By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports
Each season I predict SEC games here on my blog, “Vince’s View.”
These are straight-up picks. The point spreads are just for some context of who the favorites are. I will list broadcast information all season as well.
Below are my predictions for Week 2 of the college football season. I’ve skipped analysis on the FCS opponents.
Check back here all season for score predictions on every game involving an SEC team all the way through the bowl season and perhaps, again, the national championship game.
2018 Game Prediction Record: 93-32 (74%)
2019 Game Prediction Record: 9-4 (100%)
SEC WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, SEPT. 7
West Virginia (1-0) at Missouri (0-1, 0-0 SEC)
Columbia, Mo. • Faurot Field (71,168)
Noon ET • ESPN2
Series: Tied 3-3
Sirius: 78 • XM: 191
Line: Missouri -14
Vince’s View: Missouri racked-up a lot of yards through the air, but was sloppy with the football in key situations in the stunning loss at Wyoming. Maybe Mizzou should work on running the football effectively. West Virginia has so much new in its rebuild. I think the Tigers get an improved performance from Kelly Bryant in a win.
Score Prediction: Missouri 45 West Virginia 28
Charleston Southern (0-1) at South Carolina (0-1, 0-0 SEC)
Columbia, S.C. • Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250)
Noon ET • SEC Network
Series: First Meeting
Sirius: 135 • XM: 190
Line: NL
Vince’s View: none
Score Prediction: South Carolina 38 Charleston Southern 3
Vanderbilt (0-1, 0-0 SEC) at Purdue (0-1)
West Lafayette, Ind. • Ross-Ade Stadium (57,236)
Noon ET • Big Ten Network
Series: VU leads, 2-0
Sirius: 134 • XM: 384
Line: Purdue -7
Vince’s View: Vandy faced elite competition last week, so it’s hard to totally judge them on game one. The offensive trio of Vaughn, Pinkney and Lipscomb should get going this week against a leaky Boilermakers defense. My concerns are Vandy’s defense against the Purdue offense and the Commodores keeping up with the Boilers’ offense.
Score Prediction: Purdue 37 Vanderbilt 28
Southern Miss (1-0) at Mississippi State (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (61,337)
3:30 p.m. ET • ESPNU
Series: Tied 14-14-1
Sirius: 121 • XM: 192
Line: Miss State -17
Vince’s View: Tommy Stevens should be able to build off a solid Bulldogs debut. MSU needs to play better in a lot of other areas or else there will be real concerns about this team. Motivated in-state teams can be tricky.
Score Prediction: Mississippi State 35 Southern Miss 23
#12 Texas A&M (1-0, 0-0 SEC) at #1 Clemson (1-0)
Clemson, S.C. • Memorial Stadium (81,500)
3:30 p.m. ET • ABC
Series: AM leads, 3-2
Sirius: 105 • XM: 201
Line: Clemson -17 ½
Vince’s View: What a great gauge for where Texas A&M is under Jimbo Fisher. Kellon Mond will make some plays against a younger Clemson defense, but with some starters out on defense for the Aggies, I don’t see them making enough stops against all the Clemson weapons. Knoxville’s Amari Rodgers may return from injury in this one.
Score Prediction: Clemson 34 Texas A&M 24
New Mexico State (0-1) at #2 Alabama (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821)
4 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Series: First Meeting
Sirius: 135 • XM: 190
Line: Alabama -55
Vince’s View: You don’t see point spreads like this often. One of the FBS’ worst teams has to try and limit the destruction at one of the nation’s best offenses.
Score Prediction: Alabama 56 New Mexico St 0
Murray State (1-0) at #3 Georgia (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
Athens, Ga. • Sanford Stadium (92,746)
4 p.m. ET • ESPN2
Series: UG leads, 1-0
Sirius: 78 • XM: 191
Line: NL
Vince’s View: none
Score Prediction: Georgia 49 Murray State 3
BYU (0-1) at Tennessee (0-1, 0-0 SEC)
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium (102,455)
7 p.m. ET • ESPN
Series: First Meeting
Sirius: 121 • XM: 192
Line: Tennessee -3 ½
Vince’s View: I expect a better “effort” from Tennessee. Part of the effort look is that this team’s mentality is fragile and they lose even more confidence thus getting discouraged. That comes across as not trying. However you classify it, it’s a bad sign that’s no different than the end of last season despite an offseason of moves and talk of improvement. Besides all that, I think UT’s inability to stop to run and how bad they are at the line of scrimmage are huge problems. UT will see all the things it had issues with last week, like RPOs, short passing game, TEs creating extra gaps at the LOS, 8-man coverage against Guarantano, disguised blitzes, etc. I think TE Matt Bushman has a career day with no coverage answers for him. The Vols will have their moments, but until I see otherwise, this is more than effort and pride holding Tennessee back. If UT loses, it will be the first 0-2 start for UT since 1988. All hope for this season will be lost by many with a defeat here. Yikes.
Score Prediction: BYU 38 Tennessee 34
Tulane (1-0) at #16 Auburn (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
Auburn, Ala. • Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
7:30 p.m. CT • ESPN2
Series: TUL leads, 17-14-6
Sirius: 78 • XM: 191
Line: Auburn -18
Vince’s View: You could see Auburn have a little bit of a letdown after the impressive come-from-behind win vs. Oregon last week. Tulane recruiting has picked-up and that includes in East Tennessee thanks to VFL JJ McCleskey on the Green Wave staff. The Auburn d-line will be too tough to handle in the second half.
Score Prediction: Auburn 28 Tulane 10
UT Martin (1-0) at #11 Florida (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
Gainesville, Fla. • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve-Spurrier Florida Field (88,548)
7:30 p.m. ET • ESPNU
Series: First Meeting
Sirius: 81 • XM:81
Line: NL
Vince’s View: none
Score Prediction: Florida 52 UT Martin 13
Eastern Michigan (1-0) at Kentucky (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
Lexington, Ky. • Kroger Field (61,000)
7:30 p.m. ET • SEC Network Alternate Channel
Series: UK leads, 1-0
Sirius: 98 • XM: 203
Line: Kentucky -14 ½
Vince’s View: Kentucky can probably survive another sloppy performance and win this game, but it won’t bode well for doing anything of note in conference play if it happens again.
Score Prediction: Kentucky 45 Eastern Michigan 27
#6 LSU (1-0, 0-0 SEC) at #9 Texas (1-0)
Austin, Texas • DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (100,119)
7:30 p.m. CT • ABC
Series: TEX leads, 9-7-1
Sirius: 84 • XM: 84
Line: LSU -6
Vince’s View: LSU will put the nation on alert that it is a legit college football playoff contender with this road win over a very good Texas team. LSU’s deep offensive talent will be on display in this one. LSU has insane talent on defense as well. Texas isn’t quite there yet.
Score Prediction: LSU 31 Texas 17
Arkansas (1-0, 0-0 SEC) at Ole Miss (0-1, 0-0 SEC)
Oxford, Miss. • Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038)
7:30 p.m. CT • SEC Network
Series: AR leads, 36-27-1
Last: UM, 37-33 (2018 in Fayetteville)
Sirius: 135 • XM: 190/384
Line: Ole Miss -6 ½
Vince’s View: Both fan bases, if realistic, have to view this one and say, ‘we better win this one while we have a shot.’ I think Ole Miss has a little better team, but it didn’t look like it last week. This one will either be as ugly as can be or as wild as can be.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 17 Arkansas 14
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