Week 12 Predictions: Here Come the Rivalries

Things went badly last week. I picked a lot of upsets and a blowout that didn’t happen, and it just got worse from there. Oh well, this week is full of easy picks like #1 vs. #3 and two other rivalry games. Yeah, really easy.

This Week: 5-3 (62.5%)
Last Week: 4-4 (50.0%)
Overall: 84-33 (72.0%)

11/15

South Carolina at Florida – Spurrier returns to his old stomping grounds following a bye week that followed an embarrassing OT loss to Tennessee. Florida is riding high after blowing out Georgia at Vandy. Is this a must win for Will Muschamp? Probably. And he’ll win it.

Florida 34, South Carolina 27

South Carolina 23, Florida 20 – FAILURE

Mississippi State at Alabama – It’s the end of days. This game matters on a conference scale and a national scale. I can’t think of anything worse. A Mississippi State win puts them in the SEC Championship. An Alabama win likely jumps them up to #2 or #3 and the love-fest that has been absent since their loss to Ole Miss will be back. It’s going to happen.

Mississippi State beat LSU at their lowest, Auburn on the 2nd weirdest game of their season, then was ranked #1, and then limped through two more SEC wins over Kentucky and Arkansas. It’s a sham. Alabama is going to steamroll them and we’re going to hear about it for two straight weeks.

Alabama 38, Mississippi State 13

Alabama 25, Mississippi State 20 – SUCCESS!

Kentucky at Tennessee – The first half of Tennessee’s annual season-ending rivalry gauntlet begins this week. Get ready, football fans! Kentucky was blown out by Georgia last week, but still scored 31 points. I think they’ll hang around with Tennessee (I say that like Tennessee is some juggernaut), and it will be a close game for a while, but the Vols will win.

Tennessee 34, Kentucky 24

Tennessee 50, Kentucky 16 – SUCCESS!

Missouri at Texas A&M – Kenny Hill’s suspension was for two games and that ended last week. You think he’s going to take the starting position over Kyle Allen, the quarterback who just led a team that, assisted with voodoo, beat Auburn? Nope. They have enough mojo to last them the rest of the season. They’ll win out and might make last week not look so bad.

Texas A&M 41, Missouri 28

Missouri 34, Texas A&M 27 – FAILURE

LSU at Arkansas – I remember watching this game in the early to mid 2000’s. It was usually the Friday after Thanksgiving, and Auburn usually needed Arkansas to win to knock LSU out of contention for the West. It rarely happened.

Arkansas is the most due team in the history of the SEC. They aren’t terrible, but they can’t win in the conference. They just can’t. Or can they? They will this week.

Arkansas 24, LSU 21

Arkansas 17, LSU 0 – SUCCESS!

Auburn at Georgia – Check later today for my game preview, but SPOILER ALERT: what starts as a shootout, will turn a blowout.

Auburn 42, Georgia 28

Georgia 34, Auburn 7 – FAILURE

Other Games of Note

Clemson at Georgia Tech – Clemson almost lost to Wake Forest last week. Georgia Tech has that option game going. It will be enough to send Dabo to a watery grave.

Georgia Tech 21, Clemson 17

Florida State at Miami – Ok, let’s everybody cheer for the team playing against Florida State this week. Oh, it’s Miami? That sounds like a big game. And wait, they’re actually favored? Sign me up for the Hurricane bandwagon. And like every game since Jameis Winston has started, the devil will show himself and give the Seminoles the win.

Florida State 42, Miami 24

Florida State 30, Miami 26 – SUCCESS!

Now that you know who will win, head on over to the 2014 War Blogle Pick ’em and get your picks in. There will be weekly prizes and and overall winner at the end of the season. It’s easy. Do it.