Here we are, college football fans: Week 1 is finally here, and the SEC will celebrate the start of the 2023 season with a plethora of cupcakes.
The crown jewel of the season opener is No. 5 LSU vs. No. 8 Florida State in Orlando (even with Hurricane Idalia making landfall on Wednesday). The Tigers will finish up the SEC’s opening-week schedule on Sunday, looking to avenge their heartbreaking loss to the Seminoles with a definitive win to open Brian Kelly’s second season in Baton Rouge.
Elsewhere, No. 1 Georgia, No. 3 Alabama and all but four SEC teams will open their season against a non-Power 5 opponent. They should have no problem scoring their first victory of the season, but there are some intriguing matchups elsewhere in the conference
No. 10 Tennessee on Thursday will play Virginia in Nashville, Tenn. That game became a lot more interesting after Vols athletic director Danny White publicly refuted ever offering Tony Elliott the Vols’ coaching job. South Carolina will play No. 20 North Carolina in Charlotte, N.C., and Florida will take on No. 14, defending Pac-12 champion Utah in Salt Lake City.
PRESEASON ALL-SEC TEAM: Alabama, Georgia lead way with 14 selections each
USA TODAY Sports Network experts wi:ll pick their winners for every SEC contest throughout the season. Here’s how they think forecast Week 1 to play out:
SEC predictions for Week 1 games
Florida at No. 14 Utah
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Utah
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: Utah
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: Utah
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: Utah
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Utah
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Utah
Emily Adams, Greenville News: Utah
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Utah
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: Utah
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Utah
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: Utah
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: Utah
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: Utah
South Dakota at Missouri
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Missouri
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: Missouri
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: Missouri
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: Missouri
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Missouri
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Missouri
Emily Adams, Greenville News: Missouri
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Missouri
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: Missouri
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Missouri
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: Missouri
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: Missouri
No. 10 Tennessee vs. Virginia (Nashville, Tenn.)
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Tennessee
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: Tennessee
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: Tennessee
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: Tennessee
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Tennessee
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Tennessee
Emily Adams, Greenville News: Tennessee
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: Tennessee
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Tennessee
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: Tennessee
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: Tennessee
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: Tennessee
Ball State at Kentucky
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Kentucky
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: Kentucky
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: Kentucky
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: Kentucky
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Kentucky
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Kentucky
Emily Adams, Greenville News: Kentucky
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Kentucky
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: Kentucky
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Kentucky
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: Kentucky
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: Kentucky
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: Kentucky
SEC PREVIEW 2023: SEC conference preview: Georgia has company with Alabama, LSU Tennessee in chase
Mercer at No. 22 Ole Miss
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Ole Miss
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: Ole Miss
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: Ole Miss
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: Ole Miss
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Ole Miss
Emily Adams, Greenville News: Ole Miss
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Ole Miss
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Ole Miss
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: Ole Miss
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: Ole Miss
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: Ole Miss
UMass at Auburn
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Auburn
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: Auburn
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: Auburn
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Auburn
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Auburn
Emily Adams, Greenville News: Auburn
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Auburn
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: Auburn
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Auburn
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: Auburn
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: Auburn
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: Auburn
Western Carolina at Arkansas
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Arkansas
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: Arkansas
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: Arkansas
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: Arkansas
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Arkansas
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Arkansas
Emily Adams, Greenville News: Arkansas
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Arkansas
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: Arkansas
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Arkansas
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: Arkansas
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: Arkansas
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: Arkansas
Southeast Louisiana at Mississippi State
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Mississippi State
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: Mississippi State
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: Mississippi State
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: Mississippi State
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Mississippi State
Emily Adams, Greenville News: Mississippi State
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Mississippi State
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Mississippi State
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: Mississippi State
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: Mississippi State
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: Mississippi State
UT Martin at No. 1 Georgia
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Georgia
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: Georgia
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: Georgia
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: Georgia
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Georgia
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia
Emily Adams, Greenville News: Georgia
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Georgia
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: Georgia
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Georgia
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: Georgia
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: Georgia
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: Georgia
New Mexico at No. 25 Texas A&M
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Texas A&M
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: Texas A&M
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: Texas A&M
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: Texas A&M
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Texas A&M
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Texas A&M
Emily Adams, Greenville News: Texas A&M
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Texas A&M
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: Texas A&M
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Texas A&M
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: Texas A&M
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: Texas A&M
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: Texas A&M
Alabama A&M at Vanderbilt
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Vanderbilt
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: Vanderbilt
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: Vanderbilt
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: Vanderbilt
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Vanderbilt
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Vanderbilt
Emily Adams, Greenville News: Vanderbilt
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Vanderbilt
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: Vanderbilt
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Vanderbilt
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: Vanderbilt
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: Vanderbilt
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: Vanderbilt
Middle Tennessee at No. 3 Alabama
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: Alabama
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: Alabama
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: Alabama
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: Alabama
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Alabama
Emily Adams, Greenville News: Alabama
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: Alabama
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: Alabama
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Alabama
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: Alabama
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: Alabama
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: Alabama
South Carolina vs. No. 20 North Carolina (Charlotte, N.C.)
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: North Carolina
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: North Carolina
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: South Carolina
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: North Carolina
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: South Carolina
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: South Carolina
Emily Adams, Greenville News: North Carolina
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: South Carolina
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: North Carolina
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: North Carolina
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: North Carolina
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: North Carolina
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: North Carolina
No. 5 LSU vs. No. 8 Florida State (Orlando, Fla.)
Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News: LSU
Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record: LSU
Koki Riley, The Daily Advertiser: LSU
Richard Silva, The Montgomery Advertiser: Florida State
Stefan Krajisnik, Clarion Ledger: LSU
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: LSU
Emily Adams, Greenville News: LSU
Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel: LSU
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: LSU
Aria Gerson, Tennessean: Florida State
Ryan Black, The Courier Journal: Florida State
Calum McAndrew, Columbia Daily Tribune: LSU
Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun: Florida State
