SEC Preview – Week 7: Will Tennessee beat Alabama?
GSo now they’ve beaten Florida, Tennessee fans must be feeling the magic for the visit of their second-most hated rival, Alabama. If we’re honest, Alabama has OWNED Tennessee (results-wise, anyway), beating them in every game since 2007. The only game that reasonably close was last year, when Josh Dobbs’ heroics nearly beat the Crimson Tide.
Prior to that, Mississippi State travel up to Mormon country to play BYU on Friday, Ole Miss travel to Arkansas in what could be a shoot-out for the ages (bearing in mind both lack any defense), Missouri go to Florida, Vanderbilt travel to Georgia, and Southern Miss to LSU.
So here are our previews:
- No.1 Alabama at No.9 Tennessee
Nick Saban said that the Tennesee game was the biggest game on the Crimson Tide’s schedule, which should enrage a lot of Auburn fans, who are feeling butthurt enough what with Germans burning down their oaks and Alabama winning all those National Championships. Tennessee’s a 12-1/2 point home underdog, which might feel kind of right, if you consider that Alabama’s defense was pretty poor for three quarters against Arkansas (they gave up 30 points). But Tennesee only plays for one half, and they are injured to hilt. The crowd could well be a factor, though.
PREDICTION: We’re calling Alabama to win by more than 12-1/2 for this reason: The Crimson Tide is more capable of putting together a full game than the Volunteers. And the offense is much better.
2. No. 12 Ole Miss at No. 22 Arkansas
The biggest mystery for this season so far is: How in the heck is Arkansas still ranked? They’ve been one of this season’s biggest letdowns, with an awful, awful offensive line – formerly one of their strengths. The ‘D’ can’t stop anybody. You know? It’s going to be fun, because Ole Miss can’t really play any defense either. We know that because Ole Miss is 80th in the country in yards/game, and Arkansas is 68th. This WILL be fun, folks.
PREDICTION: Ole Miss is a 7-1/2 point favorite. I like Ole Miss to win by 10, but I also LOVE the over for 67-1/2.
3. Mississippi State at BYU
Listen, we’re putting this up beyond other games because the crowd is going to be WILD in Utah for the BYU game for the visit of Mississippi State. We’re not saying MSU is any good (it really isn’t), but BYU’s ‘D’ is pretty mediocre, too. Expect lots of blondes. Lots, and lots of blondes (of both sexes). We don’t know every guy in the place has a wife but he shouldn’t have two, because apparently polygamy’s illegal in Utah.
PREDICTION: BYU’s a 7-point favorite. Can’t believe people don’t have more faith in BYU. If you feel like betting on the non-drinkers, take BYU in the over.
4. Missouri at No.18 Florida
Missouri looked like a great, speedy offense against lower opposition, and then fell to pieces about LSU. But Florida’s offense is pretty horrible too, only scoring a smidgeon over 28 points/game. Florida’s defense is excellent, though – and better than Missouri’s. The Vanderbilt/Florida game was horrible, and we’re praying that it won’t continue this week.
PREDICTION: Florida’s a 13-1/2 game favorite, but actually, we like the ‘under’ for 48-1/2. That’s how miserable we believe the game will be.
5. Vanderbilt at Georgia
Georgia’s running back duo of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel looked awesome against South Carolina, but Jacob Eason – to coin a Bret Bielema phrase – looked borderline erratic. Vandy’s 79th-ranked rush defense (176.8 yard/game) will do well to stop them. Especially if Georgia’s offensive line is looking as improved as it did against South Carolina.
PREDICTION: Georgia’s only a 14-point favorite. Is the reason why is that they should have walked away with the South Carolina but kept letting the Gamecocks back into the game? We think UGA win by 21 or more.
6. Southern Miss at LSU
Southern Miss is going to walk into Baton Rouge with a bad-ass offense FORTY POINTS PER GAME (yes, you read that properly), but properly won’t walk out with the win, bearing in mind that LSU is mourning not only the loss of Les Miles but more important, Mike The Tiger who passed away earlier this week. Southern Miss gives up a not-great 159 yards/game of rushing a week, so good luck against LSU’s offense, folks.
PREDICTION: LSU’s a 25-point favorite. The Tigers looked so damned good against Florida but they’ve had a week off and the momentum may have come down. We’ll take the Tigers to win by more than that, because Southern Miss had 55 dropped on them last time out against UTSA.