SEC+3: Week Seven Picks

Week six provided us another great weekend of college football. Despite the disappointment that followed the postponement of LSU/Florida, we were rewarded with a heavyweight matchup between Tennessee and Texas A&M that needed TWO overtimes to decide a winner. Even Kentucky and Vanderbilt, two teams at the bottom of the SEC East standings, gave us excitement until the Commodores' last possession!

Week seven gives us another slate of exciting games that will have many college football fans glued to our couches. Before we get into the picks, let's take a look at the standings going into this week's games:

Griff: 59-15
Keister: 56-18
Godsey: 56-18

Here's our picks for week seven:

Friday, October 14

Mississippi State vs. BYU

Keister: Provo, Utah will be rocking for Friday's contest against a SEC visitor. Defense will be virtually absent in this one, with the home crowd and experienced dual-threat quarterback Taysom Hill giving the Cougars a third win against a power five team this season.

The Pick: BYU 44 Mississippi State 33

Godsey: The Bulldogs seem to be getting worse each week, and the season isn’t getting easier. BYU might look like a middle of the pack team, but the Cougars are trending up. Seven points keep the Cougars from 6-0, so BYU is the king of hanging around. The Bulldogs may go up early, but it will be BYU that celebrates the victory in Provo.

The Pick: BYU 31 Mississippi State 27

Griff: If you listened to the podcast this week, you heard me pick Mississippi State as my "worst" for week six. The Bulldogs absolutely let Auburn come in and dominate every aspect of the game, and Auburn went to the locker room at halftime with a 35-0 lead. Taysom Hill is explosive, and he will be the key component for the Cougars putting points on the board. BYU will give up some points, but the Bulldog offense won't be enough to keep up in this offensive shootout.

The Pick: BYU 38 Mississippi State 26

Saturday, October 15

Vanderbilt vs. Georgia

Keister: Vanderbilt can't seem to catch a break this season, and Saturday will be no different. No versatility on offense, no problem for Georgia. Big days for Sony Michel and Nick Chubb give Georgia a big win at home Saturday.

The Pick: Georgia 30 Vanderbilt 13

Godsey: My confidence in Vanderbilt was misplaced last week, but not this week. I’m confident Vanderbilt loses this one in Athens.

The Pick: Georgia 44 Vanderbilt 14

Griff: Vanderbilt has won just two of the last 10 meetings against Georgia. The Commodores desperation shows here, and Georgia's one-dimensional offense will keep this game close until around midway through the second quarter. The Bulldogs will command this game running the football and win this game by close to three touchdowns.

The Pick: Georgia 41 Vanderbilt 20

(1) Alabama vs. (9) Tennessee

Keister: In the biggest game of the weekend, Tennessee will come out with quick scores on a couple early possessions. I can't pick against the Tide or Coach Saban, though not even in a hostile environment versus a top 10 team. Look for Alabama tight end O.J. Howard to play a big role this weekend. 

The Pick: Alabama 40 Tennessee 27

Godsey: This is another huge game that could resonate come playoff time. Tennessee is at the point where the Vols can either rise up and become a championship caliber team or just shoot for a SEC East title. I know the come from behind ability that Tennessee has is giving Nick Saban fits, but I’ve seen nothing to make me think Alabama has a weakness that can be exploited to the point where the Tide drop a game.

The Pick: Alabama 34 Tennessee 21

Griff: Another CBS 3:30 p.m. kick for Tennessee equals another great game that will be an absolute marathon due to way too many commercial breaks. Tennessee really is a tough team that will give Alabama one of the toughest games that the Crimson Tide will face all season. The Volunteers will have to prevent super freshman Jalen Hurts from making big time plays, which is something that none of the defenses facing him have been able to do this season. Hurts and the all the blue chip talent around him in addition to the meticulous coaching of Nick Saban are the reason that Alabama escapes Knoxville with a big victory over Tennessee to remain the king of the SEC. There's a strong possibility that we see a rematch in December.

The Pick: Alabama 38 Tennessee 30

Missouri vs. (18) Florida

Keister: An inexperienced visiting quarterback and an inconsistent football team overall makes for easy pickings in Gainesville Saturday. Gators roll in this one.

The Pick: Florida 38 Missouri 17

Godsey: Maybe a victory over the other Tigers will help all of the Gator fans impacted by Hurricane Matthew.

