It’s time for some expert predictions for Week 8 in the SEC.

There are seven games involving SEC teams this week, so let’s take a look at projected outcomes for Saturday’s matchups, according to four different media outlets — USA TODAY, Athlon Sports, Bleacher Report and FBSchedules.

SEC PICKS BY USA TODAY COLUMNIST DAN WOLKEN

  • Alabama over Texas A&M
  • Auburn over Arkansas
  • Ole Miss over LSU

Note: Dan had a rough outing last week, finishing 10-9 to bring his overall record to 105-32 on the season, which is good for last place among the USA TODAY staff. With only three SEC games to pick from — all West Division games — he’s going Alabama, Auburn and Ole Miss in hopes of gaining some ground on his peers heading into Week 9.

SEC PICKS BY ATHLON SPORTS EDITOR STEVEN LASSAN

  • Kentucky over Mississippi State
  • South Carolina over UMass
  • Missouri over Middle Tennessee
  • Vanderbilt over Tennessee State
  • LSU over Ole Miss
  • Auburn over Arkansas
  • Alabama over Texas A&M

Note: It’s all chalk for Steven this week. Well, almost — Kentucky is a 3-point underdog at home against Mississippi State this week and needs a win to remain in the bowl conversation. The Wildcats haven’t beaten MSU since 2008, but with four losses already (two of them being vs. South Alabama and BYU), this seems to be as good of a time as any for Mark Stoops and company.

Steven sent me an e-mail to explain why he’s going with a few picks in particular this week:

“Texas A&M will keep it closer than the nearly three-touchdown spread, but the Crimson Tide have too much on both sides of the ball to suffer their first loss of the season. The other two matchups in the SEC West – Ole Miss vs. LSU and Auburn vs. Arkansas – should play a key role in determining the final order of the division. The Razorbacks are coming off a huge win over Ole Miss, but I think Auburn knocks off Arkansas thanks to its defense and ground attack. LSU-Ole Miss will be tight in the fourth quarter, with Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice proving to be the difference for the Tigers.”

SEC PICKS BY BLEACHER REPORT COLUMNIST BRIAN PEDERSEN

  • South Carolina 33, UMass 13
  • Alabama 30, Texas A&M 17
  • Missouri 50, Middle Tennessee 33
  • Auburn 31, Arkansas 21
  • Kentucky 27, Mississippi State 19
  • Vanderbilt 48, Tennessee State 16
  • LSU 40, Ole Miss 26

Note: Not only would a 14-point win against Ole Miss add to LSU interim coach Ed Orgeron’s momentum train for his push to become the full-time candidate in Baton Rouge, but it would give the Tigers their first win against a ranked opponent in 2016 just in time for Alabama week. Here’s Brian on the call:

“Ole Miss has led after halftime against all three ranked teams it has fallen to but doesn’t have that same stout defense to overcome the seven turnovers in those games. LSU has transformed into an offensive juggernaut since Ed Orgeron took over, averaging 8.8 yards per play without Leonard Fournette (ankle) in uniform. And he’s expected to return this weekend, per USA Today’s Glenn Guilbeau.”

SEC PICKS BY FBSCHEDULES WRITER ERIC TAYLOR

  • South Carolina 34, UMass 13
  • Alabama 44, Texas A&M 21
  • Missouri 31, Middle Tennessee 21
  • Arkansas 31, Auburn 21
  • Kentucky 35, Mississippi State 30
  • Vanderbilt 45, Tennessee State 14
  • Ole Miss 28, LSU 27

Note: Eric is picking three upsets this week: Arkansas (+10), Kentucky (+3) and Ole Miss (+6.5). Granted that the SEC East is already a “car full of mess the entire drive to Atlanta and we may not know who represents the East Division until one battered and beaten team exits the vehicle limping as they enter the Georgia Dome,” the West is just a few hiccups away from hopping along for the joyride. A win for Ole Miss would eliminate LSU from contention and beating Auburn on the road could stymie the Tigers’ hopes. That would at least set Arkansas up for a potential New Year’s Six run — something the Hogs haven’t accomplished since a Sugar Bowl appearance in 2010.

Tyler Waddell is a news desk writer for Saturday Down South. For tips or questions, shoot him an email at tylerwaddell4@gmail.com.