ATS: Southbound and Down Staff Pick 'Em (Rivalry Week)

It all comes down to this. The heads up record is up for grabs, as is the ATS record. Who will be the Southbound and Down Pick ‘Em Champion? Read our picks here and watch the games this weekend to find out!

Don’t forget to make your own picks in the Reader Pick ‘Em.

Week 12 Update:

Neal: 8-2 ATS 5-4-1

Andrew: 8-2 ATS 5-4-1

Ben: 7-3 ATS 5-5

Ryan 7-3 ATS 5-5

John: 8-2 ATS 6-4

Fans: ATS 5-5

Overall Update:

John: 82-23 ATS 61-44

Neal: 82-23 ATS 51-52-2

More from SEC News

Ben R: 77-28 ATS 58-47

Andrew: 56-26 ATS 41-38-1

Ben M: 19-2 ATS 16-7

Ryan: 50-18 ATS 35-33

Lee: 30-7 ATS 23-16

Fans: ATS 14-15

The Games:

Spreads courtesy of teamrankings.com

Arkansas (-13.5) v Missouri

Neal: *Friday Game *Bowl Ramifications

Fayetteville, AR Forecast: Heavy clouds. Rain. Wind 10 mph. Cold temperature with extremely high humidity

What a heartbreaker for the Razorbacks last weekend, but they certainly know what the other side of the deal feels like as well. Arkansas is volatile, and have been all year. The Razorbacks have no defense, but Missouri presents no offensive threat. Give me the Razorbacks to cover.

Missouri 13 Arkansas 34

Ben R: Arkansas’s offense has been on a roll. Missouri ‘s has not. Arkansas covers.

Ryan: – Arkansas playing at home after being on a roll in SEC contests will win BIG against Missouri because the Tigers can’t score. Arkansas covers and wins by 21+.

John: Arkansas comes out a little flat after last week’s lost. The Tiger’s defense makes this a game all the way until the 4^th quarter. Mizzou falters late, though, and Arkansas covers.

Clemson (-17.5) v South Carolina

Nov 21, 2015; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (11) looks back as he makes a catch during the game between the Bulldogs and the Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Citadel upsets South Carolina 23-22. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Neal: *Early Kickoff *Rivalry Game *National Implications

Columbia, SC Forecast: Mostly sunny. No projected rain. Wind 3 mph. Mild temperature with mild humidity.

Clemson enters ranked number one in the country, and will not allow instate rival South Carolina to derail any chances at the Playoff. I suspect the Gamecocks will fight one last time this weekend, but it won’t be enough to win or cover their end of the spread.

Clemson 40 South Carolina 17

Ben R: Rivalry games are crazy. An SEC team losing to the Citadel is crazier. Clemson covers.

Ryan: No pick

John: Anything can happen in a rivalry game, right? Anything! Except a team that just lost to The Citadel beating the #1 team in the country. South Carolina keeps it closer than expected, but falters late like Mizzou.

Georgia (-4.5) v Georgia Tech

Neal: *Early Kickoff *Rivalry Game

Oxford, MS Forecast: Partly cloudy. No projected rain. Wind 4 mph. Cool temperature with low humidity

Those pesky Yellow Jackets have been a thorn in Georgia’s side for quite sometime. Tech should be all jacked up for their cross state rival, and an uninspired Georgia team may roll into Atlanta just going through the motions. Give me the Bulldogs, because the Yellow Jackets quit on their season long ago.

Georgia 27 Georgia Tech 21

Ben R: Conventional wisdom says that if Georgia Southern gave UGA troubles, Georgia Tech will be even more trouble. I say it gave the Bulldogs real practice. UGA wins and covers the 4.5.

Ryan: Georgia will fall at the hands of Georgia Tech this week. I give the game to the Yellow Jackets and pick them to cover because of their game against FSU earlier in the year. I think they’ll show up trying to earn a little bit of national respect back. Bad loss for Georgia though if they come out on the losing side, and really bad for Mark Richt.

John: Both of these teams gave up on their season long ago. Georgia has the most left to play for, though, and covers the spread.

Louisville (-4) v Kentucky

Neal: *Early Kickoff **Rivalry Game ***Bowl Ramifications

Lexington, KY Forecast: Mostly cloudy. Projected rain. Wind 9 mph. Cold temperature with humidity.

It’s do or die time for Kentucky. The SEC will be pulling hard for it’s Bluegrass brother. Louisville hasn’t been all that special this year, and I think the Wildcats will give it one more go…they kinda have to. Give me the Wildcats at home.

Louisville 23 Kentucky 27

Ben R: Kentucky started with so much promise. They end the season just being Kentucky. Louisville wins and covers.

Ryan: Louisville will beat Kentucky and cover in week 13.

John: I thought Kentucky was going bowling this year. I also thought Patrick Towles was “that dude.” Man, did Kentucky make me look dumb or what? Louisville wins and covers the spread.

Alabama (-13) v Auburn

Sep 5, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) in game action against the Wisconsin Badgers at AT&T Stadium. Alabama won 35-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Neal: *CBS Choice **Iron Bowl ***Division Implications ****Conference Implications *****National Implications

Auburn, AL Forecast: Partly cloudy. No projected rain. Wind 5 mph. Cool temperature with mild humidity.

