SEC Quick Hits 10/7
Looking for a few quick thoughts for every SEC matchup on-tap this weekend?
Let’s do it.
First things first…what week of the season is it? Some say Week 5, most call it Week 6, in the SEC it’s Week 3. Do I jump on board with the majority? Ok, fine.
Week 6 - October 10, 2020
(14) Tennessee @ (3) Georgia 3:30pmET CBS
Tennessee is riding an “8-game winning streak” dating back to last season, which spans 353 days. UGA has found their QB in Stetson Bennett IV, and pairs him with the best defense in the nation. This game will be determined by the lines of scrimmage, and Vegas likes the Dawgs by 12.5 points. Georgia gets to 3-0 before their big matchup in Tuscaloosa. UGA 31 Tennessee 10
(4) Florida @ (21) Texas A&M 12pmET ESPN
Florida has weapons all over the field on offense, led by QB Kyle Trask and TE Kyle Pitts. The Aggies are off to a rough start, skating by Vanderbilt and then getting blown out by Alabama. Could HC Jimbo Fisher and QB Kellen Mond use this Top-5 challenge as a “get right” game? I checked the coaching history between Jimbo and Florida’s DC Todd Grantham, as they faced each other often in the ACC while at Florida State and Louisville, respectively. I did not like what I found. Even at Mississippi State, Mullen and Grantham had their way with A&M. Florida 42 Texas A&M 31
Missouri @ (17) LSU 12pmET
This game was just moved to Columbia, MO as Baton Rouge is under imminent threat from Hurricane Delta. Unexpected changes aside, LSU has too much talent to lose this game to Mizzou. Eli Drinkwitz will have to wait for his first victory in CoMO. LSU 35 Missouri 13
South Carolina @ Vanderbilt 12pmET SECN
A winless team in the SEC will get off the schneid as this is a matchup between two 0-2 squads. Vanderbilt is terrible. South Carolina has some juice on the offensive side of the ball, with new play caller Mike Bobo finding his stride alongside QB Collin Hill. The Cocks will score 30+. Their defense will look elite against Vandy’s putrid offense. South Carolina 38 Vanderbilt 14
Arkansas @ (13) Auburn 4pmET SECN
Auburn was embarrassed last weekend against Georgia. Their offensive and defensive lines were pushed around, and they certainly will use that as a wake-up call. Arkansas shocked the world and upset Week 4 National Champions Mississippi State (who beat LSU). Sam Pittman got his first win as the Hogs HC against a Top-25 team. Keep in mind, the Razorbacks have an experienced QB in Feleipe Franks, and two quality coordinators in Kendall Briles (OC) and former Mizzou HC Barry Odom as their DC. This may be the game of the weekend. Auburn 24 Arkansas 20
(2) Alabama @ Ole Miss 6pmET ESPN
Nick Saban is 20-0 against his former assistant coaches, and I don’t expect that to change this weekend. Lane Kiffin is in his first season at Ole Miss and got his first win last week in an OT thriller at Kentucky. While Rebels QB Matt Corral is off to a fantastic start in Kiffin’s high-powered scheme - he will be facing a stout test as the Tide defense continues to reload year after year. Oh yeah, the Ole Miss defense can’t stop anyone - allowing 51 points to Florida and 41 points to Kentucky in their first two games. Hotty Toddy, buckle up. Alabama 55 Ole Miss 31
Mississippi State @ Kentucky 7:30pmET SECN
Can Miss St QB KJ Costello learn from his mistakes last weekend, which resulted in an unexpected loss to Arkansas? Bulldogs HC Mike Leach will run his offense, and most of the time, you know what is coming your way. If corrections are made, which I believe they will be, Mississippi State will get back in the winners column against a winless Kentucky team. Yes, Kentucky is a standard 3 point home favorite, but I think without having starting RB Kavosiey Smoke playing, they will have a hard time keeping up on the scoreboard. Lose this game, and Kentucky could very well be 0-5 in a few weeks (@ Tennessee, vs. Georgia). Mississippi State 45 Kentucky 20