SEC+3: Week Six Picks

 

Week six is here! Here's how last week went, followed by this year's overall record:

Week Five Record: 9-2

2021 Record: 41-14

Let's get into this week's picks!

#13 Arkansas @ #17 Ole Miss (-5.5)

This is one of several big conference games this week. In fact, each SEC team playing this week, outside of Missouri (hosting North Texas) and Mississippi State (Bye), will play a conference game. I've always been one to pick a good defense over a good offense. Arkansas is coming off a disappointing showing at Georgia last week, and Sam Pittman's team is looking for a nice rebound win to get the 2021 season back on track. Ole Miss will have to really step up on defense, and prevent the Razorbacks ground game from getting into gear. Ultimately, the running game and defense is what gets Arkansas back on track, and the big win puts last week's shutout in Athens in the rearview mirror.

The pick: Arkansas 35 Ole Miss 24

Vanderbilt @ #20 Florida (-39)

Brace for impact, Vanderbilt fans. The bottom is coming.

The pick: Florida 52 Vanderbilt 6

South Carolina @ Tennessee (-10.5)

The Vols 62-24 win against Missouri last week was a great boost of confidence for Tennessee. South Carolina will really need to clean up penalties and find creative ways to run the football. If the Gamecocks can find a way to give young quarterback Luke Doty some time to throw the football, then South Carolina might have a chance. Tennessee will be breaking out the classing Halloween uniforms this weekend, which bring bad memories of 2009 back into the minds of many South Carolina fans. While I don't think things will get that bad, Tennessee still has a chance to win this game big.

The pick: Tennessee 31 South Carolina 21

#2 Georgia (-15.5) @ #18 Auburn

"Good ol' Fashion Hate" is back for this rivalry's 2021 installment. This year's edition will be at Jordan-Hare Stadium. In my mind, Georgia and Alabama are in a different tier than the rest of the college football's contenders. Auburn found a way to get a big win in Baton Rouge last weekend, and Bo Nix was able to make some phenomenal plays with his feet to create time to throw to his receivers down field. He won't be able to do that against Georgia, as the Bulldogs defense runs on a different gear. I see Georgia stopping everything that Auburn tries on offense, but maybe the Tigers can be a little more creative than the rest of the offensive game plans against Georgia that we've seen so far this year.

The pick: Georgia 38 Auburn 13

North Texas @ Missouri (-19)

Missouri will try to bounce back after the thumping handed to the Tigers by Tennessee last weekend. North Texas will make this game a little closer than people think, and there's a chance for a lot of points to be scored in this game. 

The pick: Missouri 41 North Texas 28

LSU @ #16 Kentucky (-3)

Mark Stoops continues to make a case to win Coach of the Year in the SEC, as his Wildcats are currently sitting at 5-0. LSU comes into Lexington hungry for a conference victory, but Kentucky has proven to be one of the more solid defensive units in the SEC East. Yes, you read that correctly. I believe the Wildcats win a physical conference game that will come down to the wire in the fourth quarter. 

The pick: Kentucky 27 LSU 23

#1 Alabama (-18) @ Texas A&M

Texas A&M is struggling through a lot of injuries in 2021. Not time to panic yet in College Station, but this season is looking like a wash. The Aggies will have a chance to use this season as a "proving year" to see who will lead Texas A&M to a successful 2022 season. The Alabama 38-run rule is in effect in this one.

The pick: Alabama 38 Texas A&M 17

"Plus Three" Games for Week Six

#6 Oklahoma (-3) vs. #21 Texas - Cotton Bowl - Dallas, TX

One of two College Football Playoff "shake up" games in my "plus three" games this week. 

The pick: Texas 35 Oklahoma 31

#4 Penn State @ #3 Iowa (-1.5)

"Shake up" game number two on our list, this game impacts how the Big 10 standings will end up finishing for 2021. 

The pick: Iowa 20 Penn State 17

#19 Wake Forest @ Syracuse

I put this game on the "plus three" this week so I could give a shoutout to Wake Forest. I think Wake Forest and Pittsburgh are the two best teams in the ACC at the moment.

