Tennessee football could laugh its way past struggling Texas A&M, other SEC picks

As SEC football teams head down the stretch of the regular season, road venues often become more hostile.

But not always.

For example, Tennessee’s trip to Kyle Field on Nov. 14 might bear no resemblance to the last time the Vols spent a Saturday in College Station, Texas. That was in 2016 when the Aggies beat the Vols 45-38 in two overtimes.

This week’s visit to Aggieland could be quite different.

The Aggies are floundering, having already lost five of six SEC games, a year after they qualified for the College Football Playoff.

Based on how the Aggies are stumbling through the season, coach Mike Elko is more likely to be booed than Tennessee’s Josh Heupel.

Tennessee 24, Texas A&M 13: A dreadful Aggies season hasn’t been devoid of entertainment, provided you have a sense of humor.

In fact, I was chuckling at the Aggies’ expense while wondering if Texas A&M receivers were wearing mittens against South Carolina. They dropped so many passes I expected quarterback Marcel Reed to feign an injury to his throwing hand and head for the locker room.

However, Texas A&M receivers got upstaged by their defensive backs in the fourth quarter when injured South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers outran the Aggies secondary despite a significant limp.

Texas 24, LSU 20: The Tigers looked so incompetent in a 31-13 home loss to Alabama, the Tide probably thought they were playing the Aggies again.

Meanwhile, LSU fans likely were thinking how closely the Lane Kiffin era resembled the Brian Kelly era.

If the Tigers don’t get better fast, Kiffin will have trouble enlisting celebrities for the Tiger Walk. And actor Kevin Costner might request a body double the next time Kiffin asks him to join the Tigers for a stadium bus ride.

Ole Miss 30, Oklahoma 27: Things are looking up for the Sooners.

Not only did they beat Florida. Brent Venables didn’t even fire one of his assistant coaches while trying to keep a job for which he is outrageously overpaid.

Nebraska-Oklahoma was one of my favorite rivalries, so it pains me to think the Sooners could become the next Nebraska – a once-powerhouse program that has slipped into irrelevance.

But maybe, Venables will turn things around.

You can provide your own punch line.

Kentucky 27, Florida 24: First-year Gators coach Jon Sumrall probably thinks September was a dream when he first wakes up each morning.

The Gators went 4-0 in September. They averaged 53.5 points per game and beat Ole Miss by 24 points.

Florida fans had reason to believe the Gators had hired another Steve Spurrier or Urban Meyer.

Since September, the Gators have lost four of five games while averaging 15.6 points per game, and their fan base must wonder if they have hired the next Billy Napier or Will Muschamp.

South Carolina 27, Arkansas 20: As bad as the Razorbacks have been this season, they at least can boast of not losing to a one-legged quarterback.

That claim might not hold up Nov. 14 if Sellers is still limping on an injured left ankle. He ran/limped 41 yards for a touchdown against Texas A&M.

Alabama 30, Vanderbilt 13: I would never discourage a young man from doing what he loves. But wouldn’t Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis be better off shopping for his next college job than dodging Alabama’s pass rush?

Auburn 20, Mississippi State 15: Because I believe in full disclosure, I admit to almost forgetting about this game.

In fact, I have struggled to remember that Mississippi State is still playing football since quarterback Kamario Taylor was injured.

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Georgia 30, Missouri 17: Kirby Smart is secure in the knowledge that he is the best coach in college football, so he doesn’t have to show off regularly.

But he occasionally needs to remind someone of his exalted status. He reminded Ole Miss of that on Nov. 7 in Georgia’s 42-7 victory at Vaught Hemingway Stadium.

So, Missouri should get off easy Nov. 14.

Record: 73-20 (.785), 61-32 (.656) against the spread.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football could laugh its way past struggling Texas A&M, other SEC picks