OTHER PICKSUSC 35, California 28Florida State 24, Miami 17Duke 23, Virginia Tech 20N.C. State 30, Wake Forest 19UNC 31, Pittsburgh 24Ohio State 44, Minnesota 27Penn State 27, Temple 13TCU 55, Kansas 14Arizona 38, Washington 31Wisconsin 23, Nebraska 20Notre Dame 28, N'western 13MTSU 30, Fla. International 21Oklahoma 48, Texas Tech 29Michigan St. 19, Maryland 10Arizona St. 35, Oregon St. 31Marshall 29, Rice 20Utah 27, Stanford 24
The polar vortex is coming to Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Old Man Winter is expected to have a seat at Saturday night's game between Arkansas and LSU, with the Weather Channel calling for a 70-percent chance of snow. The head gear possibilities are limitless for LSU coach Les Miles, who believes his team will be excited by the elements.
"You put yourself in position to be comfortable, and after that you enjoy it," Miles said Wednesday. "You've got to defeat the elements as well as the opponents, and as long as you prepare for it and understand the regimen that succeeds in that style of weather, I think you'll be fine. I think our guys are going to have a smile on their face figuring this is going to be cold and that it will be a great experience.
"If you have the want to play in the next league, you better get ready, because there is Pittsburgh and Cleveland and Buffalo."
LSU's 49.4 rushing attempts per game are the most in the Southeastern Conference, while Arkansas ranks fourth at 43.3. Should brutal conditions accompany Saturday's game, both teams might exceed 50 carries.
"One of the reasons we go with this type of offense is that you can play in all weather," Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema said.
The Arkansas-LSU game has been a Thanksgiving weekend fixture since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in 1992, but it has been moved up as the result of the league's latest expansion. Arkansas will now end each season against Missouri, with LSU now concluding annually against Texas A&M.
Missouri and Texas A&M joined the SEC before the 2012 season.
"I'm a big believer in embracing history, and I think there are a lot of families who have a lot of traditions around this game itself," Bielema said. "You hate to see that change, but we have a chance to make a new tradition. We've got a Missouri game at the end of the year that will be on a Friday and will be on national TV."
Pasquali's Pix:
Clemson at Georgia Tech: Deshaun Watson will start at quarterback for the Tigers in this tasty matchup of teams who are combined 15-4. Tigers 28, Yellow Jackets 24.
South Carolina at Florida: This, in all likelihood, will be Steve Spurrier's final time to coach in the Swamp. Gamecocks 24, Gators 19.
UTC at Tennessee Tech: We would be much more intrigued this season by a UTC trip to Vanderbilt. Mocs 44, Golden Eagles 13.
Mississippi State at Alabama: In the history of the College Football Playoff rankings, no team has been ranked No. 1 other than Mississippi State. Crimson Tide 27, Bulldogs 22.
Kentucky at Tennessee: Team 118 hosts Team 5-1 to 5-5. Volunteers 27, Wildcats 16.
Auburn at Georgia: This may come down to who handles the moment better between Todd Gurley and Nick Marshall. Bulldogs 41, Tigers 34.
Missouri at Texas A&M: The Tigers are 13-8 in SEC games since becoming a member, while the Aggies are 13-9. Tigers 26, Aggies 23.
LSU at Arkansas: These two programs already played to a 0-0 tie in the Cotton Bowl, later dubbed the "Ice Bowl," after the 1946 season. Tigers 21, Razorbacks 14.
Last week:
Winners...................20
Stoops brothers.........5
Pasquali is now 217-58 overall (78.9 percent) this season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.