SEC Previews and Predictions: Week 6

By Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief

Oct. 2, 2013

Last week’s record: 8-0 (100.0%)

Season record: 45-5 (90.0%)

A second consecutive undefeated week gets the Predictions Dept. up to the 90-percent line, so now the onus is on us to keep up the good work. This week, Ole Miss looks to bounce back against Auburn, while Missouri gets its first intra-conference action. Overall, the slate of games is not particularly strong, but there are several opportunities for second-tier teams to make a statement.

ARKANSAS at FLORIDA

The Razorbacks scored more points against Texas A&M than expected and ended up in a fairly entertaining ballgame, but the Florida defense – despite being weakened by injuries – is twice as competent, at minimum, than the unit the Aggies have put on the field in 2013. The big question in this game is whether Florida’s depleted offense can score enough on the Razorback defense, which is just average. Since losing QB Jeff Driskel, Florida’s offense has been even clunkier than before, and a 24-point output against Kentucky last week is discouraging. If this game were being played in Fayetteville, it might be worth hanging the “upset special” tag on it, but Gainesville should prove to be too intimidating to the Hogs.

Florida 24

Arkansas 17

GEORGIA STATE at ALABAMA

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GEORGIA at TENNESSEE

Look for Georgia to go through the motions a bit this week after being involved in the most recent game-of-the-century last week versus LSU. Still, Georgia could beat Tennessee using its second team. The Volunteers are horrid, and were never able to put away South Alabama last week, just scratching by in the end. In doing so, it might very well be the last time this season the Vols taste victory. Georgia is famous for making one or two second-tier games into near-overtime affairs each season, and this could be one of those, but look for the Bulldogs to pull away late after slogging through the first half.

Georgia 38

Tennessee 17

KENTUCKY at SOUTH CAROLINA

As expected, the Gamecocks had more trouble than they probably expected last week against Central Florida, and in the process, saw starting QB Connor Shaw get hurt. Kentucky kept its game with Florida closer than most thought the Wildcats would, but the question is if Kentucky is getting better. Offensively, the answer seems to be no. Defensively, though, Kentucky has had a respectable showing outside of its opening loss to Western Kentucky. If the Gamecocks aren’t careful, Kentucky could make things hard on them in this one. It’s hard to foresee a scenario in which the Cats pull the upset, but this is another game that could be closer in the end than the experts think.

South Carolina 24

Kentucky 10

MISSOURI at VANDERBILT

Besides Alabama, the Tigers are the SEC’s only undefeated team at 4-0. Unfortunately for Missouri, it’s hard to project an undefeated season based on wins over Murray State, Toledo, Indiana and Arkansas State. Missouri gets its first conference test this week, and like the Tigers’ opening four opponents, Mizzou will ease into things. Vanderbilt has been up and down in 2013, inconsistent on both offense and defense, and is looking to get its first conference win after losses to Ole Miss and South Carolina. But the Commodores have struggled against teams that run offenses similar to Missouri’s, and coupled with the off-field distractions the ‘Dores have endured this year, Missouri might be able to steal one. In the Battle of the James Franklins (Missouri’s quarterback vs. Vanderbilt’s head coach), look for the Tiger version to come out on top.

Missouri 34

Vanderbilt 24

MISSISSIPPI at AUBURN

The could be the game of the week, because the loser of this game at the very least endangers its ability to get a prime SEC postseason slot. If Ole Miss were to be the one to drop the game, the wheels could come off, as the Rebels have LSU and Texas A&M the next two weeks, still have yet to play a competitive Missouri program, and also have Arkansas and rival Mississippi State left, either of which could upset the Rebels. Against Alabama, the Rebel defense looked better than advertised, but the offense was shockingly impotent. Auburn is of a similar makeup at the moment, failing to generate anything in the passing game but having a better defense than was expected. Given that these two teams are mirror images of each other, not just in results but also in playing style, anything could happen. The biggest concern for Ole Miss at the moment is where this team’s collective head is at following the shutout in Tuscaloosa last Saturday. An Auburn upset wouldn’t necessarily be a surprise here.

Ole Miss 34

Auburn 30

LOUISIANA STATE at MISSISSIPPI STATE

Unlike Ole Miss, LSU typically seems to respond to close losses with anger instead of doubt. While the Tigers’ last-minute loss to Georgia may have taken them out of the national championship running, look for LSU to take out some of its frustrations on the Bulldogs, who can’t seem to put two good games together back-to-back. And if MSU QB Tyler Russell is either out for this game or not 100 percent, it will only get worse.

LSU 45

Mississippi St. 14

IDLE: Texas A&M