Florida’s clash with Arkansas headlines a weak SEC Week 8
It’s been a horrible week for the SEC. No Alabama vs LSU. No Georgia vs Missouri. No Texas A&M vs Tennessee. Hell, no Auburn vs Mississippi State.
Instead we’re stuck with Arkansas’ trip to Florida, Vanderbilt at Kentucky, and South Carolina going to Ole Miss.
So here we go for the games in order of interest:
- Arkansas at No.6 Florida (-17 1/2, Over/Under 59 1/2)
While Florida was comfortably beating Georgia in Jacksonville, Arkansas continued their run of excellent play by limiting a dropping Tennessee to just 292 yards and 13 points.
Arkansas will be playing without head coach Sam Pittman, who tested positive for COVID-19. He’ll be replaced by DC Barry Odom, who was last seen in a head coaching at Missouri…..where he was dreadful. Still, Odom will master the defense, which leads the SEC in takeaways.
Florida, who’s on a huge high after thrashing Georgia at the Cocktail Party last week. If Arkansas can’t get any pressure on Kyle Trask, he’s going to rip them to pieces.
Oh, and it should be pretty fun to watch Feleipe Franks, who was the Gators starting QB until he got injured and was replaced by Trask.
PREDICTION: Although Arkansas keeps it close until the fourth quarter, Florida keeps rolling, winning by 14. Florida 35, Arkansas 21.
2. South Carolina at Ole Miss (-12 1/2, Over/Under 70)
All eyes are going to be on South Carolina (again). If the Gamecocks put up another lame performance like they have done in the last two games, then alarm bells will be ringing about Will Muschamp’s future in Columbia. There’s only so much that Gamecock fans can take.
The good news for South Carolina is that they are going to get points and going to get yards. Shi Smith should get over 100 yards and a touchdown or two’s receiving, and it’s not likely that Ole Miss is going to be able to stop Kevin Harris. Hell, they haven’t been able to stop anyone this year.
But on the other side of the ball, South Carolina is going to be worried about the onslaught that is Lane Kiffin’s offense. Elijah Moore’s been frighteningly good as Ole Miss’ premier wide receiver, and Matt Corral – after a horror show against Arkansas – has got some confidence back and will come out firing bullets.
PREDICTION: Ole Miss wins by 23. Ole Miss 45, South Carolina 21.
3. Vanderbilt at Kentucky (-18, Over/Under 42)
No point in going on about things here. Kentucky’s probably not as brilliant as people thought they were after they blew out Tennessee, while Vanderbilt is as bad as they thought they were going to be.
PREDICTION: Kentucky rolls. Kentucky 31, Vanderbilt 7.