SEC Week 9 predictions
Week 8 pick results:
- Brad (@BCrawfordSDS) — 3-3 (against the spread); 5-1 (straight up)
- Christopher (@csmithSDS) — 3-3 (ATS); 4-2 (straight up)
Season totals:
- Brad (@BCrawfordSDS) — 31-40-1 (against the spread); 56-15 (straight up)
- Christopher (@csmithSDS) — 37-34-1 (ATS); 54-17 (straight up)
Saturday’s games
Ole Miss (-7) at Auburn
Brad: As it turns out, the Rebels aren’t playing zombies from The Walking Dead during Halloween this season. Last week’s victory over Texas A&M means Ole Miss still controls its own destiny in the West race despite appearing six feet under heading into the matchup following a disappointing effort at Memphis. Hugh Freeze’s team executed the game plan despite a couple miscues and played flawless defense to turn back the Aggies. Ole Miss has already stumbled on the road once this season in Gainesville, but at this junction, much more rides on this game against Auburn. And the Tigers won’t have enough defense to keep up.
Ole Miss 34, Auburn 20
Christopher: The return of Laremy Tunsil can’t be overstated, especially with the way Ole Miss’ offensive line had failed to protect Chad Kelly or establish the run. Last weekend, Tunsil outplayed Myles Garrett. Auburn’s version of Garrett, Carl Lawson, has played less than a game in the last two years due to injuries. He may or may not suit up against the Rebels. At any rate, the Tigers don’t appear capable of badgering Kelly to the extent of some recent teams, like Florida. Auburn’s offense has been creeping toward respectability, but it better take care of the football, as Ole Miss excels at forcing takeaways.
Ole Miss 35, Auburn 27
Georgia vs. Florida (-2.5, Jacksonville)
Brad: Is this the season-saver for Mark Richt and the Bulldogs? Both teams are coming off bye weeks and Georgia welcomes several key players back who have nursed injuries including Sony Michel and Jordan Jenkins. You have to think Georgia hasn’t forgotten about last season’s effort in Jacksonville and wants to return the favor now that the roles are reversed. Florida still has a College Football Playoff chance if it wins out, but Georgia would need a lot of help with two losses. In one of the SEC’s best games of the season, I think Geoff Collins’ defense terrorizes Greyson Lambert and the Gators prevail.
Florida 27, Georgia 24
Christopher: Georgia was a double-digit favorite in this game just a few weeks ago, so kudos to whomever was wise enough to back Florida at that time. And boy, would things start to get worrisome for Mark Richt if he lost this game to fall to 5-3 with four contests remaining after entering the season as a potential College Football Playoff contender. Can UGA terrorize Florida with a punishing ground game? Leonard Fournette managed 195 yards of total offense against the Gators. But with Nick Chubb shelved due to a major injury, the answer is uncertain. I expect a tossup game here. So I like getting 2.5 points on a side.
Florida 28, Georgia 27
Vanderbilt at Houston (-11)
Brad: Before the season, this game looked challenging for the Commodores. After eight weeks, it looks almost unwinnable. Despite coming off its first SEC win in Derek Mason’s tenure last time out, Vanderbilt will need to score at least a couple touchdowns to beat one of the nation’s hottest teams under first-year coach Tom Herman. Last week at UCF, the unbeaten Cougars trailed 10-7 late in the second quarter before a barrage of touchdowns led to 52 unanswered points. They’re one of three nationally-ranked teams without a loss from the American Athletic Conference. Temple and Memphis have marquee wins to their credit. It’s now Houston’s turn to open a few more eyes against a struggling SEC squad.
Houston 31, Vanderbilt 13
Christopher: The Commodores and Derek Mason got an SEC win by outlasting a hapless Mizzou offense. Great. Now Vanderbilt must go on the road to face a Top 25 team. Despite a pretty good defense, those hoping that the ‘Dores will eclipse last year’s win total and at least keep bowl eligibility as a legitimate conversation for a while longer may be in for a reality check. Coached by Tom Herman, the Cougars are 7-0 and in the running for a New Year’s Six bowl game. This is a good tuneup for that team before they take on Cincinnati and Memphis in the next two weeks.
Houston 31, Vanderbilt 17
South Carolina at Texas A&M (-16)
Brad: What’s wrong with the Aggies? If there was an easy answer, Kevin Sumlin would’ve already told us. Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital has come under fire along with Kyler Murray for sideline shenanigans against Alabama. This team, one that was ranked inside the Top 10 a few weeks ago, is in obvious disarray, but talented enough to turn it around. That starts against South Carolina as a multi-touchdown home favorite. The Gamecocks are coming off a bye week as interim coach Shawn Elliott prepped for his first ‘big boy test’ in the SEC. Wins over Vanderbilt are nice, but a victory in College Station would make for a fantastic resume builder for Elliott as South Carolina’s staff picks a head coach in the near future. I don’t think the Gamecocks have enough talent on defense to keep up, however.
