Not a bad week overall, but I wouldn’t say I like these weeks with only five games on the schedule. I have to watch other conferences, and that is no fun.
By Steve Wright
Follow @14powerscom
Week Results: 4-1
Closest Pick: Tennessee 48, UT Martin 10. The Actual was Tennessee 65, UT Martin 24. This one could have been 100-10 if Tennessee had not emptied the bench in the second half.
Worst Pick: Texas A&M 31, South Carolina 17. The actual was South Carolina 30, Texas A&M 24. Say what you like about Jimbo Fisher and his recruiting with the Aggies, but his bare MINIMUM brief has to be to beat schools like South Carolina. Amazing work by Beamer and Co., but this is a terrible look in College Station.
Season Results: 61-12 (83.6%). Last week was 83.8%
Byes – Alabama, LSU, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt
Arkansas @ Auburn – Arkansas should have KJ Jefferson back and healthy as their No. 9 rushing attack faces the No. 119 rushing defense in the country. Tank Bigsby showed enough life against Ole Miss to suggest he can do enough on the ground for Auburn to keep this close, but their passing game isn’t where it needs to be this season. Arkansas 35, Auburn 24.
Florida @ (1) Georgia (in Jacksonville) – The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party will be rolling into Jacksonville this weekend in what is always an important (and lucrative) game for the two schools. The Bulldogs are the No. 1 team in the nation, and they should be as healthy – and rested as possible – with laughers over Auburn and Vandy being followed by a week off. Georgia had some scares before that stretch, however, and Florida is good enough on the ground to keep this competitive if Georgia hasn’t improved. I think they have. Georgia 35, Florida 21.
Mizzou @ (25) South Carolina – Lost in the Tennessee and Ole Miss storylines is that South Carolina has been getting it done. They turn the ball over a ton but always seem to find a way to get it done. They did so against Texas A&M last time out, and they will have enough in the arm of Spencer Rattler to win here too. South Carolina 31, Mizzou 21.
(19) Kentucky @ (3) Tennessee – This is scarier for Tennessee than people think. Kentucky has a top-five NFL draft pick talent at quarterback, and the Wildcats have an awkward pay style that keeps every game close (for good and for bad). The Wildcats have also done a good job against high-powered passing games, which the Vols rely on from Hendon Hooker. This will feel like a fight, and don’t be shocked if it is close going into the final few drives. If it isn’t, then Tennessee is even better than we think. Tennessee 31, Kentucky 24.
(15) Ole Miss @ Texas A&M – This is a game that’s important to both the Aggies and the Rebels. Ole Miss needs to win to stay on a glide path to a New Year’s Day bowl. A&M needs to win to enhance their chances of even making a bowl. I think Ole Miss should win but play in College Station you never know what’s going to happen. Ole Miss 31, Texas A&M 21.
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