The Pick: Florida 35 Missouri 20

Griff: Luke Del Rio will make the start for the Gators at quarterback after missing a couple starts due to an injury against North Texas. Missouri/Florida has been a close one since Tigers have joined the SEC East, and this game will give one team the advantage since the series record between the two teams is 2-2 since the Tigers joined the SEC. Missouri doesn't have enough weapons to overcome a stout Florida defense, and the Gators get a big divisional win in this game.

The Pick: Florida 26 Missouri 16

(12) Ole Miss vs. (22) Arkansas

Keister: With Arkansas being handed two tough conference losses already this season, the Razorbacks will come out playing inspired ball and manage the game with limited turnovers. The defense will provide a surprising lift with a big takeaway or two in a tremendous win in Fayetteville Saturday.

The Pick: Arkansas 34 Ole Miss 30

Godsey: This is a tough one for to call because this game can easily go either way. I think the shine is wearing off of the Razorbacks, and Arkansas will have a hard time keeping up with the Rebels. I’m going with Ole Miss because the Rebels will wear down the Arkansas defense, and the Razorbacks will run out of gas as this game goes into the fourth quarter.

The Pick: Ole Miss 38 Arkansas 31

Griff: This will be a fantastic prime-time SEC West matchup. It will be fun to watch the position group battle between the big, physical Rebels receivers against the stingy Arkansas secondary that's only allowing just over 218 yards per game through the air. The Rebels will have to use Chad Kelly and Akeem Judd's legs and establish a ground game early. If the Rebels can have success on the ground, then this game looks a lot like Arkansas game against Texas A&M a few weeks ago. The Rebels have a lot of weapons on offense and will be able to win a game that will feature a lot of scoring.

The Pick: Ole Miss 45 Arkansas 31

Southern Miss vs. LSU

Keister: Ed Orgeron and his Tigers roll big over Southern Miss.

The Pick: LSU 38 Southern Miss 17

Godsey: One month ago, we were talking about LSU possibly playing for a SEC Championship and would still have hope for more. The Tigers lost one game since then but have fallen a lot more than that. Heisman hopeful Leonard Fournette doesn’t even lead the team in rushing. Another victory might steer the Tigers back on course  and we will find out Saturday.

The Pick: LSU 45 Southern Miss 10

Griff: It's been a crazy couple weeks for the Tigers, and this game will help get things back to normal in Baton Rouge. Condolences to the LSU faithful on the passing of Mike VI this past week. Southern Miss faces an extremely tough task on the road, and LSU will be out to prove something Saturday after the disappointing postponement of last week's game against Florida.

The Pick: LSU 52 Southern Miss 17

North Carolina State vs. (3) Clemson

Keister: The Clemson defense will atone for last year's sloppy performance in this matchup. That coupled with the Tigers aerial assault featuring DeShaun Watson against a weak Wolfpack secondary will allow Clemson to win big.

The Pick: Clemson 45 North Carolina State 17

Godsey: Clemson seems to have worked out the kinks that caused the offense to have a slow start and have responded well to the close and emotional win over Louisville two weeks ago. I expect a convincing win against the Wolfpack.

The Pick: Clemson 51 North Carolina State 20

Griff: It seemed like every other play Clemson had on offense against Boston College last Friday was a big play. The Tigers know that each team is going to give Clemson its best shot and come into this game maintaining focus. I expect a very productive day from DeShaun Watson and one of the best receiving corps in the FBS, and Clemson will light up the scoreboard early and often Saturday.

The Pick: Clemson 56 North Carolina State 13

North Carolina vs. (16) Miami

Keister: The Hurricanes come out hungry and get last week's loss off their mind. Brad Kaaya snd the Miami offense will get back in rhythm, and the impressive defensive play will continue for Coach Rucht's squad.

The Pick: Miami 31 North Carolina 17

Godsey: Miami suffered a tough loss last week to Florida State but will get back on track this week.

The Pick: Miami 28 North Carolina 24

Griff: Each team suffered difficult losses last weekend in different ways. North Carolina was simply throttled by the Hokies defense, while Miami let history repeat itself against Florida State with a mishap on special teams. These teams will both be hungry for a critical ACC Coastal win, and the Hurricanes defensive front will disrupt North Carolina's passing attack. Miami will pull away in this game in the second half after a close start.

