Thursday, Sept 3
UNC vs South Carolina (in Charlotte)- 6 PM- ESPN
Line: South Carolina by 2
Neither one of these teams are coming off of a good season. Both teams have huge question-marks on the defensive side of the football and South Carolina has some on offense too. This will come down to the fact that the UNC defense couldn’t stop a high school team from getting into the end zone. This will be close early but once the South Carolina defense finds itself, this one will be over.
Prediction: South Carolina 38 North Carolina 27
WKU at Vanderbilt- 8 PM- SECN
Line: WKU by 2.5
This is an extremely tough opener for Vandy and the line shows this. WKU has a really good offense and I think it will be too much for Vandy. This will be close but Vandy will start the season licking it’s wounds.
Prediction: WKU 34 Vanderbilt 31
Saturday, Sept 5
ULM at Georgia- Noon- SECN
Line: Georgia by 35
Welcome to the big show Greyson Lambert! Georgia will roll in this one but it will be interesting to see if they keep pouring it on in the second half.
Prediction: Georgia 51 ULM 10
Tennessee-Martin at Ole Miss- Noon- SECN
Next!
Prediction: Ole Miss 49 Tennessee-Martin 6
UTEP at Arkansas- 3:30 PM- ESPNU
Line: Arkansas by 33
UTEP is going to get the football ran down their throat in this game but it’s question-able whether they will cover the spread.
Prediction: Arkansas 38 UTEP 17
Louisville vs Auburn (in Atlanta)- 3:30 PM- CBS
Line: Auburn by 10.5
This is the most interesting game of the week in the SEC. Most seem to think it’s a foregone conclusion that Auburn is winning this. Not so fast my friend….Bobby Petrino is a slimy snake. But, he’s a slimy snake that can coach an offense. Auburn has installed a new DC in Will Muschamp but he’s still got some stuff to iron out. Auburn wins, but it’s a nail biter.
Prediction: Auburn 35 Louisville 34
SE Missouri State at Missouri- 4 PM- SECN
Next!
Prediction: Missouri 55-14
Bowling Green at Tennessee- 4 PM- SECN
Line: Tennessee by 21
Bowling Green is no joke. The line is this game looks way too high for me. Tennessee will be improved this year but they still have a lot of growing to do with youth at many key positions. Bowling Green keeps this one close, the Vols pull away in the fourth.
Prediction: Tennessee 31 Bowling Green 21
Arizona State vs Texas A&M (in Houston)- 7 PM- ESPN
Line: A&M by 3.5
This one is going to be fun. A really intriguing thing to watch will be the A&M defense, which is now led by John Chavis. If they can make a big step forward then they can win this game. If not, the Sun Devils are going to take it.
Prediction: Arizona State 42 A&M 38
Louisiana-Lafayette vs Kentucky- 7 PM- ESPNU
Line: Kentucky by 17
Mark Hudspeth is one of the most underrated coaches in the nation and Kentucky has a tough match-up here in week one. This will be a struggle. Kentucky wins but they will struggle to cover.
Prediction: Kentucky 31 Louisiana-Lafayette 24
McNeese State at LSU- 7:30 PM- SECN
This will not be a repeat of McNeese/Nebraska from last year. LSU rolls and Fournette puts up monster numbers.
Prediction: LSU 49 McNeese State 13
New Mexico State at Florida- 7:30 PM- SECN
Line: Florida by 37
The Jim McElwain era begins and they couldn’t have picked a better opponents. Florida wins big but that point spread is a lot for a team that has struggled to find the end zone in recent years.
Prediction: Florida 38 New Mexico State 14
Wisconsin vs Alabama (in Arlington, TX)- 8 PM- ABC
Line: Alabama by 12
This will be a good game early but once Bama finds it’s offense it’s going to be over. Wisconsin will struggle mightily to figure out the Bama defense.
Prediction: Bama 38 Wisconsin 14
Mississippi State vs Southern Mississippi- 10 PM- FOXS1
Line: Mississippi State by 21
Late starts can be tricky but it won’t be here.
Prediction: Mississippi State 49 Southern Miss 17
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