Photo courtesy of Ole Miss athletics
We are heading into Week 8 of the college football season.
The final weeks moving forward will ultimately separate the contenders from the pretenders. The great teams will be separating themselves from the mediocre.
In the SEC, we have a slate of only five games this weekend but they are all filled with storylines. All take place on Saturday.
With Saturday quickly approaching, we look at this week’s SEC schedule, starting with the most intriguing matchup:
LSU (4-3) at No. 12 Ole Miss (5-1)
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Ole Miss -9.5; o/u 76.5
This is already a SEC West divisional rivalry, but it is filled with storylines. Anytime Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin’s team takes the field, you know it is time to get the popcorn ready. On Sunday, it was reported that LSU would be parting ways with head coach Ed Orgeron at season’s end.
You have to wonder if the LSU players will have the “win one for the gipper” mentality and play lights out the rest of the season. Kiffin said that starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy hopeful Matt Corral isn’t completely healthy following the 31-26 win over Tennessee, so it will be interesting to see how he is handled.
Tennessee (4-3) at No. 4 Alabama (6-1)
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Alabama -25
No one has ever made a text on an iPhone to tell another person that Tennessee just beat Alabama — at least not in football. Did you know that the Tennessee losing streak to Alabama is longer than the current life span of the social media platform Instagram?
The Tennessee losing streak to Alabama is now at 14 games. The Volunteers have not experienced a win over the Crimson Tide since October 2006. No one is expecting a Tennessee win, especially with quarterback Hendon Hooker out, but fans in Knoxville would like to see improvement.
South Carolina (4-3) at No. 17 Texas A&M (5-2)
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
Texas A&M -20.5
After the turmoil that South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer inherited, to be at 4-3 is an achievement. Meanwhile, Texas A&M has already slayed the dragon that is Alabama football. Still, some feel that the Aggies have underachieved.
Perhaps a little-know fact is that when these two teams play, the Bonham Trophy is awarded to the winner.
Vanderbilt (2-5) at Mississippi State (3-3)
Time: 4 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
Mississippi State -20.5
Vanderbilt probably missed its best chance for an SEC win last week with a hard-fought 21-20 loss to South Carolina. If Mike Leach and Mississippi State want to make a bowl game this season, this contest in Starkville is a must-win.
Arkansas Pine Bluff (1-5) at Arkansas (4-3)
Time: 12 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
No Line
After three straight losses, Arkansas should be able to get into the win column against FCS competition on Saturday. A victory would put the Razorbacks within one win of becoming bowl-eligible.
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