The Pick: Miami 31 North Carolina 21

(2) Ohio State vs. (8) Wisconsin

Keister: in what will be a great game Saturday, J.T. Barrett will solidify his top tier Heisman candidacy with a huge performance against a stingy Badger defense. The Buckeyes won't have it easy but will come away from Camp Randall with a big conference win.

The Pick: Ohio State 24 Wisconsin 14

Godsey: This is easily the game of the week. Wisconsin can’t go down 1-2 in conference play, if the Badgers want any chance at a Big 10 title. Ohio State could recover from a loss but still have Michigan at the end of the year. That makes this game extremely important because the Buckeyes need to win this game. Statistically, the Buckeyes lead in almost every category, but, much like Alabama, I can't pick against Ohio State.

The Pick: Ohio State 34 Wisconsin 31

Griff: I have gone against Wisconsin twice this season, and both time the Badgers have burned me. The third time will be a charm, and J.T. Barrett and the Buckeyes have all the answers on offense for questions raised by a hard-nosed Wisconsin defense. The amount of points that Ohio State is able to score in this game will be an outlier number for the Wisconsin defense.

The Pick: Ohio State 45 Wisconsin 24

As always, thanks for reading! Be sure to follow the blog on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and on Facebook (Facebook.com/GriffinsStartingLineup). You can follow Griff on Twitter @griffaldo. If you missed the podcast yesterday, you can listen by pressing the play button on the link below:


  

  

  

  


  

SEC+3: Week Seven Podcast

Click the play button below to listen to week seven's episode of the SEC+3 Podcast.







Follow us on Twitter using @justinBhall and @griffaldo. You can also follow the blog @GSL_SECPlus3 and find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/GriffinsStartingLineup

SEC+3: Week Six Picks

This week provides us with a lot of interesting games that will shape the race to Atlanta and the SEC Championship. Hurricane Matthew affected some of the games and even led to the cancellation of the matchup between LSU and (18) Florida. Officials at the University of South Carolina moved the Saturday night contest between the Gamecocks and Georgia Bulldogs to Sunday afternoon.

Keister went 11-0 last weekend and created a tie for the first place spot. Here's our standings going into week six:

Griff: (52-14)
Keister: (52-14)
Godsey: (51-15)

Here's our picks for week six:

Auburn vs. Mississippi State

Keister: Auburn has been playing well the last couple games, but the Tigers stagnant offense will get the best of them Saturday at Davis-Wade stadium. Auburn will feel the bite of the athletic play-making ability of Nick Dylan Fitzgerald and the Bulldogs offense.

The Pick: Mississippi State 24 Auburn 20

Godsey: Auburn has gotten better each week, and the Tigers have figured their identity. My concern is if the Tigers can score touchdowns in the red zone. Auburn has one of the best, if not the best, kicker in the nation, but field goals won’t win every game, especially this Saturday.

The Pick: Auburn 31 Mississippi State 27

Griff: Auburn comes into Starkville riding the momentum of a two-game win streak. The Tigers will use a combination of stingy defense and a powerful ground game to pull out a close, low-scoring game against the Bulldogs.

The Pick: Auburn 17 Mississippi State 13

(9) Tennessee vs. (8) Texas A&M

 Keister: Tennessee has come off two big wins, and takes that momentum into College Station for a top 10 showdown. Both Joshua Dobbs and Trevor Knight will put up big numbers at the quarterback position. Tennessee will use the running game to control the time possession and get a huge win against the Aggies.

The Pick: Tennessee 27 Texas A&M 21

Godsey: Although this isn’t a divisional contest, this game is huge for both team and has playoff implications. This game will start off slow but take off in the second half. Tennessee will get behind and won’t be able to recover. The 12th man and A&M defense takes the Aggies one step closer to controlling the West.

The Pick: Texas A&M 41 Tennessee 31

Griff: The Vols pulled of a miracle in Athens last weekend against Georgia with Josh Dobbs 43-yard last-second toss that gave Tennessee the victory. Tennessee will run out of luck this weekend. Texas A&M brings back a lot of players from injury that didn’t play last weekend against South Carolina. The winner of this game will be the clear-cut number two team behind Alabama.

The Pick: Texas A&M 35 Tennessee 24

Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky

Keister: Vandy's offense, or lack thereof, won't help them at Commonwealth Stadium, and "Boom" Williams will have a big day for the Wildcats.

