Last week I told you to call up Vegas, tell them to back up the Brinks truck and load up your cash. In hindsight, that may not have been was not the best idea. Every year there is at least one, and usually more, weekend where craziness ensues. There will always be a weekend where an SEC team falls to an FCS opponent, an ACC nobody upsets a BIG 10 contender and a should-be close game ends in an blowout. There were no signs evident that it would be week 2 that contained the insanity….but it happened.
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But at Southbound and Down, we know that we know (yes, we know). We’re like the SEC. We take unexpected stumbles. But we come back stronger than ever. And as a result? Southbound and Down’s Weekly Pick ‘Em is here. But, let’s be real, I wouldn’t recommend calling Vegas again just yet.
Welcome to week three of the first annual Southbound and Down Staff Pick ‘Em. Many of the writers on staff will make weekly picks and we’ll keep track for bragging rights. Of course I think I’m going to win, but I’ll refrain from trash talking…unless provoked by the staff. Then…well…it gets even more fun..
Betsided
A few of us will provide some commentary and explain our predictions. Some have dropped out of the race for SEC Pick ‘Em supremacy; others are supremely confident. Additionally, we may have occasional special pickers or have some staff members only participate sporadically.
Week Two Results:
…yeah….they’re bad.
John: 10-2 ATS 3-9
Neal: 9-3 ATS 4-8
Andrew: 10-2 ATS 5-7
Ben R: 9-3 ATS 5-7
Overall:
Kudos to the every week pickers
John: 23-2 ATS 10-15
Neal: 22-3 ATS 11-13-1
Ben R: 22-3 ATS 15-10
Andrew: 10-2 ATS 5-7
Ben M: 11-2 ATS 10-3
Ryan: 9-3 ATS 6-6
Lee: 12-1 ATS 9-4
Saturday, September 19*
*All times listed as Central Time
#22 Missouri (-23) V UConn
11: 00 AM, ESPN/WatchESPN
John: Vegas has to love Mizzou. No one knows on any given week which version of the Tigers team is going to
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
show up. UConn is not very good, Mizzou will win. The rub comes with the spread. I think they win by 21 but should win by 40. I’ll take Mizzou but not to cover.
Andrew (whose “flawless” picks had flaws): Missouri wins 35-10 (covers)
Ben R: Maty Mauck has a tendency to alternate good and bad games. By that theory….Mizzou wins and covers.
Ben M: Mizzou covers
Ryan: Missouri wins by A LOT, like Mizzou Big 12 type of offensive numbers
Neal: Missouri 33 Connecticut 17
-Not a very interesting game, but there could be some money to make here.
#17 Texas A&M (-28.5) V Nevada
11:00 AM, SEC Network/ WatchESPN
John: John Chavis is proving (not like there was any doubt) to be every bit of the SEC legend his runs at Tennessee and LSU made him out to be. This may be his best job yet…at least so far. TAMU scores, shuts down Nevada and covers.
Andrew: Texas A&M wins 52-14 (covers)
Ben R: Watch out. A Kevin Sumlin team has a defense. Aggies win and cover.
Ben M: TAMU covers
Ryan: TAMU wins and covers the spread
Neal: Texas A&M 41 Nevada 17
-The Aggies should do fine, and may be the surprise team in the West.
#13 LSU (-7) V #18 Auburn
2:30 PM, CBS
John: LSU wins another nail biter by 3-5
Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Andrew: Auburn wins 20-17 (Aubbie covers)
Ben R: The only quarterback in the SEC West that has looked worse than Brandon Harris is Jeremy Johnson. The Auburn defense under Will Muschamp has greatly improved. Refusing to believe Auburn is as bad as they look, I’m stubbornly taking Auburn to win and cover.
Ben M: LSU covers
Ryan: LSU wins by 10
Neal: LSU 30 Auburn 20
-Jeremy Johnson doesn’t appear to be very good. Leonard Fournette is very good. Look for LSU to ground and pound their way to a win in Death Valley.
Mississippi State (+45) V Northwestern State
3:00 PM, SEC Network/WatchESPN
John: In the game that seals another Weakest Non-Conference Schedule National Championship, Mississippi State leaves their starters on longer than they need to after they have struggled to find their rhythm the first two weeks. They cover easily.
Andrew: Mississippi State wins 49-10 (fails to cover)
Ben R: I’m not sure State could put up 45 playing against nobody, and this sure is as it gets to playing nobody. Bulldogs win but they won’t cover 45.
Ben M: MSU covers
Ryan: MSU covers the spread but the stats are super inflated. The Bulldogs fall once they face more SEC opponents like LSU last week.
Neal: Mississippi State 56 Northwestern State 7
-Mississippi State should be ready to blow off some steam on a little Louisiana school.
Vanderbilt (-6) V Austin Peay
3:00 PM, SEC Network/WatchESPN
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
John: Vanderbilt may only score 7, but that may be all they need with Mason running the defense. Vandy covers in a low scoring bore fest.
Andrew: Vanderbilt wins 24-16 (covers)
Ben R: If Vandy loses this game, Derek Mason will be fired Lane Kiffin-style in the parking lot. Vandy wins and covers.
