Will the Florida Gators be Tiger Bait? Or The Other Way Round? SEC Week 7 Predictions
Jeez Louise, it’s Week 7 of the 2013 College Football season already. At SEC Football Blog Towers, I’m already crying my eyes out that the season is over….and it hasn’t gone yet!
Anyway, there will be no tears in Baton Rouge on Saturday afternoon when Florida rolls into Death Valley to play LSU. Last year Florida owned LSU, and LSU will be looking for a rematch against the country’s nastiest defense. Elsewhere on the schedule, a bruised and battered Georgia plays host to an invigorated Missouri side, and Texas A&M’s non-defense plays on the road at Ole Miss, who went 0-2 in the State of Alabama in the last 2 weeks. Elsewhere, we’ve got the Jadeveon Clowney will he/won’t he play debate raging into Arkansas where South Carolina faces a running back defense test against Alex Collins, and Alabama rolls into Kentucky. And we’ve got two no-brainers in Western Carolina on the road to Auburn and a possibility of an upset with under-fire Mississippi State hosting electrified Bowling Green.
So here are your predictions:
FLORIDA AT LSU
While a lot of people have referred to this one as ‘just another college football game’ because of the fact that Florida lost at Miami and LSU have been beaten at Georgia, we’d argue this: if Florida wins at LSU, they might be in the driving seat for the SEC East. They’ve got an exceptional defense, and Tyler Murphy has breathed life in Florida’s offense after replacing the injured Jeff Driskel. LSU on the other hand have a sparkling offense but no ‘D’, but they will have a really loud Death Valley cheering them on on Saturday afternoon. This is going to be a war.
BOTTOM LINE: LSU’s a touchdown favorite in their own park. So we’re going for Florida, just because of their ‘D’ (and LSU’s lack of it).
TEXAS A&M AT OLE MISS
As much as Ole Miss is 0-2 in their two trips to the State of Alabama in the last two weeks, they could easily be 1-1. Sure, they were inept against Alabama, but against Auburn, they mounted a furious comeback and had their receivers been able to keep a hold of the ball, Auburn was definitely there for the taking. Now, they are at home against a Texas A&M team that has – without question – an awful defense. But on the other hand, they’ve got a great QB in Johnny Manziel and a great wide receiver in Michael Evans, and both are devilishly hard to stop. On the other side of the ball, is anyone going to be able to stop Moncrief, Scott, Treadwell and Bo Wallace? Anyone?
BOTTOM LINE: Texas A&M’s only a seven-point favorite at Ole Miss in a game that could go down to the last drive. I’m taking Texas A&M to beat the points. Maybe 50-41.
South Carolina’s been in a bit of a tempest this week. There have been rumours that future NFL-er and current Gamecocks DE Jadeveon Clowney doesn’t want to play another game for Carolina (he didn’t play in the squeak-by victory against Kentucky), which the school’s PR authorities have done their best to scotch. Will Clowney be back? If he’s not, South Carolina’s defence – particularly in the fourth quarter – could suffer against Arkansas, and particularly the running attack of Alex Collins. On the other side of the ball, running back Mike Davis has been great for the Gamecocks.
BOTTOM LINE: South Carolina’s a six-point favorite. I’ll take South Carolina and the points.
ALABAMA AT KENTUCKY
As many strides at Kentucky may have made against South Carolina last week in putting up a healthy fight in the 4th quarter at Williams-Brice, they still aren’t very good. Expect Alabama to roll.
BOTTOM LINE: Alabama’s a 27 point favorite….and we expect them to beat the line.
BOWLING GREEN AT MISSISSIPPI STATE
Mississippi State was in a battle right until the fourth quarter of their game with LSU, until LSU rallied strongly, and put up 50. I’m sorry, but as bad as people think MSU is right now, they are playing a Bowling Green side who lost their only game of any significance to Indiana, 42-10.
BOTTOM LINE: Mississippi State to win, and by more than spread of 10 points.
ROLL-OVER SATURDAY….IS FOR AUBURN
Auburn should beat the crap out of FCS team Western Carolina. Auburn by 50 (so beating the spread)….unless Gus Malzahn’s feeling classy.
UPSET ALERT
MISSOURI AT GEORGIA
Before last week’s game against Tennessee, you would have had Georgia down as easy winners. We’re talking double-digit, and perhaps taking out their top players in the fourth quarter for the sake of rest. But suddenly, Georgia’s facing a massive, massive game. Both of their best running backs, Toddy Gurley and Keith Marshall are now injured after Marshall was hurt at Tennessee. Aaron Murray’s best receivers, Michael Bennett and Justin Scott-Wesley, were also hurt. Georgia managed to eke out the victory, but everyone’s taking a deep breath for the visit of Missouri, who destroyed a not-meant-to-be-awful Vanderbilt side on Saturday night. Missouri has weapons (QB James Franklin and WR Dorial Green-Beckham).
BOTTOM LINE: Georgia’s offense might be a lot of fun, but it’s very, very hurt. Missouri’s not hurt, and it’s all guns blazing. I’m going for Missouri to hit the upset…or at worst, keep it under the eight-point line.