The Pick: Kentucky 27 Vanderbilt 10

Godsey: Even though Kentucky is much better at home, Vanderbilt will pull this one out in a close one.

The Pick: Vanderbilt 33 Kentucky 31

Griff: Both teams are desperate for a win in this game. Wildcats quarterback Stephen Johnson will use his legs to hand the Commodores another disappointing loss.

The Pick: Kentucky 28 Vanderbilt 24

(1) Alabama vs. (16) Arkansas

Keister: The Razorbacks will come out fast and strong in Saturday's game likely taking a 10 to 14 point lead. Both depth and strong defensive play as time carries on the contest will propel the Crimson Tide into an easy Saturday victory and ruin John Gault's upset special of the week. 

The Pick: Alabama 45 Arkansas 23

Godsey: The Tide are playing really good football right now and I can’t pick against them and it be truthful. I don’t think they are invincible either. There might be two or three other teams that can take Alabama down, but that team isn't Arkansas.

The Pick: Alabama 28 Arkansas 14

Griff: Alabama starts a vicious three-game stretch of the 2016 schedule. A lot of folks are saying that this could be a trap game for the Crimson Tide. Nick Saban’s squad won’t overlook the Razorbacks and win easily in Arkansas after the game stays close in the first half.

The Pick: Alabama 38 Arkansas 17

Georgia vs. South Carolina

Keister: The Gamecocks come off an improved look performance after an 11-point loss last week, while Georgia is nursing the wounds of a last second loss at home. As long as Nick Chubb returns to carrying the bulk of the workload for the Bulldogs, Georgia will grind out a ground-and-pound victory in Columbia.

The Pick: Georgia 31 South Carolina 20

Godsey: Georgia has been throttled the last two weeks and if they don’t play a solid game, they will drop this week as well. I know last week the score was close, but they were throttled. I don’t think they are as healthy as they would like to be but I think they are just good enough to edge South Carolina.

The Pick: Georgia 38 South Carolina 35

Griff: Hurricane Matthew made officials at South Carolina move the start time of this game to Sunday afternoon. Georgia gets Nick Chubb back in full force this weekend, and he will be the difference maker in a game that’s going to be close down to the final whistle.

The Pick: Georgia 23 South Carolina 20

(20) Oklahoma vs. Texas

Keister: This "back against the wall" game is a must needed win after  losses to Cal and Oklahoma State. This makes for a perfect scenario for Charlie Strong, and the power running game of Texas will launch the Longhorns into a big win Saturday.

The Pick: Texas 33 Oklahoma 24

Godsey: The Longhorns started the season about as hot as possible but have really slipped the last two weeks, losing two games in a row. The Sooners had a lot of control in the Big 12 race until last week, but a win over Texas would improve Oklahoma's situation. As for Oklahoma, they are on the upswing and catch Texas at a good time. The Sooners will take Texas by at least 10.

The Pick: Oklahoma 38 Texas 24

Griff: Charlie Strong needs to lead the Longhorns to a big victory against the Sooners. The Longhorns have found ways to beat Oklahoma when the Sooners were favored, and that will be the case again this week.

The Pick: Texas 31 Oklahoma 30

(25) Virginia Tech vs. (17) North Carolina

Keister: Virginia Tech has quietly played sound football all season long, and Saturday will be their first big win in the Justin Fuente era. The Hokies will get solid Quarterback and skill player performances in Saturday's contest.

The Pick: Virginia Tech 27 North Carolina 24

Godsey: There’s not much I can say about Virginia Tech. I don’t think the resume fits the ranking. North Carolina will win this game with a better defense

The Pick: North Carolina 34 Virginia Tech 21

Griff: Justin Fuente's Hokies have played solid defense for most of the season. This will disrupt the quick North Carolina offense attack and give Virginia Tech a big conference win.

The Pick: Virginia Tech 24 North Carolina 17

(23) Florida State vs. (10) Miami

Keister: Mark Richt's Hurricanes will be amped up for the big in-state rivalry with the visiting Semioles, and much like Mitch Trubisky last week, Brad Kaaya will find success early and often through the air against a struggling Florida State pass defense. Florida State will keep it close but won't be able to overcome an early first half deficit.

The Pick: Miami 31 Florida State 23

Godsey: I’m not sold on Miami, even though I thought the Hurricanes had a chance of winning the ACC. Florida State hasn’t shown me much either, other than a close game with North Carolina and a really good second half against Ole Miss. I am going to take Miami because of Hurricanes home field advantage and better defense.

