SEC Football: Week 8 picks and predictions
By Matt Green
It’s not a busy week for SEC football, but week 8 still brings us some intriguing matchups to watch.
There are four SEC football games on this week’s slate, while Missouri hosts Idaho out of conference. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt are all on bye weeks.
The third Saturday in October might be one of the best names for any rivalry in college football, but that’s about all it has going for it this year. Kentucky and Mississippi State brought us one of the most entertaining games of the 2016 season when the Wildcats snapped a 7-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. Two SEC West matchups are also on this week’s slate.
Here are my picks for Week 8 of SEC football action:
Tennessee @ (1) Alabama – 3:30 (CBS)
The last time these teams played in Tuscaloosa, the Volunteers nearly came away with a victory, but since Nick Saban arrived, competitive games have been few and far between. Alabama has won by an average of score of 35.1-11.9 under Saban, and only two game have been decided by one possession.
Tennessee is now 3-3 and 0-3 in the conference. The move to start Jarrett Guarantano against South Carolina, as the Volunteers still failed to score an offensive touchdown, something they haven’t done for 10 quarters now. Don’t expect that to change against an Alabama defense that is second in the nation allowing 10.1 points per game.
Alabama 48, Tennessee 3
Kentucky @ Mississippi State – 4:00 (SEC Network)
This game may be the most intriguing game of the weekend. The Wildcats snapped a 7-game losing streak to the Bulldogs last season with a 40-38 win in Lexington. They come into this game at 5-1, and they’re two unguarded receivers away from being 6-0. Statistically, Kentucky has won of the best run defenses in the country, but they haven’t faced a rushing attack as explosive as Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs may be the most difficult team to figure out in the SEC. After a great start to the season, they were run off the field by Georgia and Auburn. Each of these teams is around the middle of the pack in the SEC, but the winner of this game can put themselves in the upper third of the conference. I think the cowbells of Davis-Wade Stadium could be the difference in this game.
Mississippi State 27, Kentucky 24
(24) LSU @ Ole Miss – 7:15 (ESPN)
If you want to talk about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, look no further than the LSU Tigers. I’ll never understand how a team can lose to Troy and then beat Florida and Auburn, but that’s exactly what the Tigers did. There’s finally some momentum in Baton Rouge, but they’d better be careful this weekend.
Ole Miss was supposed to have an explosive offense this season, but they haven’t been as good as advertised. Last week, it looked like they took all of their offensive frustration out on Vanderbilt in their 57-35 win. This is a dangerous game in Oxford for LSU. I think it’ll be close, but the Tigers escape with the win.
More from Southbound and Down
- Texas A&M vs. Auburn: Line, Prediction, TV Channel & Live Stream for SEC Football
- 3 Up’s, 3 Down’s from Georgia’s 24-14 Win Over South Carolina
- Ole Miss Football: Looking back at the Rebels career of Zedrick Woods
- Alabama vs. Ole Miss: Line, Prediction, TV Channel & Live Stream for SEC Football
- “Horns Down” will not be a Penalty in the SEC
LSU 24, Ole Miss 20
(21) Auburn @ Arkansas – 7:30 (SEC Network)
Man, what a difference a week makes in the Southeastern Conference. Up until about 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, things on The Plains were going great. The Tigers were 5-1, ranked no. 10, and up on one of their biggest rivals 20-0 and it wasn’t even halftime. Three hours later, Gus Malzahn is back on the hot seat.
Arkansas is struggling, and without Austin Allen it’s not getting any better. They were blown out 56-3 by the Tigers last season, and while that may serve as motivation, I don’t see it being enough. This just simply isn’t a good football team right now.
Auburn 34, Arkansas 21