Week Four SEC Predictions

Week three of the SEC season is in the books and our thoughts are here. So how did we do in terms of predictions last week? I went 7-2 (missing on Auburn/Clemson and Louisville/Kentucky) and Jay, who joined in last week, went 5-4 (missing the same two I missed and also missing on his upset picks of Tennessee and Navy). Jay typically out-duels me on predictions so I will won’t rub it in. So far this year I’m 23-6 in picking the SEC but it’s not against the spread or anything so it’s not as impressive as it sounds. Let’s get to week four:

Georgia (1-2) at Ole Miss (1-2), 12:21 EST, SEC Network

Many have dubbed this the “Hot Seat” bowl as Houston Nutt has replaced Mark Richt as the most talked about future casualty of this college football season. Both teams are 1-2 but Georgia has lost to two quality opponents whereas Ole Miss lost at home to a team that lost to Utah last week by 44 and got blown out by Vanderbilt. Both teams have a lot to play for but I just see the Dawgs winning this one.

Georgia 31 Ole Miss 14

Arkansas (3-0) at Alabama (3-0), 3:00 EST, CBS

The eternal question for Arkansas is “tested or rested”? Arkansas has tuned up for it’s showdown with the Crimson Tide by knocking off Missouri State and New Mexico and surviving Troy by 10 points. Alabama hasn’t exactly scheduled the who’s who of college football but they did go into a hostile environment up in Happy Valley and came out with a workman like victory. This is a game that pits one of the top two defenses in the SEC (and possibly the Nation) against the team with the most weapons in the SEC at the WR position. This will be strength vs strength as the Bama defense goes up against the Hog offense in Tyler Wilson’s first test on the road as a starter in the SEC. I think this one is close but without Knile Davis and on the road I just think this will be too tough of a game for the Hogs to pull out this early in the year without having been tested yet.

Alabama 27 Arkansas 21

FAU (0-2) at Auburn (2-1), 7:00 EST, ESPN3

So far this year FAU has lost by a combined total of 85-3 to Florida and Michigan State. I think Auburn has a more explosive offense than either of those two teams so this one could get a bit out of hand. On the other hand, Auburn’s defense isn’t as good as those two so FAU probably finally gets into the end zone.

Auburn 56 FAU 21

Florida (3-0) at Kentucky (2-1), 7:00 EST, ESPN

One of the two most disappointing teams in the SEC so far against one of the most surprising. There is only one way that I can see this ending and it’s with the Kentucky faithful leaving with their heads down. Kentucky has had a lot of trouble scoring the football against Western Kentucky, Central Michigan and Louisville. What do you think is going to happen when Will Muschamp and his boys roll into town?

Florida 31 Kentucky 6

Louisiana Tech (1-2) at Mississippi State (1-2), 7 PM EST, ESPNU

This looks like a get well game for Dan Mullen and his troops but is it? Just last week it was Louisiana Tech that almost pulled off the upset of Houston before falling asleep in the 4th quarter and letting Case Keenum come roaring back. Mississippi State lost a heart-breaker on the road to Auburn in a game that they should have won and then just got controlled by the Tigers last Thursday. Look for Mississippi State to take care of business in this one.

Mississippi State 38 Louisiana Tech 17

Vanderbilt (3-0) at South Carolina (3-0), 7 PM EST, ESPN2 

Is Vandy for real? Despite being 3-0 it’s not like they’ve beaten a top tier team as they hold victories over Elon, UConn and Ole Miss. This is there first test under new coach James Franklin and it will give us much more of an idea of exactly where Vandy is this year. South Carolina has a better resume with wins over ECU, Georgia and Navy but they haven’t exactly blown doors as they’ve won their last two games by a combined six points. This game will come down to the fact that Vanderbilt doesn’t have anybody as talented as Marcus Lattimore and he will wear down Vandy and eventually they will give in. Look for this to be closer than you’d think but look for sneaky Spurrier to pull out another one as the Gamecocks pull away late.

South Caroliina 30 Vanderbilt 17

LSU (3-0) at West Virginia (3-0), 8 PM EST, ABC

Here it is the big game of the week (besides Arkansas/Bama). Earlier this week WVU was rumored to have been turned down by the SEC. The fans in Morgantown are going to be rowdy and it’s best that LSU not give them anything to cheer about early. LSU will be far and away the best defense West Virginia has faced and the Mountaineers have yet to hit the ground running with their offense (they only average 79 yards per game on the ground). In order to win this game West Virginia will need to be balanced and unpredictable but LSU’s defense just looks so tough. They are stout on the line and wildly athletic in the defensive backfield. Much like last year, I think WVU puts a scare into the Tigers but I think the Tigers escape with a close win.

LSU 27 West Virginia 21