The Pick: Miami 37 Florida State 17

Griff: It's been fun to watch Mark Richt work his magic at his alma mater. The Hurricanes have proven to the rest of the ACC that they deserve respect. Florida State is in a "must win" situation, and the Seminoles win a close game where Miami misses a field goal late. Perhaps another wide right scenario?

The Pick: Florida State 23 Miami 21

As always, thanks for reading! Be sure to follow the blog on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and on Facebook (Facebook.com/GriffinsStartingLineup). You can also follow Griff on Twitter @griffaldo.

  

  

SEC+3: Week Six Podcast with Justin Hall

Click the play button on the link below to check out the week six edition of the SEC+3 Podcast:

SEC+3: Week Two Podcast with Justin Hall

It's almost time for week two of college football! Be sure to listen to the podcast below and follow Justin Hall on Twitter @justinBhall and myself @griffaldo. You can also follow the SEC+3 on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and by clicking the "follow" button in the upper right corner of your screen.

As always, we had a lot of fun making the podcast. Be sure to check back tomorrow for Keister, Godsey and Griff's score prediction. Thanks for listening!



You can also check out last week's episode by clicking here.

SEC+3: Week One Podcast with Guest Picker Justin Hall

Be sure to check out our week one picks coming up on Tuesday! Click the link below to listen to freelance SEC writer Justin Hall and myself talk about all the week one games on the schedule, plus our three non-conference games:




Be sure to follow the blog by clicking the "follow" button at the upper right corner of your screen. Also follow us on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and @griffaldo. Also be sure to like us on Facebook!

SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #6

We are now less than one week away from the kickoff of the SEC Schedule! Just six days separate from South Carolina and Vanderbilt playing in Nashville next Thursday. 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 right corner of your screen. Our countdown for #6 today features a player from the two teams that will meet in the first SEC matchup of the season:

Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt

Jay Cutler is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play at Vandy. Cutler was the 2005 SEC Offensive Player of the Year. That season Cutler led the SEC in completions and passing yardage. His 21 passing touchdowns were second in the conference that season, where he led the Commodores to just a 5-6 season despite his numbers. Cutler was the No. 11 pick in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Here are some of Cutler's highlights from his 2005 season with the Commodores:




Melvin Ingram, LB/DL, South Carolina

Ingram was a special player for the Gamecocks. He started in at least 11 games in all four of his seasons with South Carolina from 2007 until 2011. He was a Consensus All-American in 2011. Ingram's 22 career sacks put him ninth on the all-time in the SEC. He racked up 15 tackles for loss in 2011, which was the third-best total in the conference. Ingram was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, where he still plays today. Check out his lone touchdown of his South Carolina career, where he displayed his tremendous athleticism by taking a fake punt 68 yards to the end zone against Georgia in Athens to help give the Gamecocks a big win:



Be sure to check out our week one SEC picks this coming Tuesday (8/29). If you missed any part of our countdown you can find the links to each post on the right side of your screen. You can follow us on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and @griffaldo. As always, thanks for reading and feel free to share!

SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #7

We are just one week away from South Carolina versus Vanderbilt next Thursday night in Nashville! Our countdown continues with two players that dominated the SEC East while playing for their respective schools.


Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina

Believe it or not, Clowney actually finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting after the 2012 season. His 47 tackles for loss are third all-time in SEC history, and his 24 sacks are the sixth-best in SEC history. Always recognized for his freakish talent, Clowney was the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and was a consensus All-American in 2012. Many people remember Clowney's tremendous hit against Michigan that helped South Carolina to an Outback Bowl victory:




Danny Wuerffel, QB, Florida

Another Steve Spurrier product, Wuerffel won the Ole Ball Coach a National Title in 1996. He also won plenty of recognition during his career at Florida. He was the Heisman Trophy winner in 1996, along with winning the SEC Player of the Year in 1995 and 1996. He was also the 1996 Maxwell Award winner. Check out Wuerffel's touchdown pass to Chris Doering that gave the Gators a big victory against Kentucky in 1993 with 17 seconds left on the clock:




Just seven days left until kickoff, folks! Be sure to follow us on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and @griffaldo. 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 find each post by clicking the links on the right side of the page. As always, thanks for reading!

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.