Clinch a trip to ATL and the HBC shows up to celebrate. @SteveSpurrierUF pic.twitter.com/7iFxY3SdmN
— Dan Mullen (@CoachDanMullen) December 9, 2020
LSU AT #6 FLORIDA (-23)
Moneyline: Florida (-1700) / LSU (+850)
Total: Over/Under 67.5
LSU’s turbulent season hit a breaking point after the Tigers’ 38-point loss to Alabama on Saturday night. The “some French fella in the Bayou may’ve sold his soul for this level of success” magic of the 2019 season has fully vanished and 3-5 LSU took proactive steps to declare themselves ineligible for a bowl this offseason.
Tigers freshman five-star TE Arik Gilbert showed up the school by opting out of the final two games of the regular season. Rumors are flying that Gilbert may be on his way out of Baton Rouge. Maybe that explains why the poor kid is being crushed when several of the Tigers top playmakers have done the same thing at some point this season.
Florida jumped out to a 31-7 lead before blowing a late cover in Knoxville. The Gators left me hanging on the one-yard line in what should have been a cover against Kentucky. I’ve earned the easy route to take Florida with the moneyline this week, but sometimes what’s easiest is not always best. I’m sticking with Florida to cover despite two last-minute heartbreaks over the last two weeks. Geaux Gatas!
#1 ALABAMA (-32) AT ARKANSAS
Moneyline: Alabama (-6500) / Arkansas (+1325)
Total: Over/Under 68
Time and time again, Arkansas has surprised us this season. The Hogs put up 48-points and nearly beat Missouri without starting QB Feleipe Franks. Arkansas won’t have that kind of success this week, but can the Hogs hang within 32-points of a Crimson Tide team which will be looking ahead to Atlanta a week after burning off steam against LSU? Yessirrrrrrrr! Woo Pig Sooie!
#9 GEORGIA (-13.5) AT #25 MISSOURI
Moneyline: Georgia (-500) / Missouri (+350)
Total: Over/Under 54
Missouri improved to 5-3 after a clutch last second drive lifted the Tigers over their border-rival, Arkansas. Consistency has eluded a Mizzou team which lost to Alabama and Florida, two of Georgia’s alleged peers, by a combined score of 79-36. Will an occasionally potent Mizzou offense make some noise against a typically stingy UGA defense?
Georgia has seen a significant uptick in offense since the switch to USC transfer QB J.T. Daniels. Who could’ve seen that coming?
Georgia wins this one, but on the off chance the Mizzou offense shows up, let’s go with the Dawgs on the moneyline.
TENNESSEE (-15.5) AT VANDERBILT
Moneyline: Tennessee (-700) / Vanderbilt (+450)
Total: Over/Under 50
What does Vegas know that we don’t know? Tennessee a 15.5-point favorite? Is this a joke?
Yes, Vandy has struggled to score throughout the season. The Commodores have topped the 17-point mark only once.
Yes, Vandy’s defense isn’t necessarily the “stronger side of the ball.”
But, outside of Eric Gray, there hasn’t been much to smile about on the offensive side of Rocky Top.
I’ve watched enough of this Tennessee team to not trust a Vols quarterback in 2020. Vols win, but Vandy sticks around.
AUBURN (-6.5) AT MISSISSIPPI STATE
Moneyline: Auburn (-240) / Mississippi State (+200)
Total: Over/Under 49.5
Can Gus Malzahn and Bo Nix leave the Auburn fanbase with a nice final picture of what’s been a roller coaster of a season?
Fans may not enjoy in-season roller coaster rides, but roller coaster seasons are better than waterslides. After starting at the top, the Bulldogs have slid all the way down to 2-6 in a season which quickly shifted from being enjoyed to endured by the patient folks of Starkville. (Has there been an upset which has lost more luster before season’s end than Mississippi State’s win over LSU on opening day? The numbers were staggering. Mike Leach made a bandwagon video. It all happened and we cared.)
Back to the game at hand. State has shown good fight in its last two outings against UGA and Ole Miss, but after two tough losses to Bama and A&M, expect a strong showing out the Gus Bus to give the fans something to be confused about heading into the offseason. Auburn wins big.
AUBURN (-6.5)
POSTPONED
OLE MISS AT TEXAS A&M
Too bad for the Aggies. Texas A&M could’ve used this game to bolster their playoff resume.
Season in Review
Overall: 33-26 (55.9%)
Week 1: 3-4
Week 2: 3-4
Week 3: 4-3
Week 4: 1-4
Week 5: 2-2
Week 6: 4-2
Week 7: 4-0
Week 8: 3-0
Week 9: 3-2
Week 10: 4-2
Week 11: 2-3
FLORIDA (-17.5) – Incorrect
Florida will jump on Tennessee early and the defense might even spark some hope heading into the SEC Championship Game in two weeks.
For the second week in a row, Florida failed to cover in the final moments of the game. Brutal…
TEXAS A&M MONEYLINE – Correct
Despite the trend, I expect Auburn will play aggressive and angry coming off an Iron Bowl loss. Texas A&M wins, but the Aggies may be in for a fight.
Auburn held a lead going into the fourth quarter, but the Aggies handled their business in the final 15 minutes to lock in the win.
POSTPONED
SOUTH CAROLINA +11.5 – Incorrect
Outside of matchups with Vandy and Ole Miss, both offenses have had a tough time finding the end zone, which is why I’m was surprised to see this was a double digit spread.
This was the only pick I completely whiffed on. Kentucky came out and steamrolled the Gamecocks on senior night in Lexington.
MISSOURI (-2.5) – Incorrect
This game is a toss-up, but Mizzou gains an edge with the opt out of Arkansas RB Rakeem Boyd.
The toss-up game lived up to its billing and if Sam Pittman went for one instead of two, the Tigers cover! Instead, much like the Gators win, I caught a bad break and Mizzou wins by two.
ALABAMA (-29.5) – Correct
LSU came through with the late cover last week, but Coach O’s offense doesn’t have enough firepower to hang with Bama. Roll Tide.
This game was as bad as expected. LSU is a mess heading into their season finale in Gainesville.