ANDY’S PICKS: Williams’ defense needs to show something today

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — While most people are buzzing about Bobby Petrino’s offense lighting up UAPB last week, Arkansas will have a different experience this week. Oklahoma State has been hyping this game all off-season and it’s likely to be a wild scenario in a difficult environment.

Plus the Cowboys have better players than the Razorbacks have seen. Plus, they have experience playing together in the unit where it matters the most — offensive line. Add maybe the best running back in college football behind them and there is a problem.

The Hogs’ defense has to find a way to stop Ollie Gordon and a passing game that’s good, particularly with the linebackers. Co-defensive coordinator Travis Williams coaches that position group and they are new and really untested. They haven’t seen anything like they are going to see from OSU in practices this year. Can they get off the field enough to give the offense a chance?

Taylen Green and the Razorbacks’ offense should put up a few points. They have to get the ball, though, which means Arkansas can’t let the Cowboys’ running attack just run at them unmercifully for the entire game. That could make it a shorter game and that probably wouldn’t work out well at all. Oklahoma State 34, Arkansas 23

Pete Morgan got all excited by winning by a single game last week. Florida really played terrible against Miami so that gives Morgan a brief little lead in the contest … I think. He’s keeping up with it. I had to check what drug he was suggesting I would be taking since I’ve never heard of that. Don’t worry because I’m not.

(3) Texas at (10) Michigan: This is the type game teams should be playing every week. No more of playing these FCS schools. Just send a check. Trust me, everybody will benefit more from that. Barring a collapse, though, the SEC should win this game going away. With Jim Harbaugh leaving for the NFL, that was the driving force behind the Wolverines’ title run last year. The Longhorns got close, but they may be better this year and may have a deeper roster than anybody in college football. Quarterback isn’t the only place they’re stacked three deep. Texas 38, Michigan 24

McNeese State at Texas A&M: Here we go again. The Aggies get their rent-a-win after taking Notre Dame to the wire next week. This one should never really be close as the Aggies are favored by more than 48 points, They will likely cover. Texas A&M 52, McNeese State 0

Tennessee Tech at (1) Georgia: Not much to talk about in this game. The Bulldogs get a scrimmage this week after manhandling Clemson last week. Georgia 62, Tennessee Tech 6

South Carolina at Kentucky: Now we finally get to see conference games. For some reason, there is a rivalry between these two schools. The Wildcats’ faithful are worked up over it and the Gamecocks really don’t appear to be a program that’s going to jump very high. For whatever reason, the Gamecocks appear to be trying to get to the middle of the pack and that doesn’t appear to be a championship plan. Kentucky 27, South Carolina 21

California at Auburn: Pete Morgan said he watched this game last year, which may give us some clues how exciting his game watching is or what he’s drinking while watching. Unless you’re a Tigers’ fan, this game will be about as exciting as watching two mules fighting over a turnip. Auburn 29, California 17

Middle Tennessee at (6) Ole Miss: Razorback fans got excited over a 70-0 win last week over UAPB and the Rebels opened against Furman two days later and produced a 76-0 win. Ole Miss are making statements to justify their ranking and I really have never been particularly worked up over running up scores with the exception of some SMU games in 1989 coming off a two-year death penalty and Houston trying to score 100 points. Lane Kiffin won’t do that. Ole Miss 63, Middle Tennessee 6

Buffalo at (9) Missouri: The only way this game is newsworthy is if it’s remotely close at halftime. Tigers trying to make a run at the expanded playoffs this year and out-recruiting the Hogs for players in Arkansas. It’s a simple game for Eli Drinkwitz’s team that should handle this one with no problem. Missouri 44, Buffalo 10

Samford at Florida: Most people have already concluded Gators coach Billy Napier is gone after stinking up the field against Miami in the opener. They shouldn’t have any problem in this one, but a shocking loss could create the first major opening of the season. That shouldn’t be discussed this weekend at all. Florida 62, Samford 7

South Florida at (4) Alabama: Seriously, we have to write something about this. I’m halfway tempted to just invoke a win rule and include all these games in one paragraph because this won’t be interesting after the first quarter. Or it shouldn’t be. Alabama 63, South Florida 17

Alcorn State at Vanderbilt: Good grief. The Commodores keep ringing the bell this week. Vanderbilt 48, Alcorn State 21

Nicholls State at (18) LSU: This one would certainly be in that paragraph mentioned above. Bobby Petrino was right a couple of weeks ago when he said schools should just make a dontation because nobody gets anything out of these. LSU 56, Nicholls State 7

(24) NC State at (14) Tennessee: Maybe we find out a little bit about what the Hogs will be facing in Fayetteville in a few weeks. The Vols are under-rated in my view and will. I just hope they play in real uniforms and not those gosh-awful gray things that probably should have been burned a few years ago. Whoever thought that is a good look for an iconic brand should never be allowed to choose uniforms again. Tennessee 35, NC State 16

Houston at (15) Oklahoma: There was a time this might be an interesting game, but it’s not this year. The Cougars are in a mess with a new coach and trying to rebuild an entire program after Dan Holgorsen left it in chaos. Hopefully nobody in Norman, Okla, turns the wagon over on the field because it will probably be out there quite a bit. Oklahoma 49, Houston 10

Mississippi State at Arizona State: In the interest of transparency, my oldest covers the Bulldogs for the On SI site. I have some insights on this one and it’s not particularly positive. The Sun Devils have renewed interest from fans and the Phoenix area and they have been a really good program at times. They aren’t ready to challenge for championships right now, but they are at home and the Bulldogs are still sorting things out. Arizona State 34, Mississippi State 21.