By Jess Nicholas
TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief
Oct. 5, 2016
Last week’s record: 8-0 (100.0%)
Season record: 45-7 (86.5%)
Week 5 was one of the Prediction Dept.’s most accurate weeks in recent memory, not just in results but also in projected scores. This week, an all-intraconference lineup awaits, highlighted by Tennessee traveling to Texas A&M.
LOUISIANA STATE at FLORIDA
LSU is coming off a convincing, albeit perhaps overblown win over a Missouri program most picked to win just four or five games in 2016. Florida, meanwhile, needed a late turnover to secure a win over lowly Vanderbilt. Ed Orgeron is in the middle of a full-blown public relations tour in an attempt to have the “interim” tag removed from his job title at LSU, while Florida would like to atone for the defensive meltdown two weeks ago against Tennessee, the only game in which the Gators allowed double-digit point production. This one is hard to figure, as LSU has always had the talent. If Orgeron truly has the Tigers operating under new-day rules, the Gators don’t match up well.
LSU 24
Florida 17
ALABAMA at ARKANSAS
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GEORGIA at SOUTH CAROLINA
This game actually could wind up being pretty good if Georgia hasn’t sufficiently recovered from the disappointment of its collapse in Knoxville. South Carolina played Texas A&M tough, but just didn’t have enough offensive firepower to get the job done. Credit Will Muschamp’s staff, however, with fixing the Gamecock defense overnight despite South Carolina not having nearly the talent of most of its competitors. Columbia can be a tough place for a rookie quarterback, and Georgia’s defense is just suspect enough that South Carolina might get in a few shots. This one should be closer than expected.
Georgia 24
South Carolina 20
VANDERBILT at KENTUCKY
You might as well call this one the Loser Sits Home game because whoever loses is just about guaranteed of not making the postseason, if it hasn’t been guaranteed already. Vanderbilt suddenly looks like a potentially improving team, at least; Kentucky’s offense was exposed as pretenders against Alabama. Were it not for home-field advantage, Vanderbilt might be a trendy upset pick in this game. But Vandy’s offense misfires far too often to be considered a reliable bet.
Kentucky 21
Vanderbilt 17
TENNESSEE at TEXAS A&M
Tennessee’s gauntlet of a schedule might finally be too much to overcome. Credit the Volunteers with resiliency in two comeback wins, but in all honesty, comebacks over Florida and Georgia this year aren’t exactly unique occurrences. Texas A&M suddenly has a defense, and an offense more committed to power football is not what a beaten-up Tennessee defense needs to see. Kyle Field can be a coffin under the right circumstances, and a Texas A&M upset would put the Aggies on a collision course with Alabama for the SEC West lead. Look for it to happen, too.
Texas A&M 27
Tennessee 24
AUBURN at MISSISSIPPI STATE
This is a trap game for Auburn, given Mississippi State’s success under Dan Mullen at playing spoiler to the Tigers’ plans. Auburn looked impressive against Louisiana-Monroe, but Gus Malzahn’s offense has always been lethal to overmatched defenses lacking in speed. It’s a different story with the Bulldogs, who although not as strong on that side of the ball as in recent years, is very familiar with the HUNH spread thanks to seeing the spread-option every day in practice. Auburn opened up as the underdog in this game, strange even given the Tigers’ problems on offense. Look for the Bulldogs to make a game of it, but Auburn’s defense may be too strong for a Bulldog offense that is in rebuilding mode after years of Dak Prescott-led success.
Auburn 20
Mississippi St. 10
IDLE: Missouri, Ole Miss
Follow Jess Nicholas on Twitter at @TideFansJessN