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: Week Six Podcast

Check out this week's episode of the SEC+3 Podcast. Justin Hall (@JustinBHall) and Jeffrey Griffin (@griffaldo) discuss this week's SEC matchups, along with some of the other top games across the country, by pressing the play button below:

Griff's Playoff Projections: Arguing with the committee

 

The first rankings are out, and I agree with the top three spots.

Alabama is at the top, and quite frankly that's where the Tide belong. Nick Saban has this team playing at another level, and this year's team might be the best version that we've seen yet. 

Clemson has had its close calls, but good teams win close games. Really good teams win close games against good teams. Clemson has done its part and added signature wins against Auburn, Louisville and Florida State. Two of those wins came on the road. Tigers are just right for the second spot.

Michigan, like Clemson, has done its part so far. The Wolverines have had an easier path, but Jim Harbaugh's team has showed some eye-raising potential. Every college football fan knows that the big test for Michigan awaits in Columbus on the last week of the season.

All right. No surprises in the first three spots. Let's wait for the committee to talk about Washington.

Nope. Washington isn't pronounced "Texas A&M." Que up awkward squints, heads getting scratched and the occasional "what the (insert expletive)."

But yes, the committee did rank the Aggies in that fourth spot. And I disagree.

Washington, like the three teams ranked in the top three spots, has done its part. The Huskies have carried the weight of the PAC-12 schedule. The Huskies have four critical games left, but hey, Michigan got the benefit of the doubt, right?

Sure, Texas A&M is talented. Sure, the Aggies warrant some attention. And sure, the committee overthought this one.

Why overcomplicate things by putting a team with a loss in? You have a team that's proven itself from the SEC, ACC, Big 10 and PAC-12. The Big 12 did its usual cannibalization of itself with the final two undefeated teams losing this weekend. 

Washington deserves the benefit of the doubt, but the Huskies will have to earn it.

Meanwhile, the Aggies still have three SEC West games on the schedule, including a finale where the Aggies host LSU. LSU plays host to Alabama this weekend, and the Tigers can make things VERY interesting with a win over Nick Saban. 

What else does the Aggies getting the nod from the committee mean? Easy. It means teams with one loss certainly still have hope. Look at Florida, for example. Say the Gators win against Arkansas, South Carolina, LSU and Florida State. If Florida runs this gauntlet, and somehow manages to defeat whichever team goes to Atlanta from the SEC West, aren't the Gators an obvious choice. Apply the same principles to Nebraska and Ohio State, who face each other in Columbus this weekend.

Maybe the committee just wanted to give us something to talk about. After all, having four undefeated teams in the first ranking would've been too easy, right?

Here's how I would've done it:

4. Florida/Texas A&M/LSU/Auburn

The SEC is literally Alabama and everybody else. There's a chance for all three of these teams, but if one is to make the playoff, that team must beat Alabama. One of these teams have already failed, but mathematically we have to include the Aggies.

3. Nebraksa

The Huskers need to beat Ohio State and win the Big 10 Championship.

2. Ohio State

The Buckeyes need to beat Nebraska and win the Big 10 Championship.

1. Louisville

Who benefits most from one of the first four teams losing? The Cardinals do. Louisville has a Heisman Trophy front runner taking the snaps. The big question is: how much does the committee penalize the Cardinals for a close loss on the road to Clemson?

4. Washington

The Huskies have won some impressive PAC-12 games and passed every test so far. I'm sorry, but I just don't agree with a one-loss Texas A&M being ranked in this spot.

3. Michigan

The resident Big 10 team in the top four. The Wolverines have also passed all tests thus far, but one still remains at the end on the road against the Buckeyes in Columbus.

2. Clemson

The Tigers have proved to be the top dog in the ACC by beating the two best teams in the Atlantic, and one of those wins was a come-from-behind win on the road. Turnovers have made the wins a little sloppy, but a sloppy win is better than a well-played loss.

1. Alabama

Perhaps the reason why Texas A&M was picked over Washington was because the Aggies actually led Alabama at the end of the first half. Well we saw what happened in the second half. The Crimson Tide has proven to be on another level, but Nick Saban's team faces possibly its biggest test so far with a huge game in Baton Rouge this weekend.

Maybe I'm just overreacting to the first rankings from the committee. One can only guess how things will play out with this crazy game, but if you're not excited about what the last four or five weeks, then perhaps you're reading about the wrong subject matter.

As always, thanks for reading! Be sure to follow Griff on Twitter @griffaldo.

