Predicting every SEC final score in Week 1: Auburn poised for signature win
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College football is back in full swing, and it all begins on Thursday night. As for the SEC in particular, there will be one game on Thursday and one game on Friday, before you can see every SEC team play on Saturday — along with Sunday.
In this weekly prediction, we are going to preview three games, and then do a quick-hit style for the remaining games. Here is how we see every game shaping up this weekend for SEC teams.
MORE: Predicting Big Ten football scores in Week 1 — Can Wisconsin upset Notre Dame?
East Carolina vs. No. 13 Alabama
Alabama enters the game as a four-touchdown favorite, but there are a lot of reasons to see the Crimson Tide on Saturday. While they might not say it, Kalen DeBoer needs to impress this season, and he will be relying on young QB Keelon Russell to get him victories.
Russell beat out Austin Mack for the starting job and it might be the first time Alabama has had a big unknown at QB in a long time. But it’s a good first test for Russell, playing against East Carolina. The Pirates have a lot of new transfers, but they shouldn’t be any test for Alabama.
Russell has a lot of targets to throw to and it should be a big debut.
Final score: Alabama 34, East Carolina 7
Baylor vs. Auburn
This game will be played in Atlanta, Georgia, and it marks two programs that underachieved a year ago. The Tigers hired USF’s Alex Golesh this offseason and he brought over QB Byrum Brown.
Brown is a dual-threat runner and when these two teams met last year down in Waco, Jackson Arnold crushed Baylor on the ground. The Bears have a new-look defense after hiring Joe Klanderman as their defensive coordinator, but Brown will be the player to watch on Saturday.
Baylor went out and landed DJ Lagway from Florida. Head coach Dave Aranda is squarely on the hot seat, and he needs the former five-star to play like that in order to keep his job. Expect both offenses to move the ball, but Brown and the Tigers will be too much.
Final score: Auburn 31, Baylor 27
Furman vs. No. 25 Tennessee
Another game that should be handled easily, but the home team, a lot like Alabama, Tennessee has a fresh face under center. In a bit of shocking news over the last couple of weeks, the Volunteers named true freshman Faizon Brandon their new starting QB entering the 2026 season.
Brandon might be new, but Tennessee has a lot of returning players on its offense, including WR Mike Matthews. The five-star QB can beat teams with his arm and legs, and this will be a good way to get acclimated to college football.
Furman has former Michigan QB Jake Garcia starting for it on Saturday, and while he has experience, he will struggle against the Volunteers’ defense.
Final score: 56, Furman 10
The rest of the games will be quick-hitter style
- No. 25 Missouri 49, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3
- No. 10 Oklahoma 56, UTEP 3
- South Carolina 34, Kent State 10
- Kentucky 27, Youngstown State 6
- No. 3 Georgia 48, Tennessee State 3
- No. 5 Texas 49, Texas State 10
- Arkansas 41, North Alabama 13
- No. 8 Texas A&M 48, Missouri State 0
- Vanderbilt 24, Austin Peay 9
- No. 11 LSU 27, Clemson 14 (read preview here)
- Mississippi State 30, UL Monroe 10
- Florida 35, Florida Atlantic 13
- No. 9 Ole Miss 31, No. 24 Louisville 21 (read preview here)
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