Auburn Football Tulane at Auburn on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 in Auburn, Ala.
Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics
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 4 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 Week 3 Prediction Record: 10-1 (91%)
2019 Game Prediction Record: 32-5 (86%)
SEC WEEK 4 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, SEPT. 21
Southern Miss (2-1) at #2 Alabama (3-0, 1-0 SEC)
Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821)
12 p.m. ET • ESPN2
Series: UA leads, 34-6-2
Sirius: 81 • XM: 81
Line: Alabama -38 ½
Vince’s View: Alabama is 55th in the nation in rushing offense? Really? Bama should look to put the game away early and work on that run game.
Score Prediction: Alabama 49 Southern Miss 10
Tennessee (1-2, 0-0 SEC) at #9 Florida (3-0, 1-0 SEC)
Gainesville, Fla. • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field (88,548)
12 p.m. ET • ESPN
Series: UF leads, 28-20
Last: UF, 47-21 (2018 in Knoxville)
Sirius: 119 • XM: 191
Line: Florida -14
Vince’s View: Yes, Tennessee has a chance in this game. Florida has shown some vulnerabilities. I don’t think the Gators are as close to Georgia as some believe. Two key defenders, Jabari Zuniga and CJ Henderson are questionable. UF is not deep to begin with. That being said, I think Kyle Trask improves the Gators offense. I think UT’s confidence is still fragile. I worry about a lot of the young players handling the road environment (except To’oto’o and Gray) that will be hostile. Has this team fixed all its alignment and assignment errors? QB Jarrett Guarantano needs to play like he was expected to entering the season. With all the complex looks and pressures UF DC Todd Grantham will throw at him, I need to see it first.
Score Prediction: Florida 31 Tennessee 13
#4 LSU (3-0, 0-0 SEC) at Vanderbilt (0-2, 0-1 SEC)
Nashville, Tenn. • Vanderbilt Stadium (40,350)
12 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Series: LSU leads, 22-7-1
Last: LSU, 27-3 (2010 in Nashville)
Sirius: 106/133 • XM: 192/190
Line: LSU -24
Vince’s View: LSU ranking 105th in the nation in rushing offense is stunning. Maybe that’s a by product of wanting to establish the new wide open passing game, but they better work on it, so it’s there when needed down the road. Maybe the 126th ranked defense in the country will present LSU that opportunity.
Score Prediction: LSU 48 Vanderbilt 17
#23 California (3-0) at Ole Miss (2-1, 1-0 SEC)
Oxford, Miss. • Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038)
12 p.m. ET • ESPNU
Series: CAL leads, 1-0
Sirius: 121 • XM: 207
Line: Ole Miss -2 ½
Vince’s View: Who knew that Cal would be about defense and running the football. It’s working. Ole Miss is much improved on defense, but still have a lot of work to do in Rich Rod’s offense.
Score Prediction: Cal 27 Ole Miss 24
#8 Auburn (3-0, 0-0 SEC) at #17 Texas A&M (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
College Station, Texas • Kyle Field (102,733)
3:30 p.m. ET • CBS
Series: A&M leads, 5-4
Last: AU, 28-24 (2018 in Auburn)
Sirius: 81/133 • XM: 81/190
Line: Texas A&M -3 ½
Vince’s View: What a huge and intriguing game this is. Both teams have different strengths and brutal schedules. Both can ill-afford to drop this game with what lies ahead. I give the Auburn defensive line will be the difference to close out the road win for the Tigers.
Score Prediction: Auburn 31 Texas A&M 27
Kentucky (2-1, 0-1 SEC) at Mississippi State (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (61,337)
3 p.m. CT • SEC Network
Series: Tied 23-23
Last: UK, 28-7 (2018 in Lexington)
Sirius: 106/119 • XM: 192/191
Line: Mississippi State -6
Vince’s View: I’ve been underwhelmed by Miss State so far relative to my expectations. UK may have the advantage at the line of scrimmage and that will help Kentucky bounce back after the brutal home loss to Florida last week.
Score Prediction: Kentucky 20 Miss State 16
South Carolina (1-2, 0-1 SEC) at Missouri (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
Columbia, Mo. • Faurot Field (62,621)
4 p.m. ET • SEC Network Alternate Channel
Series: SC leads, 5-4
Last: SC, 37-35 (2018 in Columbia, S.C.)
Sirius: 105 • XM: 201
Line: Missouri -9 ½
Vince’s View: I like Ryan Hilinski at QB for South Carolina. The Gamecocks had opportunities against Alabama last week. Missouri though, has weapons on offense and an opportunistic defense. Tigers win a close game.
Score Prediction: Missouri 35 South Carolina 31
San Jose State (1-1) at Arkansas (2-1, 0-1 SEC)
Fayetteville, Ark. • Reynolds Razorback Stadium (76,000)
7:30 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Series: First Meeting
Sirius: 133 • XM: 190
Line: Arkansas -20 ½
Vince’s View: Arkansas at least has shown some life and some improvement over a year ago, even though it has a long way to go. San Jose State is coming off a bye, but it shouldn’t be enough of a challenge to win at Arkansas.
Score Prediction: Arkansas 35 San Jose State 13
#7 Notre Dame (2-0) at #3 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC)
Athens, Ga. • Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium (92,746)
8 p.m. ET • CBS
Series: UGA leads 2-0
Sirius: 84 • XM: 84
Line: Georgia -14 ½
Vince’s View: I don’t think this game will go much better for Notre Dane than the playoff loss to Clemson did. Georgia is too complete, nasty at the line of scrimmage and fast. Georgia is too deep and talented for the Irish.
Score Prediction: Georgia 31 Notre Dame 10
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