6 Best SEC Bets for Week 7 That You Should Consider Backing

David Caraviello

October 10th, 2018

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We’re deep into the nitty-gritty, with only conference matchups on the docket for this Saturday in the SEC, and the league’s heavy hitters running up against one another every week.

Some teams are in the midst of gauntlets that will test both their depth as well as their ability to remain at or near the top of the divisional standings.

Georgia heads to LSU followed by games against Florida, Kentucky and Auburn. Coming off a loss at Florida, LSU gets the Bulldogs before games against Mississippi State and Alabama.

Texas A&M follows an overtime victory over Kentucky with a trip to dangerous South Carolina, and has consecutive trips to Mississippi State and Auburn on deck.

That’s what the SEC does — it tests teams over back-to-back-to-back weekends like no other league. It’s a game of attrition as much as skill, with the top teams managing not just to win but stay healthy in the process.

With that in mind, here what college football betting fans should consider playing forr the six SEC contests on tap this week.

1. Florida at Vanderbilt

   The line: Florida -7 with SugarHouse

   The Gators are overcoming offensive shortcomings with an opportunistic defense that often sets up an improving running game with a short field. That was the case against LSU, which played near-perfect football until visiting the Swamp.

   Florida has covered in four straight games since the home loss to Kentucky, while Vanderbilt has lost three in a row against the spread and whatever mojo it might have gained from nearly upsetting Notre Dame.

   We’ve reached the point where Vanderbilt Stadium hosts more visiting than home fans, creating a welcome atmosphere for Florida to cover the seven-point spread.

   Take Florida -7 with SugarHouse.

2. Missouri at Alabama

   Over/under: 74 with 888Sport

   Repeat after me: death, taxes and the over in an Alabama game. The Tide have gone over in all but one game, and the exception almost deserves an asterisk. Alabama rolled to a 49-7 halftime lead against Ole Miss, took its foot off the accelerator, and fell two points shy of the total.

   We won’t hold that against them, given how the Tide have been piling up points in the weeks since. Expect the run to continue in a 74-point total against Missouri, particularly given that the Tigers present one of the SEC’s worst defenses, plus an offense capable of putting up a few touchdowns itself.

   Bet over 74 with 888Sport.

3. Georgia at LSU

   The line: Georgia -7 with 888Sport

   The shine is off the Bayou Bengals, whose run of red-zone efficiency and turnover-free football was halted in Gainesville.

   LSU is still outperforming expectations, but that Florida made all the fourth-quarter plays it needed makes you wonder how the Tigers will slow the superior offense coming to Death Valley on Saturday.

   Georgia dominated the easier half of its schedule, scoring 38 or more in every game. And that Bulldogs defense has been rock-solid, putting touchdown-favorite Georgia in excellent position to keep the roll going even as the opponents get more difficult.

   Take Georgia -7 with 888Sport.

4. Texas A&M at South Carolina

   The line: Texas -2.5 with SugarHouse

   Give the Gamecocks credit for a storybook comeback last weekend behind a backup quarterback. But also note it came against Missouri, the league’s 13th-worst passing defense.

   South Carolina faces a different challenge against the Aggies, who have covered in five of six games this season. For all the conversation about Texas A&M’s offense, D-coordinator Mike Elko has built the fourth-ranked rushing defense in the country.

   Although Gamecocks’ QB1 Jake Bentley is reportedly to return from his knee sprain, the Aggies have enough to make South Carolina one-dimensional and cover a 2.5-point spread. Grab Texas A&M -2.5 with SugarHouse.

5. Ole Miss at Arkansas

   The line: Ole Miss -6.5 with SugarHouse

   Break up the Hogs! In the midst of a miserable first half to the season, Arkansas has covered in two straight games — that counts for something, right?

   Ole Miss almost doubles Arkansas in average points scored, and although neither defense is anything special, the Razorbacks rank last in the league in scoring and total defense and on paper don’t nearly have the weapons to keep up.

   This game, played in Little Rock, follows another of our rules: Go with the Rebels against bad teams. At 1-5 overall and winless in the SEC, the Razorbacks certainly qualify, even though they’re only 6.5-point underdogs at home.

   Take Ole Miss -6.5 with SugarHouse.

6. Tennessee at Auburn

   Over/under: 47.5 with 888Sport

   Auburn has fallen into another one of its patented offensive funks after scoring just nine points in a beat-down at Mississippi State, and now ranks 13th in the league in scoring offense and 10th in pass offense.

   Tigers offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey was hailed as a savior last season after the magic he worked last with quarterback Jarrett Stidham, but the spark seems to be missing now.

   Tennessee ranks near the bottom of the league in almost every offensive category, and with Auburn misfiring, this doesn’t shape up as a shootout. That over/under total is ridiculously low for a reason. Even so, take under 47.5 with 888Sport.