By Jimmy Hyams
After years of not doing this, I’ve decided to pick each game involving an SEC team each week.
Some are easy, some difficult, due to the degree of the opponent and unpredictability of some teams in the SEC.
The SEC went 13-1 last week and so did we, missing only the LSU upset of Miami. My seven public picks were aired last Friday during our Picks Panel with Al Brown. The others were like picking low hanging fruit.
Not even a Northwestern State University grad would pick the Demons to beat Texas A&M.
Before we get to our picks, some intriguing stats:
Florida allowed 3 passing yards to Charleston Southern. Georgia has the next best mark at 61. UT gave up 429.
Six SEC teams scored over 50 points last week, three others got at least 45.
Five SEC teams surrendered 7 or fewer points.
Seven SEC teams gained at least 500 total yards, with A&M leading the pack at 758. Tennessee had just 301 and LSU 296 in a blowout win over Miami.
The Aggies rushed for 503 yards; no other SEC team had 300. Arkansas had 80.
Six SEC teams allowed less than 95 rushing yards; Alabama gave up 16, A&M 21.
As payouts go, Tennessee will write a check for $500,000 to East Tennessee State to play at Neyland Stadium. That helps ETSU’s budget a lot more than it hurts UT’s budget.
So here we go with this week’s picks:
Alabama 47-7 over Arkansas State
Arkansas 54-40 over Colorado State
Auburn 50-3 over Alabama State
Florida 24-17 over Kentucky
Georgia 27-24 over South Carolina
LSU 44-10 over Southeastern Louisiana
Ole Miss 47-27 over Southern Illinois
Mississippi State 24-20 over Kansas State
Missouri 45-17 over Wyoming
Clemson23-17 over Texas A&M
Vanderbilt 27-20 over Nevada
Tennessee 40-7 over ETSU
Last week: 13-1
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