Texas A&M 38, South Carolina 17
Christopher: South Carolina just doesn’t have the personnel on offense or defense to match up with Texas A&M right now. Perhaps Pharoh Cooper can make some big plays and the defense can force the Aggies into a few turnovers, but I’m skeptical. Meanwhile, Texas A&M isn’t as good as it looked during a season-opening clinic against Arizona State and isn’t as bad as it looked in a 20-point loss at Ole Miss. Kevin Sumlin’s team seems to take two steps forward and one step back, then occasionally inverts. But I expect a slow build the rest of this season before the team finally is ready to contend for an SEC West title in 2016.
Texas A&M 35, South Carolina 17
Tennessee (-8.5) at Kentucky
Brad: I thought last week’s 11.5-point spread at Mississippi State was a slap in the face to Kentucky … I was wrong. They’re starting to look like the same Wildcats as we approach the final month of the season, stuck somewhere between average and eight wins. Dak Prescott put on a show against a defense that appeared out of sorts most of the night. And with quarterback Patrick Towles trending down, the offense hasn’t clicked the way it did in September. This is a winnable game for Kentucky at home, but I’d expect the Vols to hold on late.
Tennessee 24, Kentucky 17
Christopher: Kentucky’s defense is what we thought they were. That’s what Dak Prescott revealed to all of us in Week 8, and to a lesser extent Sean White in Week 7. I fully expect Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs to be good enough to exploit that unit as well. UK’s pass defense allows 7.4 yards per attempt. The Wildcats offense averages 19.8 points per game against SEC competition this year. The narrative that Kentucky has turned around its program may be true in the intermediate term, but in the short term, this team has more personnel issues than some are acknowledging. For now, UT is the better team.
Tennessee 31, Kentucky 17
UT Martin at Arkansas (-37)
Brad: A must-win as far as bowl hopes are concerned, the Razorbacks won’t have to convert a fourth-and-goal and a nail-biting two-point conversion in overtime to beat this week’s opponent. Arkansas wins big as it inches closer to the postseason down the stretch.
Arkansas 48, UT-Martin 13
Christopher: The Skyhawks gave up 76 points at Ole Miss (Week 1), lost to FCS No. 1 Jacksonville State (Week 3) and since have reeled off four consecutive wins. Still, the UT-Martin defense has given up at least 45 points in three separate games this year. Arkansas isn’t going to be able to take this game lightly, as the team needs a fourth win to retain postseason hope. The Razorbacks should hold a huge advantage at the line of scrimmage, so unless the Skyhaws get something going in the air, expect this one to be a blowout.
Arkansas 49, UT-Martin 10
Yawn
I’d say that’s the right word to use for yalls season…
says the guy who’s team went a combined 11-13 in 2013 and 2014. Quality program.
How many national titles you guys have?
Under a coach that was only focused on defense. Now with Big Mac, we have a coach that is offensively minded, but recognizes the importance of defense (much like Spurrier was).
Good luck with your “Quality program”.
2013 & 2014 were rough years, but we can always look back on two National Championships in the last 10 years and smile. Kind of like how Georgia fans can look back on…. wait, when were Georgia’s glory days?
1 loss less than you, without cheating!
You’re bragging about one loss less hahaha hilarious. Come talk when you can beat Tennessee…
Big talk. See you Saturday. BTW, UGA has won 3 of the past 4 years. More to come.
Big talk when we have the lead on the past 10 meetings. And we’re under new coaching where were not “Trying to give the ball away on offense and let the defense take care of it”
And UF has won 18 of the last 25, you know since were bringing up the past…
That one works too lol
Go Gators!
You bob for apples in the toilet, and you like it.
It’s Halloween so I expect some crazy stuff this saturday, just sayin.
Ole Miss 28 Auburn 20…
(All 4 of the Ole Miss touchdowns are Treadwelll TD Catches)
Georgia 31 Florida 23…
(Last year Florida pounded the ball on Georgia. This year it is the opposite)
Houston 35 Vanderbilt 14
(Houston and Memphis are gonna be 2 undefeated teams when they play in 2 weeks)
Texas A&M 45 South Carolina 28
(Passing game for A&M gets back on track)
Tennessee 38 Kentucky 14
(Tennessee gets a lead, and instead of blowing it, they build on it)
Arkansas 49 UT Martin 10
(Arkansas runs for over 350 yards in this game)
2 upset specials in the nation
N C State 31 Clemson 30
Texas Tech 38 Oklahoma State 31
OSU runs for over 300 yards, beats TT by 20.
little disappointed in the cowboys, not as sound as I thought. I don’t think they make it through the gauntlet. Please beat baylor, please.
Except Matt Jones + Kelvin Taylor > Sony Michel + Keith Marshall. And UF will just stack the box with 8 not having to worry at all about Lambert.
