Can Ole Miss score revenge in Austin? Rest of the SEC Week 3 previewed

Yep, there’s a small game in College Station this weekend. But let’s just make this clear: There are other SEC games out there and some of them could be pretty exciting.

OLE MISS AT TEXAS

OK, to Ole Miss runs a similar – if faster – offense to BYU’s, which ran for nearly 560 yards against Texas’ defense last Saturday. UT’s defensive frailties cost defensive co-ordinator Manny Diaz his job (he should have gone at the end of last season, in my view), but the eyes of Texas are now on coach Mack Brown, who is sitting on a white-hot hot seat. His Texas ‘D’ will be facing a fast-paced Hugh Freeze offense, which is on the up after two straight victories. Texas, who won this match-up easily last season, is a 2 ½ point favourite, despite these issues. This is strange, since they don’t have QB David Ash, who left the BYU debacle with head and shoulder injuries. QB Case McCoy, who didn’t exactly look like Joe Montana against BYU, will deputize. Look, there’s no doubt that Texas has the talent on both sides of the ball. No doubt at all. But can their defense keep them in the game? You would not be stupid in playing a cheeky quid on Ole Miss at 6/5.

BOTTOM LINE: We’re going crazy and saying that Texas actually shows up and wins by more than the field goal. This is a major risk though, bettors.

VANDERBILT AT SOUTH CAROLINA

South Carolina’s loss at Georgia was a lot closer than the Bulldogs 11-point victory suggests. Both sides had the chances to win the game, but it came down to Georgia – strangely for their fans – coming through in the clutch. But we’ve worked this out – if Vanderbilt can get a good running game together, they’ve got the weapons to scare South Carolina to death. Georgia did. They beat Carolina by keeping the ball away from Jadeveon Clowney, making sure Chaz Sutton was under wraps, and running the ball hard. They can also air it out bearing in mind that Jordan Matthews is an exceptional wide receiver, and Austyn Carta-Samuels can move around the pocket like anyone’s business.

Having said that, South Carolina isn’t a push over – particularly at home. Connor Shaw is the better of the two QBs, and their running game – which includes Mike Davis, a punishing RB who was pretty exceptional for Carolina despite their loss.

BOTTOM LINE: South Carolina’s a 13 ½ point favourite to beat Vanderbilt, and we think it’ll happen by more than the scoreline suggests.

MISSISSIPPI STATE AT AUBURN

Mississippi State’s offense may have put up the points against Alcorn State, but when they played anyone good (ie against Oklahoma State on Week 1), they were awful, and could have lost by a lot more.

Auburn, on the other hand, is very excited by their future after beating Washington State on Week 1, and quitening Arkansas State on Week 2. With the horrible team Auburn had last year, you could have been forgiven to have made Auburn an underdog in both games last year. But now, Auburn’s buzzing with Gus Malzahn at the helm, and Nick Marshall’s certainly doing a better job than Kiehl Frazier did last year.

Mississippi State will be hoping that Tyler Russell’s back from injury for Week 3 – he really makes this offense tick.

BOTTOM LINE: Auburn’s a 5-1/2 point favourite, but we think they’ll win by more. We’ll take the over.

TENNESSEE AT OREGON 

I’d like to say a prayer for Tennessee’s defense, today. Sure, they were opportunistic against Western Kentucky and scored five turnovers in their opponents’ first five plays, and beat the Hilltoppers comfortably. However, they play an Oregon side who only had the ball for 21 minutes in their game against Virginia….and scored 59 points. There is nothing you can do to stop this offense, which has more weapons than an Uzi convention. Tennessee is going to have to pound the ball with Rajon Neal and pray that they don’t have turnovers, because Oregon will kill them. Oh, and Tennessee’s missing starting DT Mo Couch, who’s got eligibility worries after a report surfaced of him accepting payments. That won’t make their lives any easier against an offense that hasn’t stopped since Chip Kelly left for Philly. And if you’re watching the game, keep an eye out for  Oregon’s speedy RB DeAnthony Thomas and QB Marcus Mariota. They are something special. 

BOTTOM LINE: Oregon’s a 28 ½ point favourite in this one, which is really steep if Tennessee’s D steps up. We’re going for an Oregon victory (no surprise there), but beating the handicap will be a risk.

LOUISVILLE AT KENTUCKY

OK, so I’d like to say two prayers today: One for Tennessee, and one for Kentucky. Sure, people will say that this is a rivalry game, but we think that Kentucky’s going to get owned against Louisville- especially as the Cardinals have got impressive QB Tedy Bridgewater, who’s beaten Florida recently.

Maxwell Smith might have put a couple of smiles on Kentucky’s faces after their first win of the season, but we don’t think he’ll cope against Lousiville’s ‘D’.

OUR TIP: Louisville’s just a 14 point favourite against Kentucky. Not only do we think that Louisville’s going to beat Kentucky, but we think it’s going to be by more than 14. You’re underrating Kentucky in this one. 

SOUTHERN MISS AT ARKANSAS/ KENT STATE AT LSU

Arkansas by a mile. LSU by a mile.

OUR TIP: Arkansas by far more than the 23-point spread. LSU by more than 36, despite the worries surrounding Les Miles with regards to the Oklahoma State case.