Randy Smith: SEC Picks Week 13

  • Friday, November 25, 2016
  • Randy Smith
Randy Smith
Randy Smith

On Thursday night LSU knocked off Texas A&M 54-39 in a game that was full of mistakes and little or no defense. In fact, Tennessee fans are wondering this morning where was all that offense from LSU last week against Florida when we needed it. Anyway, today marks the final week of the regular season with the league championship games next week, the bowl games and playoffs to follow.

Auburn at Alabama
The annual Iron Bowl always seems to defy the odds makers, and this one could be no exception.

This year's contest seems to be a little more glamorous  than it looked like it would be in the early part of the season. Auburn struggled early, caught fire in the middle of the year and now may be struggling again. Alabama on the other hand has played about as perfectly as a team can play, as the Crimson Tide has gone from wire to wire as the top ranked team in college football. 'Bama is a perfect 11-0 heading into this one and will stay unbeaten heading into the SEC Championship Game next week against Florida.
Alabama 30 Auburn 14

Arkansas at Missouri
The Razorbacks have been great at times this season and not so great at others. In fact a couple of times Arkansas has even been awful. The Hogs' opponent this week, Missouri has been pretty bad all season long, winning just one SEC game so far against Vanderbilt. Arkansas is just a better team than the Tigers and even though the game is played in Columbia, it should become a solid Hog victory.
Arkansas 44 Missouri 20  

Florida State at Florida
Perhaps the best team in the SEC East won't be going to the SEC Championship after all. Florida by way of a lackluster win over LSU gets the nod over Tennessee, because the Vols couldn't win in South Carolina. The annual grudge match between the Seminoles and the Gators could be a pretty competitive game, but I believe Florida State has too much firepower for the Gators to handle. Running back Dalvin Cook has come around after a slow start, and he could be a real thorn in the side of the Gators.
Florida State 27 Florida 17

Georgia Tech at Georgia
Mark Richt owned this series for the Bulldogs winning thirteen of fifteen contests. But Richt is now at Miami and Kirby Smart is in charge of the Bulldogs. If you remember, Georgia got off to a great start this season going 3-0 under Coach Smart, but then losing four of the next five games. A win over Auburn two weeks ago has given those hairy Dawgs some momentum heading into the end of the season and beyond. Quarterback Jacob Eason is only going to get better and better with Georgia headed to a decent bowl game.
Georgia 34 Georgia Tech 23

Mississippi State at Ole Miss
The "Egg Bowl" is certainly one of the better rivalry games in college football. The "Egg Bowl" or battle for the Golden Egg as it is officially known has been dominated by Ole Miss 63-46-6. Neither team is having a great year in 2016 so it should be anybody's ball game. The game is being played in Oxford which could give the Rebels a slight edge. Ole Miss is favored by I like Mississippi Sate in this one.
Mississippi State 37 Ole Miss 30

South Carolina at Clemson
This rivalry is as hated as any in college football. Fans of the Gamecocks and Tigers simply hate each other and this game is always a lot closer than it should be. Clemson has won two in a row after losing five straight to Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks. Clemson has put together an amazing record of of 24-2 in the last two seasons as one of the country's top programs. This year's game is in "Death Valley" where the Tigers don't lose very often, and they're not going to lose this week. Count it three straight for Dabo and company.
Clemson 38 South Carolina 14

Kentucky at Louisville
The Wildcats are playing an elite Louisville team even though the Cardinals have lost two games; to Clemson and Houston. Louisville looked almost invincible in the early part of the season before the Clemson loss. Teams have been able to at least slow down Lamar Jackson, but Kentucky just doesn't have the defensive tools to contain. You can look for a big day for the Card's freshman Heisman Trophy contender.
Louisville 52  Kentucky 20

Tennessee at Vanderbilt
This game always scares me to death. Vandy is very good defensive team that can run a scheme or two to keep Josh Dobbs in check. Their offense is pretty bad but so is the Tennessee defense. The Vols have surrendered 73 points in their last two games to Kentucky and Missouri; not exactly SEC powerhouses. You have to admit the Tennessee defense is terribly banged up with most of their defensive front outsized and outmanned. If Vandy has anything at all on offense it's at least a bit of a running game, and that's Tennessee's biggest weakness. The Volunteers have to hope that Josh Dobbs can continue to work his magic on offense and help Coach Butch Jones and his squad pull out their ninth win of the year. If they do, they could be headed to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
Tennessee 27 Vanderbilt 23

Last Week:   8-2
Year to Date:  74-25

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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. 

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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