Despite being favored in 10 of 13 games in week 1, it’s the three games in which SEC teams are underdogs that is drawing the most interest from me.
Missouri is a 10-point underdog at West Virginia, Auburn is a touchdown-underdog against Clemson and Mississippi is a 4.5 point underdog to Florida State.
Obviously, two of those three games are major college football games, and the Tigers squaring off against the Mountaineers shouldn’t be completely dismissed.
This is a bit of a change than in years past when the SEC would get the benefit of the doubt. You could say Auburn is getting an SEC boost by only being a touchdown underdog against the No. 2 team in the nation. However, don’t be so quick to dismiss Auburn as an underdog.
Auburn (+7) vs. Clemson
Call me crazy. But I’m all in on Gus Malzahn coming back from the dead in Auburn.
Remember, this is a team that only a year ago entered the season as a top-10 team. It didn’t turn out so well last season, but the pieces are a year older and that defense could be the best defense he’s ever had in Auburn.
And that’s the reason why we should value the Tigers higher than we do entering 2016.
Malzahn is going to figure out the offense. The talent is there in the skill positions on offense and don’t dismiss an emerging offensive line. Auburn is going to play up-tempo and could give Clemson some trouble.
This doesn’t mean I’m dismissing Clemson. They’re really good and should be a favorite to go back to the national championship game. But if past history tells me anything, teams struggle with heightened expectations in the year after a national title game run.
Auburn has the talent to keep up with Clemson. Talent-wise, these teams aren’t as far apart as some would want you to believe. Take the touchdown and back the SEC team. — Go Against the Chalk with Auburn
SEC lines
Picks in bold
Appalachian State at Tennessee (-20.5)
South Carolina at Vanderbilt (-3.5)
South Alabama at Mississippi State (-29.5)
Missouri at West Virginia (-10)
UCLA at Texas A&M (-3)
LSU (-10) vs. Wisconsin
Louisiana Tech at Arkansas (-26)
North Carolina vs. Georgia (-2.5)
Southern Miss at Kentucky (-6.5)
Massachusetts at Florida (-35)
USC vs. Alabama (-10)
Mississippi vs. Florida State (-4.5)