The pick: Wake Forest 35 Syracuse 21

As always, thanks for reading this week! I hope everybody has an awesome, safe weekend and enjoys all of the week six action!

SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #8

We are now just EIGHT days away from the kickoff of the SEC schedule. A couple of legendary SEC receivers make up our countdown:

Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

Jones was the sixth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He's currently one of the most elite wide receivers in the NFL. Jones racked up over 1,100 yards in his final season at Alabama, despite the Crimson Tide's tendency to run the ball. Here's a big TD catch by Jones in 2009 against LSU:

A.J. Green, WR, Georgia Bulldogs

Like Jones, Green is another big time receiver in the pros. Green was the fourth overall pick (two picks ahead of Jones) in the 2011 NFL Draft. Green led the SEC in touchdown catches in 2008 and 2010 and had 23 throughout his career in Athens. Green also led the SEC in receiving yards in 2008.
Here's Green's first touchdown as a Bulldog against Georgia Southern in 2008:



Be sure to follow us on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and @griffaldo for updates. You can also follow the blog by clicking the "follow" button in the upper righthand corner of your screen. If you missed any of the countdown, you can find it by clicking the links on the right side of the page.

SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #11

We continue our countdown today at 11 days until South Carolina and Vanderbilt kick off the SEC schedule in Nashville on Thursday Sept. 1. Here's the players that made our countdown that wore #11:


Chris Davis, DB, Auburn

Davis was the spark for undoubtedly the craziest play in Iron Bowl history. The Iron Bowl is always one of college football's most heated, passionate and intense rivalries. Add this play that decided the 2013 version, and what ensued was sheer mayhem at Jordan-Hare Stadium that left Alabama fans disgusted and Auburn fans believers in miracles. Enjoy the infamous "Kick Six" play that sent Auburn to the SEC Championship by watching the video below from Auburn's YouTube channel:




Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia

Murray's career numbers at Georgia were completely ridiculous, and he holds many of the SEC's career passing record. In his career as a Bulldog, Murray holds the all-time SEC records for: completions (921), passing yards (13,166), passing touchdowns (121) and total yards (13,562). He's second all-time in the SEC in total touchdowns with 137. His 121 passing touchdowns are the seventh-most in NCAA history.

Here's a video of some of Murray's best highlights from his career at Georgia:





Just 11 more days, folks! Be sure follow us on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and @griffaldo for updates and links. You can also follow the blog by clicking the "follow" button in the upper righthand corner of your screen. If you missed any of the countdown, you can find the posts for each number by clicking the links below. As always, thanks for reading!

SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #19
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #18
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #17
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #16
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #15
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #14
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #13
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #12

SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #17

Today marks 17 days until South Carolina meets Vanderbilt for the opening game of the 2016 SEC Football Season. We continue to countdown the remaining days by remembering some of our favorite players who wore the same number as days remaining until the start of SEC play. Here's our first #17:

Morris Claiborne, DB, Louisiana State

Claiborne was the 2011 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and was dominant defender at LSU from 2009 to 2011. Here's a video that shows some Claiborne's top highlights from that 2011 season where he was not only the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, but also a consensus All-American selection:

Quincy Carter, QB, Georgia

Today marks the second-straight day that we've had a former Georgia Bulldog in our countdown. Today, however, we take a Bulldog from the offensive side of the football. Carter was a dual-threat nightmare for SEC defenses from 1998 to 2001. In 2001, Carter entered the NFL Draft and was selected in the second round by the Dallas Cowboys. Carter was second in the SEC in total touchdowns in the 1999 season with 22. Here's a video from 1998 of Carter finding one of his favorite targets, Michael Bennett, on an absolute bomb for a touchdown against Auburn:





Think I missed a better #17? Let me know in the comments section below, or send me a tweet to @GSL_SECPlus3 or @griffaldo. Be sure to follow both accounts on Twitter by clicking the link on the handle and clicking the "follow" button on the next page.

Miss #18 or #19 on the countdown? Check them out by clicking on the links below:

SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #18
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #19