SEC football Week 1 predictions: Our experts pick the winner of every game

usa today sports network

Wed, Aug 31, 2022, 4:55 PM·6 min read

SEC football gets underway this week in full force, with all 14 teams in action after last weekend's one-game appetizer when Vanderbilt visited Hawaii.

There will be cupcakes for those who like their dessert early, but a few main courses involving ranked teams facing each other like Georgia vs. Oregon, Cincinnati visiting Arkansas and Utah at Florida.

The USA TODAY Sports Network is picking the winner of every game. Here's how they see the first full week of action playing out.

BEST AND WORST: Two-loss Alabama? Undefeated Georgia? Best- and worst-case scenarios for every SEC football team

22 FOR '22: 22 questions I have about SEC football teams for the 2022 season | Toppmeyer

SEC FOOTBALL UNFILTERED PODCAST: From Alabama supremacy to Heisman to hot seat, some last rapid-fire SEC football predictions

Thursday

Ball State at Tennessee

Emily Adams, Greenville News: Tennessee

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Tennessee

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: Tennessee

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: Tennessee

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Tennessee

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Tennessee

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Tennessee

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: Tennessee

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: Tennessee

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: Tennessee

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: Tennessee

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Tennessee

Louisiana Tech at Missouri

Emily Adams, Greenville News: Missouri

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Missouri

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: Missouri

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: Missouri

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Missouri

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Missouri

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Missouri

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: Missouri

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: Missouri

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Missouri

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: Missouri

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Missouri

Saturday

Sam Houston at Texas A&M

Emily Adams, Greenville News: Texas A&M

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Texas A&M

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: Texas A&M

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: Texas A&M

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Texas A&M

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Texas A&M

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Texas A&M

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: Texas A&M

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: Texas A&M

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Texas A&M

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: Texas A&M

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: Texas A&M

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Texas A&M

Oregon vs. Georgia (Atlanta)

Emily Adams, Greenville News: Georgia

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Georgia

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: Georgia

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: Georgia

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Georgia

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Georgia

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Georgia

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: Georgia

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: Georgia

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Georgia

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: Georgia

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: Georgia

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia

Cincinnati at Arkansas

Emily Adams, Greenville News: Cincinnati

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Arkansas

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: Arkansas

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: Arkansas

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Arkansas

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Arkansas

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Arkansas

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: Arkansas

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: Arkansas

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Arkansas

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: Arkansas

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: Arkansas

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Arkansas

Troy at Ole Miss

Emily Adams, Greenville News: Ole Miss

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Ole Miss

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: Ole Miss

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: Ole Miss

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Ole Miss

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Ole Miss

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: Ole Miss

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: Ole Miss

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Ole Miss

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: Ole Miss

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Ole Miss

Utah at Florida

Emily Adams, Greenville News: Utah

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Florida

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: Utah

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: Utah

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Florida

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Utah

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Utah

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: Utah

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: Utah

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Utah

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: Florida

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: Utah

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Utah

Miami (Ohio) at Kentucky

Emily Adams, Greenville News: Kentucky

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Kentucky

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: Kentucky

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: Kentucky

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Kentucky

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Kentucky

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Kentucky

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: Kentucky

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: Kentucky

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Kentucky

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: Kentucky

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: Kentucky

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Kentucky

Mercer at Auburn

Emily Adams, Greenville News: Auburn

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Auburn

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: Auburn

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Auburn

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Auburn

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Auburn

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: Auburn

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: Auburn

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Auburn

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: Auburn

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: Auburn

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Auburn

Elon at Vanderbilt

Emily Adams, Greenville News: Vanderbilt

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Vanderbilt

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: Vanderbilt

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: Vanderbilt

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Vanderbilt

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Vanderbilt

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Vanderbilt

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: Vanderbilt

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: Vanderbilt

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Vanderbilt

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: Vanderbilt

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: Vanderbilt

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Vanderbilt

Utah State at Alabama

Emily Adams, Greenville News: Alabama

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Alabama

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: Alabama

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Alabama

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Alabama

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Alabama

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: Alabama

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: Alabama

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Alabama

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: Alabama

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: Alabama

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Alabama

Memphis at Mississippi State

Emily Adams, Greenville News: Mississippi State

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Mississippi State

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: Mississippi State

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: Mississippi State

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Mississippi State

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Mississippi State

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: Mississippi State

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: Mississippi State

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Mississippi State

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: Mississippi State

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Mississippi State

Georgia State at South Carolina

Emily Adams, Greenville News: South Carolina

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: South Carolina

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: South Carolina

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: South Carolina

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: South Carolina

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: South Carolina

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: South Carolina

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: South Carolina

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: South Carolina

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: South Carolina

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: South Carolina

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: South Carolina

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: South Carolina

Sunday

LSU vs. Florida State (New Orleans)

Emily Adams, Greenville News: LSU

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: LSU

Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal: LSU

Bennett Durando, Montgomery Advertiser: LSU

Aria Gerson, Tennessean: LSU

Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: LSU

Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: LSU

Christina Long, Southwest Times Record: Florida State

Koki Riley, Daily Advertiser: LSU

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: LSU

Matt Stahl, Columbia Daily Tribune: LSU

Nick Suss, Clarion Ledger: LSU

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: LSU

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: SEC football Week 1 predictions: Experts pick the winner of every game

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