SEC Football Picks Week 3 -- September 16, 2010

by Dyke Marler
(Georgia )

Since there was no Thursday night SEC game this week, I didn't have to make my picks ridiculously early. I'm going to use that time to be a little more in-depth about each prediction for the upcoming weekend.

There has been a lot of player movement this week at various SEC campuses and some of those may have an effect on outcomes. Wesleye Saunders, Mark Ingram, Marcell Dareus, Chris Rainey, AJ Greene, Dennis Johnson and Caleb King. Kinda reminds me of that Beatles song..."you say goodbye and I say hello..."

Alabama at Duke
Alabama

Bama has won their last 23 games in which it has an interception. Duke, under HC David Cutcliffe, will throw the ball 40 times. Bama will get at least one of those.
BCS Championship Game Defensive MVP, Marcell Dareus, makes his debut as does Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram.

Mississippi State at LSU
LSU

I was very vocal in this Blog during the offseason saying LSU could lose every SEC West game this year. I still believe that. However, this will be a night game in Baton Rouge and that makes for some bad voodoo. Les Miles is sticking with QB Jordan Jefferson. LSU has played two weak, or weakened, teams. Vandy and North Carolina. MSU could have easily beaten Auburn and I believe Auburn to be better than LSU right now.

Ole Miss at Vandy
Ole Miss.

If you've been to Vandy, you know that they never have a home field advantage. At least half the stadium is filled with the other team's colors.

Kentucky at Akron
Kentucky

South Carolina at Furman
South Carolina

TE Wesleye Saunders was removed from the team this week by Coach Steve Spurrier.


My other, more lengthy, previews and picks are at the bottom of the Auburn, Tennessee and Georgia team pages. You can find them on SEC Football.