By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports
It’s game picks time here on my blog. I pick the games straight-up, but I list the point spreads and give a final score, so you can make your own deductions from my picks and use as you wish. I’ve had great success each year with my SEC and even NFL picks. Enjoy!
My record the last two seasons…
2020 SEC Season Prediction Record: 66-12 (85%)
2019 SEC Season Prediction Record: 103-20 (84%)
Check back on my “Vince’s View” blog page for future posts including weekly SEC football and NFL game predictions. Bookmark my blog page and check back often.
SEC Opening Weekend
(2020 Record)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Bowling Green (0-5) at Tennessee (3-7, 3-7 SEC)
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium (102,455)
8 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Series: UT leads 1-0
Sirius: 138 • XM: 190
Spread: Tennessee -34
Vince’s View: This game is more about seeing the identity of a Josh Heupel football team more than if UT covers the point spread or not. That identity needs to be playing with tremendous tempo, stacking up yards and putting up points. You want to see the team play clean, look well-coached and get a big enough lead so they can play reserves in this game. You do not want to pile-on unnecessary snaps on starters when you’re not a deep or proven football team. Bowling Green is young and is lacking talent even comparable to the MAC or Group of 5, much less the SEC. A source that saw them practice this week told me he thinks they are bad once again despite seven transfers from Power 5 schools. If Tennessee is even in a close game vs. BG, that will be a horrible sign for the season. We’d all be shocked. No reason for it with all the positivity we’ve seen and heard from the offseason and preseason.
Score Prediction: Tennessee 49 Bowling Green 7
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Louisiana-Monroe (0-10) at Kentucky (5-6, 4-6 SEC)
Lexington, Ky. • Kroger Field (61,000)
12 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Series: UK leads 4-1
Sirius: 81 • XM: 81
Spread: Kentucky -29.5
Vince’s View: This game is about UK unveiling what Penn State transfer QB Will Levis can do with the strong arm they haven’t seen from a QB in a long time. The Wildcats will dominate a bad team at the line of scrimmage.
Score Prediction: Kentucky 42 Louisiana-Monroe 10
Rice (2-3) at Arkansas (3-7, 3-7 SEC)
Fayetteville, Ark. • Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000)
2 p.m. ET • SECN+ / ESPN+
Series: AR leads 35-29-3
Sirius: 108 • XM: 190
Spread: Arkansas -19.5
Vince’s View: I want to see what KJ Jefferson looks like running the offense. He, like several other SEC teams including UT, can change the narrative of the season with bigtime QB play. Sam Pittman is hoping to build off of a solid first-year campaign in Fayetteville.
Score Prediction: Arkansas 37 Rice 13
Alabama (13-0, 10-0 SEC) vs. Miami (8-3)
Atlanta, Ga. • Mercedes-Benz Stadium (71,000)
3:30 p.m. ET • ABC
Series: UA leads 14-3
Sirius: 135 • XM: 192
Spread: Alabama -18.5
Vince’s View: I’d give those points all day. I like Hurricanes QB D’Eriq King. Miami has some NFL talent, but it’s not back to the old days like many are clamoring for. Alabama will unleash Tennessee transfer LB Henry To’o To’o and that strong defense, as well as the Bryce Young QB show on offense.
Score Prediction: Alabama 42 Miami 14
Louisiana Tech (5-5) at Mississippi State (4-7, 3-7 SEC)
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (61,337)
4 p.m. ET • ESPNU
Series: MS leads 10-3
Sirius: 111 • XM: 191
Spread: Miss State -23.5
Vince’s View: I’m not sold on the Bulldogs in the SEC, compared to some, but this will be a stat-padder game for the Mike Leach bunch.
Score Prediction: Miss State 35 Louisiana Tech 17
Central Michigan (3-3) at Missouri (5-5, 5-5 SEC)
Columbia, Mo. • Faurot Field (62,621)
4 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Series: First meeting
Sirius: 81 • XM: 81
Spread: Missouri -13
Vince’s View: Mizzou should be strong at the line of scrimmage and promising at quarterback. There’s no reason they don’t put those things on display in this one against the visitors from the MAC.
Score Prediction: Missouri 34 Central Michigan 10
Akron (1-5) at Auburn (6-5, 6-4 SEC)
Auburn, Ala. • Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
7 p.m. ET • SECN+/ ESPN+
Series: AU leads 1-0
Sirius: 108 • XM: 190
Spread: Auburn -37
Vince’s View: The Bryan Harsin era opens similar to the Josh Heupel era at Tennessee, against one of the worst teams in the FBS where winning big won’t win you any cookies, but ugly wins will set-off the fire alarms. Akron’s only win last year was a blowout of Bowling Green. Should be an easy game for Auburn.
