The ultimate Saturday in September contains some scintillating matchups within the SEC which can be sure to have convention and division title ramifications down the highway. In one of many headlining video games of Week 4, No. 20 Florida heads to Rocky High to tackle No. 11 Tennessee within the SEC on CBS Recreation of the Week. The 2 rivals wish to vault again into the nationwide image, and there is not any higher place to make an announcement than in entrance of greater than 100,000 followers inside Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Elsewhere, No. 10 Arkansas and No. 23 Texas A&M tee it up at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in an outdated Southwest Convention rivalry sport that was rekindled within the SEC when the Aggies joined the convention in 2012. 

Let’s take a spin across the convention and makes some picks for the video games that includes SEC groups in Week 4.

Appetizer: Types make fights

The rivalry between the Gators and Volunteers shall be determined by how the sport is definitely performed. The Volunteers offense is construct to crank up the tempo, put on down a protection and power each sport right into a shootout. Florida, then again, is the second-best speeding group within the nation by way of yards per try (6.42), and has a quarterback in Anthony Richardson who hasn’t tossed a landing cross but this season. Richardson has, nevertheless, scored 3 times on the bottom and is averaging 5.58 yards per carry (together with sack yardage).

What has flown beneath the radar is the work of Tennessee’s protection this season. The Vols rank third within the SEC in tackles for loss per sport (7.33) and sacks per sport (2.67). That success shall be examined towards a Gators squad that ranks second within the SEC in tackles for loss allowed (8) and sacks allowed (2). 

If Tennessee dictates fashion, it is laborious to think about a state of affairs the place Richardson and Co. make this a lot of a battle. 

Most important course: Are the Aggies again?

The reply is an emphatic “no.” Final Saturday’s win over No. 25 Miami was good, however a lot of the issues that existed previous to the quarterback change from Haynes King to Max Johnson nonetheless exist regardless of the win over the Hurricanes. The Aggies are tied with Navy for the fewest purple zone journeys within the nation (3). That is proper, Iowa’s offense — which has been the punchline to infinite jokes throughout the nation — has been to the purple zone extra (4) than Texas A&M. If there’s an oz. of excellent information baked into that stat it is that the offense has cashed in all three of these visits into touchdowns.

The apparent rebuttal from Aggie defenders is that it has scored from exterior of the purple zone. That’s true. It has a complete of 5 touchdowns from exterior the go zone, bringing its grand whole to … look ahead to it … eight. That is ok to rank final within the SEC and No. 102 within the nation, tied with a number of groups together with famous offense juggernaut UConn.

Texas A&M obtained a win over a ranked group final weekend and Johnson did not flip the ball over. That is nice. However all it did was forestall this season from spiraling into a complete catastrophe. 

The Georgia quarterback is (+1200) at Caesars Sportsbook to win school soccer’s most prestigious particular person award, and that’s, by far, one of the best worth guess on the board. Bennett has 5 touchdowns, zero interceptions and has the second-best passer ranking within the SEC at 183.48. He’s fifth nationally and No. 1 within the SEC in completion share on passing downs (73.1%), and ranks eighth nationally in yards per try (11.13) when the Bulldogs are 7 or extra yards away from a primary down. 

A very powerful stat for Bennett, nevertheless, is that he is accomplished 0.0% of his passes within the fourth quarter — and that is as a result of he hasn’t tried one. He would possibly throw one this week towards Kent State, nevertheless it’s unlikely that it’s going to imply an terrible lot. Bennett is not a sport supervisor. He is a difference-maker. Extra importantly, although, is that offensive coordinator Todd Monken has made a concerted effort to run the offense by way of his veteran quarterback.

Picks

Straight up: 29-7 | Towards the unfold: 14-16-1
*Earlier picks have been made on Instagram since SEC Smothered & Lined begins in Week 3

Kent State at No. 1 Georgia

The development of Bennett not making an attempt a cross within the fourth quarter will proceed in what shall be a blowout win over the Golden Flashes. Coach Kirby Sensible will name off the canines early figuring out that the meat of the SEC schedule is correct across the nook. He is aware of that championship-level depth is required to win a nationwide title, and he’ll use this chance to construct much more depth. That shall be sufficient to maintain the sport inside 45 factors. Decide: Kent State (+46)

Penn State’s defensive entrance dominated Auburn’s offensive line final weekend, which performed an enormous half within the blowout over the Tigers. Missouri cannot actually try this, and that shall be an enormous issue on this matchup. It is no secret that Auburn’s quarterback place is a multitude. TJ Finley is banged up, Robby Ashford is not constant within the passing sport and Zach Calzada can not seem to discover the sphere. These points, although, will power coach Bryan Harsin to get operating backs Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter into the sport plan in all kinds of how. That’ll be sufficient to get a win, and I am going to reluctantly decide Auburn to cowl as properly. Decide: Auburn (-7)

