SEC Picks: TNJN roundtable for week five
David Bradford, Adam Milliken and Nathan Odom make their week five SEC picks as conference play continues to gain steam.
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 - Tennessee Volunteers Head Coach Butch Jones int he Vol Walk before the game between the Florida Gators and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Athletics
No. 11 Tennessee at No. 25 Georgia
Bradford – Tennessee. The Vols remind me a lot of a Drake album, often showing flashes of brilliance (second half against Florida), but riddled with sinkholes (first half against Florida). It’s time for Tennessee to finally put the Jekyll and Hyde act to rest and play a complete football game. Although Georgia does not appear as strong as they have been in the past, this is still a rivalry game played in a hostile environment. Derek Barnett and the defensive line need to play dominant football from the start against a suspect Bulldog offensive line. Throw in a freshman quarterback under a first-year head coach with Nick Chubb out, the Vols will ride their momentum and cruise to an easy victory.
Milliken – Tennessee. Originally, I thought that Georgia would pull off the upset. However, in the past few days, I’ve flipped to the other side. It boils down to the same question that the Vols pose nearly every week – which Tennessee team will show up? If it’s the team from the second half against Florida, the Vols will win by 28-plus points. If it’s the team that showed up in the first half against Florida or against Appalachian State, then Georgia likely wins. I think it’ll be a combination of both, again, and Tennessee will escape with a three-point win.
Odom – Tennessee. I, along with Adam, picked Georgia to upset the Vols in Athens earlier this year. However, the trajectories of these two teams are polar opposites. Georgia is missing star running back Nick Chubb, while Tennessee will be getting some key players back. As long as Tennessee controls turnovers, the Vols will be 5-0 for the first time since 1998.
Missouri at LSU
Bradford – Missouri. Call me crazy, but the LSU Tigers are overrated. Call me crazy, but the Missouri Tigers are underrated. While Mizzou hasn’t defeated a worthwhile opponent, they also aren’t receiving the respect they deserve. After dropping the ball week one against West Virginia, Missouri’s offense—led by quarterback Drew Lock—has come alive. LSU’s defense is the highlight of the team and its homefield advantage cannot be denied, but the sudden loss of Les Miles means this team won’t be as focused as they normally would be.
Milliken – LSU. I suppose Alice got sick of the Mad Hatter. After just over 11 years as the head coach of the Tigers, Les Miles was fired after a surprisingly-poor start to the season. His replacement, at least for now, is Ed Orgeron, who has made somewhat of a living on being an interim-head coach. In the past, Orgeron has performed exceptionally well when given the chance. A combination of the players getting behind Orgeron and a newly opened-up offense gives LSU life and the Tigers avoid a third loss.
Odom – LSU. Although I’m not sure Ed Orgeron can lead LSU to a stellar finish to the season, I do think he can manage to get the gold and purple tigers through this week. As long as LSU doesn’t quit with the loss of its head coach, LSU shouldn’t need to play immaculate football to win this one.
No. 9 Texas A&M at South Carolina
Bradford – Texas A&M. I don’t care that this game is being played in Columbia. I don’t care that it might be a trap game. The Aggies defensive line is about to send South Carolina’s offense into the stone age.
Milliken – Texas A&M. Surely most people have heard the phrase “barn burner” used to describe a football game. Well, in this one, the Aggies are going to set fire to the barn that the Gamecocks reside in. Texas A&M is simply too talented, with mismatches all over the field that favor the Aggies. Some people may think this is a trap game – with A&M possibly looking ahead to next week’s collision with Tennessee – but even if they aren’t 100% focused, the Aggies are still too good for South Carolina.
Odom – Texas A&M. South Carolina looked abysmal last week against one of the nation’s worst defenses in Kentucky. Now they have to return home and play the Aggies, who are ninth in the nation in total offense. The Gamecocks gave up 350 yards to Kentucky, but Texas A&M might double that.
Other games:
Alcorn State at No. 20 Arkansas
Bradford – Arkansas
Milliken – Arkansas
Odom – Arkansas
No. 23 Florida at Vanderbilt
Bradford – Vanderbilt
Milliken – Florida
Odom – Florida
Louisiana-Monroe at Auburn
Bradford – Auburn
Milliken – Auburn
Odom – Auburn
Kentucky at No. 1 Alabama
Bradford – Alabama
Milliken – Alabama
Odom – Alabama
Memphis at No. 16 Ole Miss
Bradford – Ole Miss
Milliken – Ole Miss
Odom – Ole Miss
Overall records
Bradford: 23-9
Milliken: 21-11
Odom: 23-9
Edited by Dalton King
Featured image by Donald Page, courtesy of Tennessee Athletics
Follow me @DavidJBradford1 on Twitter, email me at dbradfo2@vols.utk.edu for any questions.
