Randy Smith: SEC Picks Week Twelve

  • Thursday, November 17, 2016
  • Randy Smith
Randy Smith
Randy Smith
As I mentioned last week things didn't change all that much when the number two, three, and four teams went down in defeat. Three of the four teams ranked in the College Football Playoff poll stayed in, with Ohio State replacing Washington as the only change. Alabama is at the top and will likely stay there until at least the playoffs begin.

Chattanooga at Alabama
The Mocs get roughly $550,000 for this game against the Crimson Tide Here's hoping that no one gets hurt in this one, with both teams now looking ahead to the post season.
The Mocs stubbed their toe by losing at home last week to Wofford, and will have to wait until the FCS selection show this Sunday to discover their fate. Don't expect Coach Russ Huesman's crew to just show up and collect the money. They will give a great effort, but Alabama is simply too good.
Alabama 56 Chattanooga 14

Arkansas at Mississippi State
The Razorbacks were brought back down to earth last week losing at home to LSU. They go on the road this week facing Mississippi State in Starkville; a team that was beaten to a pulp 51-3 by Alabama last week. Arkansas has been up and down all season long, and this game will be a great opportunity for one of these teams to get a win and avoid the SEC West cellar. That honor is being taken by Ole Miss at the moment. 
Arkansas 34 Mississippi State 23

Alabama A&M at Auburn
The Tigers were knocked out of the SEC West race last weekend with a loss at Georgia. That leaves the Iron Bowl against Alabama in two weeks and this week's game with Alabama A&M.  Auburn looked like the Auburn we saw at the first of the year last week; a team that just couldn't score enough points to win. They may have that same problem next week against the Crimson Tide but not this week.
Auburn 44 Alabama A&M 10

Florida at LSU
The Gators were supposed to be playing Presbyterian College this weekend, but thanks to Hurricane Mathew and both schools' less than amicable efforts to get the game rescheduled, the Gators face the Tigers in Baton Rouge. Both schools had egg on their face at one time or another during those negotiations, with Florida looking like a big chicken rather than a fierce Gator, trying to avoid a loss that would send Tennessee to the SEC Championship Game. But, let's face it.....if Florida can go into Baton Rouge and win their final SEC game of the year, the Gators deserve to win the SEC East. Tennessee blew their best opportunity when the Vols lost at South Carolina. I've said all along I don't see a Florida win in the bayou......
LSU 28 Florida 17

Louisiana at Georgia
The Georgia Bulldogs are one win away from bowl eligibility with two games remaining. This week at home against Louisiana and next week at home against Georgia Tech. Coach Kirby Smart's first season in Athens has been a bit disappointing for Bulldog fans, but seven wins and a bowl game will keep the "Dawgs" away from his door this off season.  This one against Louisiana will be a cake walk....,..the game next week against Tech, not so much.
Georgia 42 Louisiana 7

Austin Peay at Kentucky
Coach Will Healy brings his Governors to the Commonwealth to face the Kentucky Wildcats this week. It's a big money game for the Govs as Kentucky is a huge favorite. The Wildcats showed they could score points and run the football last week in their 49-36 loss at Tennessee. More than 400 yards on the ground against the Big Orange led to 36 points but Kentucky's inability to stop Josh Dobbs and company was a glaring weakness. Next week, the 'Cats play at Louisville and you may need a calculator to keep score.
Kentucky 52 Austin Peay 14

UTSA at Texas A&M
The Aggies spent one week in the College Football Playoff poll before being upset by Mississippi State. It was fun for Coach Kevin Sumlin while it lasted, but now it's time to get ready for a good bowl game. The Aggies face LSU at home next weekend in what will be a great football game, but this week they are faced with hosting the University of Texas at San Antonio. Senior quarterback Trevor Knight is still out for the Aggies, but they should have enough to get past the Roadrunners.
Texas A&M 37 UTSA 13

Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
The Commodores have been a thorn in my foot all season long. When I pick them to win, they lose and when I pick them to lose they win. This week Vandy hosts Ole Miss, which has been a real mystery team this season. Quarterback Chad Kelly is out but the Rebels can still score some points. Vandy's biggest strength is the defense which should be a good match up. Should I pick Vandy and watch Ole Miss win or should I pick the Rebs and watch Vandy celebrate?
Ole Miss 30 Vanderbilt 24

Western Carolina at South Carolina
The Gamecocks chances of going to a bowl game hinge on beating Western Carolina from the Southern Conference. That's going to happen. What isn't going to happen is a South Carolina win over Clemson in two weeks. You have to give Coach Will Muschamp a lot of credit getting his first team in Columbia to a bowl game. The Gamecocks have been competitive in practically every game this season and a 5-5 mark with two games left, is really something special. 
South Carolina 38 Western Carolina 6

Missouri at Tennessee
The Tigers won their first SEC game of the year last week at home against Vanderbilt but it will likely be their only league win of 2016. They face Tennessee this week in Knoxville on the Vols' Senior Day. Tennessee fans will say goodbye to several seniors including quarterback Josh Dobbs who orchestrated the Volunteers' 49-36 win over Kentucky last week. This could also be a week that Dobbs shines against a pretty bad Missouri squad, but it's really been hard to figure this Tennessee team out. They have come short of most expectations, yet a Florida loss at LSU and wins over Missouri and Vanderbilt next week, puts the Big Orange in the SEC Championship Game for the first time since the 2007 season. The bottom line is this.....Tennessee is now relevant again in college football. They haven't returned to the level that Coach Phillip Fulmer had them at twenty years ago, but teams have to respect them now. A 9-3 regular season mark isn't so bad now is it?
Tennessee 35 Missouri 17

Last Week: 4-3
Year to Date:  66-23          

---  

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. 

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 five grandchildren, Coleman, Boone, Mattingly, DellaMae, and CoraLee.
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