Week Four SEC Predictions

Week three of the 2015 college football season brought some unexpected results to the SEC.

Missouri barely squeaked out a win over UConn, LSU destroyed Auburn (maybe not a huge surprise), Georgia dismantled South Carolina, Texas Tech went on the road to beat Arkansas, and lastly Ole Miss shocked Alabama in what was the biggest win by any team in college football this season.

Week four doesn’t bring quite as many big time matchups, but there are still some games that have major division standings implications.

Here are The Power T Report’s week four picks:

14 Texas A&M (3-0) vs. Arkansas (1-2) (in Arlington, TX)

(7, ESPN)

Arkansas really has nothing to lose in this game.

Ever since winning their season opener, the Razorbacks have lost to out of conference foes Toledo and Texas Tech.

A season that started with a lot of hope for Bret Bielema in his third season in Fayetteville, but so far it has been a disaster.

Texas A&M on the other hand is one of the hottest teams in the SEC, with a big win over Arizona State under their belt.

Arkansas still has the talent to beat anyone in the SEC West, but the morale in the Razorbacks’ locker room is something that is a concern.

Arkansas will come out swinging in this game, but the Aggies high-powered offense will be too much for the Razorbacks.

Texas A&M 38, Arkansas 20

Mississippi State (2-1) at Auburn (2-1)

(7:30, ESPN 2)

There has been no team in college football more disappointing than the Auburn Tigers.

The Tigers barely topped a Louisville team that is now 0-3, were fortunate to beat FCS opponent Jacksonville State, and then got dismantled by LSU and Leonard Fournette last week.

Due to the struggles, Auburn has decided to start Sean White instead of Jeremy Johnson at quarterback this Saturday.

This game is now significantly more interesting than it looked like it would be before the season, with both teams relatively in the same position, and the loser of this game being essentially eliminated from contention in the SEC West.

Mississippi State has flown under the radar so far this season, and it’s easy to forget that the Bulldogs were in position to beat LSU in the fourth quarter – the same LSU team that beat Auburn 45-21.

In a quarterback duel between an All-American and a first time starter, Dak Prescott will prevail and give Mississippi State a huge road win.

Mississippi State 28, Auburn 24

25 Missouri (3-0) at Kentucky (2-1)

(7:30, SEC Network)

While Kentucky lost and Missouri won last week, both played equally bad.

Kentucky blew a huge opportunity at home against Florida, losing 14-9 and extending the Gators’ winning streak in the series to 29 games.

Missouri barely edged a really bad UConn team, 9-6, and if it weren’t for special team miscues from the Huskies, Missouri would have lost the game.

It’s hard to know exactly what to think of Missouri up to this point because the Tigers did the same thing that they did against UConn against Indiana last season, and still ended up winning the SEC East.

It’s apparent that this Missouri team has less talent than last year’s team, but it’s still too early to tell on the Tigers.

Meanwhile for the Wildcats, the offense is a bit of a concern.

Granted the Florida defense that held Kentucky to 241 yards is good, but quarterback Patrick Towles needs to improve after completing just eight of 24 passes.

Kentucky and Missouri each have their problems, but the Wildcats will fix theirs this weekend in front of a home crowd.

Kentucky 20, Missouri 16

Tennessee (2-1) at Florida (3-0)

(3:30, CBS)

4,025 days – that’s how long it will be since the Vols have beaten the Gators when the two teams kickoff on Saturday.

Once one of the biggest games in college football every season, this annual SEC East rivalry has been one-sided for over a decade now.

Last season seemed like the perfect opportunity for Tennessee to end the streak, but the offense stalled in the second half and the Gators won in Knoxville, 10-9.

But once again this season, the Vols have a great opportunity.

Florida’s offense has been unimpressive so far this season, and it took another hit Wednesday, when rotating quarterback Treon Harris was suspended for the game.

Harris was the primary reason that Florida was able to come back to beat the Vols last season, and even though Will Grier has played more at quarterback this season, according to Florida head coach Jim McElwain, Harris would have seen extended time, and his running ability would provide issues for the Tennessee defense.

The Gator’s number two cornerback, Jalen Tabor, was also suspended.

This game has the feel of whichever team can get to 20 points first will win, and Tennessee simply just has more talent this season.

The biggest issue for the Vols for the past couple seasons in this series has been the mental side of beating the Gators. Tennessee needs to overcome that to win.

I promised myself that I would never pick Tennessee to win in this series until they won one, but I’m breaking my own rule.

Tennessee 20, Florida 13

Other picks:

South Carolina 31, UCF 17

(12, ESPNU)

8 LSU 34, Syracuse 20

(12, ESPN)

7 Georgia 63, Southern 3

(12, SEC Network)

12 Alabama 52, Louisiana-Monroe 10

(4, SEC Network)

3 Ole Miss 41, Vanderbilt 10

(7, ESPNU)

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