SEC Saturday

By: Kenneth Harrison

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

We are two weeks into the 2020 college football season.

As you know everything has been altered due to the global pandemic. The SEC begins the season this Saturday and we are going to preview these games.

#5 Florida @ Ole Miss: Kyle Trask enters the season as the starting QB for the Gators. He was given the job in the Kentucky game after Feleipe Franks got hurt.

He led Florida to a comeback win and he never looked back. I expect him to be much better and have more confidence this season.

Ole Miss was 4-8 in 2019 so we don’t expect much from them.

QB John Rhys Plumlee is the epitome of a dual threat. He rushed for 1,023 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, while averaging 6.6 yards per carry.

The Gators should still win by 14 points.

#23 Kentucky @ #8 Auburn:  This season home teams won’t have the advantage of crowd noise.

That will not make a difference for Auburn though. Last season true freshman quarterback Bo Nix passed for 2,542 yards, 16 scores and 6 interceptions.

He also ran for 313 yards and 7 TD’s. As expected, he made some head scratching plays due to his inexperience.

He should be much more consistent and protect the football better going into his sophomore season.

Kentucky has been a solid team over the last few years. The Wildcats were 8-5 in 2019. In a battle of jungle cats that Joe Exotic would appreciate, I give the edge to the Tigers by 10 points.

Miss St @ #6 LSU: The Tigers are the defending champs, but they lost so much talent from that team.

Heisman Trophy winning QB Joe Burrow was the top pick in the draft. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was also a first-round pick.

The elite programs reload with talent, but I think that’s unrealistic for LSU.

The Bulldogs senior RB Kylin Hill ran for 1,350 yards and 10 scores in 2019. I think this will be a close game but LSU should win by a touchdown.

#4 Georgia @ Arkansas: UGA had Wake Forest transfer QB Jamie Newman as the expected starter but he opted out of the season a few weeks ago.

USC transfer JT Daniels is now the starter and I think he’ll do well. RB D’Andre Swift left for the NFL but Zamir White, James Cook and Kenny McIntosh will step up.

Arkansas is a bad football team, going 2-10 last year and winless in conference games.

The lone bright spot is Last Chance U star Rakeem Boyd who ran for 1,133 yards and 8 scores in 2019.

The Hogs have added Florida transfer quarterback Feleipe Franks and he easily won the starting job. Yikes. UGA wins by 27 and Franks will assist with three turnovers.

#2 Alabama @ Mizzou: I hate to say it but Missouri has no chance.

Mac Jones has been named the starter for Bama. The Crimson Tide have too much talent at every position and this will be a blow out.

Vanderbilt @ #10 Texas A&M: I think the Aggies are ranked way too high, especially with Kellen Mond at quarterback.

That won’t matter in this game because Vandy is outmatched.

That’s the case for the Commodores in the majority of their conference games. Give me A&M by 20 points.

#16 Tennessee @ South Carolina: The Vols got off to a rocky start (1-4) last year but finished 8-5 and won the Gator Bowl.

South Carolina battled injuries to quarterbacks last season. I think the Gamecocks pull the upset in Week 1.