SEC Football Predictions: Week 10

This sort of article only works if there is some sense of accountability. With that said this is how we are doing so far in 2017: 

By Steve Wright

• Last week: 5-1
• Misses: Texas A&M winning was the only miss of the week.
• Closest prediction: South Carolina by 7. They beat Vandy by exactly that margin (34-27).
• Worst prediction: Texas A&M by 7. Mississippi State won by 21 in a huge road victory.
• Season so far: 53-23

We are up to nine games this week as a number of SEC schools play teams they should destroy in non-conference play. Here are the predictions:

Saturday, November 4

Texas A&M vs. (14) Auburn – Both these teams are still alive in the SEC West race, even if the Aggies now need some help after a loss last weekend. Losing two out of their last three means Kevin Sumlin needs a win to stop the talk of yet another second half of the season collapse, while Auburn has kind of flattered to deceive as the presumed challenger for Alabama in the division. The Tigers have had a week off to prepare for this one and their players know a win is vital with Georgia and the Crimson Tide looming in the near future. Prediction: Auburn by 7.

(16) Mississippi State vs. UMass – This is a classic trap game situation. The Bulldogs may have had the most impressive win in the conference last weekend against the Aggies in College Station and next week they welcome Alabama to what is sure to be a rocking atmosphere in Starkville. UMass is a bad football team, but these are known as trap games for a reason, especially as the Minutemen have gone from 0-6 to 2-6 in the last two weeks. Prediction: Mississippi State by 21.

Missouri vs. Florida – It was nice knowing you Jim McElwain. Now it is time for the Gators to get back on the field after a week that was much more impactful on the future of the program behind the scenes. Florida can still go bowling, but winning three out of four seems unlikely for a team that has lost three in a row and has no ability to pass the ball. Mizzou just put up 120 points in two weeks (admittedly against Idaho and UConn) but when the Tigers offense is humming it is a difficult one to stop. Prediction: Mizzou by 14.

Vanderbilt vs. Western Kentucky – Vanderbilt needs this win in the worst way if the Commodores hope to go bowling this season. Finding three wins from their last four games is possible (they play Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee after WKU) but a win over the Hilltoppers is a must. Western Kentucky comes in with a 5-3 record, but four of those five wins have been over the dregs of the FBS. Western Kentucky cannot stop the run so this is finally the week the Vandy ground game will get going again. Prediction: Vandy by 10.

(1) Georgia vs. South Carolina – Georgia gets an interesting chance to show that it is worthy of the No. 1 rating it now carries with the visit of South Carolina on Saturday. The Gamecocks just keep winning in their special, under the radar way and suddenly they are 6-2 and in line for a very nice bowl game. An upset of Georgia here though and the ‘Cocks could still even win the SEC East. Prediction: Georgia by 14.

Kentucky vs. Ole Miss – Kentucky has a bowl bid locked up at 6-2 and now the Wildcats can have a little fun down the stretch and see where their win total takes them. A Georgia loss somewhere would mean that Kentucky still has a shot at the SEC Title Game, but the Wildcats won’t look past an Ole Miss squad that is in a weird place without quarterback Shea Patterson at the helm. Jordan Ta’amu bombed away last week against Arkansas, can he do the same against Kentucky? Prediction: Ole Miss by 7.

Arkansas vs. Coastal Carolina – The Chanticleers are 1-7 and riding a seven-game losing streak despite not having played a single Power 5 team. There is nothing to suggest that changes this week against an Arkansas squad looking for wins to ensure a bowl game. Prediction: Arkansas by 28.

Tennessee vs. Southern Miss – Getting John Kelly back after a suspension is massive for a Tennessee team that is riding out the season with a lame duck head coach. A bowl is still a possibility, but a win here will be vital if Butch Jones wants to still have his job this time next week. Southern Miss has been a disappointment too, they lost last weekend to a UAB team they couldn’t stop at all, but their disappointment has been on a far smaller scale than the Volunteers mess. Prediction: Tennessee by 5.

(2) Alabama vs. (19) LSU – Alabama gets a rested LSU team here that is on a three-game winning streak in the SEC and that has its own designs on winning the SEC West. The Crimson Tide may have dropped to No. 2 in the rankings, but with a bunch of huge games over the next month, Nick Saban’s squad has its destiny in its own hands. The Crimson Tide is also rested, meaning that Saban has had two weeks to figure out how to stop Derrius Guice and make the LSU passing game beat them. It is hard to see Ed Orgeron overcoming that sort of prep time. Prediction: Alabama by 14.