Week 2 SEC Picks from The Rebel Walk’s Southern Girl Rebel

You wake up early on a Saturday morning. The air feels different. You shower, scan your closet for those perfect colors that you’ve worn as long as you can remember. Maybe you have a room decorated in those same colors. You pet your dog named after your favorite school’s mascot. Good boy, Rebel; Good boy, Bully; Good girl, Reveille; Good boy, Big Al.

The SUV is loaded down with a Yeti cooler and a folding wagon to cart your finest servingware along with the various meats that you’ve babied over the smoker all night. You’re going to what you can only refer to affectionately as “God’s country.” This is Game Day in the South, and there is no finer conference than the SEC.

Coming off of week 1, the SEC won 12 of the 13 games played and outscored opponents 536-210. The entire SEC West moved into the Top 25 rankings, and a statement was made. Who is going to play Grown Man Football this week and win?

My picks for Week 2 are as follows:

Jacksonville St at 6 Auburn
11:00 am SEC Network

This game will look like a scrimmage at best. Jacksonville State will be lucky if they cross the 50. Pad your stats Auburn fans. You’ll get all the points you want.
My Pick: Auburn

10 Georgia at Vanderbilt
2:30 pm CBS

Vandy Vandy Vandy… A loss against Western Kentucky and now you face the Dawgs. Hold your head high; baseball season is only half a year away.
My Pick: Georgia

Fresno St at 17 Ole Miss
2:30 pm ESPN2

If you think there is another 76-3 match in the making, you’re wrong. I don’t expect Freeze to keep starters in long with a big game like Bama looming next week. Rebels will dominate and be undefeated going into what could be another College Gameday matchup this season against the Tide!
My Pick: OLEEE MISS!

Middle Tennessee at 2 Alabama
3:00 pm SEC Network

Middle Tennessee runs an up-tempo spread offense similar to Ole Miss, which will give the Bama defensive line an easy practice game to help in their preparation for next week. Saban could run up the score, but I think he’ll save his weapons for the Rebs.
My Pick: Alabama

Toledo at 18 Arkansas
3:00 pm SEC Network

Arkansas may have one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC this season. Brandon Allen showed himself early in the game last week against UTEP completing 3 touchdown passes in the first 19 minutes alone. Toledo has a sprinkling of good talent but will be no match for the Bielema coached Razorback team on the rise.
My Pick: Arkansas

19 Oklahoma at 23 Tennessee
5:00 pm ESPN

Last week my perfect picks were destroyed when I chose two out of conference opponents over Kentucky and A&M. This week I’m riding SEC all the way.. well ya know, except for Vandy. Everyone is calling for Butch Jones to get his signature win of the season against the Sooners and I agree. I think they will keep it close and interesting but Vols win out!
My Pick: Rocky Top

Ball St at 16 Texas A&M
6:00 pm ESPNU

Hey Aggies, we see you! Early this season I noted that if Ole Miss doesn’t stay healthy and take the West, I really feel like A&M can pull through and take it. They made an impactful showing last week against Arizona State and will have no problem outscoring this weaker foe.
My Pick: Texas A&M

21 Missouri at Arkansas St
6:00 pm ESPN3

Missouri has all the muscle they want on defense, but still needs a strong showing on offense. This could be the week to get it done. As one of the better teams in the east, Missouri is ready to land another win on their road to Atlanta.
My Pick: Missouri

East Carolina at Florida
6:00 pm ESPN2

McElwain made a solid showing last week proving the Florida defense still has some playmakers. East Carolina can expect to score, but the Gators will pull ahead and take the win.
My Pick: Florida

Kentucky at South Carolina
6:30 pm SEC Network

Home opener for the Gamecocks where they have taken 7 straight home wins from the Wildcats. Kentucky has a few weapons on offense and can make big moves, but my gut says Spurrier isn’t going to let this one slip through his fingers.
My Pick: South Carolina

14 LSU at 25 MSU
8:15 pm ESPN

I’ve taken some heat over this pick already on twitter. Mississippi State looked terrible against Southern Miss last weekend leaving many to doubt their ability to survive conference play this season.

This week they take on an LSU team with a score to settle. Les Miles has had this date circled for a while, but had no playing time last week after his game against McNeese St was canceled due to weather. I feel like Southern was a trap game for State. When you underestimate your competition and look ahead at the next one, sometimes you get caught with your pants down.

The only way to tell what State is really about, is this weekend. That’s when the truth of the season will come out. Can they take down the Tigers at home with Cow Bells blaring?
My Pick: Mississippi State

Follow Brandi Ratliff on Twitter @Southrngrlrebel