Simply once I begin to purchase Bulldogs inventory, they go to Loss of life Valley and fall to underdog LSU. I will purchase extra towards Bowling Inexperienced, although. Quarterback Will Rogers will gentle up a cross protection that ranks final within the MAC (345.7 yards per sport) and has let opposing quarterbacks full 71.2% of his passes. The large unfold scares me a bit, however not sufficient to stroll the plank on Mike Leach’s Bulldogs. Decide: Mississippi State (-30)

No. 20 Florida at No. 11 Tennessee

Featured Recreation | Tennessee Volunteers vs. Florida Gators

It’s not possible to belief Richardson in a shootout, and that is precisely what Tennessee’s offense — led by quarterback Hendon Hooker — will do on Saturday afternoon. The underrated Volunteers protection will create sufficient havoc performs to maintain the Gators off schedule, which can spell catastrophe for a Gators offense that is not a menace by way of the air in any respect. The celebration on Rocky High after beating Florida for the primary time since 2016 shall be legendary. Decide: Tennessee (-10.5)

Featured Recreation | Ole Miss Rebels vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Advertisement

Are you shopping for into the Rebels but? You need to. Coach Lane Kiffin has confirmed by way of three video games that the muse of the offense is its stellar run sport led by Zach Evans and Quinshon Judkins, and Tulsa’s porous rush protection (159 yards per sport) may have an extremely tough time slowing down this freight practice. That, coupled with a wildly underrated protection, shall be greater than sufficient for Kiffin’s crew to cruise. Decide Ole Miss (-21)

Featured Recreation | Kentucky Wildcats vs. Northern Illinois Huskies

Advertisement

This sport screams “backdoor cowl.” Kentucky quarterback Will Levis has mixed with freshman Dane Key to create one of the explosive offenses in current reminiscence in Lexington, Kentucky, and coach Mark Stoops is aware of that shall be a key to his success shifting ahead. Due to that, count on Stoops to place this one in cruise management early within the second half. In any case, he is aware of a showdown at Ole Miss is looming subsequent week and can need his group to be at 100% for subsequent week’s huge sport. Decide: Northern Illinois (+25.5)

No. 10 Arkansas at No. 23 Texas A&M

Featured Recreation | Texas A&M Aggies vs. Arkansas Razorbacks

Advertisement

Arkansas ranks third within the SEC in third-down conversions (48.89%), which signifies that it could possibly replicate the identical sport plan that Appalachian State used towards the Aggies two weeks in the past and personal the time of possession battle. Nonetheless, it’s going to have the ability to execute higher with the SEC’s main rusher, Raheim Sanders (146.67 yards per sport), and dual-threat bruiser KJ Jefferson at quarterback. The Aggies will not have the ability to money within the few scoring alternatives that it will get, and the Razorbacks will win this one outright. Decide: Arkansas (+2.5)

The Crimson Tide have not found out how one can stretch the sphere deep on a constant foundation, and the Commodores will present the right tune-up earlier than they attain the meat of the SEC schedule. The ‘Dores are giving up 274 yards per sport by way of the air, so count on Younger to come back out sizzling and construct an enormous lead. Vandy has sufficient offensive weapons to maintain this one inside 40 factors, although, even when we’ve to sweat out a possible backdoor cowl. Decide: Vanderbilt (+40.5)

I am nonetheless not utterly bought on LSU’s offensive line, nevertheless it actually appeared higher final week towards Mississippi State. New Mexico is averaging 2.67 sacks per sport, and that’ll be ok power LSU behind the sticks and into punting conditions greater than anticipated. Plus, count on extra from Tigers operating again John Emery Jr. after his first sport in almost two years final week. He’ll have success but additionally drain the clock and stop his group from overlaying. Decide: New Mexico (+31)

Featured Recreation | South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Charlotte 49ers

Advertisement

Every part went unsuitable for the Gamecocks final week within the loss to Georgia, however Charlotte will present the right alternative to get proper earlier than the remainder of the SEC schedule will get cranked up. The 49ers cross protection is atrocious (320.5 yards per sport), and coach Shane Beamer will look to get quarterback Spencer Rattler as snug as doable earlier than we change the calendar to October. Decide: South Carolina (-22)

Which school soccer picks are you able to make with confidence in Week 4, and which High 25 favourite will go down laborious? Go to SportsLine to see which groups will win and canopy the unfold — all from a confirmed laptop mannequin that has returned greater than $3,300 in revenue over the previous six-plus seasons — and discover out.