Tennessee football: Week 15 SEC and Top 25 picks by Caleb Calhoun

Here are Caleb Calhoun’s Week 15 picks for the Tennessee football Volunteers, SEC and top 25 games.

Last week’s loss to the Florida Gators cemented a losing season for Tennessee football, guaranteeing that Jeremy Pruitt’s third year would be a disappointment. It also really hurt my chances of getting back above water on our picks. Here’s a look at how I performed in all seven games we predicted.

Week 14 performance

Straight up: 6-1

Gambling picks: 7-7

• 5-2 against the spread
• 2-5 over/under

Overall performance for 2020

Straight up: 67-21

Gambling picks: 79-95

• 35-52 against the spread
• 44-43 over/under

For the first time all year, I was actually really good against the spread. I also called two upsets and was a late field goal away from calling three. Still, I’m 16 picks under 50 percent and even further behind in the race for 52 percent. I’ll need a couple of elite weeks to get back above water.

This week, we’ve got another six SEC games to pick, including Tennessee football’s visit to the Vanderbilt Commodores, and one top 25 game. Let’s go ahead and dive in with our predictions for Week 15 of the 2020 season.

Alabama -31.5; Over 68.5

Last week, the Arkansas Razorbacks and Alabama Crimson Tide both easily hit the over in their games. However, it’s not like Arkansas will score in the same way when facing Bama. Still, Nick Saban’s team is clearly on a mission, and 68.5 is a low enough over/under for the game to hit the over. Alabama will do most of the work on that front and cover in the process.

Georgia -13.5; Under 54.5

Which Missouri Tigers team shows up? Will it be the one that scored 17 points in a win over the South Carolina Gamecocks or the one that scored 50 points in a win over the Arkansas Razorbacks? Stay away from this pick. Against the Georgia Bulldogs, I say Mizzou will fail to score that much. They’ll also lose, and UGA will cover. Their defense makes this hit the under.

North Carolina +2.5; Over 67.5

This is honestly a tough call. The Miami Hurricanes are on a five-game winning streak, but the North Carolina Tar Heels have looked better against elite competition. As a result, UNC appears to be the better team, so take them in an upset. Definitely take the over, though. Mack Browns kids win an epic shootout.

Florida -23.5; Over 67.5

Florida is still hoping for a College Football Playoff appearance, and the LSU Tiger just gave up on the season with a self-imposed bowl ban. Sure, the Gators allowed two late scores to make a dominant win over Tennessee football not look so dominant last week, but that won’t happen Saturday. Florida dominates, covers and hits the over as both defenses struggle at times.

Auburn -6.5; Over 49.5

This seems like the type of game in which the Mississippi State Bulldogs would pull off the upset. However, I gave up betting on them weeks ago, even as they began to improve. The Auburn Tigers will pull off a win, and they’ll cover in the process while the game hits the over. That’s just a guess, though. Avoid betting on this game if you can help it.

Tennessee -16.5; Under 49.5

The Vanderbilt Commodores have barely 50 scholarship players set to play and has moved on from Derek Mason. However, Tennessee football is on a six-game losing streak, and the Vols are always the team Vandy, no matter how bad they are, plays tough.

That won’t happen here, though. Vanderbilt is just that bad. Bet on the Vols to cover in a hideous affair while Jeremy Pruitt defenders use it as a selling point for some mysterious turnaround coming. UT wins, and given the way they play ball-control, the game hits the under.