Can Mizzou Continue Their Run For Atlanta? SEC Week 9 Predictions
FLast week was one HELL of a weekend for Georgia, Florida, Texas A&M and LSU, who all saw their National Championship and SEC Championship hopes eviscerated by Vanderbilt, Missouri, Auburn and Ole Miss respectively. Meanwhile, The Tide rolled.
Anyway, things are a bit easier to predict in the SEC this weekend, but we’re nevertheless giving our tips. Georgia and Florida fans, you can actually watch this weekend: This week’s not involving you.
GAME OF THE WEEK
SOUTH CAROLINA AT MISSOURI
We can’t understand why College Gameday isn’t in Columbia, or CBS Sports have decided to go for a horror of a game of Alabama and Tennessee, which is going to be over by half-time (charitably). Anyway, Missouri’s beaten defenses with some incredible wide receivers (L’Damian Washington and Dorial Green-Beckham), and mightily experienced team, and good quarterbacking (Injured QB James Franklin’s replacement Maty Maulk was fine in his first-ever college start against Florida), and a very good defense. And although we were thinking that the biggest thing going for Missouri has been the fact that the teams that they have been played were really beaten up (Georgia and Florida) NOW we’re believers. This team is pretty great. South Carolina is generally pretty great – defensively. You know, until they play the fourth quarter against teams, and then they really struggle. We were glad to see a bit of the old Jadeveon Clowney against Tennessee, and Carolina is going to have to move him around even more to avoid being Tiger Bait. Carolina’s also going to have to make sure that the Connor Shaw/Dylan Thompson QB duo is on point.
BOTTOM LINE: South Carolina’s a 2.5-point underdog. We think they are going to lose by 7.
And the rest of the games, dear God, aren’t going to be all that interesting.
VANDERBILT AT TEXAS A&M
Texas A&M’s defense is a joke. We get it. Mark Snyder, A&M’s defensive coordinator is under pressure. He’s possibly the most hated man in College Station right now. Anyway, they play a Vanderbilt team that took advantage of a Georgia ‘D’ that can’t get off the field, and some terrible special teams play. But can they take advantage of A&M’s horrific ‘D’? Or can Johnny Manziel and Mike Evans – the destructors in A&M’s incredible offense, do damage to the Commodores. And is Johnny Manziel going to be healthy after his injury against Auburn? Can QB replacement Matt Joeckel do the job?
BOTTOM LINE: Texas A&M’s an 18-point favorite at Kyle Field. We think they win by 14.
TENNESSEE AT ALABAMA
It’s been great that Tennessee shocked the nation by taking Georgia to overtime and beating South Carolina by – as Steve Spurrier would put it – outplaying ’em (of course, it’s got nothing to do with SoS’ crappy offensive coordinating). But Alabama rolled against a poor Arkansas side, and have been rolling ever since they struggled with Texas A&M. Listen guys – this ain’t going to be close. Tennessee really isn’t that good. Alabama is. Oh, and we’d like to point out that Tennessee WR Marquez North is something special, and it should be interesting to see him play a Sunseri-less Bama secondary. If Justin Worley can throw to him properly.
BOTTOM LINE: Alabama beats the spread, beating Tennessee by 30. But Marquez North should cause Bama some problems in the first half.
AAAAAANND THE REST (IE NOT EVEN CLOSE)
FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT AUBURN
Florida Atlantic’s 1-4 in Conference USA, while Auburn’s 3-1 in the SEC, and are flying.
BOTTOM LINE: Auburn’s only a 24-point favorite. The ‘over’ could be THE bet of the day. For you non-betting folks, Auburn’s going to win by a mile.
FURMAN AT LSU
Furman’s so bad that LSU coach Les Miles said after the Ole Miss game that the team had a ‘week off’. LSU’s defense may be horrible, and Zach Mettenberger may have a horrible half, but if Furman beats LSU, I’m the second coming of Ryan Perrilloux (I’m not, by the way).
BOTTOM LINE: LSU’s a 47-point favorite, going against a Furman side who’s mediocre in the FCS. We’re taking…..LSU. And by more than 47