Welcome to our first edition of the picks panel, where we’ll give winners for 10 games a week every Friday during football season. Obviously, our picks will have an SEC flavor, but we’ll also look at other interesting matchups around the nation. In addition to yours truly, Thomas Duggins (a regular contributor and UT JEM school graduate) and Andrew Robertson (co-host of U.G.O. Sports Saturday’s) will offer weekly predictions with a short explanation for each selection. Hope you enjoy!

South Carolina at Georgia (-3.5)

Andrew: It’s do-or-die time for Georgia after their opening week loss to Clemson. South Carolina’s 17 point win over North Carolina looked better on the scoreboard than it did when watching them on the field. South Carolina’s conditioning looked especially shaky last week against UNC, and I think that is something Georgia can exploit. Winner: Georgia

Thomas: I think Jadeveon Clowney puts on a show against a UGA offensive line that struggled against a mediocre Clemson front 7. For UGA to win Aaron Murray needs to step up and history tells us that will not happen. Winner: South Carolina

Reed: A season-opening loss to Clemson certainly hurt Georgia’s BCS title hopes, but a loss this week would effectively end them. Bulldog QB Aaron Murray is 0-3 against South Carolina in his career and 1-10 vs top 15 teams. Don’t look for that trend to change Saturday as South Carolina’s d-line will wreak havoc on a struggling Georgia offensive front. Winner: South Carolina

Notre Dame at Michigan (-3.5)

Andrew: This has been a crazy rivalry lately. For all the hoopla about Notre Dame losing Golson at QB, Tommy Rees is a respectable replacement and has more experience in big games than Devin Gardner does for Michigan. This is a series where the underdog has had a lot of success in recent years. I expect that trend to continue. Winner: Notre Dame

Thomas: The fighting Irish were awfully lucky last year in many games. I think Michigan on offense is more dynamic than Notre Dame with Gardner at quarterback and their stable of running backs. Winner: Michigan

Reed: Michigan head coach Brady Hoke is undefeated at home and when two teams have equal talent, I have to go with the home team. Winner: Michigan

Florida (-3) at Miami

Andrew: Even though they rarely play anymore, this is still a rivalry game. Miami was more impressive in Week 1, but Florida did play a tougher opponent. Duke Johnson is phenomenal, and I expect him to make some plays, but Florida has a big advantage in the trenches. I think it will be close, and I think Jeff Driskel will be efficient and do just enough for the Gators to get out of Coral Gables with the win. Winner: Florida

Thomas: This game will be close, but that will have more to do with Florida’s ball control and defense than Miami’s talented offense. Duke Johnson is an electric running back, but ultimately the Gators plod their way to another win. Winner: Florida

Reed: Miami’s RB Duke Johnson is electric and has accounted for over 200 all purpose yards in seven of his 13 career games. Florida’s defense ranked 4th nationally against the run last year and has given up just one 100-yard rusher in the last 14 games. Though Florida’s offense is suspect, it’s not bad enough to lose to an ACC team. Winner: Florida 

Texas (-7.5) at BYU

Andrew: Texas started sluggish before throttling New Mexico St. in the 2nd Half on Saturday. BYU started sluggish and finished sluggish against Virginia. I think BYU will play better this week being back home in Provo, but I don’t think they have the athletes to stay with Texas for 4 quarters. Winner: Texas

Thomas: Like any other year, Texas is as talented as any team in the nation. Maybe this is the year they finally play to their talent level. BYU lost to Virginia last week. Enough said. Winner: Texas

Reed: This game could be closer than people think, but even perennial underachiever Mack Brown won’t lose to BYU…at least not while Cougars HC Bronco Mendenhall is on the hot seat. Winner: Texas

Oregon (-23) at Virginia

Andrew: Oregon, much like Tennessee, could have beat their Week 1 opponent by whatever margin they wanted to. Virginia got a good, albeit sloppy, win over BYU, and should be pumped for the start of this one. By the 2nd Half, I expect that excitement to be gone, however. Winner: Oregon

Thomas:  The Ducks fly past the Cavaliers.Too much speed and too many playmakers for a middle-of-the-road ACC team to handle. I expect an abundance of highlight reel plays from the Ducks. Winner: Oregon

Reed: Could this be a trap game for the Ducks? Everyone in Eugene is looking forward to a visit from the Vols next week. That may be enough to keep Oregon from covering the spread, but they won’t lose to a middling ACC team. Winner: Oregon

