For the first time in a few weeks, there aren’t multiple top-25 matchups involving the SEC. But there is one in Week 8 and it involves the Texas Longhorns. Texas has dropped two in a row and the Longhorns cannot lose another if they hope to make the College Football Playoff this season.
But the Longhorns will welcome in Ole Miss, which is coming off a big win against Missouri. That’s not the only SEC game to pay attention to.
LSU travels to take on an Auburn team that upset Georgia last weekend. Tennessee is headed to South Carolina to take on a hungry Gamecocks team.
Here is how every SEC game might play out this weekend.
MORE: College Football SEC power rankings entering Week 8
No. 11 Tennessee vs. South Carolina
By all accounts, it should be George MacIntyre drawing another start in place of freshman Faizon Brandon on Saturday for the Vols. MacIntyre led Tennessee to a 26-10 win over Alabama last weekend, and while he’s not doing anything special, the Volunteers are winning.
Shockingly, South Carolina is favored to win this game, which feels funny. The Gamecocks are coming off a bye, and they throttled Florida a week before. LaNorris Sellers is playing better football, but this will be a tough challenge against a stingy Tennessee defense.
For the Vols, they not only need their defense to travel, but DeSean Bishop needs to continue to carry the load. While South Carolina is favored, got to take Tennessee on the road here.
Final score: Tennessee 27, South Carolina 24
No. 7 Ole Miss vs. No. 19 Texas
This game might be at Texas, but that meant nothing last week when Florida dominated the game. Star Colin Simmons is Doubtful to play against Ole Miss and we have no idea who will be playing quarterback for Texas. Arch Manning continues to cough up the ball late in games, and freshman KJ Lacey Jr. is getting more first-team reps.
That’s a recipe for disaster for the Longhorns. Ole Miss is feeling pretty good after its 31-3 win over Missouri and the Rebels are rolling on all cylinders. While Texas is having quarterback issues, Ole Miss is not. Trinidad Chambliss remains one of the top signal-callers in college football, and while Texas has a good defense, Ole Miss will move the ball with Chambliss.
Final score: Ole Miss 30, Texas 28
The rest of the games will be quick-hitter style:
- No. 18 LSU 34, Auburn 24
- No. 13 Alabama 38, Texas A&M 24
- Oklahoma 21, Mississippi State 17
- No. 12 Kentucky 34, Vanderbilt 21
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