Welcome to week eight of Pick Six, a weekly column published every Thursday where the RTI team plus a weekly guest picker calls their shots on six games. We’ll do our best to pick the most competitive games each week and will focus heavily on the SEC when possible. Spreads are listed and will occasionally be mentioned in the comments. We’ll keep a running tally of records (straight up, not ATS) throughout the year and compare those to how Vegas fared.
Last week, Daniel and Reed led the way at 5-1 while Houston turned in a 2-4 week. Guest picker Kevin Hughes would up going 3-3. For the year, Daniel is 29-19, Reed is 28-20, Houston is 25-23, our guest pickers are 27-21 and Vegas favorites are 30-18.
This week’s guest picker is Mark Nagi. A former sports anchor for WATE, Nagi does freelance work for various sports site including Outkick The Coverage and Campus Insiders in addition to his full-time job at TDOT.
No. 1 Mississippi State @ Kentucky (-13.5) TV: CBS 3:30 pm Saturday
Daniel: The Wildcats came crashing back to earth last week after getting run out of Baton Rouge by a final of 41-3. I don’t want to say the dream is over for Kentucky, but it’s going to a tough go from here. There’s an argument that they could lose out with Mississippi State, Missouri, Georgia, UT and Louisville still on the schedule. Sure, they could win one or two of those, but the days of facing UT Martin, Ohio and Vandy are over for the Cats. MSU, coming off a bye, is just too good. LSU ran for 300 yards on Kentucky and Dak Prescott and Josh Robinson should have little problem putting up big numbers this week. Winner: MSU 38-10
Houston: Last week finally showed what I’ve thought about Kentucky all season. They are much better and way more talented than they were a year ago, but they are still in the bottom half of the league as far as talent and LSU exposed that. Kentucky’s schedule sets up in a way that may see them lose their final six games of the season. They got stomped by LSU last week and I think Mississippi State picks up where the Tigers left off. Dak Prescott has a field day and Mississippi State has this one wrapped up before halftime. Winner: Mississippi State 45-13
Reed: Kentucky got a welcome back to reality last week after LSU absolutely drubbed them. There’s no doubt the Wildcats have improved, but they’ve beaten up on poor teams thus far and just aren’t ready to compete for the SEC East crown. Stoops is doing an admirable job there and if he sticks around, they’ll have even more success in the future. They need one more win to get bowl eligible and should pick one up against Missouri or Louisville. Mississippi State should be in for a comfortable win this week after a bye week – unless the Dan Mullen to Florida talk is too much of a distraction. I’m betting it won’t be. Kentucky will put up a fight but the Bulldogs should roll. Winner: Dan Mullen’s Contract 42-20
Mark: Earlier this season I said on twitter that Bulldogs QB Dax Prescott has a name that is more fitting for a lacrosse bro living on Long Island than it is for an SEC quarterback. I was informed that his name is actually Dak, not Dax. This is what happens when you aren’t a full time sportscaster anymore. But I digress. He’s a leader and a solid quarterback and could win the Heisman in December.
Kentucky’s cream puff schedule to start the season gave Wildcats fans reason to crow. UK’s 41-3 loss at LSU showed us that Kentucky is who we thought they were. The Bulldogs are going to do bad things to the Wildcats. Winner: Mississippi State 38-10
