It is yet another heavy SEC bye week in Week 9 and as a result, there are just four games on the schedule. Here is a look at them.
By Steve Wright
Week Results: 5-0. A perfect week, albeit without that many games really being toss-ups.
Closest Pick: Another decent week of picks in general. The closest was the Tennessee at ‘Bama game where I predicted the score wrong by just seven total points – three for the Vols and four for Alabama – and said that the Vols would keep it close with the offense for a while.
Season Results: 61-15 (80.3%). Last week was 78.9%.
Mizzou @ Vandy – Mizzou can’t stop anyone. They have given up 275 yards rushing to five of their last six opponents and they are second to last in the nation against the run. Vanderbilt, however, cannot score the ball – or even really move it effectively – and they are last in the nation in scoring as they average just 13.2 points per game. This one won’t be pretty (at all) but Mizzou will get back to an even 4-4 record. Mizzou 41, Vandy 25.
(1) Georgia @ Florida (In Jacksonville) – This is a weird one as Florida clearly has the talent to give Georgia a run for its money here, but it won’t. The main problem for the Gators is that they have a -7 turnover margin, something that just won’t cut it against a Georgia team that doesn’t make mistakes and that has an NFL-level defensive front ready to eat up the Gators’ run game. Florida will hit some big plays and might even keep it interesting for a minute, but Georgia is just too much this season. Georgia 34, Florida 20.
(10) Ole Miss @ (18) Auburn – Ole Miss has moved up to having the No. 2 offense in the country behind Ohio State and it is a finely balanced attack. Matt Corral has been outstanding at not turning the ball over – the offense has just four of them this entire season – and they are almost guaranteed between 400 and 500 yards of total offense at a minimum just by showing up. Bo Nix has been good enough to keep Auburn humming along, but it is the running game and defense that will have to step up to grind out some clock and slow the Lane Kiffin offensive machine here. They won’t quite succeed. Ole Miss 37, Auburn 27.
(12) Kentucky @ Mississippi State – A couple of teams that lack explosion but that have different ways of moving the ball. Kentucky wants to run on Mississippi State, while the Bulldogs want their short and mid-range passing game to control the clock and move the chains. A big special teams play or two will be important here, but whoever wins on third down most often will come away with the win. Kentucky 27, Mississippi State 20.
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