SEC Football Week 7 Best Bets: Down Goes Bama?

Tennessee, Mississippi State, and Georgia were the front runners in week 6 of SEC Football showdowns, all smoking their opponents for a combined 82 point differential. Chalk Georgia’s win up as expected against a struggling Auburn team, but nobody can say they expected Tennessee to obliterate LSU on the road like they did. The same goes for Mike Leach and his Mississippi State team against a solid Arkansas group, although plagued with offensive injuries.

SEC Football Week 7 Best Bets: Down goes Bama?

Looking into this week’s matchups there are two marquee games to keep your eyes glued on the TV for. 

#3 Alabama (6-0) vs. #6 Tennessee (5-0)

3:30 p.m. ET – CBS

Odds presented by Fanduel

Alabama -7 (-115)

Tennessee +7 (+105)

In what could be the most anticipated game in over a decade at Knoxville, Hendon Hooker and his offensive squad will be quickly reminded that this NFL ready Bama defense is a different beast than what they saw last week from LSU. The Vols need to approach the game with the same tempo and play calling they had last week when Hooker threw for 230+ yards and Small contributed massively on the ground for 127. It’s the balanced attack that will keep Alabama guessing. The Vols also get back star wide receiver Cedric Tillman to the field, just in time for the Crimson Tide.

Luckily for Alabama, they were able to squeak by Texas A&M without their star QB Bryce Young. A massive game from Jahmyr Gibbs, carrying the load with 154 rushing yards, in tandem with Will Anderson and the Tide defense coming up clutch, helped Bama avoid what would’ve been another massive upset in back to back years to Jimbo and the Aggies, something Saban would not enjoy answering to the media about.

Vegas has this game at a 7 point spread, favoring Alabama by a touchdown on the road. After taking care of LSU last week with ease, Josh Heupel and his staff were able to take the full week of preparation and confidence to come up with a scheme that will give their team a chance at what could be the biggest conference win in program history. Unfortunately for Saban and Bill O’Brien, while Bryce Young should be returning for this matchup, he does have those lingering injuries and if the Vols defense can get to him early, it will cause issues for the Bama offense.

Final Prediction and Analysis

Factor in the crowd, the high powered Vols offense led by a Heisman candidate, a steady fast and a coaching staff looking to prove something to the college football world, take the Vols to win this one OUTRIGHT in Knoxville, and propel themselves into the top 5 for the first time in over a decade.

Tennessee +230

#16 Mississippi State (5-1) vs. #22 Kentucky (4-2)

7:30 p.m. ET – SEC Network

Odds presented by Fanduel

Mississippi State -4.5 (-106)

Kentucky +4.5 (-114)

As mentioned earlier, people knew without KJ Jefferson Arkansas would have a tough time against the Bulldogs last week, but no one expected Will Rogers to throw for 395 yards and put up 40 points with ease. This Bulldog offense being coached by offensive guru Mike Leach is scoring at will on everyone they play. For a Kentucky defense who just gave up 24 points and an L at home to Spencer Rattler… this is trouble.

Mississippi State is firing on all cylinders and will continue to do so this week against the Wildcats average defense. An offense that is 8th in the country in passing yards, will dial up a minimum of 40 passing plays for Rogers, who some may consider a heisman sleeper pick.

Will Levis, Will Levis, Will Levis. The former Penn State backup made his transfer to Kentucky a few years back and so far it’s appeared to be one of the best transfer moves in college football, for both parties. Levis has moved himself up and up on the NFL draft board while Kentucky has cracked all time best rankings in the top 25 year after year. The downside of all this is his usage and play style. Levis is a big kid and unfortunately he knows it. Not knowing when to slide, he takes hit after hit and ends up questionable for big time games like this week. The backup by committee for the Wildcats seemingly can’t get it done, only scoring 14 points against a below average SC defense last week. Levis will need to play in this one if they want to even have a shot at keeping up.

Final Prediction and Analysis

Reports are trending upwards for Levis’ likeliness to play in this one. Luckily for the Wildcats, Mississippi State could have their eyes ahead to next week’s matchup against Alabama which they could seem to think would be the game of the year for them, as does everyone. The #3 quarterback in most 2023 NFL mock drafts gives a MASSIVE boost to this Kentucky team and crowd. The Wildcats getting 4.5 points in a home game, while getting their star back. This one will be closer than some may think.

Take the Wildcats to cover the 4.5 in what could be a derailing loss for the Bulldogs and Mike Leach.

Kentucky +4.5

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change