Following a great first week of college football, we’re back again in Week 2 with some of the best games of the year! Here are our SEC picks for this weekend.

RW Roundtable: Our Week 2 SEC Picks

6:30 P.M – Arkansas (0-1) vs Ole Miss (0-1)

Spread: OM -6.5
O/U: 50

Jake: Rebs looked bad last week, but Arkansas barely beat an FCS team…so there’s that. Outside of Mississippi and Arkansas, I doubt anyone watches this game. However, I think Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral settles into his system this week and makes the throws we know he can. The offensive line SHOULD be better, which will help running backs Scottie Phillips and Jerrion Ealy. The Ole Miss defense will be strong again; however, this game will still be annoyingly close. Rebs by a TD.

Evie: I think the Ole Miss offense will be ready to bounce back against Arkansas. With some adjustments to the offensive line, including the addition of  true freshman tackle Nick Broeker, the offense will hopefully be able to start off more quickly than last week at Memphis and get the ball to the Rebels’ playmakers. Rebels win this one.Hotty Toddy!

Land:  This is a good game for all the wrong reasons… Probably the two worst teams in the SEC duking it out for a chance to be the second worst. Ole Miss looked bad last week but so did the Hogs… my gut wants to pick the Rebs but they have to prove to me that I should pick them…So until further notice? Hogs

Hays: After the abysmal performance last week, the Rebels have to win this game. There will be fires and stakes outside the Vaught if the Rebs lose to the Hogs. However, the team showed some promise in the second half, and I think that will carry over this week. The Hogs are awful, and I expect a victory.

11 A.M. – West Virginia (1-0) vs Missouri (0-1)

Spread: MIZZ -13.5
O/U: 63

Jake: Kelly Bryant will get settled in this week, and absolutely torch the Mountaineers. However, it’ll stay close for a while. Tigers by a few.

Evie: Missouri has covered the spread in 8 of their last 11 home games. Against a weak West Virginia team, Kelly Bryant and the Tigers should be able to get this one, as well. Mizzou wins and covers. 

Land: This one intrigues me. I see Kelly Bryant getting back on track this week and leading the Tigers to a back-and-forth win over the Mountaineers.

Hays: Will Grier, Gary Jennings, and David Sills V are gone for the Mountaineers. This team is not good, and Dana Holgorsen did not leave by accident. He saw the writing on the wall. Despite the terrible loss to Wyoming, Kelly Bryant leads the team to a smooth victory.

11 A.M. – Charleston Southern (0-1) vs South Carolina (0-1)

Jake: No spread for this game…South Carolina bounces back after a tough loss to Phil Longo and Mack Brown. 

Evie: Charleston should probably hope bad weather cancels this game. South Carolina will get its first win of the season –and in a big way– even without starting QB Jake Bentley, who is out with a foot injury suffered on the final play in the loss to North Carolina. True freshman Ryan Hilinski will start in place of Bentley, and it won’t matter that he’s young. He’ll get the job done. 

Land: No Jake Bentley, no problem… Gamecocks bounce back.

Hays: The Gamecocks will roll. Charleston Southern will collect their paycheck as well as a beatdown.

11 A.M. – Vanderbilt (0-1) vs Purdue (0-1)

Spread: Purdue -7
O/U: 56

Jake: This is a very fun matchup–bunch of smart engineer guys running around. I think Ke’Shawn Vaughn has a career day against an average defense, and the ‘Dores sneak away with a win on the road.

Evie: Vandy won its only previous trip to West Lafayette, 3-0, in 1941. The Commodores’ offensive line coach at the time? College Football Hall of Famer Bear Bryant. Vandy’s game against UGA last weekend better prepared the ‘Dores for this game than Purdue’s matchup did last week against Nevada. Vandy senior RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn rushed for 74 yards against UGA last weekend and will go over 100 against the Boilermakers. Vandy gets the win. 

Land: This could be a good program win for the ‘Dores. I think Coach Mason delays the inevitable with a good win this week.

Hays: There seems to be some turmoil boiling inside the Purdue program. See what I did there? Yes, I made a Boilermaker joke. Back on subject, Purdue’s coach Jeff Brohm questioned quarterback Elijah Sindelar’s toughness, and Vanderbilt played a good defensive game versus Georgia last week. I think Vaughn, Pickney, and Lipscomb get going for the Doors.

