Randy Smith: SEC Picks Week Five

  • Thursday, September 29, 2016
  • Randy Smith
Randy Smith
Randy Smith
If there was ever a game that could have been called " A Tale of Two Halves", last week's Florida at Tennessee game would be it. The Gators dominated the first half, leading 21-3 at the break, while the Vols then scored 38 straight unanswered points to post a 38-28 win. That win for the Volunteers snapped an eleven game losing streak to the Gators, and started a string of four crucial SEC contests in a row successfully. 

Mississippi State is idle this week.

Kentucky at Alabama
Last week's win for the Wildcats over South Carolina was their second win in a row and evened their overall record at 2-2 on the year.
It also evened the 'Cats SEC mark at 1-1 as they travel to Tuscaloosa to take on top-ranked Alabama on Saturday. The Tide has not shown a real weakness yet this season. Even playing with a freshman quarterback hasn't slowed them down, but after this week's game against Kentucky, 'Bama must travel to dangerous Arkansas next weekend. That game will be a tough one, the one this week will not.
Alabama 48 Kentucky 10

Alcorn State at Arkansas
The Razorbacks are still smarting from the licking they took last week at the hands of Texas A&M. With Alabama looming on the horizon for October 8th, the Hogs can ill afford a big letdown. Unless they have completely collapsed they should win easily this week. 
Arkansas 47 Alcorn State 14

Louisiana Monroe at Auburn
It was jokingly stated that last week's match up at Auburn between LSU and Auburn could have been called the "Hot Seat" bowl. Both coaches LES Miles and Gus Malzahn were on hot seats at their respective schools, and Miles seat was so hot, after Auburn pulled out a win, LSU fired Miles the next day. Even though the Plainsmen got the win, Malzahn's seat has not cooled much at all. Some say it could be just a matter of time before Malzahn leaves Auburn, but it won't be this week.
Auburn 34 ULM 6

Florida at Vanderbilt
It will be interesting to see how the Gators react to their second half meltdown at Tennessee last week. Florida still can't believe how Tennessee's big comeback win happened. Vandy on the other hand scored a 31-30 win on the road at Western Kentucky last week to even their record at 2-2. The game is in Nashville, but unless the Gators go in the toilet, they should bounce back against the Commodores.
Florida 28 Vanderbilt 13

Missouri at LSU
LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron may be on to something. He takes over the Bengal Tigers in mid-season, and it's his second interim title after actually being the Ole Miss Rebels head coach ten years ago. (He took over on an interim basis at Southern Cal when Lane Kiffin was fired.) He's getting pretty good at being in the right place at the right time. When LSU fired Les Miles after a loss at Auburn last week, they let go a guy with a national championship and an overall coaching record of 143-57. While the dust settles in Baton Rouge, the Missouri Tigers are getting better and better. They rang up 77 points on little Delaware State last week, but LSU isn't Delaware State. They may not be your typical LSU squad either, but it will be interesting to see how the team reacts to Miles dismissal.
Missouri 23 LSU 20

Memphis at Ole Miss
Memphis has been a thorn in the side of the Ole Miss Rebels on more than one occasion. This year's contest could be another trap for the Rebs. Memphis is 3-0 after beating Southeast Missouri, Kansas and Bowling Green by a combined score of 155-27. This is a good football team and the Rebels need to be ready or they could be upset at home. Ole Miss blasted Georgia last week in Oxford looking as good as any SEC team has looked so far. If there is a letdown the Tigers could escape Oxford with a win. In a shoot out.......
Ole Miss 52 Memphis 44

Texas A&M at South Carolina
This one could be a lot closer than we're expecting. The Gamecocks were beaten at Kentucky last week 17-10 and while Carolina has played well defensively, in typical Will Muschamp fashion, his team is struggling to put up points. Texas A&M is rolling after beating Arkansas last week and with Tennessee coming to College Station next weekend, this could be one of those "trap" games they talk about. The Aggies will survive but just barely.
Texas A&M 27 South Carolina 13

Tennessee at Georgia
Where do I start with this one? If the Vols did indeed "grow up" in the second half against Florida, and they can carry that momentum into the game with the Bulldogs this weekend they will win handily. If they continue to struggle moving the football, dropping passes and allowing sacks, they could be in trouble. I prefer to think otherwise. I think the Volunteers can use the comeback against the Gators as a springboard to an SEC East title. The Bulldogs have their backs to the wall, and with running back Nick Chubb's ankle injury making his appearance in the game a huge question mark, it's very unlikely the 'Dawgs can stay with the Vols for sixty minutes.
Tennessee 33 Georgia 21  

Last week: 7-2
Year to Date: 34-10
--- 

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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