Preview of Week 8 in the SEC

Alrighty folks...here we go with week 8 in the SEC.  Regardless of the outcomes of the games this weekend either one of two things is going to happen this weekend in the SEC West.  It's either going to get even tighter or there is one team that's going to come out in the driver's seat.  If Bama were to lose to Tennessee, the winner of the LSU-Auburn game is in the driver's seat.  If Bama pulls it out in Knoxville, it's going to be even tighter in the West with Bama still having LSU and Auburn on the schedule.  Enought of that, let's get to the picks!  Here are the games in order of kickoff time on Saturday.

Ole Miss at (21)Arkansas  12:21pm ET
(6)LSU at (5)Auburn   3:30pm ET
(19)South Carolina at Vandy   7:00pm ET
(7)Alabama at Tennessee   7:00pm ET
UAB at (24)Miss. State   7:00pm ET
Georgia at Kentucky   7:30pm ET

First up, Ole Miss at Arkansas...even though I think Bobby Petrino is a punk for the way he left the Atlanta Falcons in the middle of the season to bolt to Arkansas and to say that it's not a game that's going to pull at some heart strings with Houston Nutt coming back to Arkansas for this one would be an understatement.  Ole Miss has just not stepped up this year with the addition of their transfer quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.  I like the Razorbacks in this one, big.

LSU at Auburn.  This one is gonna be a good old fashioned street fight here.  LSU is not above playing a little dirty but Auburn ain't above giving it back.  There is no love lost between these two and I think that Auburn is just looking too good right now with Can Newton putting up Heisman numbers.  I like Auburn in this one cause I think it'll be close and come down to game and time management and let's face it, Les Miles is a little challenged in that area. 

South Carolina at Vandy.  South Carolina in this one...no contest.  Next!

Alabama at Tennessee.  If you know anything about SEC Football there are certain games that everyone knows are slobber knockers.  UGA-Auburn, Florida-UGA, Bama-Burn, Bama-LSU and this one.  I've said all year that Tennessee was good enough that they could knock off one of the top teams in the SEC.  Guess what folks, Tennessee only has two ranked SEC opponents left, Bama and South Carolina.  I'm praying that my early prediction will be left for South Carolina.  Bama's offense hasn't been what it started out looking like the first few weeks of the season.  Having that been said, I holding on to hope that Coach Dooley's wife (a Bama grad) has done her best this week to sabotage the Coach's game plan.  I'm taking Bama in a close one in Knoxville.

UAB at Miss. State.  The Dawgs are coming into this one at 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the SEC.  Mullen and his coaching staff are doing a remarkable job there in Starkville this year with players that aren't the most athletically gifted in the SEC.  UAB has made improvement over the last few years but there is just going to be TOO MUCH COWBELL is Starkvegas this weekend.  I've got the Dawgs...BIG.

Georgia at Kentucky.  Mark Richt seems to have righted the ship somewhat in Athens and seems to have the Bulldogs focused finally.  Kentucky is coming off that huge win over South Carolina.  UGA is only one game under .500 overall and only one game out of the lead in the SEC East.  They are mathematically still in the running for the East with games remaining against Florida and Auburn.  Even though I think the Dawgs will take this one, I have to stick to my promise that I won't pick UGA for another win this season.  Taking Kentucky ;)

There we have it for week 8 in the SEC folks.  It should be a good weekend with a couple of key conference matchups so get your grub together for the games, tuck yourself into your comfy chair and enjoy a good weekend of SEC football.  If you need some ideas for what grub to have for the games this weekend, visit my buddy Shane's blog at http://www.alabamatailgate.com/ for some recipe ideas cause this boy can cook!  Oh, and congratulations Gator fans, ya'll can't lose this week!  RTR!