SEC PICKS: Meyer, Gators taking no prisoners

EDITOR’S NOTE: Opelika-Auburn News sports designer Tim Cottrell picks the winners for this week’s SEC games.

At his core, Urban Meyer isn’t a very interesting guy, at least from what folks like me can tell from the outside.

The Florida coach doesn’t appear particularly dynamic. He doesn’t enjoy talking to the media or fans.

He seems to only have three real interests: Winning football games, doing over-the-top things to convince 18-year-olds to come play for him and avenging slights, real or imagined.

And since Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin’s shots at Meyer and the Gator program were very real, look for a bloodbath in today’s meeting between No. 1 Florida and the Volunteers at the Swamp.

Kiffin first guaranteed a victory over Florida when he was hired, then famously — and erroneously — accused Meyer of cheating in February.

That pretty much cemented the vast arrays of torture the Gators are about to subject Kiffin’s players.

Considering the Vols are back to looking terrible after a one-week interlude, while Florida has been crushing everyone in its path, this probably won’t be close.

Or suitable for women and children.

PICK: Florida 42, Tennessee 10

North Texas at No. 4 Alabama
A week after briefly struggling with a Sun Belt team, the Tide get North Texas, which is suddenly starting to resemble a college football team again.

Regardless, Bama won’t have any problem here.

PICK: Alabama 34, North Texas 6

Southeastern Louisiana at No. 5 Ole Miss
The Rebels’ criminally easy non-conference slate continues.

PICK: Ole Miss 49, SE Louisiana 17

Louisiana-Lafayette at No. 9 LSU
The Tigers have looked fairly underwhelming in their wins over Washington and Vanderbilt, but that’s going to have to catch up to them at a later date, because the Ragin’ Cajuns have no chance.

PICK: LSU 41, Louisiana-Lafayette 14

No. 23 Georgia at Arkansas
Aha! You may not know it now, but this is the game of the day in the SEC. At least tied with the one going on right here in town.

The Hogs are secretly pretty good, and should get a good chance to show it off at home on ESPN against an iffy pack of Dawgs.

PICK: Arkansas 28, Georgia 21

West Virginia at Auburn
I’ve been saying all summer that Auburn would lose this game, as well as all of its road games.

After two good performances, I’m not so sure of that.

However, we do have to remember the two teams they’ve beaten aren’t all that good. We’ll learn quite a bit of who the Tigers are tonight. And right now, I’m still not sure they measure up.

PICK: West Virginia 35, Auburn 31

Louisville at Kentucky
This probably won’t have the drama of the Cardinals’ last visit to Lexington, and especially won’t have the points. It probably will have the same winner, though.

PICK: Kentucky 20, Louisville 13

Mississippi State at Vanderbilt
While Vanderbilt is actually looking decent so far, and State is not, I actually think this could be a pretty good game.

PICK: Vanderbilt 31, Mississippi State 24

Florida Atlantic at South Carolina
Never sleep on Howard Schnellenberger’s Owls. Well, not for a full half anyway.

PICK: South Carolina 35, Florida Atlantic 3

Tim Cottrell is sports designer of the Opelika-Auburn News. He writes a weekly column on college football during the season. You can also read him on the O-A Sports Blog at oanow.com. He can be reached at 737-2511 or .