This Week in the SEC-Week 8
The state of Mississippi stole the show once again in Week 7. MSU completed the upset of Auburn and Ole Miss went into College Station and took care of Texas A&M. It was hard to decide who was number one between those two in the Power Rankings, but it wasn’t difficult to choose the Game of the Week. Welcome to This Week in the SEC.
SEC Power Rankings: Week 8
1) Mississippi State (6-0)
Last week rank: 2
Last week: W 38-23 vs 1) Auburn
This week: Bye
Yes, this is real life. Mississippi State is number 1.
2) Ole Miss (6-0)
Last week rank: 2
Last week: W 35-20 at 7) Texas A&M
This week: vs 12) Tennessee
I thought it might be the Iron Bowl or the LSU-A&M game that determined the SEC West champion. It looks like it might be the Egg Bowl.
3) Georgia (5-1)
Last week rank: 6
Last week: W 34-0 at 5) Missouri
This week: at 11) Arkansas
When Todd Gurley was suspended, everyone ruled Georgia out. Expect Georgia.
4) Auburn (5-1)
Last week rank: 1
Last week: L 38-23 at 2) Mississippi State
This week: Bye
Auburn thought they were good. Then they met Mississippi State.
5) Alabama (5-1)
Last week rank: 4
Last week: W 14-13 at 11) Arkansas
This week: vs 9) Texas A&M
Alabama needed a missed extra point and a fumble on the 1 yard line to survive Arkansas. Is the dynasty over? It might be. Sorry Phyllis.
6) Kentucky (5-1)
Last week rank: 8
Last week: W 48-14 vs Louisiana-Monroe
This week: at 7) LSU
No, this is not basketball. Kentucky is actually 6th in the power rankings.
7) LSU (5-2)
Last week rank: 10
Last week: W 30-27 at 9) Florida
This week: vs 6) Kentucky
Somehow a kicker can miss an extra point but make a 50-yard field goal to win the game. Welcome to Les Miles’ world.
8) Missouri (4-2)
Last week rank: 5
Last week: L 34-0 vs 5) Georgia
This week: at Florida
Mizzou thought Georgia without Todd Gurley would be an easy win. Ha!
9) Texas A&M (5-2)
Last week rank: 7
Last week: L 35-20 vs 3) Ole Miss
This week: at 5) Alabama
Texas A&M set an SEC attendance record on Saturday. Too bad 110,000 fans came to see they get hammered.
10) Florida (3-2)
Last week rank: 9
Last week: L 30-27 vs 10) LSU
This week: vs 8) Missouri
Jeff Driskel did the most Jeff Driskel thing ever and threw a pick that would cost Florida the game.
11) Arkansas (3-3)
Last week rank: 11
Last week: L 14-13 vs 4) Alabama
This week: vs 3) Georgia
Oh, Arkansas. That’s all I gotta say.
12) Tennessee (3-3)
Last week rank: 12
Last week: W 45-10 vs Chattanooga
This week: at 2) Ole Miss
What is it gonna take for UT to pull off the upset win in the Grove against a hot Ole Miss team…..? Yeah that isn’t going to happen.
13) South Carolina (3-3)
Last week rank: 13
Last week: Bye
This week: vs Furman
South Carolina didn’t lose last week!
14) Vanderbilt (2-5)
Last week rank: 14
Last week: W 21-20 vs Charleston Southern
This week: Bye
Vandy was thrilled to get a win last week. A 1-point win. Against Charleston Southern.
Game of the Week:
#7 Alabama vs #21 Texas A&M
Saturday, 2:30 CT, CBS
Both teams come into this game on panic mode. Texas A&M has lost two straight, getting pummeled by Mississippi State and Ole Miss, after a 5-0 start. Alabama fans might be even more alarmed, as they lost to Ole Miss for the first time in 11 years, and then had to get lucky to beat a mediocre Arkansas team. This is a critical game for both teams, and also a chance to get back on the right track. It’s Alabama-Texas A&M in Game of the Week.
The Breakdown:
This game seems to always be a good one. Two years ago, Johnny Football introduced himself to the world as the Aggies stunned #1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Last year, there was anticipation for months and the game didn’t disappoint, as Alabama won a 49-42 shootout in College Station. So…what will we see this time? Both QB’s, Blake Sims and Kenny Hill, haven’t looked like themselves the last few games. Sims struggled last week against Arkansas, going 11/21 for only 161 yards. He didn’t look too good at Ole Miss two weeks ago either, with no TD passes. The good news for him? A&M’s defense has given up an average of 35 PPG against SEC teams this season, so this is a big opportunity for him to get out of a slump. Kenny Hill has also been in a slump, throwing five picks in the last two games. He had thrown only two picks the previous five games. The bad news for him? Alabama’s defense has only given up 15 PPG this season. There is a much better opportunity for Blake Sims to have a big game then Kenny Hill, and that will be a critical factor in this one.
Prediction:
Blake Sims should have a good day at the office against this Aggie defense. T.J. Yeldon should also have fun, as well as Amari Cooper, so expect Bama to put a lot of points on the board. If the Tide defense can shut down Kenny Hill, then that should lead to a victory. That will be the key for the Tide. When Kenny Hill is paying well though, he’s nearly impossible to stop. I expect this one to be a close game. Alabama’s defense is not as good as it’s been in the past, so there is an opportunity for the Aggies to put up points. The bottom line is that Alabama’s defense is still way better than A&M’s, so that will be the difference in this game. The Tide don’t roll, but they still get the W.
Score: #7 Alabama 30, #21 Texas A&M 24
Other Games to Watch:
LSU vs Kentucky
#3 Ole Miss vs Tennessee
Florida vs Missouri
Upset Alert:
Arkansas over #10 Georgia
Twitter: @WScottCSM
