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Tennessee football: Caleb Calhoun’s Week 4 SEC, top 25 picks

By Caleb Calhoun

COLUMBIA, SC - AUGUST 29: A general view of outside the stadium before the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium on August 29, 2013 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SC - AUGUST 29: A general view of outside the stadium before the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium on August 29, 2013 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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These are Caleb Calhoun’s Tennessee football Volunteers, SEC and top 25 picks for the first week of SEC season in 2020.

We’re finally back with our picks. This year, at All for Tennessee, each writer will have a post picking top 25, SEC and Tennessee football games each week. We’ll track how each of us are doing straight up, against the spread and on the over/under. Here is a look at site expert Caleb Calhoun’s picks for this week’s slate of games.

Florida Gators: 30 Ole Miss Rebels: 14

Florida -13.5; Under 56.5

Dan Mullen’s Florida Gators will cover in Oxford, largely because home-field advantage won’t mean much this year. In their first game with former Tennessee football head coach Lane Kiffin, the Ole Miss Rebels will need a bit of time to gel given the way this offseason went. It’ll be ugly for both teams, though, so while Florida covers, take the under.

Auburn Tigers: 21 Kentucky Wildcats: 13

Auburn -6.5; Under 49.5

Anybody who knows the history of Gus Malzahn’s Auburn Tigers knows that their offense seems to take a step back every year after beating Alabama. Now, Chad Morris is their offensive coordinator. That history combined with Kentucky’s experience and desire to control the clock will make this hit the under. However, Auburn will still pull out the win and barely cover.

Pittsburgh Panthers: 28 Louisville Cardinals: 21

Pittsburgh -2.5; Under 55.5

Neither team has looked great through two games, but at least the Pittsburgh Panthers are 2-0. Pat Narduzzi has a senior quarterback and a defense that has looked stellar through two games. The combination will be enough for Pitt to pull out the victory and cover. Ball control and clock management combined with the defense is why this game hits the under.

Cincinnati Bearcats: 34 Army Black Knights: 17

Cincinnati -11.5; Over 44.5

The Cincinnati Bearcats have scored 55 points in their one game against Austin Peay. Meanwhile, the Army Black Knights are averaging nearly 40 points a game through two games. Take the over in this one. However, Cincy is the better team, and that’ll show in this one. The Bearcats cover with a late touchdown.

LSU Tigers: 41 Mississippi State Bulldogs: 27

Mississippi State +17; Over 56.5

Despite all the hype behind Mike Leach, his track record at least with the Washington State Cougars suggests his air raid doen’t see immediate success. Still, the LSU Tigers have their own issues with so much talent gone. Expect a sloppy but high-scoring game in which LSU wins but isn’t able to cover.

Georgia Bulldogs: 41 Arkansas Razorbacks: 3

Georgia -28.5; Under 54.5 

Sam Pittman may be the right coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks, and he’s familiar with the Georgia Bulldogs. It won’t matter. Georgia is too deep and loaded, and the Hogs have a ton of rebuilding after the disastrous two years under Chad Morris. Because of that, UGA overwhelms Arkansas, even with a new quarterback. It hits the under since Arkansa won’t score much.

Alabama Crimson Tide: 38 Missouri Tigers: 7

Alabama -28; Under 56.5

Given the Missouri Tigers’ offseason, with so many players out at times, and their transition to new head coach Eliah Drinkwitz, they’re in trouble here. When you look at the plethora of offensive talent returning to play ball in Tuscaloosa this fall, it’s no wonder the Tide are favorites to win the SEC. The Crimson Tide also have projected first-round pick Dylan Moses captaining their defense at inside linebacker. Bama covers. Easily. Spoiling new Missouri Head Coach Eliah Drinkwitz’s debut.

Texas A&M Aggies: 42 Vanderbilt Commodores: 10

Texas A&M -30.5; Over 45.5

Is it possible we see a winless Vanderbilt team in 2020? Absolutely. And unfortunately for the Commodores, College Station won’t be very kind to them this week. Aggies quarterback Kellen Mond has a terrific opportunity to begin his senior campaign with some fireworks. Texas A&M covers, but Vanderbilt won’t go scoreless. Look for a garbage-time Vanderbilt score to push the total over.

Tennessee Volunteers: 30 South Carolina Gamecocks: 23

Tennessee -3.5; Over 44

Last year, Tennessee football made the mistake of losing its opener to a far inferior team. Jeremy Pruitt won’t let the Vols make the same mistake twice. The Vols will win by a touchdown thanks to the tenacious running back duo of Ty Chandler and Eric Gray and a matured offensive line. Transfer quarterback Collin Hill is making his first start for the Gamecocks, which the Vols will exploit to keep things low scoring.

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