The SEC needs Alabama to win if there’s to be any SEC team in the Playoff this year. Auburn will pull out all the tricks in Gus’s wild bag of offense, but that Alabama front 7 is dominant. Could something crazy happen at Jordan-Hare? Sure..but what are the real chances of that? Give me the Tide on the road, and to cover the spread after wearing down Auburn’s morale late.

Alabama 41 Auburn 17

Ben R: History repeats itself. See Iron Bowl 2011. Bama covers.

Ryan: – Alabama wins and covers in the Iron Bowl on their way to the SEC title game where they will demolish Florida.

John: This is the Iron Bowl. I keep reminding myself of that when I see the spread. There’s no way Auburn loses by 2 touchdowns, right? Right!? Wrong.

Tennessee (-16.5) v Vanderbilt

Neal: *Rivalry Game **Bowl Implications

Knoxville, TN Forecast: Cloudy. No projected rain. Wind 4. Cold temperature and moderate humidity.

Tennessee will be beating it’s chest after winning out in the regular season. Another offseason of false hope, and songs about “brick by brick” will be sung next to “Rocky Top”. Tennessee will win, but they’re a few bricks short of covering the spread this year.

Vanderbilt 16 Tennesseee 27

Ben R: Tennesse wins by 2 touchdowns, but the Vandy defense holds on to cover.

Ryan: – Tennessee wins against Vandy but fails to cover, this game will be close because of the Commodores defense.

John: Vanderbilt’s defense continues to play inspired ball and keep this game within single digits. Props to Derek Mason. He’s slowly building a sustainable program in Nashville.

Mississippi (-1) v Mississippi State

Nov 7, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) in action during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Arkansas won 53-52. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Neal: *Egg Bowl **Bowl Implications ***Division Implications

Starkville, MS Forecast: Mostly cloudy. No projected rain. Wind 6 mph. Cold temperature with high humidty.

What a close spread. Where to go with this..where to go with this? Ole Miss has beaten the teams Mississippi State has lost to, but the intangiblesSaturday weigh in Mississippi State’s favor. I guess if one team’s pass defense plays decent, and forces a turnover or two it could possibly break the game open, but I’m betting this one goes down to the wire.

Ole Miss 34 Mississippi State 30

Ben R: The home team wins the Egg Bowl. It just happens like that in the ‘sip. State wins and covers.

Ryan: I predicted at the beginning of the season that Mississippi State would win this game due to the fact that they are playing at home and I’m going to stick with that even though Ole Miss will be fighting hard with hopes of an SEC title game still alive. The last four Egg Bowls have been won by the home team. Bulldogs win and cover the 1-pt spread.

John: Chad Kelly has been breaking Eli Manning’s season records left and right this year. Fitting, as he’ll become the first Rebel quarterback since Eli to win in Starkville.

LSU (-5) v Texas A&M

Neal: *Bowl Implications **Coach Watch(Les Miles)

Baton Rouge, LA Forecast: Partly cloudy. No projected rain. Wind 10 mph. Cool temperature with moderate humidity.

This is a little hard to predict. LSU is the better team, but will they play like it? I’m thinking they want to get a “W” for Miles and the seniors. A&M may give LSU’s secondary some fits, though.

Texas A&M 23 LSU 30

Ben R: LSU players show up for their coach. LSU wins and covers.

Ryan: – LSU continues to struggle against Texas A&M but comes out with a victory and potentially saves Les Miles’ job. Fail to cover spread though. I’m picking LSU by 3.

John: The Mad Hatter’s job on the line? Fournette no longer getting Heisman love? John Chavis returning to Death Valley? LSU plays out of their minds and covers the spread.

Florida State (-2) v Florida

Nov 7, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III (1) runs with the ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Vanderbilt Commodores 9-7. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Neal: *Evening Kickoff *Bowl Implications ***Rivalry Game

Gainesville, FL Forecast: Partly cloudy. No projected rain. Wind 12 mph. Mild temperature with high humidity.

Florida has looked like bad the last few weeks. Are the Gator simply coasting to Atlanta, or should there be cause for concern? Florida State will enter looking to knock off not only a rival, but an SEC opponent that will at least put them back in the headlines for a week. Florida State gets it done, and exposes the Gators at home.

Florida State 30 Florida 22

Ben R: The Gators D smothers the Seminole offense. If the over/under were 20 I’d still take the under and the Gators in a close one to win and cover.

Ryan: Florida State comes into the Swamp on Saturday to put a major damper on the end of the season for Florida. Seminoles win and cover against UF. Although the Gators defense will catch at least two interceptions, they won’t be able to stop Dalvin Cook from having a good day in a low scoring game.

John: Nothing in me wants to make this pick. Absolutely nothing. The Gators are at home and should win this one. But I just can’t get past their recent offensive showings. Florida State wins and covers the spread.

Next: SEC Games of the Week: Rivalry Week

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ATS: Southbound and Down Staff Pick ‘Em (Rivalry Week)

By John Richardson | Nov 27, 2015

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