Prognostications and Prophecies: Picking SEC Games Against The Spread, Week 9
Oh the pain! Oh the misery!
I had spent the entire year picking games against the spread and was slowly compiling a pretty decent record of picking games. That came to a screeching halt this week.
I went 1-5 last week against the spread. The good news is the only game I got right against the spread was Mississippi State’s. So at least there was that.
My record in games straight up was a mediocre. 500. I picked the winner of three games correctly and was incorrect in the other three games. It was just an ugly week all around.
Never fear, I have a theme song for this week’s picks. Let’s take a little trip back in time, shall we.
Don’t lie. You know you’re glad Cumbawamba is back in your life. Admit it, you missed them. And just like Chumbawamba said, I get knocked down, but I get up again.
To the picks!
Last Week
Against the Spread: 1-5
Straight Up: 3-3
Year to Date
Against the Spread: 26-26
Straight Up: 34-18
Ole Miss (-7) at Auburn
Ole Miss has lost five straight games on the Plains. Will that trend continue this weekend? I don’t think so.
What I do think is the Rebels are going to be given more of a challenge than most of us once thought. Auburn could have won last week in Fayetteville if they could have simply caught a pass. So I expect this to be a pretty good game.
Live Feed
Betsided
Prediction: Ole Miss 34 – Auburn 28
South Carolina at Texas A&M (-16.5)
Texas A&M has an opportunity to get themselves right in this game. I think they’ll win, but if they don’t figure out the quarterback problem, then covering this big of a number is going to be problematic.
And it’s for that reason, I don’t have enough confidence to pick Texas A&M to cover the spread. The Aggies have enough offensive firepower to hang 50 on the Gamecocks without breaking a sweat, but there is a lot of turmoil on this team, and you have to think Texas A&M struggles to win by three scores.
Prediction: Texas A&M 28 – South Carolina 17
Georgia at Florida (-3)
It’s the annual renewal of the World’s Biggest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Georgia was the pick to win the East in the preseason, but if Florida wins this game, the SEC East is theirs. The worst they could do is 5-3 and only Kentucky and Georgia would be able to match the Gators’ record and Florida would have beaten both teams if they beat Georgia this Saturday.
And I think it happens. Florida has come so far in such a short time, they’ll start looking to who they get to play in the West with four weeks left to play
Prediction: Florida 24– Georgia 13
Vanderbilt at Houston (-11.5)
There is absolutely nothing to like about Vanderbilt in this game. They can’t score, and they are going up against a team that knows how to put points on the boards as well as anyone.
So take the Commodores.
Yeah, I know I just said there is nothing to like about Vanderbilt, but I just have a weird feeling Vanderbilt gives one of their best efforts and makes the game ugly. It’s a long-shot, but I think it could happen.
Prediction: Vanderbilt 14 – Houston 10
Tennessee (-9) at Kentucky
I really think Kentucky is better than what we saw from them last week. Kentucky might have caught Mississippi State at the wrong time. The Bulldogs are starting to put things together.
But you can probably say the same thing about Tennessee. Tennessee looked strong against Alabama, just not quite strong enough to pull out the win. I think Tennessee wins, but Kentucky keeps it close at home.
Prediction: Tennessee 38 – Kentucky 31