Season record: 3-1

Last week: 3-1 (Alabama/Louisville o62.5, Tennessee +9.5, Ole Miss +2.5, LSU +3.5)

Week 1 was quite a success with three winners and only one loss. Let’s take a look back.

The Alabama and Louisville over hit thanks in large part to Alabama who scored 51 of the 65 points in the game. The Alabama defense was up to the task as they only allowed only three redzone trips and fourteen points. It would have been smart to take Alabama, too, as they dominated like they typically do in openers.

My only loss of the week was Tennessee failing to cover as they fell to West Virginia, 40-14. I did not put enough respect on Will Grier’s name and he lit up the Volunteers for 429 yards and 5 touchdowns. With the loss, Tennessee was the only SEC team that failed to win last weekend.

Ole Miss won rather easily against Texas Tech, winning 47-27. Jordan Ta’amu had a nice game with 336 yards and 2 touchdowns. Scottie Phillips also got it done on the ground with 204 yards and 2 touchdowns. It just makes all the talk of Texas Tech having a good defense all the more laughable.

LSU closed the weekend with a 33-17 victory over Miami on Sunday night. As I pointed out last week, the turnover battle would be a significant part of this game. LSU picked off two passes, one of which was returned for a touchdown by sophomore linebacker Jacob Phillips. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow did not have a pretty stat line, completing only 11 of 24 passes, but he played mistake-free football and did not turn the ball over.

Also, shoutout to the ESPN Gameday crew and pretend country singer Luke Bryan for all picking Miami.

Now onto week 2…

Can I keep it going?

Arizona Wildcats @ Houston Cougars | September 8 | 11:00 AM CT | TDECU Stadium

Line: Houston -3.5 | Total: 71

Arizona comes into this game coming off of a 28-23 loss to BYU. Quarterback Khalil Tate was held to a career low 14 rushing yards as the Wildcats lost in Kevin Sumlin’s debut. Sumlin now returns to Houston where he coached from 2008-2011.

Houston racked up 577 yards of offense as they overcame a slow start to defeat Rice, 45-27. While the Cougars offense exploded, this was against a hapless Rice team that only won one game a season ago.

Houston won last year’s meeting between the two teams 19-16. However, Tate did not start that game. Tate went on to average 9.2 yards per carry a season ago. On the Pac-12 coaches teleconference, Sumlin said, “We have to do a better job to get him more involved schematically with his legs, but BYU did a great job of keeping him in the pocket and not rushing from the outside.”

I am confident Tate will get going and Arizona will cover.

Georgia Bulldogs @ South Carolina Gamecocks | September 8 | 2:30 PM CT | Williams-Brice Stadium

Line: Georgia -10 | Total: 56.5

The biggest SEC game of the weekend is South Carolina playing host to Georgia this weekend. This early season matchup will play a large part in shaping the SEC East race. Georgia has won the last three meetings by an average of twenty points, but South Carolina has won three of the last four in Columbia.

Both Georgia and South Carolina knocked off inferior opponents in the opening week. Georgia cruised to a 45-0 victory over Austin Peay while South Carolina handled Coastal Carolina 49-15. Despite the big wins, we did not learn much about either team.

The game is at Williams-Brice Stadium, which is a big advantage for South Carolina. Sophomore Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm has already played in multiple big-time atmospheres, making his first career start at Notre Dame, going on the road to Auburn, playing in the SEC Championship, and National Championship. The difference is now he will be without running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, and offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn. While still loaded with talent, it will be on Fromm to step up and lead this team.

On the other side, South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley is still pursuing his first signature SEC win. The junior quarterback has consistently progressed throughout his career and Saturday is a huge opportunity to take another step. Bentley and South Carolina will have a playmaker in Deebo Samuel Saturday, who they went without most of the 2017 season.

Ultimately, this is an early season game, so I like the home team, especially considering South Carolina is getting 10. Cue the sandstorm!

Kentucky Wildcats @ Florida Gators | September 8 | 6:30 PM CT | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Line: Florida -14 | Total: 50

Florida has won 31 straight football games over Kentucky. Last year, Kentucky held the lead late, only to leave a receiver open for the game-winning touchdown.

YIKES!

Dan Mullen has injected new life into Florida, especially the Florida offense. Quarterback Feleipe Franks threw five touchdowns in a win over Charleston Southern. However, I do not expect a similar performance unless Kentucky repeats their mistake from above.

Kentucky running back Benny Snell may be the best running back in the conference, and he should get a solid workload Saturday. He and fellow running back Asim Rose combined for 229 yards and 4 TD in a win over Central Michigan. The Wildcats will lean on their running game as they try to figure out their quarterback position. Kentucky could have some success as Florida allowed 222 rushing yards in their opener.

I am taking Kentucky and the points along with under 50 points total.

Wyoming Cowboys @ Missouri Tigers | September 8 | 6:00 PM CT | Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field

Line: Missouri -18.5 | Total: 52

Drew Lock threw four touchdown passes as Missouri routed UT-Martin, 51-14, in their opener. As Missouri often does, they pile up the points against lower-level competition.

Enter Wyoming. The Cowboys gave up 41 points to pass-happy Washington State last weekend. Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew threw for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns. I think Lock will surpass that.

Give me Missouri -18.5 as Lock and the Tigers go off. Meanwhile, Josh Allen ain’t walking through that door for Wyoming.

That will do it for this week.

OUTTA HERE!