SEC Football Preview and Predictions for Week 5
Here we take a look at each SEC football game for week five and give our prediction for who will win each game, and how it will affect the race in the SEC.
After a couple of big weeks with huge SEC football games, there isn’t much to get excited about this weekend.
The marque game of the weekend is Tennessee vs. Georgia, but that game has lost some luster after the Bulldogs were smoked by Ole Miss last weekend.
The SEC enters the week five weekend with seven teams ranked in the top 25. Alabama and Texas A&M remain the only teams in the top 10 with Tennessee knocking on the door.
LSU dropped out of the top 25, while Florida and Georgia are hanging on by a thread at 23 and 25 respectively.
Auburn received 18 votes in the latest AP Poll, putting them at number 35 – one spot ahead of LSU.
With that, let’s take a look at this week’s slate of games.
Alcorn State at 20 Arkansas – 11 a.m. CT – SEC Network or Watch ESPN
The Razorbacks are coming off a hard-fought loss to a very good Texas A&M team. They should rebound just nicely against Alcorn State this weekend.
I would expect to see the starters get pulled quickly in this one with Alabama looming.
This is the last cupcake game of the year for Arkansas as they have a brutal stretch to finish the season.
Prediction: Arkansas – 52 Alcorn State – 7
23 Florida at Vanderbilt – 11 a.m. CT – SEC Network
Much like Arkansas, Florida is coming off a devastating loss to a ranked SEC team. After being up 21-0 on Tennessee, they absolutely blew it, and now find themselves scrambling to get back in the SEC East picture.
I think their defense comes out and plays mad against a Vanderbilt team that already has issues offensively.
It sounds like Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio will be out for this game as well, so don’t expect much offense in this one.
Prediction: Florida – 31 Vanderbilt -3
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Louisiana Monroe at Auburn – 2:30 p.m. CT – SEC Network or Watch ESPN
Auburn is coming off a big win against LSU and will hope to avoid a letdown against the ULM Warhawks this weekend.
I don’t foresee any such letdown happening against one of the worst teams in the county.
Look for Auburn to dominate on the ground in this one, and get John Franklin III some work early and often.
Prediction: Auburn – 45 ULM – 10
Tennessee at Georgia – 2:30 p.m. CT – CBS
The biggest game of the day in the SEC, and no one is even really talking about it this week.
That’s because Georgia has looked unimpressive this year, and is coming off a blowout loss at Ole Miss.
Meanwhile, Tennessee is 4-0 – although it doesn’t feel like it after they’ve fallen behind in just about every game.
In the crazy world of college football, it makes sense for Georgia to come out and beat Tennessee this weekend.
However, I just can’t see that happening as the Bulldogs have looked terrible through four games this year.
Prediction: Tennessee – 38 Georgia – 24
Texas A&M at South Carolina – 3 p.m. CT – SEC Network
The Aggies are one of the hottest teams in the SEC right now with wins over Auburn and Arkansas already on their resume.
Meanwhile, the Gamecocks are coming off a disappointing loss to Kentucky.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a little bit of a letdown in this game for Texas A&M. Will Muschamp will have his defense ready, but I don’t think there is any way South Carolina scores enough points to win this game.
Prediction: Texas A&M – 34 South Carolina – 13
Kentucky at Alabama – 6 p.m. CT – ESPN
There has been a lot of talk about Alabama football this week, but none of it had to do with their upcoming game against Kentucky.
They now have to deal with the fact that their backup quarterback is transferring, and their star linebacker is in trouble with the law.
No one is giving Kentucky a chance in this game, and they shouldn’t.
Despite the Wildcats being on a two-game winning streak, they are going to get slammed this weekend by the Crimson Tide.
Prediction: Kentucky – 7 Alabama – 41
Memphis at Ole Miss – 6 p.m. CT – No TV
Talk about a redemption game. Memphis shocked the college football world last year when they upset Ole Miss and ruined their chances at a National Title.
Now Chad Kelly and company will be out for blood as they were against Georgia last weekend.
Memphis is now without James Paxton and Justin Fuente.
I look for this one to get ugly quick, and I don’t think Ole Miss intends to step off the gas pedal.
Prediction: Memphis – 17 Ole Miss – 52
Missouri at LSU – 6:30 p.m. CT – SEC Network
This might actually be the most intriguing game of the day in the SEC.
We’ll get our first look at LSU without Les Miles as their head coach. I’m not sure what the offense will look like, but it has to be better than what we’ve seen.
Speaking of offense, Missouri has been lighting up the scoreboard. In their two wins they’ve put up 61 and 79 points – both of those games were against terrible teams.
Still, I think Missouri can score enough points in this game to make it interesting.
If LSU’s offense doesn’t step up this weekend, we could have an upset on our hands.
Prediction: Missouri – 23 LSU – 27