I mean Week 3 wasn’t exactly the hardest week in the world to pick considering how many cupcakes were littered on the schedule. I was proud of picking the closest game of note (K State/Miss State) but was one win away from a perfect picking week. Maybe Week 4 will be that week.
By Steve Wright
Last week’s record: 10-1
Overall record: 29-7
Exact score predicted: 0
Misses: Just the one this week. Arkansas found an explosion of offense (they are probably just as shocked as we are) in beating up Colorado State 55-34.
Closest Pick: Kansas State 31, Mississippi State 27. Actual score was Wildcats 31, Bulldogs 24. Just three points off in total.
Saturday, September 21
Southern Miss @ No. 2 Alabama – Tua Tagovailoa is playing so well within the Bama offensive system, especially on short completions that go for long gains. This would be a great game for him to get his deep throws into a more consistent rhythm. Alabama 48, Southern Miss 10.
No. 4 LSU @ Vanderbilt – Vanderbilt will have to be close to perfect to win this game. QB Riley Neal was able to bomb it out against Purdue, but it is hard to see the same thing happening against a LSU defensive backfield loaded with NFL level talent. LSU rolls here. LSU 41, Vandy 17.
Tennessee @ No. 9 Florida – Kyle Trask gets the start at QB for the No. 9 team in the nation after Feleipe Franks went down last week. Trask was able to engineer a comeback against Kentucky, but the Wildcats should have won that game. The Florida pass rush will make it much easier for the QB as they will live in the Vols backfield on Saturday. Florida 31, Tennessee 10.
No. 23 Cal @ Ole Miss – Cal is holding teams to less than 5.5 yards per attempt and the secondary is coming up big in key moments. The biggest problem Ole Miss faces is that its offense plays in a weird way where they have no clock control – or game management – no matter if they are playing fast or slow. That will cost them here. Cal 28, Ole Miss 21.
No. 8 Auburn @ No. 17 Texas A&M – Bo Nix still isn’t accurate enough as a passer for the Auburn offense to break out as it has in past seasons. That means the line play must be exceptional against an Aggies’ team determined to show their play against Clemson was not indicative of where they are as a team. Playing at Kyle Field will allow Kellen Mond to pull off a big upset. A&M 29, Auburn 17.
Kentucky @ Mississippi State – Kentucky needs this one after a disappointing loss to Florida last weekend. It is a battle of two reloading teams that will be much better come the end of SEC play than they are right now. If UK can convert on short down situations they will win this one. Kentucky 27, Mississippi State 21.
South Carolina @ Mizzou – Ryan Hilinski showed against Alabama – 327 yards passing and two touchdowns – that he is the man for the job at QB. Kelly Bryant looked great last week at the QB position for Mizzou (albeit against SM Missouri State) and this battle will likely be won by whichever new QB plays best on the day. We think it will be Bryant. Mizzou 28, South Carolina 20.
San Jose State @ Arkansas – Arkansas had a nice little offensive explosion last week and RB Rakeem Boyd is playing well behind an offensive line that has been getting some solid push. Look for A&M transfer Nick Starkel to continue to push the ball downfield and the Hogs will give the Spartans way too much to handle over the course of four quarters. Arkansas 48, San Jose State 21.
No. 7 Notre Dame @ No. 3 Georgia – It feels like this is a bigger game on paper than it will be on the field. Ian Book is playing ok at QB for Notre Dame, but he will have to be spectacular to upset a Georgia team with a pair of Heisman contenders at the QB and RB spots. Book won’t be good enough to keep this close. Georgia 35, Notre Dame 17.
This Week’s SEC Football News and Analysis
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