The SEC Crystal Ball went 5-6 last week and is now 14-7 on the year. Hopefully this week will be better than last week’s disaster.
The biggest game of the weekend was expected to be the Alabama-Arkansas game, but Louisiana-Monroe threw cold water on that matchup and now the emphasis shifts eastward to Knoxville, Tenn.
After a few years of not being relevant on the national scene, the Florida-Tennessee game is back in the spotlight, with both teams entering the game at 2-0 and ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.
Florida has settled on Jeff Driskel as its quarterback and the sophomore has played well, thanks in part to the strong running of Mike Gillislee. Gillislee, however, has a bad groin. The Florida back is expected to play, but he might not be 100 percent. One Gator who is going to miss the game is inside linebacker Jelani Jenkins, who has a thumb injury and will be replaced by true freshman Antonio Morrison. Florida’s defense will need to be at the top of its game against Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray.
Tennessee comes in with a hot hand in Bray, as the Vols look to knock off the Gators after seven straight losses in the series. Bray has two outstanding receivers at his disposal in Justin Hunter, who had three touchdown catches last week against Georgia State, and Cordarrelle Patterson. Tennessee’s defense has been solid in its first two games and will need to be at the top of its game.
Tennessee hasn’t won in this series since a 30-28 win in 2004, but the Vols have their best chance in several seasons Saturday night.
Prediction: Tennessee 28, Florida 24
Until Louisiana-Monroe shocked Arkansas last week, the Alabama-Arkansas game was going to be a Top 25 matchup. Now, it just appears to be a trap game for the nation’s No. 1 team.
There are questions surrounding Arkansas this week. Will quarterback Tyler Wilson be sufficiently recovered from the head injury he suffered last week to play? Or will the Hogs go with backup Brandon Allen or Brandon Mitchell? If Wilson plays, how well will he be after having limited work this week? Obviously Arkansas’ hopes are much better if Wilson plays and Alabama is preparing as if he will.
Whoever plays for Arkansas, the Crimson Tide will get a healthy dose of running back Knile Davis and wide receiver Cobi Hamilton. But one of the most interesting matchups will be between Arkansas’ defense and Alabama’s potent offense. If Arkansas has hopes of beating a No. l team again, which they have done previously three times out of four games in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks defense will have to be at the top of its game.
Alabama’s offense took a shot when tailback Jalston Fowler injured a knee. He will miss the rest of the season, but the Crimson Tide is deep at running back with Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon leading the way. Quarterback AJ McCarron has been running the Tide offense with precision this season, and he’s been doing it with his passing as well as directing the ground game.
Defensively, Alabama is still Alabama, and Arkansas doesn’t have much a chance of scoring, with or without Wilson.
Prediction: Alabama 31, Arkansas 10
Here is a look at the rest of the SEC games this Saturday:
Texas A&M 35, SMU 20
Mississippi State 24, Troy 14
Vanderbilt 38, Presbyterian 0
Kentucky 14, Western Kentucky 10
Georgia 31, Florida Atlantic 20
LSU 34, Idaho 10
Texas 24, Ole Miss 20
ULM 14, Auburn 10
South Carolina 38, UAB 7
Missouri 28, Arizona State 24