Tony’s Take: DAWGS | JACKETS | ARMY ~ NAVY | GSU | D-II CFB | NFL + CFB PICS

UGA @ TEXAS. Many games have been completed since my late August CFB preview. Speaking of games, who can forget Vandy taking down the Tide? In that article, I predicted UGA to win the SEC regular season based on a tie-breaker with Texas by winning in Austin. I also predicted UGA meet either BAMA or TX in the SEC championship. Given the Dawgs falling to the Tide two weeks ago, a win in Austin is likely a must to play for the conference title.

#5 UGA will have their toughest road test to date at #1 TX in front of over 100,000 raucous fans led by superfan Matthew McConaughey. A single ticket for the game is approaching $400. Dawg Nation traveling west will drop some coins this coming weekend, and I’m certain the game will not disappoint.

The Longhorns are favored by less than a field goal. UGA is 50 – 3 since 2020 with all three losses coming to Alabama. From my vantage point, TX has been more consistent than UGA this season, so I am flipping my pre-season pick and the Dawgs will drop this one in Austin.

ADVANTAGE TEXAS. UGA and TX are two premier CFB programs. However, the Longhorns edge in this match-up lies on the offensive side of the ball. UT’s HC Steve Sarkisian is a more innovative play-caller than UGA’s OC Mike Bobo. Play calling, explosive downfield plays combined with the match-up at QB will be the difference in this clash of the titans.

GA TECH. Can 5 – 2 Tech defeat 5- 1 #12 Notre Dame in Mercedez Benz Stadium to become bowl eligible? Yellow Jacket Brent Key is 5 – 1, not including two losses to UGA, against ranked opponents during his short tenure as head coach.

If Tech dual-threat starting QB Haynes King doesn’t bounce back from the 4th quarter injury against UNC last Saturday, the Jackets won’t Sting ‘Em. However, with a healthy QB I believe Tech can cover given ND is an 8.5 point favorite.

I’m curious to see if there is fan balance in the Benz, or will the Irish national fan base take over the venue? The Jacket’s performances in their two losses and last week’s game against UNC raise concern. While I anticipate a competitive game, Notre Dame will improve to 31 – 6 – 1 in the all-time series.

ARMY + NAVY. Don’t look now, but the two service academies are a combined 11 – 0 and both are in the Top 25. Any chance the winner of America’s Game receives a spot in the 12-team playoff? What if both teams enter The Game undefeated? Can both get a bid to the playoff? Both teams can strengthen their resume by defeating Notre Dame. @ Navy 10_26 | host Army 11_23 | Let’s watch both academies.

GA SOUTHERN. The Eagles rallied to score 21 unanswered points in the final 6:35 to stun Marshall 24-23 last weekend to improve to 4 – 2. A friend and fellow Maconite was at the game, and she said it was amazing!

DIVISION II PLAYOFFS. While there is much discussion on the FBS 12-team playoff, some may be asking what the 162-team D-II playoff format looks like. 4-time D-II National Champion Valdosta State University has blazed out to a 6 – 0 start. The other in-state D-II’s include: Albany State, Clarke Atlanta, Ft. Valley State, Morehouse, Savannah State, and Shorter.

The NCAA Division II football playoff bracket consists of 28 teams. The teams are part of 4 Super Regions of 7 teams. The top team in each Super Region receives a bye in the first round. Once the bracket reaches the semifinals, the national committee re-seeds the remaining four teams. All contests are played on-campus until the national championship game.

It should be noted that the playoff field is completely earned access. In other words, conference champions do not receive an automatic bid to the 28-team bracket. The national committee evaluates multiple analytics and the strength of schedule plays a significant factor. Three Super Region rankings are released in the final three weeks of the season.

If your favorite in-state D-II has 3 or more losses during the season, they have no chance of making the field.

SUPER 6 + 1. | #5 UGA @ #1 TEXAS | GA Tech vs NOTRE DAME | #7 ALABAMA @ #11 TENNESSEE | Seahawks @ FALCONS | JAGUARS vs Patriots | LIONS @ Vikings | E Carolina @ #23 ARMY | BOLD = Winner | RECORD 30 – 12

Tony Duckworth is a native of Macon and currently resides in Albany.  Tony worked in intercollegiate athletics for thirty-one years.  Between 2007 – 2023 he was an NCAA Division II Director of Athletics at three different universities, including Albany State, following ten years as a head men’s basketball coach at two colleges.  Follow Tony on the X platform at @tonyduckworthsr.