SEC Football Predictions: 2018 Week Two
SEC football conference play starts this week! Let’s make some predictions for week two’s matchups for our wonderful conference.
After a week of pure dominance from the various SEC football teams, a 13-1 overall record Week 1, we have two conference matchups this week, and they should be pretty good games to enjoy. Let’s make some picks.
Vanderbilt did the seemily impossible last week beating a team by 28 points… Don’t expect them to do that to a semi-decent Nevada team. The Wolfpack put up 72 points last week (against Portland State), but it won’t be enough to stop the Commodores from pulling this one out and moving to 2-0 heading into a huge challenge at Notre Dame next week.
Prediction: Vanderbilt 24, Nevada 21
Mississippi State was phenomenal Week 1 when Stephen F. Austin came to Starkville. But the Bulldogs travel on the road this week to face the immortal Bill Snyder and his Kansas State Wildcats… It certainly won’t be as easy as Week 1, but Nick Fitzgerald makes his season debut this game, and after he gets over the nerves he’s going to have a field day.
Prediction: Mississippi State 38, Kansas State 17
I want to pick the upset here, I truly do. It’s kind of a perfect scenario for South Carolina… They’re talented, confident in their quarterback and their receiving core, and they get the rival Bulldogs at home. I just can’t quite pull the trigger, although it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see the Gamecocks pull this one off. Georgia is just too solid of a team at every single position, and they haven’t given me a single reason to believe they won’t win this game. Carolina keeps it close, but no cigar.
Prediction: Georgia 31, South Carolina 27
Tua Tagovailoa still isn’t completely proven seeing that he’s only started one game, but he may just be the best quarterback that Nick Saban’s ever had on his football team, and that’s downright terrifying. Tide rolls.
Prediction: Alabama 45, Arkansas State 10
From a recruiting and talent standpoint, Tennesse should be a great team. Instead, they don’t look good at all. West Virginia is a fantastic team and deserved to beat the Volunteers, but Tennessee just looked uncomfortable. Tennessee should win this game, but I just don’t know enough yet. Tossup game – ETSU wins a close one.
Prediction: E. Tennessee State 23, Tennessee 16
Ole Miss is better than we thought, mainly on offense. They were explosive and had every cylinder firing when the Rebels were snapping the ball. Southern Illinois is good enough to keep this game close for a little bit, but won’t have enough firepower to keep up. Ole Miss moves to 2-0 and voters start to take note as Ole Miss climbs towards the top 25.
Prediction: Ole Miss 42, Southern Illinois 24
Wyoming’s defense made a believer out of me when they shut down New Mexico State on the road. That stopped when Washington State ripped my heart out and picked the defense apart on way to a 41-19 rout of the Cowboys. Which Wyoming will show up? It won’t matter. Drew Lock of Missouri is first-round NFL talent and he’s going to torch this defense. Mizzou impresses again.
Prediction: Missouri 41, Wyoming 20
Miami should not have been a top-10 team, but LSU didn’t just beat them… they manhandled them on both sides of the ball. We know LSU always has talent, but the way the defense worked together and the manner in which the offense marched with Joe Burrow under center was beyond impressive. The Tigers will roll into Auburn in Week 3 with a 2-0 record, ready for a huge SEC West showdown. Look forward to that one.
Prediction: LSU 40, SE Louisiana 7
Texas A&M looked great on both sides of the ball against Northwestern State, and Clemson looked fantastic against Furman. Neither of these games tell us a lot because of the caliber of opponent, so we have to go by what they did last year, who they return, and who they add. Clemson recruits incredibly well, has arguably the best defense in the nation and has brought in the top recurit of the 2018 class in QB Trevor Lawrence. He even saw some action in Week 1 and threw for 3 touchdowns.
Whether or not Lawrence takes over the quarterback job is the most interesting debate about this Clemson team. As for A&M, they bring in National Champion Coach Jimbo Fisher, who has given the Aggies and their fans hope that their talented roster and new coach will take them to great places. Clemson just looks too good on paper, although we shouldn’t count A&M out before we’ve even seen this offense play someone decent.
Prediction: Clemson 33, Texas A&M 20
Florida surprised a lot of people Week 1, including myself. Sure, we all thought they’d win – but to see FELIEPE FRANKS throw his 5 touchdowns all in the first half… woah. The Gators are going to be better than most anticipated, and we’ll see how they go in Dan Mullen’s first season as head coach in Gainesville. They’ll improve to 2-0 against a Kentucky team that looks like they’re going to struggle through the air all season.
Prediction: Florida 34, Kentucky 21
Jarrett Stidham is playing amazing football, and Auburn is going to win this game easily. Not to say that Auburn will be undefeated going into their annual date with Alabama, but it seems like the two are destined to decide the fate of the SEC West in that game, and Auburn’s journey to that one continues here as Auburn destroys Alabama State.
Prediction: Auburn 49, Alabama State 3
I don’t think anyone thinks Arkansas is contending this year, but they should be right on that bowl-eligible line by the end of the year, and every win towards that magical mark counts. Colorado State was thought to be a contender in the Mountain West before they dropped their first two games ahead of this crucial home game against the Razorbacks. The Rams of CSU could certainly win this one, but Arkansas finds a way to squeeze by on the road.
Prediction: Arkansas 28, Colorado State 21
That’s what I’m predicting for this week of SEC football. What about you? Comment what you agree and disagree with as well as what you look forward to for week two of college football.