Will Georgia roll on? Who’s going to win the Lane Bowl? Week 3 SEC Scores and Predictions
This is going to be quick, because the wife and I are meant to be on ‘Date Day’ but I forgot to ratchet these predictions out this week.
For the record, thoughts and prayer go out to the people of Lake Charles, LA, which will have been hit by a hurricane by the end of the day. My heart breaks.
Anyway, the big game of the day is Tennessee’s trip to Georgia and Lane Kiffin and Nick Saban reunitining in the never-particularly-boring Alabama vs Ole Miss game, and an intriguing game between Arkansas and Auburn. LSU’s ‘home game’ in Death Valley has been moved to Missouri, Mississippi State plays Kentucky, Florida’s going to Texas A&M, and South Carolina go to Vanderbilt in the latest test of Gamecock Nation’s patience with Will Muschamp.
Once again, we’re doing this in order of games we’re most interested in.
1.No.14 Tennessee at No.3 Georgia (-12 1/2, Over/Under 43 1/2)
This is going to be a raining one in Georgia, therefore we expect the ‘G’ at the center of Sanford Stadium to be muddied. The game between bruising offensive lines, where we should see an intriguing clash between Tennessee’s excellent one and Georgia’s ferocious rush that gave Bo Nix no time whatsoever last week in the thumping of Auburn. Jarrett Guarantano will be asked to be a bit more than a game-manager against Georgia, but expect Tennessee’s rushing back duo of Ty Chandler and Eric to churn up the ground. On Georgia’s side, more will be expected of Zamir White, who’s had 159 yards with 3 TDs on 32 carries. This is going to be a war in a hurricane, folks. Also key to the game? Georgia punter Jason Camarda and Paxton Brooks. Camarda averages 50.2 yards per punt and Brooks averages 41.6 yards per punt.
PREDICTION: Georgia rolls. Georgia 31, Tennessee 22
2. No.2 Alabama (-23 1/2, Over/Under 70 1/2) at Ole Miss
This game was moved from 5pm to 6.30 pm on worries about Hurricane Delta’s arrival, which would have made tailgating something of an event in any normal year. But this is no normal year, so we don’t have to worry about sundresses becoming parachutes and umbrellas in the face of God’s wrath. But you know who’s going to be in the face of wrath? Lane Kiffin. Don’t think of a second that Nick Saban thinks Kiffin’s jibes earlier to him this week or funny….or that he’s forgotten about Kiffin deciding to take the FAU role before the National Championship Game. Ole Miss’ day will be lengthened by the fact that their defense is a horror show. This one will be like the weather: Ugly.
PREDICTION: Alabama slamming. Alabama 58, Ole Miss 21
3. No.4 Florida (-6 1/2, Over/Under 58) at No.21 Texas A&M
This is going to be pretty short: Texas A&M’s secondary was straight-up lousy against Alabama, and Florida has a very good passing offense, led by future Heisman candidate Kyle Trask and his band of merry men. Kellen Mond isn’t a good quarterback, and it’s weird that he has the second-most passes in the SEC, bearing in mind that he isn’t good. But speaking of good, check out – if you haven’t already – Kyle Pitts, Florida’s future NFL tight end.
PREDICTION: Florida 35, Texas A&M 14
4. Arkansas at Auburn (-13 1/2, O/U 47)
Arkansas ended its losing streak against Mississippi State last week (YESSSIRRRRR!) and defensive coordinator Barry Odom suddenly became a genius after being an idiot for four years at Missouri. Where Odom won the day against Mississippi State was the fact that it played zone defense. And it also got the luck. The offense for the Razorbacks is still straight-up terrible. This game will be tight due to weather and the fact that Seth Williams will probably be double-covered all day long, but it should be fun enough.
PREDICTION: Arkansas muddies it up, but Auburn squeaks by. Auburn 25, Arkansas 21
5. Mississippi State vs Kentucky (-2, Over/Under 57)
Kentucky has been extraordinary about getting in its own way in the last two weeks. Last week’s was Asim Rose streaking away for a TD…and then fumbling it, and then missing an extra point in overtime. Mississippi State’s ‘Air Raid’ offense was found out against Arkansas in the manner that the Razorbacks put 8 in the secondary to stop the big plays that make Mike Leach its money. It will be interesting to see how this all goes.
PREDICTION: Weird, but fun. Kentucky 38, Mississippi State 31
6. South Carolina (-13 1/2, Over/Under 41) at Vanderbilt
South Carolina wasn’t bad as you might have thought against Florida, battling the Gators until midway through the second quarter. And if Will Muschamp had ‘gone for it’ against Florida on the final drive, things might have been even closer than the 38-24 scoreline. Vanderbilt weren’t great in the first half against LSU, and were straight-up awful in the second. South Carolina should roll.
Prediction: Gamecocks happier. South Carolina 41, Vanderbilt 14.
7. LSU (-14 1/2, Over/Under 54) at Missouri
This game has been switched to Missouri because of Hurricane Delta. Let’s be brutally honest: LSU is much better than Missouri, and Missouri fans are down already – even though they went 0-2 against two teams they were MEANT TO LOSE TO. If Missouri’s wide receivers can actually hold onto the ball (they have 10 dropped passes so far this year), then this might be closer than you think, because Derek Stingley Jr can’t do everything.
Prediction: LSU in cruise control. LSU 45, Missouri 28