The SEC season got started with two games last night, as Tennessee narrowly avoided an upset bid from Appalachian State and South Carolina came back to beat Vanderbilt. The schedule continues as 10 more teams kick their season off on Saturday, while Ole Miss has to wait until Monday. Here's how we predict all of those games will go:
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Missouri Tigers
Sat, Sept. 3 - 12:00 pm ET, FS1
Prediction: West Virginia Mountaineers
WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen enters this season firmly on the hot seat, and a loss to Mizzou is something he can't afford. Luckily, Missouri should be one of the worst offensive teams in the country. The Mountaineers win easily.
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. South Alabama Jaguars
Sat, Sept. 3 - 12:00 pm ET, SECN
Prediction: Mississippi State Bulldogs
This is Mississippi State's first game in the post-Dak Prescott era, and while the offense may struggle, they'll be able to work out their kinks against a lesser South Alabama team.
Wisconsin Badgers vs. #5 LSU Tigers
Sat, Sept. 3 - 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Prediction: LSU Tigers
This is easily the Big Ten's biggest game of the weekend. LSU's new defensive coordinator, Dave Aranda, was with the Badgers last season. This is the site of College Gameday, and it'll be fun to watch Leonard Fournette go up against the Wisconsin defense. This game is being played at Lambeau Field.
Expect Fournette's Heisman campaign to get off to a huge start in this one. Yes, Wisconsin as a quality defense and LSU doesn't really have a passing attack, but the Badgers' offense isn't any good, either. In a old-school, hard fought game like this, a player with Fournette's talent will be the difference as the Tigers win by two touchdowns.
Texas A&M Aggies vs. #16 UCLA Bruins
Sat, Sept. 3 - 3:30 pm ET, CBS
Prediction: UCLA Bruins
This is a very underrated Week 1 matchup. Texas A&M is looking to return to national prominence, while UCLA is expected to compete for a playoff berth with star sophomore quarterback Josh Rosen. This game will be very telling as to where both teams stand in the national pecking order.
A ranked team as the underdog? Jump all over that any day. Even though this a true road game for the Bruins, Rosen should have a field day going up against Texas A&M's porous defense. New Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight also might have some struggles in his first game at the helm.
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Sat, Sept. 3 - 4:00 pm ET, SECN
Prediction: Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas returns 14 starters from last year's team, including nine on defense. That unit will be extremely strong, and if they get good play out of first-time quarterback Austin Allen and star tight end Gary Sprinkle, they'll win this one easily. If not, this could be a close game.
#18 Georgia Bulldogs vs. #22 North Carolina Tar Heels
Sat, Sept. 3 - 5:30 pm ET, ESPN
Prediction: North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina is looking to build on last season's 11-3 record, while Georgia is playing their first game under new head coach Kirby Smart. Both teams have College Football Playoff hopes, and the winner puts themselves in position to reach that goal - while the loser doesn't have much of a chance.
I originally picked Georgia to win this game, but I changed my mind after they named Greyson Lambert their starting quarterback over freshman Jacob Eason. He was dreadful down the stretch last season after getting worked by Alabama, passing for just five total touchdowns in the next seven games. UNC will stack the box defensively and force him to beat them, which I don't think he'll be able to do. Heels win outright.
#25 Florida Gators vs. UMass Minutemen
Sat, Sept. 3 - 7:30 pm ET, SECN
Prediction: Florida Gators
UMass won all of three games last year in the MAC. This is an easy opening-season win for the Gators.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Sat, Sept. 3 - 7:30 pm ET, ESPNU
Prediction: Kentucky Wildcats
This is going to be one of the underrated good games of the weekend. Southern Miss has developed a strong program and will give the Wildcats all they can handle. However, head coach Mark Stoops has recruited relatively well, and with them needing a breakout season, they'll play with more urgency down the stretch in a very close win.
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. #20 USC Trojans
Sat, Sept. 3 - 8:00 pm ET, ABC
Prediction: Alabama Crimson Tide
USC has struggled a bit in recent years thanks to coaching issues, but this is still a high-profile matchup. Both are top 20 teams, and there's the whole Lane Kiffin against his former team thing. This one is being held at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
Yes, the Tide are replacing a lot of talent, but let's look at how they've fared in similar games under Nick Saban:
2015: 35-17 win over Wisconsin
2014: 33-23 win over West Virginia
2013: 35-10 win over Virginia Tech
2012: 41-14 win over Michigan
2009: 34-24 win over Virginia Tech
2008: 34-10 win over Clemson
All six of those games were season-opening, neutral site games. We've seen this movie before - Nick Saban will have Alabama ready to play.
Auburn Tigers vs. #2 Clemson Tigers
Sun, Sept. 3 - 9:00 pm ET, ESPN
Prediction: Clemson Tigers
This game would be an even bigger deal if Auburn didn't struggle so badly last year. Still, it's still a solid ACC-SEC matchup and one that Clemson must win to help their College Football Playoff hopes.
Even though this is a true road game, Clemson is the much more talented (and experienced) team. Auburn may keep it close for a half because they're playing at home, but Deshaun Watson and company will win this game by at least two touchdowns.
#11 Ole Miss Rebels vs. #4 Florida State Seminoles
Mon, Sept. 5 - 8:00 pm ET, ESPN
Prediction: Florida State Seminoles
Both Ole Miss and FSU have College Football Playoff hopes, but a loss will hurt those. This is the premier game of Week 1, and it should be a thrilling matchup between two Top 10 caliber teams. This is another neutral site game, but it's in Orlando, essentially making it a Florida State home game.
Many view Ole Miss as a dark horse in the SEC, but they simply won't be able to match up with FSU in this one. The Rebels are dealing with plenty of roster turnover, and the Seminoles return 18 starters from last year's team - including Heisman candidate Dalvin Cook. Redshirt freshman Deondre Francois will be making his first career start, but Cook will make that transition very easy. Noles win by 10.
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