Home » Blog » Another big week in the SEC for Alabama and Co.

Another big week in the SEC for Alabama and Co.

Yet to throw and interception this season, A.J. McCarron will look to lead Alabama to a 6-0 record with a win over Mizzou on Saturday.

After last week’s stunning double-header of Florida-LSU and Georgia-South Carolina, the SEC is back in action Saturday with another week of intriguing matchups.

SEC newcomers Missouri hasn’t had it easy so far and it’s not about to get any easier as the Tigers host the No. 1 team in the nation, Alabama. Meanwhile, the conference’s other newcomer, Texas A&M, will be up against it with a visit to the surprising Louisiana Tech. Then there’s the small matter of South Carolina-LSU, a matchup that could have huge ramifications with the SEC this year.

 

No. 1 Alabama at Missouri

For the Crimson Tide (5-0, 2-0 SEC), everything has gone according to plan this season. For Missouri (3-3, 0-3 SEC), everything has gone to plan, except conference play.

The Tigers, winless within the SEC, were always going to face a tough challenge in their first season in the conference, but last week’s loss to Vanderbilt suggested it might be tougher than anybody thought. A win this week looks even less likely.

Mizzou will be without starting quarterback James Franklin, who sprained his knee early against the Commodores. Redshirt freshman Corbin Berkstresser will take his place.

Alabama enters the game as 22½-point favorites, a number that has increased from 17½ at opening. However, bettors looking for an edge should consider that Alabama, despite its dominance and unbeaten record, is 2-3 against the spread this season. That being said, Mizzou is 1-3-1 AST in its last five.

The over/under is 44. The total has gone under in four of the last five Tigers games, and four of the last six Bama games.

 

No. 22 Texas A&M Vs. No. 23 Louisiana Tech (Shreveport, LA)

Hurricane Isaac wiped this game off the Week 1 schedule at the end of August. Back then the game meant little to most outside of those with an affiliation for the two sides. But now, after a solid six weeks for both schools, this game has the potential to be one of Week 7’s marquee matchups.

No. 22 Texas A&M (4-1, 2-1 SEC) fell to Florida in Week 2 but has been stellar since, winning four on the bounce. Meanwhile, No. 23 Louisiana Tech – of the hapless WAAC – has been impressive, dialing up five straight wins, and extended its undefeated streak to 12 games, dating back to last season. That’s actually the longest current streak in the BCS.

Both teams have charged to wins on the back of lights-out performances on the offensive side of the ball. The Aggies are averaging 44.6 points per game, the eighth best tally in college football. The Bulldogs though are even more impressive, putting up 53.2 points per game, good enough for third in the nation. There’s a reason the over/under on this one is a whopping 79 points.

Texas A&M enters the game as 8½-point favorites, but that isn’t about to discourage a LA Tech team that has upset the likes of Illinois and Virginia, and is 3-1-1 ATS this year, and 11-1-1 ATS over the past 13 games. The Aggies meanwhile are 2-7 ATS in the last nine road games.

 

Around the Conference

This weekend’s other big game takes place at Death Valley as the LSU Tigers host the South Carolina Gamecocks, which BettingSports took a look at early this week. The Tigers (5-1, 1-1 SEC) are favorites but this is will be a tricky game to navigate. The Gamecocks (6-0, 4-0 SEC) have shown excellent form this season, and will be looking to follow in Florida’s footsteps by knocking off one of the best in the west. The spread is three points with the over/under at 41.

Speaking of Florida, the Gators (5-0, 4-0 SEC) will make the journey to Nashville to take on the Commodores of Vanderbilt (2-3, 1-2 SEC). On paper this looks like a cakewalk but these are exactly the sort of games that can produce a real slip-up. Florida is nine-point favorites heading in, with the over/under at 41.

Arkansas (2-4, 1-2 SEC) will look to improve on what has been a miserable season so far. The Razorbacks will host another SEC cellar-dweller, Kentucky (1-5, 0-3 SEC). Arkansas is 17-point favorites with the over/under at 53.

Auburn – another SEC disappointment – will take a 1-4 record (0-3 SEC) into Oxford, Miss., and look to knockoff Ole Miss (3-3, 0-2). The spread on this game opened at just one-point but has extended to six (in favor of the Rebels). The over/under is 49.

Finally, unbeaten No. 19 Mississippi State (5-0, 2-0 SEC) will host Tennessee (3-2, 0-2 SEC), looking to solidify that AP ranking. Oddsmakers aren’t convinced the Bulldogs can do it; the spread currently stands at three-points. The over/under is 56.

 

Week 7 Schedule (in full)

Auburn (1-4, 0-3 SEC) at Ole Miss (3-3, 0-2 SEC)

No. 1 Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC) at Missouri (3-3, 0-3 SEC)

No. 4 Florida (5-0, 4-0 SEC) at Vanderbilt (2-3, 1-2 SEC)

Kentucky (1-5, 0-3 SEC) at Arkansas (2-4, 1-2 SEC)

No. 3 South Carolina (6-0, 4-0 SEC) at No. 9 LSU (5-1, 1-1 SEC)

No. 22 Texas A&M (4-1, 2-1 SEC) at No. 23 Louisiana Tech (5-0, 0-0 WAC) (Rescheduled from August 30)

Tennessee (3-2, 0-2 SEC) at No. 19 Mississippi State (5-0, 2-0 SEC)

No. 14 Georgia (5-1, 3-1 SEC) (Bye)

  • 100%