Week 8 SEC Games
The Bulldogs won’t be hitting the field this week, but there’s still plenty to see around the SEC. Every single game features a ranked team – that can happen when you have EIGHT ranked teams in your conference.
11:00 – #11 South Carolina (-7) at Tennessee, ESPN
The Vols are coming off a bye week, will they be able to summon the same type of game that saw them take Georgia to overtime two weeks ago, or was that just a case of UGA being injured? The Gamecocks are coming off a thrashing of Arkansas in Fayetteville, 52-7. Is that a sign that they are about to tear through weaker competition or is UPig just that bad?
11:00 – #15 Georgia (-7.5) at Vanderbilt, CBS
This is a weird Saturday – three noon kicks with a double-header on CBS? Vanderbilt is at 3-3 and had an off week to prepare for this game. Georgia is still riddled with injuries and coming off a tough loss at home to Missouri. This game was interesting two years ago as UGA D.C. Todd Grantham had to be restrained at the conclusion of the game – now folks in Athens are ready to fire him. Can James Franklin get the ‘Dores back on the map and get that elusive SEC win?
11:21: #22 Florida (-3.5) at #14 Missouri, SEC Network
So who had Mizzou being ranked higher in this game? Still, Florida is favored and it’s in Columbia, MO. Nevertheless, the SEC East runs through Missouri with UF and USC coming to town this week and next. The Tigers lost their QB James Franklin late in the game last week so there are plenty of questions about how good they will be going forward. What has surprised folks in addition to their prolific offense, however, is just how good Mizzou has been on defense. Florida enters with one of the worst offenses in the SEC, but one of the best defenses. This game will be interesting to say the least, even if it gets ugly as far as play on the field.
2:30 – #24 Auburn at #7 Texas A&M (-13.5), CBS
Gus Malzahn has guided the Aubie ship to a 5-1 record, escaping from Mississippi State and Ole Miss at home. The one loss came on the road and that’s where they find themselves this week. A&M is coming off a narrow win on a last second field goal in Oxford last week. Strangely enough, since A&M, Sumlin and Manziel joined the SEC last year, they are only 2-3 at home (6-0 on the road). But this is a tall task for an Auburn team trying to regain their footing in the West – if they do win, however, it could send them back into the thick of things at warp speed.
6:00 – Arkansas at #1 Alabama (-28), ESPN
The Hogs are in free fall mode right now losing four in a row and last week’s game was a 52-7 thumping at home. Alabama is coming off an easy with at Kentucky. This one shouldn’t be close either.
7:00 – #6 LSU (-8) at Ole Miss, ESPN2
This is pretty much always a close game, and last year’s game in Baton Rouge was a classic. The Rebs have lost 3 in a row while the Tigahs have rebounded nicely from their loss in Athens. LSU still has a lot to play for including the SEC West and, in turn, a national championship so they should be focused and ready to go. This is always a big game for OM, and it’s their last in a really tough stretch before the schedule gets considerably more favorable down the stretch.