Predictions for Hogs-UAPB, rest of SEC
on 2024-08-28 06:35 AM
By Jason Pattyson
FAYETTEVILLE — There were some fireworks in week 0 of the 2024 college football kickoff. It will be interesting to see if Florida State can recover from the early conference loss dealt by the Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland, last weekend. So, without any further ado, here are the week one betting lines and picks from the Hogville staff for the opening of the 2024 college football season.
Western Kentucky at Alabama -31.5
It’s been 17 years since Alabama had a new head coach, and Kalen DeBoer has the most enormous shoes to fill since Ray Perkins took over for Paul “Bear” Bryant in the 1983 season. Bama lost 18 players to the 2024 draft, and they have only nine returning starters in total from the ’23 team, four on offense and five on defense. DeBoer has a little less to worry about with returning starting signal caller Jalen Milroe under center. Coordinators Nick Sheridan on offense and Kane Womack on defense have their work cut out this season, but week one should be an easy test due to the stockpile of talent Saban left the new regime. DeBoer and company get their first win in Tuscaloosa to start this new Era of Crimson Tide football, cover the spread quickly, and start 1-0.
Western Kentucky – 6
Alabama – 44
Alabama A&M at Auburn -31.5
Hugh Freeze enters his second season on the plains at Auburn, and he was busy in the transfer portal landing top wide receiver from Penn State KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Seniors quarterback Peyton Thorne and running back Jarquez Hunter look to lead the high-powered offense Freeze and company are known for. New Defensive Coordinator DJ Durkin joined the staff from Maryland, and a week one matchup against the in-state Bulldogs will be a very manageable task; the Tigers get off on the right foot 1-0.
Alabama A&M – 13
Auburn – 49
Miami -3.5 at Florida
The battle for Florida rests on the fact that Miami has a slight edge over the Gators in the series 29-27 series. Even though Miami has had its share of problems over the last decade, the Gators are not much better. Billy Napier is fighting for his job right out of the gates, and Mario Cristobal finally has a stacked team led by senior quarterback transfer Cam Ward. he put up prolific numbers at Washington St. and will fit right into the Hurricane system. Give the points, and Miami will not only cover but blow out the Gators at home, leading some to believe Napier will be out the door sooner than expected.
Miami – 38
Florida – 10
Clemson vs. Georgia -13.5
This appears to be a top weekend matchup, and I think fans will get their money’s worth. Clemson hasn’t been the Tigers of old, but they have a shot at establishing their spot early in the expanded playoff system. A win over the Bulldogs will do that. After FSU tumbled last weekend, that added a little to this game overall. Cason Beck is back for Georgia, and Kirby Smart is loaded again and preseason number one. Clemson gets close but no cigar; the Bulldogs cover late.
Clemson – 17
Georgia – 34
Southern Miss at Kentucky -27.5
Mark Stoops and his Wildcats are coming off a heartbreaking loss to Clemson in the Gator Bowl in January. Stoops has the Wildcats loaded again, and the Eagles of Southern Miss will need to start fast to keep up with Georgia transfer quarterback Brock Vandergriff. Wildcats fans remember the 25-point comeback Southern Miss surprised the Commonwealth faithfull back in 2016. That won’t happen this year, and Stoops and Company will take control right out of the gate and cruise in this one.
Southern Miss – 6
Kentucky – 34
LSU-4.5 vs. USC
The Tigers and Trojans meet for just the third time, and the last was in 1984. The key will be how well Harold Perkins operates early on. The Tiger’s run defense has been awful the previous two seasons, and USC has a lot of young talent on offense. The Tigers offense says hello to new QB1 Garrett Nussmeier taking over for Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, now playing for the Washington Commanders. This game is in Las Vegas, and the heat of the desert will be too much for the Trojans; the Tigers win easily.
