No. 2 Georgia at No. 4 Alabama
Saturday, Sept. 28 — Bryant-Denny Stadium — Tuscaloosa, Alabama
2:30 p.m. on ABC
This rematch of the 2023 SEC Championship will have major implications on both programs for the remainder of the season. Georgia coach Kirby Smart is only 1-5 versus Alabama, but all five of those losses were to coach Nick Saban, who no longer leads the Crimson Tide. The new man on the sidelines at Bryant-Denny Stadium is Kalen DeBoer, who inherited several of Saban’s recruits.
Alabama has picked up right where it left off, averaging 49 points per game led by redshirt junior quarterback Jalen Milroe. However, the Bulldogs defense is ranked fourth in the country and only allows 6 points per game. Sweet home Alabama — where the Georgia Bulldogs lose!
Prediction: Alabama 24, Georgia 20
No. 21 Oklahoma at Auburn
Saturday, Sept. 28 — Jordan-Hare Stadium — Auburn, Alabama
2:30 p.m. on ABC
The Sooners got a rude welcome to the SEC in Week 4 when they were embarrassed by the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers. One positive note from that game was the changing of the guard at quarterback by coach Brent Venables. Sophomore QB Jackson Arnold fell apart against the Volunteers, totaling three turnovers. The new man in charge is freshman QB Michael Hawkins Jr., who was much more calm under pressure from the orange crush.
Meanwhile, the biggest news out of Auburn is the postgame comments from coach Hugh Freeze regarding the disappointing loss to Arkansas. “If we play them nine more times, we beat them nine times,” Freeze said. The Sooner Schooner rolls in to settle and feast on the War Eagle.
Prediction: Oklahoma 31, Auburn 13
Kentucky at No. 6 Ole Miss
Saturday, Sept. 28 — Vaught-Hemingway Stadium — Oxford, Mississippi
11 a.m. on ABC
Kentucky kept things close with the Georgia Bulldogs in Week 2, so it might try to utilize a similar game plan for a chance at defeating No. 6 Ole Miss. The Rebels have been crushing their opponents so far, dominating all four games by a collective score of 220-22. However, those opponents include Furman, Middle Tennessee, Wake Forest and Georgia Southern.
Senior QB Jaxson Dart has led Ole Miss to the No. 1 passing and scoring offense in the country and looks to continue the same level of play to begin SEC action. The only chance the Wildcats and junior QB Brock Vandagriff have of beating the Rebels is in EA Sports College Football 25.
Prediction: Ole Miss 34, Kentucky 10
South Alabama at No. 14 LSU
Saturday, Sept. 28 — Tiger Stadium — Baton Rouge, Louisiana
6:45 p.m. on SEC Network
LSU is on a three-game win streak following a down-to-the-wire loss to the then-No. 23 USC Trojans to open the season. Redshirt junior QB Garrett Nussmeier has done a great job finding all the elite weapons at wide receiver for the Tigers. However, LSU has a big hole to fill after losing star junior linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. for the season after he suffered a possible torn ACL last week.
South Alabama holds a 2-2 record which includes a 87-10 bashing of Northwestern State in Week 3. No matter how much they miss their defensive captain, the Tigers will come out on top of this catfight against the Jaguars.
Prediction: LSU 45, South Alabama 21
