WEEK 2 SEC Predictions: Can Texas beat Michigan?

When a National title pretender goes to last year’s National Championship winner — and it’s two of the biggest name’s in college football – everyone’s gonna be pretty excited.

College Gameday AND Fox’s Preview Show are going to be at Texas v Michigan. The place is obviously sold-out. It’s a massive test of where both teams are.

Elsewhere in the SEC, it’s going to be a fun game between ranked NC State and Tennessee,  No.16 Oklahoma State visiting Arkansas, and the first SEC Conference match-up between South Carolina and Kentucky. And there’s also the match-up between Mississippi State and Arizona State which will be a riveting indication of wonderful football.

So here we go (in terms of games weren’t interested in):

1. No.3 Texas (-7) at No.10 Michigan (12pm ET): Texas is a touchdown favorite, but we’re not totally sure. Here’s why: Michigan still has a great rushing defense, and Texas really doesn’t have a rushing game. That’s going to push Quin Ewers to doing some roll-out stuff and also make some good decisions. Sorry, but it’s difficult to think that he’ll be 100% doing both. On the other side, Michigan’s QB situation is strange. Alex Oriji was meant to start, but walk-on Davis Warren has taken the job. You can expect Oriji in some wildcat stuff, but we don’t expect him to try and test Texas’ defense over the air. Anyway, this one’s going to be fun. It should be at night. PREDICTION: Texas comes away with it. By a field goal. Texas 38, Michigan 35.
2.  No.24 NC State at No.14 Tennessee (-10): One of the only ranked match-ups of the weekend, this one should be fun. If Nico can keep Tennessee’s offense humming like it did against UT-Chattanooga, then the Vols should win comfortably. However on the other side, Grayson McCall should cause the Vols problems – especially if the Wolfpack’s balance run/pass game of RB Jordan Waters and WR Kevin Concepcion. However, we are worried about the Wolfpack’s defense, which gave up 21 points and nearly 400 yards against mighty Western Carolina. PREDICTION: Tennessee wins – and comfortably. Tennessee 42, NC State 21.
3. Arkansas at No.16 Oklahoma State (-10): The atmosphere should be off-the-hook for two teams who unite in a hatred of Texas and Oklahoma – as well as only being 180 miles from each other (a stroll in Southwester terms). Anyhow, Arkansas didn’t screw up their game against Arkansas Pine-Bluff, and Oklahoma State was pretty ugly early on against South Dakota State before running away with it 44-20. Ollie Gordon’s going to take some stopping (as usual) – particularly if Mike Gundy doesn’t trust Alan Bowman. On the other side, Arkansas’ offense is going to be a lot of fun with Bobby Petrino in charge of it. An upset is brewing. PREDICTION: A Southwest Classic. Arkansas 31, Oklahoma State 28. 
4.  South Carolina at Kentucky (8.5): South Carolina were absolutely horrible against Abilene Christian last week (if we’re quite honest they should have lost!), but DL Kyle Kennard is a star. And he’ll ravage Kentucky’s offensive line if he’s not double-teamed. Brock Vandagriff should be fine in his first-ever starting game for a SEC team (he was at Georgia for 1,000 years, but never started), because South Carolina aren’t great. On the other side of the ball, we can see the Gamecocks consistently give Rocket Sanders the rock. PREDICTION: Kentucky 28, South Carolina 14.
5.  Mississippi State at Arizona State (-5.5 O/U 59): This is going to be an awful lot of fun. Both sides have prodigious offenses. Both sides have weak defenses. And it’s at night at Sun Devil Stadium, which means that it’s going to be fun. Expect the ‘Over’ to be blown through by half-time. PREDICTION: This will be a blast. Arizona State 43, Mississippi State 40.
6. Cal at Auburn (-13): The Barners have something that they hadn’t see for a while: Excellent wide receivers. This will be led by Penn State transfer Keandre Lambert-Smith (because of his experience), but make no mistake about it: The star of the show is one of the biggest recruits in Auburn history: Cam Coleman. He was ranked the 5th-best player overall in the country, and could probably play on Sundays right now, if they allowed kids to. He’s going to make Peyton Thorne look competent. Auburn’s going to have to deal with Jaydn Ott, who ran for over 1,300 yards last year for Cal, who will try and shorten the game. PREDICTION: Auburn walk away impressing people. Auburn 48, Cal 21.
7.  South Florida at Alabama (-31): Jalin Milroe’s going to have to do more than he did against the basketball school last week, but not much. South Florida’s going to be pretty good this year (Vegas has given them a O/U of 7.5), but they won’t be enough to deal with the freight train. PREDICTION: Alabama 51, South Florida 10. 
8. Houston at Oklahoma (-27.5): These are teething times at Houston under Willie Fritz…at least what Cougars are hoping. Needless to say, they didn’t need to get hammered last week, and visiting Oklahoma won’t make life any easier. Expect Jackson Arnold to have a field day, and Brent Venables not calling off the dogs. PREDICTION: Wagon rolls. Oklahoma 48, Houston 10
9.  Buffalo at No.9 Missouri (-34.5): Buffalo’s meant to be crappy, Missouri’s meant to be good. PREDICTION: Missouri 58, Buffalo 10. The only thing people will be worrying about is the spread.
10. MTSU at Ole Miss (-43): Ole Miss’ offense is going to keep purring against MTSU, which means they can relax before their biggest test so far on the road at South Carolina in, er, mid-October. PREDICTION: Ole Miss rolls in a game that has the gamblers on their feet for longer than the actual crowd will be. Ole Miss 58, MTSU 14.
11.  McNeese State at Texas A&M (-49.5): I would natter a lot about McNeese State getting thumped by Gonzaga in the 2023 March Madness tournament, but right now I’m more afraid for Aggies fans about Conor Weigman. Weigman was awful against Notre Dame. If he does this again, there will be a lot of grumpiness at College Station. PREDICTION: Weigman’s fine, if not great. But McNeese are awful. Vegas is angry. Texas A&M 51, McNeese 7. 
12.  Samford at Florida: Florida’s gonna win a game!! Right?! PREDICTION: Flordia 35, Samford 31 (just kidding, Florida by 45).
13.  Alcorn State at Vanderbilt: Can Vanderbilt go 2-0 when they beat a team that last made March Madness in 2002? Prediction: Vanderbilt 55, Alcorn State 7.
14. Nicholls State at LSU (N/A): The big question: What’s the O/U on LSU players getting 15-yard penalties? Oh, and Nicholls State’s basketball team last made March Madness in 1998, losing to Arizona 99-60. PREDICTION: LSU won’t hit the 99, but it might be close. 
15. Tennessee Tech at Georgia (-54.5): Georgia’s going to hammer them. Simples. PREDICTION: Georgia 63, Tennessee Tech 0.