2:30 P.M. – #12 Texas A&M (1-0) vs #1 Clemson (1-0)

Spread: CLEM -17
O/U: 64

Jake: If this game is in College Station, we’ve got ourselves a fight. At Clemson though, I see a close game that the Tigers eventually run away with. They’re too deep and too talented to lose this one.

Evie: A&M is facing the No. 1 team in the country on the road. Clemson rolled to a 52-14 win over Georgia Tech last Saturday, running their winning streak to 16 games, one shy of matching the longest streak in program history. They’ve also won 16 straight at home. Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies will put up a fight early, but will wear down trying to stop Clemson’s potent offense. Aggies will cover but lose the game. 

Land: As much as I hope that this will be a good one with the Aggies winning, I never get what I want so I see Clemson pulling away in the 2nd half.

Hays: Clemson’s Ross and Higgins are electric on the outside at the receiver position and will burn that young defense. Heisman hopeful Travis Etienne will add to that Tiger attack. This game will not be close after the Aggies gave Clemson a scare at Kyle Field. People forget the Tigers were up 28-13 in the 4th.

2:30 P.M. – Southern Miss (1-0) vs Mississippi State (1-0)

Spread: MSU -16.5
O/U: 51

Jake: Name a less interesting game to watch…I’ll wait. State will win. That’s all I got.

Evie: In the all-time series, State and Southern Miss are tied at 14-14-1, with the Bulldogs winning the last four meetings. State will win the game but won’t cover. 

Land: HOT TAKE: Southern upsets the Bulldogs this week…may be a pipe dream but it’s fun to pick against State.

Hays: The Bulldogs were not dominant last week, and I expect the Golden Buzzards to give them a run for their money in the first half. State will pull away in the second half.

3 P.M. – New Mexico State (0-1) vs #2 Alabama (1-0)

Spread: ALA -55.5
O/U: 64

Jake: Wonder how much NM State is getting paid for this one…poor guys. Also, that might be the biggest spread that’s ever existed…for a reason.

Evie: Alabama is 12-0 in home openers under Nick Saban. Needless to say, that streak is not in jeopardy. Alabama is favored by 55.5 points. Let that sink in. Tide rolls all day long. 

Land: HA! Bama by 90.

Hays: This one will be a bloodbath. I am so sorry, New Mexico State.

2:30 P.M. – Murray State (1-0) vs #3 Georgia (1-0)

Jake: There’s no spread for a reason…UGA by a whole bunch

Evie: This one is going to be silly. UGA will pound the Racers. 

Land: If only Ja Morant played football… Dawgs win big.

Hays: If this was the 2018-2019 basketball season, the Racers would win. But….. this is not basketball. Georgia wins.

6 P.M. – BYU (0-1) vs Tennessee (0-1)

Spread: UT -4
O/U: 52.5

Jake: I can’t wait for this game. Tennessee just suffered the 4th worst loss in CFB history, according to ESPN’s FPI rankings. However, alcohol will be sold for the first time in Neyland this week. That, combined with the desperation of this team, will give them a slight advantage. If they don’t win, their season is over, and Neyland Stadium might burn down. Basically, they have to win, otherwise the next 10 games will be VERY tough to watch. The wheels have almost come off, but it can be fixed with a win this week.

Evie: This will be the first ever meeting between UT and BYU. One loss does not a season make — or does it? After suffering what many think is the worst defeat in program history, if not in all of CFB, the Vols need a win in the worst way. I look for Tennessee to try and regain at least a little bit of its dignity in the game with BYU. Both teams are down on their luck, but I think the home team prevails.  

Land: Hang on to your mediocre football caps, this could get bumpy…I think this is a low-scoring game that Tennessee finds a way to win…but, boy, will it be ugly.

Hays: Jim Chaney only gave Ty Chandler 6 carries in their loss last week to Georgia State. That should warrant jail time. I am picking Tennessee, but I am very hesitant because the Vols coaching staff seems to be incompetent. If they lose, could we see Hugh Freeze wearing burnt orange next season? That would be a sight to see.

6:30 P.M. #6 LSU (1-0) vs #9 Texas (1-0)

Spread: LSU -6.5
O/U: 55.5

Jake: We don’t know how these teams will end up, but for now, this is one of the games of the year. I think LSU has the edge with experienced players and in prime time games. Ehlinger will put up a fight, but Joe Burrow looks a whole lot better than last year…and that’s dangerous with his offense. LSU in a close one.