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's Countdown to Kickoff: #2

We are now just TWO days from South Carolina playing Vanderbilt on Thursday. Yes. Two days. Let's check out who made our countdown for No. 2:

Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

Manziel was a tremendous talent while at Texas A&M, winning numerous awards in his freshman season. One of those awards was the Heisman Trophy, and Manziel was the first freshman to ever win the award. In 2012, he was a Consensus All-American and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Check out this video of Manziel's insane touchdown pass against Alabama in 2012, which ended up being his signature moment of his 2012 Heisman Trophy campaign:

Be sure to follow us on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and @griffaldo. You can follow the blog by pressing the "follow" button in the upper right corner of your screen. Also be sure to like our Facebook page. If you missed any of the countdown posts you can find them on the right side of the screen. Also, stay tuned for the first week's picks that will be posted tonight along with our predictions for each power five conference.

SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #4 and #3

 

 

SEC Football starts this week with South Carolina playing Vanderbilt in Nashville to kickoff the SEC schedule Thursday Sept. 1. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and @griffaldo for updates. You can also follow the blog by liking our Facebook page and clicking the "follow" button in the upper right corner of your screen.

 

 

Our countdown today includes a couple running backs from Alabama:

 

 

#4 TJ Yeldon, RB, Alabama

 

 

Yeldon was part of a recent lineage of dominant Alabama running backs. His 37 rushing touchdowns ranks him No. 16 all-time in SEC history. Check out this incredible 68-yard touchdown run by Yeldon against Ole Miss in 2013:

 

 



#3 Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson was another one of Nick Saban's running back monsters. Richardson was the 2011 SEC Offensive Player of the Year and won the Doak Walker award that year as well. He also finished third in the Heisman voting for his tremendous season and was a Consensus All-American. His 43 career touchdowns are the No. 14-best in SEC history. In another run against Ole Miss, check out Richardson's incredible juke move that helped him score on a 76-yard touchdown run:



As always, thanks for reading! Be sure to check back for tomorrow's countdown and our first week's picks and predictions! Be sure to check out our first week's guest picker, Justin Hall, and I's podcast talking about an incredible slate of week one games. If you missed any of the countdown, you can find it in the links to the right of the page.

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: #5

Just five days until South Carolina takes on Vanderbilt in Nashville next Thursday. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and @griffaldo for updates. You can also check out our new page on Facebook and follow the blog by clicking the "follow" button on the upper right of your screen.

Our countdown today features one of the best running backs to ever play in the SEC:

Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

Simply put: McFadden was a stud his entire career at Arkansas from 2005 to 2007. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in both 2006 and 2007. He was, however, named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year for both the 2006 and 2007 seasons. In the 2006 and 2007 seasons, he won two consecutive Doak Walker Awards and took home the Walter Camp Award in 2007. His 4,590 rushing yards are the second-best all-time in SEC history, which is pretty amazing considering how many carries he split with Felix Jones in the Razorback offense. Check out this amazing 80-yard run McFadden made against bitter rival LSU in 2006:




Be sure to follow the blog as we make our week one SEC picks next Tuesday. If you missed any of the countdown posts, you can find each post on the right side of the page. As always, thanks for reading!

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.

SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #9

We are now into single digits. Nine days, just over ONE week, separate us from the kickoff of the SEC schedule! Let's see who turned up on our countdown today:


Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

Cooper was the 2014 SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He also was the winner of the 2014 Biletnikoff Award and was selected as a consensus All-American. In his three seasons from 2012 to 2014, he reeled in 31 touchdowns, which are the most in SEC history. His 228 receptions are the third-most in SEC history, and his 3,463 receiving yards are the second-most all-time in the SEC. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2014. Here's Cooper catching a touchdown that clinched Alabama the SEC Championship in 2012:






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 each post by clicking the links below:

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: #11
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #10

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: #12

Just 12 days remain until South Carolina and Vanderbilt square off in Nashville on Sept. 1. Here's our countdown for #12:

Derek Abney, WR, Kentucky

Abney is one of the best kick returners to ever play in the SEC. In his career, he returned six punts for touchdowns and two kickoffs for touchdowns. Abney was an electric player and was a 2002 Consensus All-American. Here's a video of Abney returning a kickoff against Florida for a 101-yard touchdown in 2002:

Chris Leak, QB, Florida

Chris Leak put up tremendous numbers at Florida from 2003 to 2006. He's third all-time in career passing yardage in the SEC and led the Gators to a 2006 National Championship over Ohio State. Leak's 88 touchdown passes are the fourth-most in the SEC. Here are some of Leak's best highlights from his career as a Gator:



Be sure to follow us on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and @griffaldo by clicking the user names and pressing the "follow" button. You can also follow the blog by pressing the "follow" button in upper righthand corner of your screen. If you missed any of our countdown, you can find it by clicking on the links below:

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