Also, I would expect our DBs to step up as they had been called out. They are still one of the best secondaries in the nation and just made a couple mistakes against LSU in the second quarter. They will be ready for this game.
Matt Jones is playing in the Nfl, moron.
#Yikes
He was talking about our RB’s last year when they ran for 400+ yards. He was comparing our running attack from last year to your current running attack for this year.
That doesn’t make any sense, but hopefully Florida can win a few games without cheating this year..
And make a bowl game twice in a row (that will be impressive)!
Of course you can’t comprehend it, you’re a Georgia fan.
Good lord kid you are dense.
His prediction is based on flipping the script from last year.
He is saying UGA rushes the ball down UF’s throat.
Blake763 is saying that last years UF’s running back tandem is more talented than UGA’s this year. Meaning UGA wont be able to rush for over 400 yards against the Gators.
if you need any other comments explained just contact your closest UF fan I am sure they can find some crayons and break it down for you on your level.
Florida is crime city! Heard they got a lot of PED users there too…Boom!
are you sure you understood what you heard?
I only ask because Florida is not a city…
It’s a joke, crime city sounds better than crime state. I know Florida isn’t a city, I wasn’t born in Florida.
Or say Gainesville… like I said just contact the closest Gator and they can help you out.
The closest gator, works for me.
You may be right and not have to worry about Lambert.
Clvh72990, you should give FanDuel a try – might make a lot of money.
Na, I don’t bet on games. Just like good football and seeing crazy things happen
FanDuel is such a crock
Eh…Ur “crazy” is a kinda tame there brah.Nothing bold or crazy about any of those predictions…
You think Houston is going to score 30+? So far this season they have played exactly one FBS team with a scoring defense in the top 100. Vanderbilt is #13. I’m not saying that Vandy’s going to win, I mean their offense is really good and their defense isn’t bad either. However, after watching the rest of the Vandy games this year, I just don’t feel confident in this game having a lot of points scored in it.
Something’s gotta give in this game. Houston has a powerful O, while Vandy has a solid D. This one will be interesting to watch, although, I believe Houston pulls it out given their ability to score points.
I actually think Georgia is going to wake up and win this game.
Noone care 3-4 go home your drunk
Auburn 37 – Ole Miss 35
Florida 28 – Georgia 17
Houston 28 – Vanderbilt 9
Texas A&M 38 – South Carolina 17
Tennessee 27 – Kentucky 24
Arkansas 42 – UT Martin 20
You know, I was sitting in a BWW in Mississippi last year in the midst of a ton of OM fans watching the game. There was lots of whooping and hollering until the end! Then my wife and I were the only ones left standing.
I look for Auburn to play well at home. If they can continue to correct errors (like not dropping easy passes), I give them a good chance this weekend.
I have a hard time seeing Auburn put up 37 points against us. Especially if the defense plays with the intensity they did against A&M.
You’re probably right but I’m one of those fans who never picks against their team and I have to make up for the fact that I have little doubt Ole Miss will have any trouble putting up 35 on us.
Never count Auburn out, sure Lawson might not make a huge impact but he frees up the defensive lineman around him I mean look at the Louisville game they didn’t score a point while he was in. Hes a leader and with him in that Buck position that moves Mckinzy back to a pure linebacker spot. I give Auburn a good chance they probably won’t win but don’t count them out
Missouri, still unable to move the ball, loses to BYE. There is no joy in Mudville…
I’ll readily admit to not watching much Missouri football this year (join the crowd?) so I am asking in all honesty:
Is the problem with the offense the scheme, the players, the OC, mismatch of 2 or more of the above, or other?
Slow receivers who can’t get open and can’t catch when they do, no running backs better than mediocre now that injury has limited Hansborough, unimaginative OC who keeps running a predictable order of plays that won’t work without above-average receivers and RB’s like we had the previous two seasons, no Mauk for four games, and a green replacement quarterback that is either afraid to take a hit or has been told not to.
It’s been offensive line and receivers mostly.
The o-line has been all but escorting the opposition defense into the backfield most of the year. The coaches are finally starting to move guys into different positions and they did pass protect somewhat better against Vandy, but they were far from consistent. As for run blocking, they’re still bad.
The receivers are young and clueless. They aren’t creating any separation and not coming back for the ball which makes them sitting ducks for a safety. They have made some great hard catches and missed easy ones so maybe there is hope once they figure out how to focus.
Upset specials: Kentucky over Tennessee, Georgia over Florida.
only one of those should be considered an upset, and it won’t happen. UT over UK and UGA gives UF a little payback…
Tennessee 55
Kentucky 10
I think that UK-UT game is gonna be real close throughout the game. I think UK wins 28-24
A&M 31, South Carolina 17
Tennessee 35, Kentucky 24
Auburn 38, Ole Miss 35 (Calling the upset. I feel like Auburn has a big win left in them)
Florida 38, Georgia 20.
Vandy loses, Arky wins.