Week 5 Betting Lines Released For The SEC, With A Few Marquee Matchups
The SEC had an eventful Saturday, especially with a few unexpected nail-biters. But now, we move on to Week Five in the conference, with some massive games on the docket. This could end up being one of the premier Saturdays of the season.
South Carolina (-6.5) vs. Troy
We will start off with the out-of-conference matchups, which look pretty bleak this weekend. The Gamecocks, coming off a home loss to Kentucky, will host Troy from the SunBelt conference. This Shane Beamer team is looking to get back on the winning side of things, but unfortunately for them, Troy is not a pushover. This will turn out to be an interesting game to bet on. I'd probably stay away from it, but that's on you.
Vanderbilt (-14.5) vs. UConn
The other non-conference game will be a doozy, as UConn will travel to Vanderbilt. The Dores are coming off a putrid performance against Georgia, and the Huskies are just bad, sitting at 0-5 on the season. Not much to talk about here.
Missouri (-3.5) vs. Tennessee
We have an SEC East matchup in Columbia, as Tennessee plays Missouri. The Vols are coming off a loss to Florida, a game in which they made plenty of mistakes but still kept it close at halftime. This will be a nice test for Josh Heupel's team, as they look to grab their first conference win. The same can be said for Missouri, which lost to Boston College in what turned out to be a pretty rough outing for the Tigers' running game. They are 2-2 and looking to grab a win over the Vols.
Texas A&M (-9.5) vs. Mississippi State
Though it could've been a pretty decent matchup a few weeks ago, this one looks pretty tough now. Mississippi State will play Texas A&M on Saturday, with both teams looking to figure out their offensive identity. The Aggies are coming off a loss to Arkansas, while the Bulldogs lost to LSU at home. One would think that Jimbo Fisher could just run the ball all over State, but I don't trust the offense. Unfortunately, the same could be said for Mike Leach.
LSU (-3.5) vs. Auburn
Well, Auburn barely got by Georgia State on Saturday, thanks in part to a horribly called catch late in the 4th. This week will be about QB T.J. Finley, who came in the game to replace Bo Nix. The former LSU QB will travel back to Baton Rouge for this pivotal matchup, maybe even as the starter.
Ed Orgeron and the Tigers took care of Mississippi State and will look to build off the win, especially with a night game at home this Saturday. This game is always fun, and with the craziness of Baton Rouge at night, well, we've got the making of a wild one.
Florida (-8.5) at Kentucky
There is a big game this weekend in Lexington, as Florida will play Kentucky. This could turn into a key game in the SEC East, if the Gators let the Wildcats establish consistency on offense. The problem is, the Florida run game is rolling right now. They had another 250+ yard rushing performance last Saturday. The Gators have the leg up in this one, in many aspects, but they shouldn't take Kentucky lightly. The Wildcats haven't played their best football recently, but they do have weapons that could cause the Gators problems.
Georgia (-19.5) vs. Arkansas
Here we go, the two big games of the weekend. We will start in Athens, as the No. 8 ranked Razorbacks are coming to town and are red hot. This Arkansas team is now 4-0 on the season, after beating Texas A&M in Dallas. Talk about a complete turnaround. Sam Pittman has done an incredible job.
Now for the problem: they are about to face quarterback JT Daniels and a daunting Georgia defense. The Dawgs have been explosive this season, and Kirby Smart has the front seven locked in. This game could go so many different ways. I don't think Vegas really understands how to look at this Arkansas team, which is why the line is so one-sided. Make your own pick, but this one feels a bit off.
Alabama (-14.5) vs. Ole Miss
Lastly, we head to Tuscaloosa, where a showdown between Lane Kiffin and Nick Saban is going down. The Crimson Tide are coming off another non-con game, while the Rebels had the week off. This should turn into an offensive battle, just like we witnessed last season. The Ole Miss defense has been playing much better this season, and that could be the difference maker in this game. We all know these teams can put up a bunch of points. Just enjoy this one and pay attention to the sidelines.
Enjoy the week and get those bets in at FanDuel Sportsbook.