SEC Predictions for Week 3
on 2024-09-12 08:15 AM
By Jason Pattyson
FAYETTEVILLE — Week two of this season had everything a college football fan wanted and more. Overtime games, thanks to Arkansas, even though they are 6-15 in one-score games in Arkansas Head Coach Sam Pittman’s tenure as the head Hog, and barn burners. The Big 12 went 3-1, the ACC was 1-1, and the BIG10 was 0-1 against the SEC last week.
Last week, I was 4-5 against the spread, but six games had no betting lines, and I went 10-4 overall, so it was not a bad weekend. Vanderbilt and South Carolina were the stunners in week two, and Mark Stoops needs some answers quickly before this Saturday. Week 3 has some great matchups in and out of the SEC involving the top 25 teams. Let’s get right to it.
# 4 Alabama (2-0) -16 at Wisconsin (2-0)
Something about USF having the Tide’s number is baffling. They held their own for three quarters before Bama’s offense exploded for 28 points in the fourth quarter. Wisconsin and its unblemished record might be fools’ gold with two-score victories over South Dakota and Western Michigan. It could be a very long day at Camp Randall and the Badger faithful. It can be seen on Fox at 11 a.m.
Alabama – 41
Wisconsin – 9
#6 LSU (1-1) -7 at South Carolina (2-0, 1-1)
South Carolina head coach Shane Beemer rolled into Kroger Field and dominated the Wildcats for four quarters. A 180 from the week before having problems with ODU. LSU got back on track with a win over Nichols, but it was a two-point game early in the fourth quarter. The Tigers scored 21 unanswered points to make the margin of victory better than what most of the game felt like. Williams-Brice Stadium is always a hard place to win, and the Tigers have their work cut out for them. Could we see another Brian Kelly out-burst post-game? The game will air on ABC at 11 a.m.
#6 LSU – 17
South Carolina – 20
#6 Missouri (2-0) -16 vs. #24 Boston College (2-0)
This is the lone top-25 matchup in the SEC this week. Mizzou has yet to be tested this year with cupcake wins by an average of 44.5 points and hasn’t allowed a point this year. BC has their work cut out. They scored a nice road win against a lifeless FSU squad that catapulted them into the top 25. Bill O’Brien’s rush offense is 6th in the country, and their run defense is 7th, allowing 81 yards total all season, 21 yards to FSU, and 60 yards to Duquesne. So something will have to give. The Tigers average 217 on the ground and 289 in the air. Mizzou is the real deal, but the road will be bumpier than in the previous two weeks. Mizzou cruises and is looking ahead to Vandy in week 4. The game will air on the SEC Network at 11:45 a.m.
#24 Boston College – 17
#6 Missouri – 31
#15 Oklahoma (2-0) -13.5 vs. Tulane (1-1)
This smells like upset city from the jump. Tulane hosted Kansas St. and gave them everything they wanted and more. The Wildcats escaped New Orleans with a narrow seven-point victory; the game was tied with less than ten minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Sooners survived new Big 12 addition Houston 16-14 in a real barn burner. Brent Venables and the Sooners need to be on their A-Game, or the faithful at Owens Field will be ready with the torches and pitchforks if Oklahoma can’t take care of business at home. The Sooners drop a close one and get their first loss on the season. The game can be seen on ESPN at 2:45 p.m.
Tulane – 23
#15 Oklahoma – 13
Texas A&M (1-1) -3.5 at Florida (1-1)
I thought we would have a new head coach in Gainesville by this point of the season, yet Billy Napier is still coaching for his job, it seems each week. Florida handled Samford, but it looks like fools gold with the Aggies rolling into town. The Graham Mertz experiment has passed, and DJ Lagway is now the man under the center of the Gators for good. Texas A&M has its own problems to sort out, and Mike Elko sees the Gators as the perfect opponent for their SEC opener of the season. Notre Dame didn’t do them any favors last week, and McNeese was no test last week. The A&M defense will have to prepare for two quarterbacks, but that won’t be a problem as the Aggies will be feasting on cooked Gator all afternoon. Will Napier be back for week 4? 2:30 on ESPN.
Texas A&M – 38
Florida – 13
#5 Ole Miss (2-0) -22.5 at Wake Forest (1-1)
The Lane Train is rolling, and both sides of the ball are dominating through week two. The offense averages 64 ppg, and the defense has allowed just a field goal so far. The Rebel run defense is tops in the country, allowing just 54 yards all season. This matchup looked solid before the season, and now, through two weeks, the bottom fell through with that prediction. The Demon Deacons lost a heartbreaker to Virginia last week, giving up a late score with two minutes left. Wake doesn’t have the firepower to stay up with Ole Miss and the Rebels cruise in Winston-Salem, and it will air on the CW at 5:30 p.m.
