Last week’s record: 6-1 (85.7%)
Season record: 50-6 (89.3%)
The Predictions Dept. was one errant pass into the end zone at the end of the Ole Miss-LSU game last week from another perfect record. This week, that same LSU team has to bounce back against an improving Missouri team. The two key games, though, are Alabama-Texas A&M and Kentucky-Georgia.
VANDERBILT at FLORIDA
We’re not sure what to think now about Florida, and Florida might not know what to think of itself, either. The Gators knew this would be a transitional season for them, thanks to talent deficiencies along both lines of scrimmage and the Billy Napier staff continuing to work through the normal issues that come with regime change. Vanderbilt’s season is already over for all practical purposes, so now the question is whether the Commodores can pull off a one-off upset against Florida – and yes, it could happen. Florida has just enough talent to beat most teams on its schedule, without having the program continuity or playmakers to avoid losing to anyone on its schedule, either. This game is a real key for Napier, because the Florida fan base has been gritting its collective teeth since Napier failed to immediately return the Gators to a position of dominance. A loss to Vanderbilt would destroy the Gators in 2023 and yes, could even cost Napier his job.
Florida 30
Vanderbilt 20
ALABAMA at TEXAS A&M
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KENTUCKY at GEORGIA
Kentucky has been fool’s gold so many times in the early part of a season that we cannot in good conscience pick the Wildcats to upset Georgia on the road. Despite Georgia’s milquetoast showing against Auburn last week, the Bulldogs have a tendency to get up for big games and suddenly, this game qualifies. The game will come down to whether Georgia’s defensive front seven, which to this point has been several steps below what the Bulldogs put on the field the last couple of years, can stop an improving Kentucky offense. The Wildcats have the weapons necessary to pull the upset, but Mark Stoops has had issues in the past dealing with the pressures of going up against a big favorite.
Georgia 31
Kentucky 23
LOUISIANA STATE at MISSOURI
A game that looked like an LSU walkover in the preseason suddenly has big implications. Brian Kelly’s team already has multiple losses and while it’s far from over as to whether the Tigers could get back to Atlanta, a national championship is probably off the table. Now attention is turning to Kelly’s decision-making and ability to recruit a roster talented enough to keep up with Alabama and Texas A&M in the SEC West. LSU’s secondary is a shell of its former (and usual) self, and even though LSU has probably the most dangerous SEC quarterback in Jayden Daniels, there’s so much to have to work around on the defensive side of the ball that it might exceed even Daniels’ capabilities. Missouri, meanwhile, is 5-0, with one quality win (Kansas State) and a couple of other performances mixed in that have been suspect. LSU will be by far Mizzou’s greatest challenge yet.
LSU 42
Missouri 34
ARKANSAS at MISSISSIPPI
If Lane Kiffin can keep Ole Miss from resting on the laurels of its win over LSU last week, the Rebels could still go on to big things. The problem this week is that Arkansas represents a classic trap game, a well-coached team with a veteran quarterback that needs a statement win of its own. Sam Pittman’s tenure as Arkansas head coach might rest on such a result this week, as the Razorbacks have lost three in a row and are beginning to confirm critics’ opinions that Pittman may be good but isn’t good enough to help Arkansas reach the level of the elites in the SEC. The ball is squarely in Kiffin’s court, though, because his teams tend to have wide dispersion between their best and worst performances, with little warning as to how each week will go. Arkansas’ typical lack of pass defense is the biggest functional problem the Razorbacks have here, because Kiffin can carve up a bad secondary when he has a good quarterback.
Ole Miss 45
Arkansas 30
WESTERN MICHIGAN at MISSISSIPPI STATE
Alabama’s Lance Taylor is in charge at WMU, and the Broncos broke a three-game losing streak last week with a win over Ball State. Taylor’s problem is that he has neither a good defense nor a good offense to fall back on, because the losing skid was marked by failures on both sides of the ball and sometimes, both at once. This is Taylor’s first year in Kalamazoo and his first as a head coach in general, so the Broncos will be patient. More performances like the one against Ball State will certainly help his cause. But earlier losses by 31 to Iowa and 41 to Syra0cuse will have to fall by the wayside – and unfortunately for Taylor, MSU is better than at least one of those teams and has its own losing streak to break.
Mississippi St. 42
W. Michigan 20
IDLE: South Carolina, Tennessee, Auburn
Follow Jess Nicholas on X at @TideFansJessN