Unfortunately, there are not a whole lot of good games in the SEC this week as most schools are looking to gain some experience and pick up an easy win. Here are my thoughts on the first games of the new 2011 season in the SEC:
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| LSU faces Oregon in the biggest game of opening week. |
Big out of conference games:
#4 LSU vs. #3 Oregon (Sat. 8:00pm EST, ABC): This is possibly the biggest match up in all of college football for week 1. This is one of the tougher games to predict, but look for LSU will challenge with dominating defense. LSU's recent QB change will be a big distraction in preparing for this game, and Oregon has a lot of talent returning from a runner up National Champion finish in 2010. Oregon's offense proves to be too much.
Prediction: 31-27 Oregon.
#5 Boise State vs. #19 Georgia (Sat. 8:00pm EST, ESPN): This is easily the second biggest game of the weekend. This game will come down to the wire as Georgia tries to cope with the loss of AJ Green and break in a freshman running back while Boise State boasts the experience of their Heisman candidate in Senior QB Kellen Moore. In the end, the SEC will show its power as UGA will come out victorious, but it won't be easy.
Prediction: 24-21 Georgia
Potential to be close games:
Ole Miss vs. BYU (Sat 4:45pm EST, ESPN): If there was any other SEC team playing BYU I would say there is no chance that it's not a blowout, but then again it's Ole Miss. BYU, the newest independent school in college football, is going to provide a big test for Ole Miss.
Prediction: 20-17 BYU
#23 Auburn vs Utah State (Sat 12:00pm EST, ESPN2): Your immediate reaction is to write this game off as a blow out, but then you have to look at Auburn's depth chart. They are starting only 3 seniors on offense and 1 on defense, and only 2 of those 4 have started a game previously. Also, over half of their starters are only freshmen or sophomores, with countless other underclassmen littering the two deep. That tells me that this game is going to be up and down as a young Auburn team gets some valuable first game experience. Auburn will probably have some big plays, but give up some big plays as well.
Prediction: 35-24 Auburn
Not that exciting, but somewhat intriguing:
#12 South Carolina vs. East Carolina (7:00pm EST, FSN): The two schools could be considered bordering state rivals, and ECU has been a decent non-AQ school in the past. But who are we kidding? Skip Holtz doesn't coach ECU anymore and this isn't going to be very close. However, it could be fun to watch Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffrey torch ECU's defense.
Prediction: 38-17 South Carolina
Laughers:
#2 Alabama vs. Kent State (Sat 12:21pm EST, SEC Network): Prediction: 63-7 Alabama
#15 Arkansas vs. Missouri State (Sat 7:00pm EST, PPV): Prediction: 49-10 Arkansas
Mississippi State at Memphis (8:00pm EST, FSN): Prediction: 42-10 MSU
Tennessee vs. Montana (Sat 6:00pm EST, PPV): Prediction: 35-10 Tennessee
#22 Florida vs. Florida Atlantic (Sat 7:00pm EST, ESPNU): Prediction: 35-13 Florida
Kentucky vs. Western KY (Thurs 9:15pm EST, ESPNU): Prediction: 31-14 Kentucky
Vanderbilt vs. Elon (Sat. 7:30pm EST, CSS): Prediction: 28-7 Vanderbilt
Are you ready for some football?!? I know I am!
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