Arkansas St. at Auburn (-10.5)

Andrew: Auburn wasn’t exactly awe-inspiring in a 7 point win over Washington St. last week, but any win is a good win coming off of a 3 win season. Arkansas St. put up 60+ points in their opener, and are probably a better team than Washington St. I think this game will be extremely close, with Gus Malzahn’s intimate knowledge of the Red Wolves being the difference. Winner: Auburn

Thomas: This game could be interesting, but I think young defensive talents like Montravious Adams make some key plays for the Tigers. Arkansas State has some playmakers like former Vol David Oku, but Gus Malzahn beats his old team with his new one. Winner: Auburn

Reed: If you’re looking for an upset this week, look here. Arkansas State will face an Auburn team that struggled to a 7-point win over lowly Washington State last week. Tiger QB Nick Marshall will have to take care of the football and throw for better than the 99 yards he put up last week for the Tigers to win, and I think he will. Winner: Auburn

Western Kentucky at Tennessee (-13)

Andrew: This has become a trendy upset pick for this weekend. It’s hard to glean much off of Tennessee’s “scrimmage” against Austin Peay last week. They looked how a superior team should look in that type game. Western’s win over UK was impressive, and they are definitely a HUGE step up from the Governors. UK had a lot of success running the ball, and UT’s run game is way better than the Wildcats’ is. That will be the difference in a game that won’t be as close as what a lot of pundits are predicting. Winner: Tennessee

Thomas: WKU has some dynamic playmakers on both sides of the ball. Bobby Petrino is a heck of a coach, but I think the vols eventually wear down WKU with their talented offensive line and the defense makes enough plays for Butch Jones and Co. to grab another win before the road trip to Eugene, Oregon. Winner: Tennessee

Reed: Yes, Western Kentucky is a well-coached team. Yes, they run a balanced offense and have an experienced back seven on defense. And no, that’s not enough to keep the Vols from grinding them into submission with what should be a dominant ground game. Winner: Tennessee

West Virginia at Oklahoma (-21)

Andrew: Oklahoma’s shutout win over Louisiana-Monroe flew under the radar, but I thought it was an impressive win for the Sooners. The Mountaineers were dangerously close to losing to an FCS school. They have a long way to go to match last year’s production on offense, and a struggling offense going against an improved OU defense spells trouble for WVU. Winner: Oklahoma

Thomas: WVU almost lost to William & Mary. Oklahoma wins this in embarrassing fashion. Better question: does Dana Holgerson’s seat start to warm up? Winner: Oklahoma

Reed: Let’s be honest: Losing to WVU would be a very Stoops thing to do. That said, this Sooner team could be a sleeper to make a BCS appearance and should smoke a Mountaineer team that’s missing playmakers on offense. Winner: Oklahoma

Wake Forest at Boston College (-3)

Andrew: BC’s opening week win over Villanova is a better win than you might think. ‘Nova is a solid FCS program. Wake also got a win over an FCS program in Week 1, with their game being played on Thursday versus BC who played on Saturday. Because of the extra couple days of rest, I’ll take Wake in this toss up game. Winner: Wake Forest

Thomas: Give me the Golden Eagles at home. Both teams come off unstylish wins over FCS teams. Games like these are why ACC football is boring. Winner: Boston College

Reed: If you’re looking for a competitive game to watch Friday, look here. Unfortunately it’ll only be competitive because two equally bad teams are playing. This one is a toss up, so I’ll go with a Wake team that is 4-1 on the road against teams with comparable talent to BC in the last five years. Winner: Wake Forest

Miami (OH) at Kentucky (-17)

Andrew: If Mark Stoops didn’t realize how big a rebuilding job he had in front of him, he has a better idea now. UK had some offensive success against WKU, but they are still mired in a QB battle between Whitlow and Smith. Which ever QB starts this week, it probably won’t matter since the RedHawks were soundly defeated by Marshall last week, 52-14. Winner: Kentucky

Thomas: Mark Stoops picks up his first win as UK coach. He needs to cherish this one. It will be one of two games this year where the Cats are not heavy underdogs. Winner: Kentucky

Reed: Kentucky is without a doubt the worst team in the SEC. New head coach Mark Stoops is making waves on the 2014 recruiting trail, but those recruits aren’t around to help the Wildcats this season. Even so, Stoops will pick up his first win this Saturday. Winner: Kentucky