We are seven weeks into the college football season and the Tennessee Volunteers are still looking for their first SEC win of the year. In fact, the Vols are searching for their first SEC win since the 2016 season. Believe it or not the once proud Tennessee program is at the very bottom of the SEC. Yes, even lower than Vanderbilt. Meanwhile The Vols two biggest rivals, Florida and Alabama are flourishing.
Kentucky and Mississippi State are off this week.
Missouri at Alabama
Tua Tagavailoa has thrown almost as many TD passes as he has incomplete passes this season.
That just isn't fair. Alabama has gone through six games and has not been tested. This week the Crimson Tide faces a decent Missouri squad; one that can score points but one that can't stop anybody. Mizzou is 3-2 overall but 0-2 in the SEC and while Alabama's defense isn't up to Nick Saban's standards they're good enough to at least slow down the Tigers. The only way that Missouri has a chance is if 'Bama is looking ahead to next week's game at Tennessee. (Not really) Alabama will win and win big.
Alabama 52 Missouri 20
Ole Miss at Arkansas
This game should be very competitive, though it's between two of the worst teams in the SEC. The Hogs are on a five game losing streak and that includes a 65-31 loss last week to Alabama. Ole miss on the other hand is 4-2 but 0-2 in league play. This game should be a high scoring fun game to watch, with very little defense being played on either side of the field. It's a bit unusual that at the midway point of the season, five of the fourteen SEC teams are still winless in league play. That will change this week as the winner of this game gets SEC win number one.
Ole Miss 44 Arkansas 38
Georgia at LSU
This is the marquee game in the SEC this week. LSU will be trying to rebound from the Bengal Tigers first loss of the season last week at Florida, while unbeaten, second ranked Georgia will be stepping into dangerous territory. LSU is like a wounded animal and Coach Ed Orgeron will have his team ready to play, that's a certainty. While Georgia is still unbeaten, Coach Kirby Smart is not happy with his team's progression through six games. If the Bulldogs escape with a win, it will be a tremendous accomplishment. LSU is very good and most people feel losing back to back SEC games is not likely. This one is tough to call and if the game were at night when the Tiger fans get all "hooched up" as Coach Johnny Majors used to say, I would predict an LSU win. It's at 3:30 on CBS so I'm going with the 'Dawgs. In a close one.....
Georgia 27 LSU 23
Florida at Vanderbilt
The Gators are for real. Their only setback this season was that home loss to a good Kentucky team a few weeks ago. Since then, Florida has won at Tennessee, at Mississippi State and at home against LSU. They can see a clear path to the SEC East title even with that loss to the Wildcats. They win out, and they're East champs. It's that simple. What isn't simple is the Gators schedule the rest of the way. They still have to face Georgia in two weeks and they have South Carolina and Missouri left to play. This week's game is on the road at Vanderbilt and Florida should get a relatively easy win.
Florida 30 Vanderbilt 14
Texas A&M at South Carolina
The Aggies scored a big win last week, edging previously unbeaten Kentucky in overtime. That gave them a 3-1 SEC record, and 4-2 overall with their only two losses coming to Alabama and Clemson. That's pretty good. Texas A&M is a good solid SEC team and under Jimbo Fisher will only get better. The Gamecocks on the other hand have been a little disappointing. Coach Will Muschamp's crew is 3-2 and 2-2 in league play. The 'Cocks most disappointing play has come from their offense. Quarterback Jake Bentley has been less than spectacular and he will will need to be on his game if South Carolina has any chance this week. Bentley missed last week's win over Missouri with a knee injury but is expected back in the lineup this week.
Texas A&M 30 South Carolina 21
Tennessee at Auburn
The Volunteers are 2-3 and 0-2 in SEC play. As previously mentioned, the Vols have gone almost two whole years without an SEC win. The Auburn Tigers are trying to keep their heads above water as they already own two SEC losses. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham has played well for the Tigers but they need to be more consistent on offense. This obnviously isn't the same Auburn team we saw in the season opener with Washington and the Volunteers are hoping for a major letdown. Tennessee has had a week off to prepare for the Tigers which dhould help, but Vol fans need to keep in mind that Tennessee is just not very good right now. Hopefully they will get better as the season moves along and while I have searched anyway I can to find reasoning for a Tennessee upset win this week, I just can't see it.
Auburn 27 Tennessee 17
Last Week: 4-3
Year to Date: 47-14
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