LSU – 27
USC – 13
Furman at Ole Miss -42
Lane Kiffin had as hard an offseason as possible with the passing of his father, Monte, back in July. The Rebels dipped into the portal, got bigger up front, and shored up the defense. This could be the best Ole Miss team Kiffin and company has had in Oxford. This one will be over by the first quarter, and The Grove will be rocking all night. Ole Miss wins big.
Furman – 6
Ole Miss – 58
Eastern Kentucky at Mississippi State -25.5
This is a tricky one to pick. Hail State has a new head coach, Jeff Lebby, who took over after a stint as the OC at Oklahoma. A new coach and a new quarterback are no problem, but that line is steep. The state gets the job done, but not by the spread.
Eastern Kentucky -14
Mississippi State – 31
Murray State at Missouri -46.5
This one is interesting. Mizzou is fresh off a Cotton Bowl victory over a depleted Ohio St. team. Drinkwitz and company roll to victory and get the 2024 season off on the right foot.
Murray State – 7
Missouri – 51
Temple at OU -42.5
The Sooners debut in the SEC when they host the Temple Owls in week one. Head Coach Brent Venables and company look to get off to a fast start, not the one that almost derailed their season in ’23. Sooners look good in their opener and take care of business at home.
Temple – 13
Oklahoma – 56
Old Dominion at South Carolina – 20.5
Shane Beamer is introducing a new quarterback, redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers. At 6’3 “and 242 lbs, he’s a load, and defensive fronts will have a hard time bringing him down, especially this weekend against Old Dominion. ODU is earning a cool 1.5 million for the trip to Williams-Bryce Stadium and the Gamecocks roll in the Palmetto state.
Old Dominion – 9
South Carolina – 34
Chattanooga at Tennessee -28
The Volunteers, like many schools in the SEC this year, have a new quarterback in sophomore Nico Iamaleava. He was touted as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2023 class, and head coach Josh Heupel is trusting that he can replace Joe Milton and that the offense will not drop off. The Volunteers scored their 11th straight victory over the Moccasins and won big.
UT-Chattanooga – 10
Tennessee – 38
Colorado State at Texas -33.5
Texas is the other newest addition to the SEC entering the ’24 season. They host Colorado State, and the Rams will be roadkill on I-35 by the time the clock hits zero at the end of the first quarter. There is a lot at stake for the Horns, and they will live up to the hype entering the season. The Horns down roll early and often, and the Rams put up a score late to make it look not so bad.
Colorado State – 17
Texas – 58
Notre Dame at Texas A&M -2.5
This tilt is just as good on paper as it is odd. We know what the Fighting Irish are bringing to the table: lockdown corner Benjamin Morrison could be an All-American and the top corner in the country. If so, that will help balance the firepower of quarterback Riley Leonard, the Irish offense. The Aggies are past the Jimbo Fisher era, and Mike Elko steps in. Elko came from Duke, helping them rack up some ridiculous stats in his two seasons. Connor Weigman is set to lead the offense and hopes Elko can light the fire cause the Aggies have some pieces. Notre Dame wins late and covers.
Notre Dame – 34
Texas A&M- 28
Virginia Tech -13.5 at Vanderbilt
Virginia Tech rolls into Nashville and will thump the Commodores. I’m not sure this one will even be a game after the first half, to be honest. Clark Lea and company might be trying to find an exit door soon, and the Hokies win big on the road.
Virginia Tech – 54
Vanderbilt – 13
UAPB at Arkansas -49.5
The weekend matchup here in Arkansas will be met with much anticipation. Some will be ready to hit the panic button if the first series doesn’t result in a touchdown. This game is in Little Rock, and the not-so-home game might show flashes of hope for the Razorback faithful, but the real test looms in week two when the Hogs hit the road to Stillwater. Arkansas covers and wins big.
Picks by the Hogville staff:
Otis Kirk: 52-7 Hogs
Dudley Dawson: Arkansas
Jerry Meadows: 62-6 Hogs
Jason Pattyson: 62-9 Hogs
John James: 43-18 Hogs
Drake Priddy: 55-3 Hogs
(Last updated: 2024-08-28 06:35 AM)