SEC Week 3 Preview and Game Picks

We have one more week of non-conference action for the majority of SEC teams before we head into the thick of conference play next week.

The big matchups for the conference this weekend are the Alabama vs. Florida matchup and Auburn travels to Penn State for a game that could have a big impact on the College Football playoffs later in the season.

Let’s take a look at the SEC odds this weekend and who I like to win the matchups.

Alabama (-14.5) vs. Florida

Florida hosts Alabama for the first time since 2011

Alabama has not played in Gainesville since the 2011 season and will face a tough test on the road at the Swamp. Other teams in the SEC have complained about Alabama’s schedule for years as they normally face Kentucky, Vanderbilt, or Kentucky from the East and rarely face Georgia or Florida on the road.

This Alabama team is young and although they have looked impressive in the first couple of weeks I like the chances of Florida keeping this game close. Dan Mullen is one of the best play-callers in college football and is known to coach up his teams in big games stemming from his time at Mississippi State.

Pick: Florida Covers, Alabama win.

Auburn vs. Penn State (+5)

Auburn heads to State College for an interesting Big 10/SEC matchup that we typically have not seen this early in the season. With teams looking to beef up their resumes for the College Football Playoffs, we are starting to see more games like this early in the season.

Auburn has put up over 60 points in each of their first two games under third-year starter, Bo Nix,  but both games have come against FCS schools so it is difficult to gauge how they will do on the road at Penn State. The Nittany Lions defense looked good in a Week 1 win on the road at Wisconsin, but they have not faced a team with the speed of Auburn.

Pick: Auburn to Win

I like Auburn’s offensive weapons more than Penn State in this matchup and think the SEC speed will be the difference-maker in this matchup. New coach Bryan Harsin has more of a pro-style attack than what Auburn utilized under Gus Malzahn and I like their chances on the road.

Tulane at Ole Miss (-14)

Ole Miss hosts Tulane and is a real threat in the SEC West

Ole Miss hosts a Tulane squad that has looked good so far this season and nearly upset Oklahoma in week 1. Ole Miss QB  Matt Corral now has the second-highest odds to win the Heisman after Alabama QB Bryce Young.

Pick: Ole Miss to Cover

Defensively Ole Miss has looked much better under Defensive Coordinate DJ Durkin and I like Ole Miss’ chances to put up 50 points on a questionable Tulane Secondary while holding Tulane to under 20 points.

Here are some of the other key Matchups this week:

Mississippi State (-3.5) at Memphis

Pick: Memphis

Memphis is a tough place to play and they have pulled off upsets vs. Ole Miss in recent years and will take their shot at Mississippi State. I like Memphis to pull the upset in this game in front of a packed Liberty Stadium.

Stanford (-12.5) at Vanderbilt

Pick: Stanford

Two of the best academic schools face off in Nashville and Stanford is only favored by 12.5 which seems like a great bet. Vanderbilt lost their opening season game to East Tennessee State and I like Stanford to win this game in a blowout.

Central Michigan vs. LSU (-19.5)

LSU has looked sloppy in the first two weeks

Former Florida coach Jim McElwain leads Central Michigan into Tiger Stadium as LSU looks to get some momentum going after their week 1 loss to UCLA. LSU has looked bad on offense in both games and only put up 180 yards passing against McNeese State last week with questions still at Quarterback.

Pick: Central Michigan to Cover

McElwain should have Central Michigan fired up to play an SEC opponent on the road and I think they will keep this game close with a shot at an upset.