By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent
Alabama Week 3 Review
Alabama’s first trip to Big 10 Country in over a decade ended with a dominant 42-10 victory over Wisconsin. Led by five total touchdowns from Jalen Milroe, the Crimson Tide offense looked crisper and bigger and stronger and faster than the Badgers on both sides of the ball. Milroe threw for 196 yards and three scores while adding 75 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Freshman wide receiver sensation Ryan Williams hauled in four passes for 78 yards and a touchdown as UA improved to 3-0 overall. Alabama has the week off before Georgia visits Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Auburn Week 3 Review
In a surprising decision, Hugh Freeze elected to start redshirt freshman quarterback Hank Brown last week over Payton Thorne. Brown looked sharp in his debut as the Tigers cruised to a 45-19 victory over New Mexico. The Auburn defense struggled in the first half and the Tigers only led 17-13 at halftime. However, Brown and the Auburn offense started clicking in the third quarter as they piled up 503 total yards on the night. Brown threw for 235 yards and four touchdowns, while Jarquez Hunter rushed for 152 yards and a score as Auburn improved to 2-1. The Tigers open SEC play on Saturday, Sept. 21, when Arkansas visits Jordan-Hare Stadium.
SEC Week 3 Rankings
1. Texas (3-0)
2. Georgia (3-0, 1-0)
3. Tennessee (3-0)
4. Alabama (3-0)
5. Ole Miss (3-0)
6. Missouri (3-0)
7. LSU (2-1, 1-0)
8. Oklahoma (3-0)
9. Texas A&M (2-1, 1-0)
10. South Carolina (2-1, 1-1)
11. Arkansas (2-1)
12. Auburn (2-1)
13. Kentucky (1-2, 0-2)
14. Vanderbilt (1-2)
15. Florida (1-2)
16. Mississippi State (1-2)
Week 4 Previewsand Predictions
Last week: 10-3; season: 34-10
Game of the Week: Tennessee at Oklahoma (+7). Boomer Sooner’s first conference game as a member of the SEC is the biggest matchup in the country when Tennessee visits Norman on Saturday. Josh Heu-pel, who won a national championship as a starting quarterback at Oklahoma in 2000, returns to Norman with one of the most prolific offenses in the country, led by quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Unlike the Oklahoma teams under Bob Stoops and Lincoln Riley, this Sooners team is led by a dominant defense under head coach Brent Venables, who was the co-defensive coordinator under Stoops the year Oklahoma won its last national championship. On paper, this looks like a potential shootout, but the defenses are strong for both teams. Prediction: Tennessee 30, Oklahoma 23.
Florida at Mississippi State (+6). The most disappointing teams in the SEC through three weeks have been the Gators and the Bulldogs. Florida was not expected to contend this year, but the Gators have regressed even further in Year 3 of the Billy Napier era, who might not have much time left in his tenure. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Jeff Lebby in his first season in Stark-ville, but no one expected rebuilding to mean getting blown out at home by Toledo. Prediction: Florida 23, Mississippi State 20.
Ohio at Kentucky (-20). A week after an abysmal performance in a home loss to South Carolina, the Wildcats nearly upset top-ranked Georgia at home a week ago. The Bulldog escaped with a 13-12 victory, but it was a much better performance from Kentucky. Mark Stoops has an opportunity to get things back on track on Saturday versus an undermanned Ohio team. Prediction: Kentucky 31, Ohio 10.
UCLA at LSU (-24). It wasn’t pretty, but LSU escaped Columbia, South Car-olina with a 36-33 win to open up SEC play. The Tigers are not good defensively, but the offense is one of the best in the country. LSU faces another Power 4 opponent on Saturday, but this UCLA team is one of the worst teams in the country. Prediction: LSU 52, UCLA 16.
Arkansas at Auburn (-3). It’s been an up-and-down start for both the Razorbacks and the Tigers, and Saturday’s matchup has the potential to get downright weird. Both teams are capable of big plays and allowing big plays and are more than capable of committing mystifying turnovers. Auburn has the advantage at home, but this game has the makings of coming down to the wire. Prediction: Auburn 34, Arkansas 30.
Vanderbilt at Missouri (-20). After a sluggish start, Missouri kept its undefeated season alive with a comeback win over Boston College. The Tigers struggled for most of the game, but Brady Cook and the Mizzou offense started rolling late in the second half. Vanderbilt lost its first game of the season in a last-second defeat at Georgia State, and the Commodores are a heavy road underdog to open SEC play. Prediction: Missouri 34, Vanderbilt 20.
Bowling Green at Texas A&M (-23). The Aggies won their first true road game in three years in a dominant performance at Florida and did so with a second-string quarterback. Connor Weigman missed the game due to injury and backup freshman Marcel Reed shined in his debut. Bowling Green nearly upset Penn State two weeks ago, so this could be a dangerous trap game with Arkansas on deck. Prediction: Texas A&M 38, Bowling Green 13.
Akron at South Carolina (-28). Shane Beamer’s crew nearly pulled off a massive upset over LSU, and this week offers an opportunity to get back on track against a struggling Akron squad. LaNorris Sellers was injured last week, and this is a different Gamecock squad if he’s not in the lineup. Prediction: South Carolina 38, Akron 7.
Georgia Southern at Ole Miss (-36). The Rebels have faced a very easy schedule thus far, but they’ve done exactly what a great team should do against inferior opponents. Ole Miss breezed past Wake Forest 40-6 on the road last week and return home for one final tune-up before SEC play begins. Prediction: Ole Miss 55, Georgia Southern 13.
UL-Monroe at Texas (-44.5). Star Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers went down with an oblique injury in the Longhorns’ dominant win over UTSA, but backup Arch Manning took over and didn’t miss a beat. Manning might get his first career start this Saturday against UL-Monroe, and Texas looks like the best team in the country right now regardless of who is under center. Prediction: Texas 52, UL Monroe 3.