The SEC had some nervous moments this past weekend as they lost six games -- the most on an opening weekend since 1995. Alabama, of course, rolled while Texas A&M and Georgia survived against top competition. Arkansas, Tennessee and Florida played well enough to win while Mississippi State and LSU were upset. Ole Miss, Missouri and Auburn were underdogs and all fell. In a rare conference game, South Carolina slipped past Vanderbilt.
This week, the Arkansas Razorbacks will play nationally ranked TCU in Dallas as the headline game for the SEC. The Hogs struggled on offense last week against La. Tech. TCU can score from anywhere at anytime. The Horn Frogs will win this Big 12 vs. SEC matchup, 34-28.
First games during college football season can remind you of first dates in high school. Mississippi State has to get over the first date jitters as they host South Carolina. MSU head coach Dan Mullen has not beaten South Carolina and Alabama since he arrived in Starkville. The Bulldogs have lost seven straight to the Gamecocks, but MSU will surprise the Cocks. MSU 20, South Carolina 13.
Ole Miss opens the remodeled Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium this week just five days after losing to Florida State. Wofford is not a trap game, but the Rebels might not be as sharp. Alabama is heading to Oxford next weekend. Ole Miss 55, Wofford 20.
Tennessee says they were not overlooking Appalachian St. last week. Something was not right with the Vols in their season opener. Tennessee is loaded with a great offensive backfield, but still that side of the ball must improve for the Vols to be a contender. Tennessee will battle Virginia Tech at Bristol Motto Speedway, and a crowd of 150,000 fans could make this the largest recorded college football crowd of all time. Tennessee 31, Tech 20.
Kentucky could still be reeling from their melt down last week against USM. UK has lost 29 straight to Florida, and despite some offensive problems the Gators will prevail again, 20-17.
What can you say about USM’s great win over Kentucky? The Golden Eagles will score at will this week. USM 52, Savannah 0.
Alabama 42, Western Kentucky 14; Auburn 31, Arkansas St. 10; Georgia 38, Nicholls St. 13; LSU 33, Jacksonville St. 13; Missouri 34, Eastern Michigan 7; Texas A&M 59, Prairie View 0; Vanderbilt 17, Middle Tennessee 7.
The Scribe picked right on 10-of-13 last week. He missed on the LSU, MSU and USM games. First week jitters, we assume!