Ben M: Vandy covers
Ryan: Vanderbilt easily covers the spread in this game. I can’t believe they are only a 6 point favorite
Neal: Vanderbilt 16 Austin Peay 17
-Low scoring snooze fest. Better stuff out there to watch. Going with Austin Peay.
#7 Georgia (-16) V South Carolina
5:00 PM, ESPN/WatchESPN
John: Never count the Ole Ball Coach out. His Gamecocks surprised Georgia in 2014. This 2015 version does not have that ability . . . but they’ll keep it close. Georgia wins but fails to cover.
Andrew: Georgia wins 38-21 (covers)
Ben R: Wow, South Carolina looks terrrrrrrrrible! I’m going to have to take UGA to win AND cover 16 in a revenge game.
Ben M: Georgia covers
Ryan: Georgia wins but fails to cover the spread. This game will be closer than people expect.
Neal: Georgia 33 South Carolina 17
-South Carolina has fallen back, and Georgia is still a stout program.
Arkansas (-9) V Texas Tech
6:00 PM, ESPN 2/WatchESPN
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
John: Arkansas wins in a show of support for Bret Bielema. After losing to Toledo, though, I don’t like them to cover 9 points.
Andrew: Arkansas wins 21-20 (fails to cover)
Ben R: If Bret Bielema let’s Brandon Allen throw the ball 53 times again, I’m going to have to believe Vegas has a hand in his pocket. Arkansas wins and covers.
Ben M: Arkansas covers
Ryan: Arkansas wins and covers the spread after last week’s upset which I knew would happen. Check it.
Neal: Arkansas 23 Texas Tech 21
-Wow, Arkansas. WOW. I think the Razorbacks get back on the right path this weekend. They better, for their sake, but I may regret this pick.
Tennessee (-29) V Western Carolina
6:00 PM, ESPNU/WatchESPN
John: Tennessee may come out sluggish . . . or they may come out fired up. The first few drives of the game will let everyone know whether Tennessee will cover. I think they manage it.
Andrew: Tennessee wins 45-17 (fails to cover)
Ben R: UT wins but will they be too deflated to cover? Maybe not. UT covers.
Ben M: Tennessee covers
Ryan: Tennessee wins but doesn’t cover spread.
Neal: Tennessee 49 West Carolina 6
-Heartbreaker in Big Orange. The Rocky Top Landslide was in full effect last weekend. The Vols will be looking for a tune-up game, and get that in West Carolina. Look for the Vols to put up a lot of points.
Kentucky (+3.5) V Florida
6:30 PM SEC Nework/WatchESPN
John: If this game was in The Swamp, I’d take the Gators. It’s not and the Gators have some issues to work out. Florida falls and McElwain continues to remind people of Will Muschamp’s temper.\
Andrew: Kentucky covers and wins 24-21
Ben R: Is UK for real? Is Will Grier for real? We won’t have definite answers either way after this game, but it’ll be the start. I’m taking UF to win and cover.
Ben M: Florida covers
Ryan: Florida wins in overtime covers spread.
Neal: Florida 20 Kentucky 27
-I’m starting to like this Kentucky train that’s gaining a little steam. The Wildcats will beat Florida in Lexington Saturday.
#2 Alabama (-6) V #15 Ole Miss
Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
8:15 PM, ESPN/WatchESPN
John: Ole Miss handed the Tide their only loss of 2015 in large part to when the game fell on the schedule. I think that scenario holds true here again. If this game were later in the season, my money would be on Alabama having their quarterback issues worked out. They’ve yet to be worked out in this season, however, and Ole Miss becomes just the second team to beat Saban at Alabama two years in a row.
Andrew: Ole Miss covers and wins 35-28
Ben R: Upset special. I’m betting Chad Kelly is the real deal and not having quality QB play will kill you against a stout Ole Miss defense. Then again, not being able to run the ball against the Tide will kill you. Derrick Henry is a man amongst boys to this point in the year. But, can he score the 27 points it’s going to take to beat Ole Miss? I don’t think so. I’m taking Ole Miss to win and cover.
Ben M: Alabama covers
Ryan: Ole Miss hands Alabama only loss of the regular season, wins by 6 or fewer.
Neal: -Safe pick is Alabama. No score prediction. Take Bama -6.
-This all depends on your risk tolerance. Ole Miss has the team to win Saturday night, but it’s a tall order, and it’s going to take a lot. The line is really low compared to typical Alabama home games. However, the safest money is on Alabama at home.
#8 Notre Dame (+2.5) V #14 Georgia Tech
2:30 PM, NBC
John: Georgia Tech pulls out a nail biter
Andrew: Georgia Tech over Notre Dame 41-28\
Ben R: Don’t underestimate the loss of Malik Zaire or the power of Georgia Tech’s triple option offense. I’ll take Georgia Tech to win and cover.
Ben M: no pick
Ryan: Notre Dame wins, covers the tiny spread
Neal: Notre Dame 29 Georgia Tech 44
That triple option Georgia Tech runs is very had to adjust to when you don’t see it often. I think Georgia Tech is a real threat in the ACC, and a program to watch later on this year.
Game times and viewing options taken from ESPN.com. Lines also taken from ESPN.com
Next: SEC Football (Coordinator Battles): Final Round
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