First rough week in a while, something that is likely to be expected in an SEC that seems to be as wacky as it ever has been. On the plus side, I did call Tennessee over ‘Bama.
By Steve Wright
Week Results: 4-2
Closest Pick: Georgia 42, Vandy 14. The Actual was Georgia 55, Vandy 0. I was only one point out overall, but this is a hollow victory, as the distribution was brutal.
Worst Pick: Take your pick, as I had both Mississippi State beating Kentucky and Florida over LSU.
Season Results: 57-11 (83.8%). Last week was 85.4%
Byes – Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Arkansas, Auburn
UT Martin @ (3) Tennessee – Assuming that Tennessee can muster a set of goalposts for this one, the Vols will roll. This is a position Tennessee hasn’t been in with this set of players trying to get up for a lower-level team after a program-defining win. They will take a while to warm up, but this will still be a Saturday stroll. Tennessee 48, UT Martin 10.
(7) Ole Miss @ LSU – I have the Rebels on upset alert this weekend. Jayden Daniels was a monster against Florida – he accounted for six touchdowns – and this is an LSU team that is almost as good on third down as Ole Miss. The Rebels want to run the ball – they are No. 3 in the country in rushing yards per game – but they haven’t yet played a defensive front like LSU. I think the Tigers steal this late. LSU 34, Ole Miss 31.
Vandy @ Mizzou – Vandy has been blasted off the park the last three weeks by Alabama, Ole Miss, and Georgia. Mizzou is a grinder or a team that sometimes plays to the level of its competition. It won’t do so this week, making enough downfield throws to get comfortably ahead against a defense that has allowed an average of over 400 passing yards per game for the last three weeks. Mizzou 41, Vandy 17.
(24) Mississippi State @ (6) Alabama – Alabama is hurting after the Tennessee loss. The question is do they have a hangover or do they com out firing? The money here is on them firing, with the mid-range passing attack of Will ogers laying right into the strength of their defense. The deep ball kills ‘Bama – that and penalties – but Mississippi State doesn’t unbalance opponents with a running game or test them down the field. That will be their undoing. Alabama 41, Mississippi State 21.
Texas A&M @ South Carolina – The 4-2 Gamecocks are hiding a little behind a false record. Their four wins were against three cupcakes at home and a Kentucky team missing potentially the No. 1 quarterback off the board in the NFL draft. Shane Beamer is 5-0 coming off a bye, but the Aggies have never lost to the Gamecocks. Something has to give, and this is the week the Texas A&M true freshman take a big step forward with an SEC road win. Texas A&M 31, South Carolina 17.
