Mark Stoops will begin his third season in Lexington with hopes of leading the Kentucky Wildcats to their first bowl game since 2010. In order to get to six wins they can’t afford to lose any non-conference games. Up first will be the Ragin’ Cajuns, who are coming off their fourth straight bowl win under coach Mark Hudspeth.
Previewing Kentucky vs Louisiana-Lafayette
Patrick Towles will lead the way for Kentucky and True Blue Fans are excited to see how he will perform under new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. Stanley “Boom” Williams is the main man at running back. UK will need a big game from him as well.
The Wildcat defense is led by linebacker and the SEC’s returning tackler Josh Forrest. Stopping preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Elijah McGuire is going to be a big key in this game. The junior has run for over 2,100 yards in his career. Hudspeth says he will not name a starting quarterback until they run out on the field Saturday night. It will either be Brooks Haack or Jaylen Nixon. Haack served as the back up last season.
The 7:00 PM game on ESPNU will be the first meeting ever between the two schools and the seventh time Louisiana-Lafayette has played a current member of the SEC. They are 0-6 all-time and will be 0-7 after Saturday night.
Kentucky 34-20
Looking at the rest of the SEC in this first weekend of play minus the Thursday night games.
Louisiana-Monroe at Georgia (NOON, SEC Network)– The Bulldogs will go as far as running back Nick Chubb can take them in 2015. I don’t see them having any trouble here.
Georgia 52-17
Tennessee-Martin at Ole Miss (NOON, SEC Network)– The Rebels will start a new quarterback in Chad Kelly but return 9 other starters on offense. Hugh Freeze’s team will roll in this one.
Ole Miss 49-14
Louisville vs. Auburn (3:30 PM, CBS Game played in Atlanta)– This is the most interesting game of Week 1 in the SEC. The Tigers are considered the favorites in the league but are another team with a new quarterback. Jeremy Johnson steps in to replace Nick Marshall.
Bobby Petrino will lead his Cardinal team into Atlanta where he famously coached the Falcons for one season before quitting. Petrino has four talented quarterbacks to choose from but says he won’t name his starter until game time. Whoever is out there I expect points to be scored in bunches in this one.
Auburn 38-34
UTEP at Arkansas (3:30 PM, ESPNU)– Quarterback Brandon Allen will lead the Razorbacks against a Miners’ club that will be over matched.
Arkansas 45-13
Southeast Missouri at Missouri (4:00 PM, SEC Network)– The two time defending SEC East champs start the season against a Redhawk team that isn’t expected to put up much of a fight. These two teams last played in 2008, the final 52-3. That sounds about right for this one.
Missouri 52-3
Bowling Green at Tennessee (4:00 PM, SEC Network)– Fans of the Vols are expecting big things in year three under Butch Jones. Jalen Hurd and company should have little trouble against the Falcons.
Tennessee 35-14
Arizona State at Texas A&M (7:00 PM, ESPN, Game played in Houston)– This is the only contest this season between the SEC and Pac-12. The game should see the points scored in droves and it would not surprise me to see both squads go over 40. I am going with the Sun Devils in this one.
Arizona State 48-42
McNeese State at LSU (7:30 PM, SEC Network)– Brandon Harris takes over as the man behind center down in Baton Rouge and he could easily get 100 yards rushing to go along with some impressive passing numbers.
LSU 45-10
New Mexico State at Florida (7:30 PM, SEC Network)– The Gators have a new coach in Jim McElwain and he has finally decided on a starting quarterback. Treon Harris will get the start but Will Grier will play as well. The Aggies are terrible so both quarterbacks should have ample opportunity in this one.
Florida 31-14
Wisconsin vs. Alabama (8:00 PM, ABC, Game Played in Arlington, TX)– This is the other marquee game in the SEC this weekend. The Tide have three quarterbacks who Nick Saban says will play on Saturday. I think Alabama’s defense will give the Badgers fits and be the key to the game.
Alabama 24-17
Mississippi State at Southern Miss (10:00 PM, Fox Sports 1)– Heisman Trophy hopeful Dak Prescott is back for the Bulldogs and that should be enough in this game. The Golden Eagles were 3-9 last season and even playing at home won’t be enough to spring the upset.
Mississippi State 34-17
That is it for this week, I would love to hear your predictions below.
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