: With Auburn getting their first conference win last week, will they be able to follow up on that success and save Hugh Freez’s job? This game is a must win with games at Vanderbilt and at home against Alabama remaining. With a now-open competition at quarterback between former starter Jackson Arnold and senior journeyman transfer Ashton Daniels from Stanford, plus receiver Cam Coleman’s status up in the air due to an ankle injury , I’ll lean Kentucky on the bounce back. Pro’s pick: Auburn 27, Kentucky 21 Hero says: Auburn replaced Jackson Arnold after a horrible pick-six with Ashton Daniels last week and scored 17 unanswered in the fourth quarter to win the game. If Daniels can get the Tigers’ passing game going and get the ball into the hands of their talented receivers, then Auburn could be a completely different team. Auburn’s defense has been solid all year, and I think will give a turnover-prone Kentucky offense some problems. Hero’s pick: Auburn 28, Kentucky 14 No.17 Cincinnati (7-1, 5-0) at No.24 Utah (6-2, 3-2) When: 9:15 p.m., Sat. Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City TV: NBC and Peacock Series: USC leads 5-0-1. Spread: Utah by 8.5. Total: 55.5 Trendy: Cincy is 6-2 against the spread. UC GAME NOTES: Cincinnati ranks fourth in the nation in yards per play (7.36) and features the most balanced offense in the country. The Bearcats rank eighth nationally in yards per rush (6.05) and fourth in pass efficiency (175.38) Joe says: Coach Scott Satterfield is doing a great job at Cincinnati this season. The Bearcats’ offensive line is ranked second in the country, having allowed only two sacks all season. UC quarterback Brenden Sorsby is the Big 12’s highest-ranked quarterback and the Bearcats lead the country in fourth-down conversion (.909). I’m riding with the Bearcats on the road despite being a heavy underdog. I think this team is underrated and Sorsby has already lead one come-from-behind victory this season (Kansas). Joe’s pick: Cincinnati 28, Utah 21 Pro says: The Bearcats are 7-0 straight up and 5-2 against the spread since losing to Nebraska in Week 1. Wouldn’t that score against Nebraska probably be reversed two months later? Utes quarterback Devon Dampier will hopefully be back for this home game, but I’m OK with true freshman Byrd Ficklin under center as he had 151 rushing yards and three touchdowns taking over in last week’s 53-7 blowout win over Colorado. I’m still concerned about the Bearcats’ defense, which only has seven takeaways (six fumble recoveries and one interception) in seven games. Pro’s pick: Utah 34, Cincinnati 20 Hero says: Cincinnati has quietly played like one of the better teams in the country since losing in Week 1. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby has been special this year with 1,829 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns to one interception with seven rushing touchdowns. Sorsby can beat defenses in multiple ways, but Utah has an offense that can control the clock if the Bearcats defense can’t stop the run. Controlling the clock is how Utah can win this game and in Utah’s favor, Cincinnati has struggled to stop the run at times this year. However, it hasn’t hurt them yet due to their explosive offense, and since the Utes have struggled against good teams this year, I’m taking Cincinnati.
