The SEC didn’t feature much of anything worthwhile last week, other than to bury the Georgia Bulldogs and showcase Steve Spurrier’s last game.
We haven’t done great in the SEC so far this season, but we did scratch out a 1-1 record against the spread, with Arkansas going from an easy cover, to a bad beat, to a backdoor cover in one quarter.
Here are two games we’ll keep an eye on this weekend. Last week’s betting guide for each power-five conference went 4-6, with a 1-1 mark in the SEC. Overall for the season, the betting guides have been 4-8 in the SEC and 31-29 overall in the power-five conferences.
Alabama (-4) at Texas A&M
We learned our lesson already with Alabama.
As road favorites, the Crimson Tide deliver.
Alabama is over .500 since 2008 as a road favorite and in the 26 games where that’s been the case, the Crimson Tide have won games by an average of 17 points.
The Aggies have been impressive thus far this season, going 4-1 against the spread while winning games by an average of 18.2 points per game. What’s been even more impressive is that Texas A&M has developed a new attitude on defense.
Texas A&M has limited four of five opponents to 23 points or less, while continuing its scoring barrage on offense.
But we learned our lesson earlier this season betting against Alabama. We still think there are some issues to be taken care of at Alabama, but it should be able to do enough on defense to stop the Aggies enough that it should cover the four points. — Go chalk with Alabama
Vanderbilt (+3) at South Carolina
It’s extremely unusual for a head coach to resign in the middle of a season, but that’s how South Carolina finds itself at this juncture of the season.
The betting public is pounding the Commodores, taking the opening line of seven points in favor of the Gamecocks to a three-point spread.
We’re in agreement with the public.
Vanderbilt hasn’t been good, but it hasn’t been horrible this season. Sure the Commodores are under .500, but they were in games against Georgia, Mississippi and Western Kentucky, and they’re coming into this week’s game after a win against Middle Tennessee.
There’s been too many distractions this week for a bad Gamecocks team to overcome. South Carolina doesn’t play much defense and Vanderbilt has been better on the defensive end all year this season.
Don’t be surprised if Vanderbilt not only covers, but wins this game straight up. — Go against the chalk with Vanderbilt
Other SEC games
Odds provided by Oddsshark
Auburn (-2.5) at Kentucky
Mississippi (-10.5) at Memphis
Louisiana Tech at Mississippi State (-13.5)
Florida at LSU (-9.5)
Missouri at Georgia (-16)
