JessN: SEC Preview and Predictions: Week 1

[JessN]

SEC Preview and Predictions: Week 1
by Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief

It’s time to kick off the 2025 SEC football season with the start of our weekly SEC Preview and Predictions feature. Last year’s record was a solid effort, a 77.5-percent win rate in the first year of a conference expansion cycle. We’ll take it, but we want to do better in 2025 and get closer to what’s considered a “good” win rate of 80 percent. In Week 1, Texas-Ohio State won’t just be the biggest game involving a conference team, it’s the biggest game on the national schedule and may wind up being the biggest single game of the year. In other interesting games, Alabama travels to Florida State, while Auburn visits Baylor for what could be a bigger test for the Tigers than most think.

Last Season’s Record: 100-29 (77.5%)

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SEC Preview and Predictions: Week 1

Last Season’s Record: 100-29 (77.5%) It’s time to kick off the 2025 SEC football season with the start of our weekly SEC Preview and Predictions feature. Last year’s record was a …

news.tidefans.com

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Week 01 Info: Alabama @ FSU (ESPN @ 230pm CT )

• WK01 Games on TV: Thur 8/28 - Fri 8/29 | Sat 8/30 - Mon 9/1
• TideFans.com Gameday Guide
• FSU Gameday Guide [NEW!]
• Bama @ FSU Game Threads: Gameweek | Pre | 1H | 2H | Post
• Other Game Threads
• RADIO | TV: Listen | ABC
  • Hey Coach | 8/27/25
• JessN FSU previews:
  • Florida State Preview: Seminoles Try Again to Find a Portal to Success
  • Projected Depth Chart for Alabama vs. Florida State
  • SEC Preview and Predictions: Week 1
• JessN's 2025 Season Previews:
  • 2025 Fall Preview: Alabama Crimson Tide
  • 2025 SEC Preview: Rating The Units
  • SEC Preview Tiers: Tier IV | Tier |II | Tier |I | Tier I
  • The "Pitfall Post" ... (What I'm most worried about)
• JessN's 2025 Alabama Previews:
  • "Pitfall Post" ... (What I'm most worried about)\
  • QB | RB | WR | OL | DL | LB | DB | ST
• Game Notes: Alabama | FSU
• Weekly Bama News: 8/26/2025 Thru 8/31/2025
• Pick the score: Alabama vs FSU
• All time series record (1896-2022):
  • Bama 3-1-1
  • Streak: Bama won last meeting on 9/3/2017
  • All games have been regular season meetings
• Pick'em Weeks: | 1 |

 

[colbysullivan]

I will literally laugh out loud if LSU loses another opener. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy…

Also, Texas might lose, but I see them scoring more than 19 points…

 

[BamaMoon]

I'm OK with Texas, Auburn and LSU losing this weekend!!!

Not sure about the odds of all three happening, but the meltdown in BR and Lee County would be epic.

UT can lose and rebound, but AU and LSU might go into a tailspin early!

 

[BamaMoon]

So, I guess JessN hasn't dropped the Bama/FSU prediction, yet?

 

[DawgAlum2054]

I will literally laugh out loud if LSU loses another opener. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy…

Also, Texas might lose, but I see them scoring more than 19 points…

I dont know about the 19 points

last year they scored 15 on Georgia, 20 on Arkansas, 17 against TAMU, then 16 on Georgia in regulation

 

[sanjosecrimson]

Jess, you made me LOL on your SEC bias when it came to auburn and Kentucky picks which tells me you are not too confident in your pick. I think both lose on their opening day.

 

[sanjosecrimson]

I'm OK with Texas, Auburn and LSU losing this weekend!!!

Not sure about the odds of all three happening, but the meltdown in BR and Lee County would be epic.

UT can lose and rebound, but AU and LSU might go into a tailspin early!

i actually have all 3 losing!

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I dont know about the 19 points

last year they scored 15 on Georgia, 20 on Arkansas, 17 against TAMU, then 16 on Georgia in regulation

I think Texas wins and scores more than 20 because Manning will be legit and much better than Ewers ever was for Texas.

 

[DawgAlum2054]

I think Texas wins and scores more than 20 because Manning will be legit and much better than Ewers ever was for Texas.

if Manning is as good as media/people think he is then why did he sit behind a 7th round draft pick? We can't honestly say loyalty

 

[tusks_n_raider]

if Manning is as good as media/people think he is then why did he sit behind a 7th round draft pick? We can't honestly say loyalty

Probably some of the same reasons that Ty had to sit behind #4

Ewers was more experienced and had the teams support as a Leader.

I know all we have seen of Manning was against the Cupcake teams but he still looked very good which is better than not looking good.

He’s very technically sound and throws a good catchable ball and is also very mobile and can make plays with his legs.

He was the #1 QB and 5 star recruit for reasons other than his last name.

He’s probably got Sarks system down now like Mac Jones did and is about to break out.

 

[colbysullivan]

I dont know about the 19 points

last year they scored 15 on Georgia, 20 on Arkansas, 17 against TAMU, then 16 on Georgia in regulation

My reasoning is OSU is replacing both coordinators and has a very inexperienced QB. I feel like Texas will have a few more possessions because of this, and I think Manning is going to be as advertised.

 

[Bazza]

SEC Preview and Predictions: Week 1

Last Season’s Record: 100-29 (77.5%) It’s time to kick off the 2025 SEC football season with the start of our weekly SEC Preview and Predictions feature. Last year’s record was a …

news.tidefans.com

The only real question in this game is whether D.J. Lagway will play quarterback for Florida, or take the week off.

Lagway is supposed to start, Jess. It's important because of all the practices and scrimmages he missed this year. You couldn't ask for anything better than his going against an opponent like Long Island, because of this.

Thanks for the predictions thread - always enjoy your write ups! Good luck this season!