SEC Football: Week 3 picks, predictions and lots of Dogs

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Ranked SEC Football Games

No. 23 Tennessee Volunteers at No. 24 Florida Gators (-4)
3:30 pm – Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Fl.

It was unsure if this game would have to be moved due to the effects of Hurricane Irma, but everything is a go in Gainesville and these two rivals will try to knock each other out of the AP Top 25.

The Gators offense is essentially non-existent. They looked worse than any offense Will Muschamp sent on the field when he was the head coach at Florida (albeit with several key players suspended against Michigan), and that takes some doing.

Tennessee managed to demolish some high school squad in their opener, and then pulled victory from the jaws of defeat in an overtime win against Georgia Tech.

There’s a reason the Gators are getting four points in this one (it actually opened at 8), and that’s because history says you just don’t walk into the Swamp in September and come out with a win, especially if you’re Tennessee, who hasn’t won in Gainesville since 2003.

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Gators defense and 4 points please.

Mercer Bears at No. 15 Auburn Tigers
4:00 pm – Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Al.

Just like the Georgia game, there’s no line on this one with an FCS opponent. The Tigers win easily, but Auburn fans will still find something to gripe about Gus Malzahn when it’s over.

The wheels on the Gus Bus are fall-ing off…fall-ing off…fall-ing off…

No. 12 LSU Tigers (-7.5) at Mississippi State Bulldogs
7:00 pm – Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Ms.

Mississippi State looks absolutely impressive this season…against absolutely no one. Tallying 106 points against the likes of Louisiana Tech and Charleston Southern isn’t really as much to bark about as the Bulldogs would like to believe. The Nick Fitzgerald hype train is already running at full speed. Jump on at your own risk.

LSU is somewhat in the same boat, only giving up 10 total points this season, but the opponents being Chattanooga and a really poor BYU team.

Give the edge to LSU – because Todd Grantham is on the other sideline – but don’t expect a runaway. Mississippi State covers the spread.

Colorado State Rams at No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (-28.5)
7:00 pm – Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Al.

After the beatings Mike Bobo‘s offenses took against Alabama when he was OC at Georgia, he can’t be looking forward to coming into T-Town to face a No. 1 Alabama team whose defense looks even more ferocious than in the past.

Next: Predicting Every 2017 SEC Record

If the Rams could only muster 3 points against Colorado, they might be lucky to get three first downs against Alabama.

Take the tide to cover that big spread (this maybe my regret pick of the week).

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