SEC football kicks off tonight with the Aggies and Gamecocks in Columbia, S.C.

Brian Edwards, a long-time Las Vegas handicapper with an emphasis on SEC football, will provide his thoughts and insights on the line moves throughout the 2014 season. Edwards, a University of Florida graduate, is a weekly radio guest in Las Vegas, Omaha and Memphis and makes regular appearances on Chad Millman’s betting podcast on ESPN.com.

You can check out his work on Twitter or on his website, BrianEdwardsSports.com.

THURSDAY

Texas A&M at South Carolina
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Line: South Carolina -10.5 (opened -10.5)
Over/Under: 61 (opened 58)
Public: 66 percent Gamecocks

The Move: The over/under reached 61.5 on Wednesday after opening at 58.

Edwards: “Obviously a lot of action on the over. I think everybody is looking back at Texas A&M last year and how bad they were on defense, and not much expectation for them to improve, and so many overs hit in A&M games last year. So I think that’s what’s prompting that line move is the public and sharps wanting some of the over. I was giving some thought to the over last week when it was in that 58 range. It’s not a high number when you think of Texas A&M games last year, but that was Manziel. It was just me being a little bit hesitant with A&M starting a quarterback making his first career road start. If the number was sitting at 57 right now, I would probably play the over tonight. Now that it’s 61, I feel like I’ve missed the boat.”

The Play: Stay away.

Boise State vs. Ole Miss (Atlanta)
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Line: Ole Miss -11 (opened -10)
Over/Under: 52.5 (opened 54)
Public: 72 percent Rebels

Edwards: “I made Ole Miss 10.5 on that game, so I’ve been lukewarm on it. I think it’s a pretty good number. In terms of the public support for Ole Miss, I don’t care what other people are playing. I have my number on the game. The fact that sharps are betting it or the public are betting it, I don’t have it in my mind that I want to bet a game because I want to go against the public. At the end of the day, I would probably rather be against the public, but it’s not going to be the deciding point for me.”

The Play: Stay away.

Temple at Vanderbilt
Kickoff: 9:15 p.m. ET
Line: Vanderbilt -13.5 (opened -16)
Over/Under: 50.5 (opened 52)
Public: 60 percent Commodores

The Move: The line has shifted 2.5 points in favor of Temple.

Edwards: “It came out earlier this week that Vandy’s stud running back Jerron Seymour is iffy to play. He had 14 rushing touchdowns last year. He’s been downgraded to doubtful. That’s what prompted that line move. I think Vandy’s OK. I like (Brian) Kimbrow, the other running back.”

The Play: A slight lean to Vanderbilt may be OK if you have a strong opinion on the Commodores.

SATURDAY

UT-Martin at Kentucky
Kickoff: Noon ET
Thursday Line: Off (-22.5 at 5Dimes)
Over/Under: Off
Public: Off

The Play: Stay away.

South Dakota State at Missouri
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Thursday Line: Off (-29.5 at 5Dimes)
Over/Under: Off
Public: Off

The Play: Stay away.

West Virginia vs. Alabama (Atlanta)
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Thursday Line: Alabama -26.5 (opened -26.5)
Over/Under: Off (opened 55.5)
Public: 55 percent Crimson Tide

Edwards: “I don’t like laying that many points. When the game’s got a big number like that, if the underdog is getting me interested, maybe I’m interested, but I rarely lay more than 17 points. That’s a game I just kind of throw away. If it were to come down to 24, which it sure as hell isn’t, maybe I would think about it.

“I’m off that one. I just kind of throw that one out early and want nothing to do with it.”

The Play: Stay away.

Arkansas at Auburn
Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
Thursday Line: Auburn -19.5 (opened -21.5)
Over/Under: 57.5 (opened 57.5)
Public: 68 percent Razorbacks

Edwards: “I made Auburn a 21-point favorite when I made my lines in June. The fact that Nick Marshall’s not starting, I guess maybe I’d shave a half-point. I actually like their backup, Jeremy Johnson. Marshall’s going to play. He’ll maybe miss the first two or three possessions. To me the number should be 20.5, 21. It being 19.5, it’s just not a game I want to play.”

The Play: Stay away.