#5 Ole Miss – 48
Wake Forest – 10
# 2 Texas (2-0) -35 vs. UTSA (1-1)
The Longhorns look to be back to the 2023 version that planted themselves right in the CFP. They absolutely destroyed the reigning national chaps at their house, which I had predicted last week. Sark reloaded at the skill position after losing the two top receives to the draft. UTSA might want to rethink the trip to Austin after getting blown out by 38 last week against Texas St. Horns make it a short day for quarterback Quinn Ewers and the fans will get to see a lot more of Arch Manning, Texas big and can be seen on ESPN at 6 p.m.
UTSA – 0
#2 Texas – 56
Vanderbilt (2-0) -10.5 at Georgia St. (1-1)
Clark Lea and the Commodores have shocked the SEC and are close to cracking the top 25. The thrashing of Alcorn St. made the Virginia Tech win look more real than most gave them credit for in an odd week where an SEC team travels to a group of five venue at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, AKA former Turner Field. The Doors can’t look past the Panthers with a game at Mizzou looming in week 4. Doors set the anchor on the Panthers and win easily, and it can be seen on ESPN Plus at 6 p.m.
Vanderbilt – 31
Georgia St. – 14
# 1 Georgia (2-0) -24 at Kentucky (1-1)
Kirby Smart and the top-ranked Bulldogs are on the road, and this looks to be a Cat and Dawg fight that might be over before it starts. Kentucky looked good in week one, then South Carolina shocked the league and the Kentucky faithful. Kentucky mustered a mere 189 yards of offense in the loss, while Georgia gave up 161 YPG; they allowed 18 yards through the air against Tennessee Tech in the win. Mark Stoops and company threw for 44 yards against SC, so this could be a very long day for the Wildcats; Bulldogs take a chunk out of the Wildcats, ABC 6:30 p.m.
#1 Georgia – 41
Kentucky – 10
Auburn (1-1) -28 vs. New Mexico (0-2)
The Tigers ran the ball just 12 times with Jarquez Hunter, while Peyton Thorne toted it 15 times in the loss to Cal. The 2-4-5 defense had Hugh Freeze and company all out of sorts. Cal, now a member of the ACC, took the lead with 10:39 left in the second quarter and didn’t look back. The high-powered Tiger offense amassed 165 yards through the air while Golden Bear sophomore Fernando Mendoza torched the secondary for 233 yards and two scores. The time of possession was the factor, as Cal held the ball for almost ten more minutes than Auburn. New Mexico rolls into the plains with losses to Montana St. (FCS) and a 22-point thumping at the hands of Arizona; Tigers get back on track before they host Arkansas, ESPN 2 at 6:30 p.m.
New Mexico – 3
Auburn – 45
Mississippi State (1-1) -11.5 vs. Toledo (2-0)
Bulldogs never play well in the sand or the desert, and the Sun Devils took advantage of a costly turnover by Blake Shapen, which led to a scoop and score in the second quarter. ASU had to fend off the Bulldogs, making it a one-score game late in the fourth with 5:27 left in the game on a one-play 80-yard strike to Kevin Coleman. Toledo has notched wins against Duquesne and UMass; if the Rockets want to have a chance on the road against Cowbell U, then signal caller Tucker Gleason will need to have the game of his life, Cowbells, early and often, the game will air on ESPNU at 6:30 p.m.
Toledo – 14
Mississippi State – 38
# 7 Tennessee (2-0) -49 vs. Kent State (0-2)
What the Volunteers did to the Wolfpack past weekend was just absurd. The Vols racked up 560 total yards of offense, freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava tossed two scores and two interceptions, but the run game and defense bolted to game down in the win column. Dylan Sampson rushed 20 times for 132 yards, and two scores, and the defense gave up 143 yards total and scored an 85-yard pick-six in the second quarter. NC State returned the favor and returned an INT off of Iamaleava 87 yards, but the game was well out of reach by then. Kent St. lost last week to St. Francis, PA. at home 23-17, so this should be put to bed fast and early and can be seen on the SEC Network at 6:30 p.m.
Kent State – 0
# 7 Tennessee – 63
Arkansas(1-1) -24.5 vs UAB (1-1)
After the gut-wrenching loss at ranked Oklahoma State last week, Head Coach Sam Pittman knew two things about his football team. First, they must eliminate mistakes that change the momentum of a game that happened multiple times in the fourth quarter and overtime and find a field goal kicker. Pittman and company have had about a week to sort it out before Trent Dilfer and the Dragons come to Fayetteville in the Hogs home opener. The last time UAB was in town, OL Sebastian Tretola connected with Alan D’Appollonio in a 45-17 win in 2014. Taylen Green will see heavy doses of pressure for the rest of the season after he was exposed by the Cowboy defense last in the loss. The confidence will build if Green can handle the pressure and deliver accurate passes. If not, OC Bobby Petrino may have to augment the offense to their strengths, and this team cannot afford another out-of-conference loss this season. Green and offense pass the test this week, seen on the SEC Network at 3:15 p.m.
Otis Kirk – Arkansas 45-10
Dudley Dawson – Arkansas 42-17
Drake Priddy – Arkansas 58-6
Jerry Meadows – Arkansas 62-6
John James – Arkansas 36-12
Jason Pattyson – Arkansas 52-7
(Last updated: 2024-09-12 08:15 AM)