Week 1 of SEC football is in the books with one major surprise and a couple of close calls. Here is how we did with a look ahead to Week 2.
By Steve Wright
Week Results: 5-2
Closest Pick: Georgia 31, Arkansas 14. Actual was Georgia 37, Arkansas 10. The lone bright spot this week in the picks really.
Season Results: 5-2
South Carolina @ (3) Florida – This is usually a close game with five of the last seven being decided by less than a touchdown. The Florida offense looked unstoppable against Ole Miss, but their defense wasn’t up to its usual standard. South Carolina still has no identity and I think that this is one the Gators take at a canter. Florida 38, South Carolina 20.
Mizzou @ (21) Tennessee – The Tigers will be better under their new head coaching regime but this isn’t their spot for an upset. The Vols will get enough of the good version of Jarrett Guarantano to pull away late by a couple of scores. Tennessee 31, Mizzou 20.
(13) Texas A&M @ (2) Alabama –Texas A&M is better than their 17-12 win over Vandy would suggest, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Kellen Mond will do enough at QB to keep this interesting for a while before Najee Harris and the Bama rushing attack takes over in the second half. Alabama 31, A&M 17.
Ole Miss @ Kentucky – You can make an argument that while Ole Miss was being passed all over last weekend by Florida the Wildcats should have taken down Auburn. This will be a game where Kentucky QB Terry Wilson gets on track and the defense tightens after too many mistakes a week ago in their upset bid. Kentucky 42, Ole Miss 20.
Also see our official 14Powers.com SEC football predictions
(7) Auburn @ (4) Georgia – Don’t expect this one to be pretty. Neither running game is working right now, but Bo Nix is a better option at QB than anything that Georgia can throw out there after their plans were rocked by an opt-out before the season began. That will make this interesting, but I expect much more for the Bulldogs rushing attack this weekend as they squeak out a win. Georgia 27, Auburn 21.
Arkansas @ (16) Mississippi State – That Mike Leach offense looked pretty damn good in the SEC against LSU last Saturday. Mississippi State went for 623 yards and five touchdowns and Arkansas isn’t the team with the defense to slow that attack down. This will be close for a quarter or so and then the Leach attack will take over. Mississippi State 48, Arkansas 20.
(20) LSU @ Vanderbilt – Myles Brennan was better than the talk would have you believe after he passed for 345 yards against Mississippi State. Vanderbilt has a defense that is the real deal – as was shown by giving up just 17 points to A&M – and if the Tigers are as down this year as is feared then there is no reason an upset can’t happen here. Let’s go for it. Vandy 21, LSU 19.
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