Predictions for the SEC in Week 5
It is five weeks in for the SEC, and it has been a wild and tumultuous season so far.
Whether it be unusually poor defensive play, COVID-related postponements, or wild upsets, the 2020 season has been as wild as the year itself.
I will try to improve on my 0-5 record from last week, but here are my predictions for this weekend’s action.
Auburn (-3) vs. Ole Miss
Last week, you could have looked to this game as the potential to decide the third-best team in the West.
After the Tigers’ loss to South Carolina and the Rebels’ fall to Arkansas, it has become a matchup between two teams that cannot afford to lose another game.
Ole Miss sits at 1-3 after the tough 33-21 loss to the Razorbacks on the road in which Matt Corral turned the ball over six times.
Auburn sits at 2-2* (if you watched the ending of their Arkansas game, you understand the asterisk) and played very poorly on the road against the Gamecocks.
This one is a toss-up; however, I trust the Rebel offense to not have a repeat poor performance, and Auburn has a tendency to play poorly on the road under Gus Malzahn.
Prediction: Ole Miss 38, Auburn 34.
#2 Alabama (21.5) vs. Tennessee
I’ll keep this one short and sweet.
I like Pruitt at Tennessee. I predicted them to be the third-best team in the East this season.
Before last weekend, that was a safe assumption. Kentucky proceeded to assert themselves in that spot in a dominant 34-7 victory over the Vols.
I cannot trust Jarrett Guarantano to perform better than last week against what seemed to be a revitalized Crimson Tide defense last weekend against Georgia.
Prediction: Alabama 52, Tennessee 21
Kentucky (-3.5) vs. Missouri
This is a tough one to call.
Missouri was forced to miss a week after Eli Dinkowitz’s huge win over LSU in his first season as the head man.
Kentucky has looked much improved after two early losses to Auburn and Ole Miss.
With home-field advantage being somewhat diminished and the unexpected week off for the Tigers, I will take the Wildcats and more experienced Mark Stoops to get back over .500.
Prediction: Kentucky 31, Missouri 20
South Carolina vs. LSU (-5)
LSU was last seen two weeks ago getting torched by a young Missouri squad.
Meanwhile, Will Muschamp might’ve taken some heat off his seat with a big home win over Auburn.
The Tigers move in with no momentum while the Gamecocks move in with all the momentum.
Collin Hill has been great under former Colorado State head coach Mike Bobo. Myles Brennan has looked better than he did in the opening loss to Mississippi State.
Another close battle, but I like Ed Orgeron to find a way to get his team a much-needed win at home.
Prediction: LSU 35, South Carolina 31