Score Prediction: Auburn 52 Akron 6
Eastern Illinois (1-5) at South Carolina (2-8, 2-8 SEC)
Columbia, S.C.. • Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559)
7 p.m. ET • SECN+/ ESPN+
Series: First meeting
Sirius: 135 • XM: 192
Spread: South Carolina -42.5
Vince’s View: Eastern Illinois struggled on the FCS level last year. Just like Harsin and Heupel, your first game as head coach at your school is a soft opener. Great opportunity to build confidence and play a lot of players, as long as you take care of business. SC had a coach win the starting QB job. That’s where they’re at from a talent standpoint. SC does have really good running backs, an excellent TE and is solid defensively but near the bottom in the SEC overall.
Score Prediction: South Carolina 38 Eastern Illinois 0
Florida Atlantic (5-4) at Florida (8-4, 8-2 SEC)
Gainesville, Fla. • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field (88,548)
7:30 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Series: UF leads 3-0
Sirius: 81 • XM: 81
Spread: Florida -24.5
Vince’s View: This is about what QB Emory Jones looks like and if the Gators have improved defensively. Dan Mullen seems to figure things out when his teams have lower expectations.
Score Prediction: Florida 31 FAU 9
Georgia (8-2, 7-2 SEC) vs. Clemson (10-2)
Charlotte, N.C. • Bank of America Stadium (74,867)
7:30 p.m. ET • ABC
Series: UG leads 42-18-4
Sirius: 84 • XM: 84
Spread: Clemson -3
Vince’s View: Obviously, this is the elite game in college football featuring two college football playoff contenders. There are two Heisman Trophy contending quarterbacks on display in this one (both from California by the way) in Georgia’s JT Daniels and Clemson’s DJ Uiagalelei (oo-E-unga-luh-lay.) These are two of the best defenses in the country as well. They are both stacked with 4 and 5-star talent even if many aren’t familiar with the younger names. A healthy WR Justyn Ross makes a special play to make the difference in this one.
Score Prediction: Clemson 28 Georgia 24
Kent State (3-1) at Texas A&M (9-1, 8-1 SEC)
College Station, Texas • Kyle Field (102,733)
8 p.m. ET • ESPNU
Series: First meeting
Sirius: 211 • XM: 202
Spread: Texas A&M -29
Vince’s View: Another team that will have a new QB with promise on display in Texas A&M’s Haynes King. King chose A&M over Tennessee a few years ago. I think he’s a difference making talent. Spiller is the best RB in the league and the Aggies have an underrated stout defense.
Score Prediction: Texas A&M 45 Rice 9
ETSU (4-3) at Vanderbilt (0-9, 0-9 SEC)
Nashville, Tenn. • Vanderbilt Stadium (40,350)
8 p.m. ET • SECN+/ ESPN+
Series: VU leads 1-0
Sirius: 121 • XM: 203
Spread: -21.5
Vince’s View: The Clark Lea era begins with a game the Commodores should and need to win considering what’s to come in the SEC. It’s a massive building job there in the great city of Nashville.
Score Prediction: Vanderbilt 30 ETSU 6
LSU (5-5, 5-5 SEC) at UCLA (3-4)
Pasadena, Calif. • Rose Bowl (91,136)
8:30 p.m. ET • FOX
Series: First meeting
Sirius: 111 • XM: 191
Spread: LSU -4
Vince’s View: UCLA looked improved in Week 1’s blowout of Hawaii and it appears the talent is improving, but it’s not on LSU’s level. This will be a bounce-back year for the Tigers now that they’ve returned to the offensive system of two years ago. Maybe bigger than that is that they’ve moved on from Bo Pellini on defense. I’m surprised at the low spread.
Score Prediction: LSU 38 UCLA 21
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Ole Miss (5-5, 4-5 SEC) vs. Louisville (4-7)
Atlanta, Ga. • Mercedes-Benz Stadium (71,000)
8 p.m. ET • ESPN
Series: First meeting
Sirius: 84 • XM: 84
Spread: Ole Miss 9.5
Vince’s View: I think the Rebels will be a little better on defense, and they better be if OM is to meet raised expectations. QB Matt Corral is a stud and Ole Miss has skill talent. Louisville should be a smidge better than last season but this Lane Kiffin bunch is better and fun to watch.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 56 Louisville 28
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