SEC Championship Week predictions (and bets)

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We’re back with another round of predictions, this time heading into the SEC’s Championship Weekend!

If you missed the news, the Vanderbilt at Georgia game was canceled, as the Commodores did not have enough players to make the trip to Athens. The SEC declared that game a no-contest.

SDS news desk editor Michael Bratton (@MichaelWBratton) and SDS Podcast co-host Chris Marler (@VerneFUNquist) are back again to share their predictions picking SEC games and making picks against the spread.

Chris is 32-32-1 against the spread for the season, while Michael is 24-41.

Click here to get exclusive +400 odds through SDS on Alabama to win the SEC Championship Game with DraftKings Sportsbook.

Texas A&M (-14) at Tennessee

Michael: The Aggies should come in rested as they’ve had a few weeks to prepare for this matchup and they need a dominant showing to impress the College Football Playoff committee. Both things should be bad news for a Tennessee team just hoping to keep this one competitive. Look for true freshman quarterback Harrison Bailey to get his third consecutive start in a row, with two of those starts coming against top 10 competition. While he’s looked solid considering his lack of experience, it seems unrealistic to ask a young quarterback to pull the upset in this one. Tennessee will rely on the ground game, which is only going to play to the strength of Mike Elko’s defense.

Texas A&M 35 Tennessee 13

Chris: I’ve said several times during the last few weeks of the season that A&M needs a big win to impress the committee. However, at this point I am firmly convinced that they could go to Columbus, challenge the Buckeyes to a game, beat them by 90, and the committee would tell us how impressed they were that Justin Fields and OSU played a Top 5 team and didn’t lose by 91.

I know A&M, and Kellen Mond, have had their issues on the road. But, Tennessee is not a good football team. The Aggies may not be able to do anything to impress the committee, but finishing the season at 8-1 and guaranteeing themselves a great bowl game would still be a great end to the year. A&M, and A&M big.

Texas A&M 34 Tennessee 10

Ole Miss (-2.5) at LSU

Michael: This may just be the best game of weekend in the SEC as there’s a renewed life of life down on the Bayou following the LShoes big win last weekend in Gainesville. It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve seen Ole Miss take the field, so it’s difficult to say what we will be getting with the Rebels but based on the lack of experience in LSU’s secondary, it’s safe to say Lane Kiffin’s team will be putting up some points this weekend. Of course, based on what we’ve seen from the Ole Miss defense this season, the Tigers should be able to do the same — regardless of which quarterback starts for LSU. It’s dangerous to go against the home team in a rivalry game so I’ll take LSU with the points in this one.

Ole Miss 42 LSU 40

Chris: Is it weird that I think this may be the best game all weekend in the SEC, and that includes the actual conference title game? I can’t wait to watch this game for a number of reasons. One, I can’t wait to see what Lane Kiffin does to troll last week’s win. Two, how does LSU look after shocking the world a week ago in Gainesville?

There shouldn’t even be a line, over/under, or regulation time for this game. It should just be first to 100 wins. LSU’s win last week was awesome. However, let’s not forget that they were outgained by almost 200 yards and were torched for most of the night. The last time Ole Miss was favored by this amount, on the road, was at Arkansas. Things did not go well for the Rebels or QB Matt Corral that day. But, this is different, and I don’t know how LSU stops this offense for 60 minutes.

Ole Miss 44 LSU 38

Missouri (-1) at Mississippi State

Michael: After a long and draining season, the team that wants this one more will likely come out on top, as both teams are dealing with a laundry list of issues raging from from opt-outs, to injuries to scholarship reductions on this year’s roster. Both these teams had been playing their best football of the season to start December but recent each have suffered demoralizing losses last weekend. The difference in this game? Mizzou is led by some true leaders on both sides of the ball while Mississippi State is led by some emerging freshmen and sophomores. Mizzou finishes the season on the right note.

Missouri 24 Mississippi State 17

Chris: By all accounts, Missouri is a better team than Mississippi State. They’ve had a better season, they had a better recruiting class after early signing day, and Eli Drinkwitz has been a better coach than Mike Leach, each in his inaugural season in the SEC. However, Mizzou has been abysmal away from home this season.

The Tigers are 1-2 on the road with their only win against lowly South Carolina. They’re averaging under 300 total ypg and haven’t scored more than 17 points in a single road game all year. I’ll take Mississippi State, and absolutely hate myself for it.

Mississippi State 24 Mizzou 23

SEC Championship Game Alabama (-17) vs. Florida

Michael: My picks have been so horrible this year, there’s no reason to stop taking wild swings heading into championship weekend! Everyone is going to be picking Alabama in this game, and likely by several touchdowns, but I think the Gators show up this week and give the Tide all they can handle. The trifecta of Kyle Trask, Kyle Pitts and Kadarius Toney combine to make the most dangerous pass and catch trio in the nation and Alabama is going to have fits stopping them in this game. Of course, the issue for Florida will come when Alabama has the ball, which could be said of any team this season. I’ll give Alabama the edge due to the fact the Tide have a better offensive line and running back but I expect this game to be much closer than most are predicting.

Alabama 45 Florida 35

Chris: I’m still in shock from Florida’s loss to LSU last week. It was hilarious, tragic, confusing, and again hilarious. However, I think the loss may give the Gators a better advantage going into this game than a win would have. Nobody is giving the Gators a chance in Atlanta. The Gators don’t have as much to play for, but they still have Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts which is a mismatch against anyone.

This will be a great test for a Bama defense that has been pretty dominant since the Ole Miss game. However, they also haven’t faced an elite offense or elite QB, since that game. I think Florida gets off to a fast start and tries to make Bama play on its heels a bit. They may even lead at the half. But there’s no way Todd Grantham can slow this offense down for 60 minutes, and there’s no chance that Florida leaves Atlanta with a win.

Since 1999, Alabama is 9-2 vs Florida with their only 2 losses against Gator teams that had Tim Tebow on the sidelines. Tebow ain’t walking through that door. Saban is. Along with 3 potential Heisman finalists, and his 16-1 record in the ATL.

Alabama 45 Florida 31

Click here to get exclusive +400 odds through SDS on Alabama to win the SEC Championship Game with DraftKings Sportsbook.