Randy Smith: SEC Picks Week Six

  • Wednesday, October 7, 2015
  • Randy Smith
Randy Smith
Randy Smith

I've already written this week about SEC fans and how impatient a good portion of them are. I have found myself right in there with them, but the hard reality of things is this; Tennessee is not ready to compete for an SEC East title. 2016, yes, but not in 2015. They're still too young, though very talented. In fact they're 2-3 right now and will very likely be 2-5 after they play Alabama in two weeks. If they make a bowl game at all, it will be another lower tier contest.

Auburn, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt are idle this week.

Arkansas @ Alabama:
The Crimson Tide made a huge statement in last week's 38-10 win over Georgia They went from barely alive to right back in the SEC West race.

They face an Arkansas squad that won a crucial contest at Tennessee last week, snapping a three game losing skid. To win in Tuscaloosa they will need to play a perfect game, while Alabama will need to have a letdown from their win over the Bulldogs. It's probably not going to happen that way, though the Hogs are a pretty good team.
Alabama 30  Arkansas 17

Florida @ Missouri:
After the Gators' come from behind win over Tennessee, everyone began to ask, "Are the Gators for real? They answered that question in last week's big win over third ranked Ole Miss in the "Swamp". Now Florida is in the driver's seat in the SEC East race, as they control their own destiny. Jim McElwain has done a super job rebuilding the Florida offense and the defense is as good as any team in the country. Missouri is having some real problems as quarterback Maty Mauk has been suspended indefinitely by Coach Gary Pinkel, so it will take a tremendous effort for the Tigers to win. After all, who gave Florida a real chance against the Rebels last week? Upset special........
Missouri 23 Florida 21

LSU @ South Carolina:
This game was a lot more attractive in the preseason than it is this week. South Carolina is not nearly as good as anyone thought and it appears that LSU is quite a bit better. in fact, the Bengal Tigers are causing a lot of chatter along with Texas A&M as front runners for the SEC West title. Sophomore tailback Leonard Fournette has rushed for 200 or more yards for three straight games and is a clear cut favorite for the Heisman Trophy. I don't see the Gamecocks being able to control him at all.
LSU 34 South Carolina 17

New Mexico State @ Ole Miss:
Ole Miss was soundly beaten last week by Florida. The Johnny Rebs looked nothing like the team that took down Alabama back on September 19th. They have two games before they face Texas A&M in their next big SEC encounter. New Mexico State this week, and Memphis next week. That gives Coach Hugh Freeze a couple of weeks to iron out his problems. Ole Miss is still a very good SEC team and they will be very very good this weekend.
Ole Miss 48  New Mexico State 10

Troy @ Mississippi State:
The Bulldogs of Coach Dan Mullen just can't seem to get over the hump in the SEC. They lost to A&M last week and they already had a home loss to LSU earlier in the season. Troy is a team that could give teams from the SEC fits a few years ago, but the men of Troy have fallen upon hard times recently. The Bullies should win in a romp on Saturday.
Mississippi State 45 Troy 14

Georgia @ Tennessee:
Tennessee fans are upset with the way the 2015 season has started. After all, they were picked to finish second to Georgia in the SEC East, but a funny thing happened on the Vols' way to Atlanta and the SEC Championship Game; They lost three games by a total of 12 points, to three very good teams. They have proven they can compete with anyone, but they haven't proven they actually beat them. Georgia on the other hand, needs to regroup if they are to stay alive in the East race. This could be a real trap for the Bulldogs, as Tennessee will be a hard team to prepare for. They're angry, frustrated and they could either beat the Bulldogs or roll over and play dead. I hope they compete, win or lose.
Georgia 31 Tennessee 24

Last week: 6-3
Year to date: 42-11

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Randy Smith has been covering sports on radio, television and print for the past 45 years. After leaving WRCB-TV in 2009, he has written two books, and has continued to free-lance as a play-by-play announcer. He is currently teaching Broadcasting at Coahulla Creek High School near Dalton, Ga.

His career has included a 17-year stretch as host of the Kickoff Call In Show on the University of Tennessee’s prestigious Vol Network. He has been a member of the Vol Network staff for thirty years.

He has done play-by-play on ESPN, ESPN II, CSS, and Fox SportSouth, totaling more than 500 games, and served as a well-known sports anchor on Chattanooga Television for more than a quarter-century.

In 2003, he became the first television broadcaster to be inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Area Sports Hall of Fame. Randy and his wife Shelia reside in Hixson. They have two married children, (Christi and Chris Perry; Davey and Alison Smith.) They have four grandchildren, Coleman, Boone, DellaMae and CoraLee.

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