Jarquez Hunter leads a talented backfield on the Plains. (Photo courtesy of 247 Sports).
The No.5 Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers have what appear to be easier games to open up week 1 of the college football calendar.
The Crimson Tide hosts Western Kentucky at 6 PM Saturday on ESPN, while the Tigers play host to Alabama A&M Saturday at 6:30 PM on ESPN+. It’ll still be interesting to see how each team performs with the Tide featuring a new head man on their sideline as Kalen DeBoar comes over from Washington to try and fill the gigantic shoes of Nick Saban, while the Tigers will try to vastly improve from a 6-7 season in Hugh Freeze’s initial season at Auburn. Anticipation is high in T-town and on the Plains.
There are four other classics featuring SEC teams in action this week. White’s World breaks down the SEC-out of conference matchups along with predictions.
2023 Record: SU-202-54, 79%, ATS: 122-129, 49%
***All times Central***
Western Kentucky @ No.5 Alabama
Bryant-Denny Stadium
6 PM
ESPN
Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Taylor McGregor
Tide by 31 1/2
Jalen Milroe “matriculates” into his second season under center, but this time for Coach DeBoar, not S. I like Jalen to have a big game Saturday and an outstanding 2024 season. Big believer in Number 4.
Alabama 41, Western Kentucky 7
Alabama A&M @ Auburn
Jordan-Hare Stadium
6:30 PM
ESPN+
Lowell Galindo, Fozzie(the Fonz?) Whitaker
Tigers by 47 1/2
Looking forward to watching this Auburn backfield of Jarquez Hunter, Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb. Bama’s got a talented backfield as well with Jam Miller, Justice Haynes and Richard Young. Payton Thorne is going to HAVE to play well though for the Tigers to have a highly successful season.
Auburn 52, A&M 3
Other SEC scores
No. Georgia 28, No.14 Clemson 14
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
11 AM
ABC
Sean, Gregory, Molly
Dawgs by 13 1/2
Give me Carson Beck and them Dawgs.
Sunday
No.13 LSU 31, No. 23 USC 24
Allegiant Stadium, Vegas
6:30 PM
ABC
Rece, Kirk, Holly., Chris Fowler at the US Open.
Bengal Tigers by 4 1/2
Awesome matchup. Like Brian Kelly and his Tigers to start their 2024 campaign off the right way.
Back to Saturday
No.20 Texas A&M 27, No.7 Notre Dame 23
Kyle Field, College Station, TX.
6:30 PM
ABC
Chris, Kirk, Holly. Chris will be in College Station for this one.
Aggies by 3
Give me Mike Elko to get the victory in game one of his A&M tenure.
Florida 21, No.19 Miami 20
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
2:30 PM
ABC
Tess, Jess, Katie
Canes by 2 1/2
I like the Gators to pull off the slight upset in the Swamp.
No.4 Texas 42, Colorado State 7
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin
2:30 PM
ESPN
Mike Manako, Kirk “Mr. Mojo Rising” Morrison, Dawn Davenport
Horns by 32
Sark and Hook’em get off to a fast start. Quinn Ewers is going to have to play well because Arch Manning was an absolute beast in the Orange and White spring game throwing for 349 yards and three TDs.
No.6 Ole Miss 52, Furman 7
Vaught-Hemingway Field, Oxford
6 PM
ESPN
Jay Alter, Rocky Boiman, Ashley Stroehlein (I think I spelled that right)
Black Bears by 42
There are high expectations on the Grove for Lane and his team. If Pete Golding knows how to coach defense at all this is a formidable team with a deep run in them. You know they’ll play offense with quarterback Jaxon Dart and company.
No.15 Tennessee 42, Chattanooga 3
Neyland Stadium, Knoxville
11:45 AM
SEC Network
Taylor, Stinch, Alyssa
Vols by 38 1/2
The Vols are trying to regain their magic back from 2022. They’ve got a shot to do that.
Friday
No.16 Oklahoma 58, Temple 14
Memorial Stadium Norman
6 PM
ESPN
Anish Schroff, Andre, Carc
OU by 42
Boomer Sooner moves into the SEC with a resounding out of conference victory though the competition isn’t much.
Saturday
Virginia Tech 28, Vanderbilt 21
FirstBank Stadium, Nashvegas
11 AM
ESPN
Roy Philpott, Sam Acho, Taylor Davis
Hokies by 13 1/2
Never like doing this, but the Blog wants to be right.
Today
No. 11 Missouri 55, Murray State 3
Memorial Stadium, Columbia, MO.
7 PM
SEC Network
Tigers by 49 1/2
Arkansas 52, Arkansas Pine Bluff 3
War Memorial Stadium, Fayetteville
6:30 PM
ESPNU
Ark by 50 1/2
Saturday
Kentucky 35, Southern Miss 6
Kroger Field, Lexington
6:45 PM
SEC Network
Cats by 28
South Carolina 42, Old Dominion 20
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia
3:15 PM
SEC Network
Gamecocks by 21
Mississippi State 27, Eastern Kentucky 0
Davis Wade Stadium, Starkvegas
6 PM
ESPN+
Bullies by 24 1/2
10 Responses
Excited to have the season finally starting and looking forward to reading your analysis and predictions each week!
Thanks, D!
Thanks for the analysis and previews, DW! Looks like some good games for week one. Like your picks!
Thanks, E!
Great call on The Rambling Wreck last weekend. Looking over your predictions this week I think WKY may score near 20. I agree with your picks except I Like Miami and Notre Dame to win straight up even though the Irish are going into the heat. Hit em straight DW.
Thanks, Bama G.
Excellent call on The Jackets last week! I think you will nail it this week also. Happy Labor Day to all.
Thanks, Walter!
Notre Dame held in high esteem with this lofty ranking. Yet, oddsmakers make them a 3-point underdog versus the 20th ranked Aggies? The Book seems to know better most of the time. I like your prediction.
Thanks, SMU.