Thursday SEC Predictions

College football is back and this year it starts out with two really intriguing Thursday night match-ups on the four-letter network. Let's take a look at those games and get the season started off with some predictions. Make sure to check back on Friday as I will have predictions up for the rest of the SEC slate for week one…

North Carolina Tar Heels at South Carolina Gamecocks

6 PM, ESPN

Line: South Carolina by 12.5

I think this game has a chance to be a lot closer than many think. On the surface, you have a South Carolina team that could be Steve Spurrier's best team since he's been in Columbia. But you also have some questions for the Gamecocks. You are breaking in a new RB, new receivers and a bunch of new players on defense. UNC is in it's second year under Larry Fedora and if there is one thing they do really well it's score the football. Of course, they will also be without Giovani Bernard as he's playing in the NFL.

I see this as a back and forth game that should be decided down the stretch in the third quarter. If South Carolina fans think they will just show up and win then this one might be a shock to them at first but the Gamecocks will come out victorious in the long run and will head to Athens with a 1-0 record.

Prediction: South Carolina 38 UNC 24

Ole Miss Rebels at Vanderbilt Commodores

9:15 PM, ESPN

Line: Ole Miss by 3.5

2012 Score: Vandy 27-26

Hugh Freeze and Ole Miss bring a ton of momentum and hype into this game following their improvement in 2012 and their huge recruiting success. The defense should be improved and the offense will have it's second year under Freeze. But, a lot of people seem to be forgetting that James Franklin and Vandy won nine games last season. 

Vandy went 4-2 at home last year with their losses coming to Florida and South Carolina (both ranked in top ten at time of loss). They lost to the Gamecocks by four and the Gators by fourteen. When I look at this game, I see a game that's going to be tight from the opening wire to the closing bell. When I see games like that, it's usually good to go with the underdog especially when they are the home team.

Prediction: Vanderbilt  28 Ole Miss 24