Last week I went 5-2 straight up and 3-4 against the spread. I blame Sal Sunseri and Derek Dooley and you should too. For the year I’m 52-12 straight up and 28-28 against the spread and in need of a good week…..
LSU (6-1, 2-1) at Texas A&M (5-1, 2-1), Noon, ESPN
Line: LSU by 3
LSU’s defense versus Texas A&M’s offense will be the main drawing card for this one. LSU’s defense gives up 14 point per game and the Aggies are scoring 47. When you look at games versus ranked teams LSU’s defense is only giving up 3.5 more points than their overall season average. This is a tough defense and I’m not sure Johnny Manziel is quite ready to handle these guys. I like A&M to stay in this game and keep it close, as LSU’s offense hasn’t exactly been lighting it up, but in the end I think you have to lean towards LSU.
LSU 27 Texas A&M 20
Auburn (1-5, 0-4) at Vanderbilt (2-4, 1-3), 12:21 PM, SEC Network
Line: Vanderbilt by 7
If you are a betting man then run, don’t walk, away from this game and never look back. Auburn is on a three game losing streak and is coming off a 21 point loss to Ole Miss. Vandy is coming off a 14 point loss to Florida but they also beat Mizzou by four in the game before that. We’ll take Vandy since they are at home but I’m not sure I like them to cover.
Vanderbilt 20 Auburn 16
South Carolina (6-1, 4-1) at Florida (6-0, 5-0), 3:30 PM, CBS
Line: Florida by 3.5
South Carolina went from world beaters at home versus Georgia to also-rans on the road against LSU. How good are they? Probably somewhere in between but I’m concerned about their ability to win a big game in the Swamp after playing two big-time games in a row and I’m also concerned about the availability of Marcus Lattimore and the fact that Kelcy Quarles will not be playing. The Gamecocks struggled to stop the run against LSU and that’s Florida’s bread and butter under Will Muschamp. Look for Florida to take the reigns of the SEC East with a victory.
Florida 24 South Carolina 20
Georgia (5-1, 3-1) at Kentucky (1-6, 0-4), 7 PM, Fox Sports South
Line: Georgia by 26.5
Georgia has had a week off to lick their wounds after an embarrassing loss to South Carolina. Kentucky was last seen nursing Arkansas to healthy by taking a 42 point beatdown at the hands of the Razorbacks. Georgia is going to win this game but I am concerned with the Georgia defense giving up a couple of touchdowns. Maybe the same Georgia team that blew doors against Vandy shows up but I’d bet Georgia wins this game handily but not quite by the point spread.
Georgia 42 Kentucky 16
Middle Tennessee (4-2) at Mississippi State (6-0), 7 PM, ESPN2
Line: Mississippi State by 19
Don’t forget that this Blue Raiders squad upset Georgia Tech in Atlanta by 21 points. Also, don’t forget that Mississippi State only beat Troy by 6 earlier this season. Unfortunately for the Blue Raiders, their star RB, Benny Cunningham (120 yds per game and 11 rushing TDs on the year) has been lost for the season.
Mississippi State 34 Middle Tennessee 17
Alabama (6-0, 3-0) at Tennessee (3-3, 0-3), 7PM, ESPN
Line: Alabama by 20
Twenty is a lot of points to be giving up in a rivalry. The “Third Saturday in October” hasn’t been that much of a rivalry over the last five years as Bama has a 5-0 record during that stretch with an average margin of victory of 21.6 points. Over the last two years Bama has won by 31 both times. The Tide roll.
Alabama 35 Tennessee 14
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