Clemson at Georgia
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m.
Thursday Line: Georgia -7.5 (opened -8.5)
Over/Under: 54.5 (opened 57.5)
Public: 64 percent Bulldogs

Edwards: “I think Clemson’s going to have a terrific defense. Sammy Watkins is their all-time leading receiver. Tajh Boyd is their all-time leading passer. Having to replace that is a lot, but I love Chad Morris as an offensive coordinator. Cole Stoudt has only really played mop-up duty, but he’s got an 8-to-1 career TD/INT ratio. There are reasons to think that he’s going to be pretty good.

“I lean Georgia in that game. If it were to go to seven and I’m having a good weekend up to that point, maybe I’d think about it, but it’s not a strong opinion. I think Georgia wins, but I’m a little hesitant to lay those points against a Clemson team that’s got a terrific defense. I feel like the back door could be open. I think it could be a game Georgia leads comfortably by 10-to-14 most of the way, but you could get back-doored in the end.”

The Play: The slightest of leans to Georgia, if you’re feeling confident.

Idaho at Florida
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Thursday Line: Florida -36.5 (opened -35)
Over/Under: 51 (opened 51)
Public: 72 percent Gators

Edwards: “I think it’s going to be a different offense with Kurt Roper, the new offensive coordinator, and Jeff Driskel healthy. But the most points Florida scored all of last year was 31. I’m not going to sign up for laying 35, even though Idaho’s atrocious.”

The Play: Stay away.

Southern Miss at Mississippi State
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Thursday Line: Mississippi State -30.5 (opened -29)
Over/Under: 55 (opened 56)
Public: 63 percent Bulldogs

Edwards: “No. I just don’t lay that many points. These are games I just throw away. There are better options on the board. It’s a long season. There’s no reason to force plays even though everybody’s got the itch Week 1.”

The Play: Stay away.

Wisconsin vs. LSU (Houston)
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
Thursday Line: LSU -5.5 (opened -5)
Over/Under: 50 (opened 50)
Public: 61 percent Tigers

Edwards: “LSU’s inexperienced at quarterback, but so are a lot of teams in the SEC. It’s kind of a wait-and-see thing with their QBs. I know they lost Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, two guys that are going to have impacts as rookies in the NFL. But all their wide receivers they’ve recruited the last few years are highly rated four-star athletes that are just a little inexperienced. But I think they get back to Les Miles football. Last year their best players were (Zach) Mettenberger, Landry and Beckham, so they kind of aired it out. But I think they get back to pounding the football, and that’s why I like them against Wisconsin so much this week.

“Wisconsin basically lost their entire front seven. They’ve only got three starters back on defense, and I think LSU’s going to run it down their throat and that’ll be the difference. Melvin Gordon scares me and he’ll make some plays and will keep Wisconsin in it for a while, but I think over the course of 60 minutes, LSU in the trenches will be winning those battles and pull away and win by double digits.”

The Play: LSU.

SUNDAY

Utah State at Tennessee
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Thursday Line: Tennessee -6 (opened -6.5)
Over/Under: 51.5 (opened 51.5)
Public: 57 percent Vols

Edwards: “5Dimes puts out early lines. Early in the summer, they put it at 7.5 or 8. I don’t have a 5Dimes account, but I was wishing I did. I would’ve played Utah State right then and there.

“Chuckie Keeton is a tremendous quarterback. I think he’s one of the Top 10 or 15 quarterbacks in the country, and he has been for a while. He has a 56-to-13 career TD/INT ratio. He’s almost pulled upsets at Auburn and at Wisconsin, two of the toughest places in America to play. This guy’s big-time. He can orchestrate an upset at Neyland Stadium on Sunday night. And he is certainly looking for that signature win of his career.

“Utah State’s coming to win that game, not just cover. But the fact that it’s gone South of 7 makes me a little hesitant. If I’m having a good weekend, I may play Utah State, especially if it goes to 6.5. I can buy it to 7. I think Tennessee wins a nailbiter, but Utah State can win that game.

“They have a major edge at the quarterback position. Justin Worley is a bad quarterback. His career TD/INT ratio is 11-to-13. And they have to replace their entire offensive line. I like Tennessee’s receivers. I like their secondary. They’ve got one of the best linebackers in America, but there’s not a whole lot else I like. In terms of the head coaches, I think it’s a push. They’re not going to get outcoached.”

The Play: Utah State.