Evie: LSU fans have been buying Longhorn season tickets in order to make sure they get into Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin–and there are rumors there could be more than 33,000 fans in purple and gold on hand. The new offensive motto at LSU is “everybody eats” and that is precisely what’s happening. Burrow was 23-27 for 278 yards and 5 TDs last week. Fourteen different players had at least one catch. Granted, Texas isn’t Georgia Southern; however, LSU looks to finally have an offense to go with the Tigers’ always-solid defense. LSU wins a big road game. 

Land: Honestly this is the best non-conference matchup of the year…I would hope that this game comes down to the wire and if it does? Always pick the SEC…it just means more, right??

Hays: Ehlinger might be my favorite player in all of college football. He a better throwing Tim Tebow and has that natural leadership. Herman is much better coach than Coach O, too. Texas will want to prove that they can compete at the national level, and they will win.

6:30 P.M. Tulane (1-0) vs #10 Auburn (1-0)

Spread: AUB -17.5
O/U: 52

Jake: Personally, I think Auburn is an 8-4 team (like always). They’ll win this week, then drop a few along the way, before landing in a decent bowl game. 

Evie: The Tigers might have a little bit of an emotional letdown after the big come-from-behind win over Oregon, but Auburn will still get the job done. Bo Nix is the first true freshman to start at QB at Auburn since World War II. He threw a TD pass with 9 seconds left to edge Oregon, 27-21, in Arlington, TX last week. This will be his first home game, so look for him to be pumped as he leads Auburn to a win over the Green Wave. 

Land: Bo Nix isn’t that good but neither is Tulane…The Gus Bus pulls on.

Hays: Auburn will beat Tulane handily, but I think they will be a little sluggish after last week’s epic comeback versus Oregon.

6:30 P.M. UT Martin (1-0) vs #11 Florida (1-0)

Jake: Feleipe Franks will hammer the Skyhawks in Gainesville. What else is there to say?

Evie: This is another game with no line–and there’s a reason. The Gators should handle UT Martin easily. Florida went 4-4 on fourth downs against Miami last week, while the Gators’ defensive front wreaked havoc as nine Gators accounted for the 10-sack effort against Miami. Anticipate many “look-out” blocks by the UT Martin offensive linemen. 

Land: Dan Mullen is a goober but Florida wins big.

Hays: If the Gators can get 10 sacks versus Miami, could they get 12 this week.

6:30 P.M. Eastern Michigan (1-0) vs Kentucky (1-0)

Spread: UK -15.5
O/U: 52.5

Jake: I expect a sloppy game and sort of a snoozer. UK will win, but it won’t be worth a watch.

Evie: Kentucky has allowed 24 or fewer points in 14 of the Wildcats’ last 15 contests. The Wildcats have won 11 straight and 32 of 39 games, overall, against the MAC. This will be the 12th straight as Kentucky wins.  

Land: The Blue and White start slow but find their bearings and stay perfect.

Hays: I do not know one person that will be fired up for this game. The Wildcats win.

 

	Arkansas vs Ole Miss	WVU vs Mizzou	Char. Southern vs S. Carolina	Vandy vs Purdue	#12 A&M vs #1 Clemson	Southern Miss vs MSU	NM State vs #2 Bama
Jake	OM 30-21	MIZZ 42-28	SCAR 38-10	Vandy 28-24	Clemson 38-24	MSU 38-10	Bama 66-7
Evie	OM 27-14	MIZZ 38-24	SCAR 21-3	Vandy 34-30	Clemson 42-24	MSU 34-24	Bama 55-3
Land	ARK 24-17	MIZZ 30-24	SCAR 24-7	Vandy  21-10	Clemson 41-24	SOUTH 23-20	Bama 56-10
Hays	OM 31-21	MIZZ 38-21	SCAR 41-7	Vandy 31-28	Clemson 42-21	MSU 38-21	Bama 63-10

 

	BYU vs Tennessee	Murray St. vs #3 UGA	#6 LSU vs #9 Texas	Tulane vs #10 Auburn	UT Martin vs #11 UF	EMU vs Kentucky
Jake	UT 31-27	UGA 52-3	LSU 27-20	AUB 34-7	UF 45-6	UK 33-17
Evie	UT 24-17	UGA 51-10	LSU 27-17	AUB 45-17	UF 42-7	UK 35-17
Land	UT  17-14	UGA  45-10	LSU  24-17	AUB 41-3	UF  42-14	UK  31-14
Hays	UT 31-24	UGA 42-0	UT 35-34	Auburn 38-0	UF 38-7	UK 31-14