Predictions around the country for this weekend's games
This week features two of the biggest SEC matchups of the year. In the East, Florida visits LSU in a battle between two of the three remaining unbeaten teams in the league. Meanwhile, in what could be an elimination game in the SEC West, Alabama takes on Texas A&M in College Station.
There are seven games involving SEC teams this week, so let’s take a look at projected final scores for Saturday’s conference matchups, according to four different media outlets — tennessean.com, Bleacher Report, saturdayblitz.com and Fox Sports.
SEC PICKS BY TENNESSEAN COLUMNIST DAVE AMMENHEUSER
Auburn 36, Kentucky 27
Memphis 37, Ole Miss 28
Mississippi State 37, Louisiana Tech 28
Alabama 38, Texas A&M 35
South Carolina 24, Vanderbilt 23
Florida 34, LSU 31
Georgia 31, Missouri 17
Note: Here are the most telling observations. Ammenheuser likes Florida not only to cover but to win outright at LSU. The Tigers are favored by a little less than a touchdown. He also thinks Memphis will beat Ole Miss outright. The Rebels are favored by 10.5 points. In the SEC West game of the week, Ammenheuser sees Alabama beating Texas A&M but not covering. The Crimson Tide is giving 4.5 points.
SEC PICKS BY BLEACHER REPORT
Kentucky 27, Auburn 21
Memphis 41, Ole Miss 37
Mississippi State 31, Louisiana Tech 19
Texas A&M 29, Alabama 25
South Carolina 27, Vanderbilt 20
LSU 26, Florida 14
Georgia 34, Missouri 17
Note: A couple of results jump out here. Like Ammenheuser does, Bleacher Report predicts that Memphis, a two-score underdog, will beat Ole Miss for its 13th straight win. It also has Texas A&M, a 4-point home underdog, beating Alabama. In addition, it forecasts LSU and Georgia both winning and covering. The Bulldogs are favored by 16.
SEC PICKS BY SATURDAYBLITZ.COM’S NICHOLAS IAN ALLEN
Auburn 24, Kentucky 21
Mississippi State 31, Louisiana Tech 17
Ole Miss 35, Memphis 24
Alabama 30, Texas A&M 24
South Carolina 21, Vanderbilt 17
LSU 27, Florida 20
Georgia 28, Missouri 10
Note: Hmm. We’ve detected a pattern here. Allen likes chalk this week, picking every favorite to win and cover.
SEC PICKS BY FOX SPORTS
Kentucky 28, Auburn 27
Mississippi State 31, Louisiana Tech 26
Alabama 28, Texas A&M 27
South Carolina 29, Vanderbilt 27
Georgia 25, Missouri 24
Notes: Each game in Fox Sports’ predictions is simulated 101 times, so these scores may actually turn out to be quite accurate. No Ole Miss-Memphis score is available, but of the remaining games, each one is expected to be a one-score affair.