It’s cupcake week in the SEC for five of the league’s eight teams, but looking at the games that matter, Arkansas and Tennessee are playing for bowl eligibility at home against nationally-ranked division rivals.

There hasn’t been much room to boast this season, but I successfully picked South Carolina and Mizzou’s road victories last week. Missing out on Arkansas’ win over LSU was damaging and increased Christopher’s sizable lead against the spread and straight.

Week 12 Results

  • Brad Crawford — 4-2 (against the spread); 5-1 (straight up)
  • Christopher Smith — 6-0 (ATS); 5-1 (straight up)

Season totals

  • Brad (@BCrawfordSDS) — 41-42 (against the spread); 64-19 (straight up)
  • Christopher (@csmithSDS) — 49-34 (ATS); 68-15 (straight up)

RELATED: SEC Power Rankings

As for this week’s games …

Eastern Kentucky at Florida (-31.5)

Brad: Senior Day in Gainesville just got a lot more interesting for the Gators and their lameduck coach Will Muschamp. Will Florida be motivated after last week’s debacle led to Coach Boom’s resignation? Will we see another Georgia Southern-type effort? You watch the film on Eastern Kentucky and you see a team capable of scoring points in bunches. The talent gap’s wide, but Eastern Kentucky has the obvious mental edge. It may not matter, however. Florida 27, Eastern Kentucky 7

Christopher: The Colonels (9-2) are ranked No. 14 in the FCS. Kentucky transfer running back Dy’Shawn Mobley nearly has 1,400 rushing yards this season. But EKU’s defense isn’t quite as stout, and I expect the Gators to dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Yes, the team has had to deal with the “distraction” of the Will Muschamp news all week, but hasn’t that been an every-game occurrence for more than a year now? Plus, this team has to make up for the loss to Georgia Southern last year and will be motivated. Florida 38, Eastern Kentucky 3.

Charleston Southern at Georgia (-42.5)

Brad: A better question for this game is how long Nick Chubb will play against a defense that hasn’t yet faced a ballcarrier of his caliber. The Buccaneers ride a three-game winning streak into Athens, but this is their toughest game since a 2011 trip to Tallahassee. Georgia 49, Charleston Southern 0.

Christopher: The Buccaneers lost an even game to a floundering Vanderbilt early in the season — one week after UGA thrashed the Commodores by 27 points. None of that matters much here. Charleston Southern (8-3) is pining for an at-large berth in the FCS playoffs, which generously include 24 teams. Georgia is in a letdown spot sandwiched between huge home games with ranked Auburn and ranked Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs have been fine on offense without Todd Gurley, though. And the defense seemed to pull together last weekend after allowing a combined 69 points to Florida and Kentucky. After what the Bulldogs did to Troy earlier this year, I wouldn’t be shocked to see them cover here. Georgia 45, Charleston Southern 0.

South Alabama at South Carolina (-22)

Brad: Steve Spurrier has warned outsiders and his team not to take bowl-eligible South Alabama lightly after the Gamecocks’ big win at Florida last weekend. One win away from securing a postseason berth, the South Carolina gets a chance to prove its worth on senior day against an opponent it should handle. But it’s never that easy for this year’s team with a questionable defense. South Carolina 41, South Alabama 21

Christopher: The Jaguars can run the ball a little and have a relatively strong defense. South Alabama will finish in the upper half of the Sun Belt Conference. The game is stuck between road trips to Florida and Clemson. But I just don’t see how USA can limit this Gamecocks offense to anything fewer than 35 points. South Carolina 42, South Alabama 14.

Ole Miss (-3.5) at Arkansas

Brad: The Razorbacks are ready to eat! Snapping a 17-game SEC losing streak does wonder for a program hoping to turn the corner under a second-year coach. Bret Bielema’s players would run through a wall for him and that’s what they’ll be forced to do against one of the SEC’s top defenses on Saturday. The Rebels have a chance at finishing in second place in the West and reaching a New Year’s Six Bowl. Arkansas is just trying to get to six wins. Ole Miss 27, Arkansas 20

Christopher:The Rebels defense gives up an average of 11.9 points per game. Ole Miss should be much healthier after resting some of its players against Presbyterian and then enjoying a bye week. Arkansas has played close with most everyone on its SEC schedule and finally got a conference win under coach Bret Bielema. Ole Miss has lost a couple key players, including Laquon Treadwell. The Rebels offense should struggle with an underrated Arkansas front seven, but I don’t see the Razorbacks moving the ball either. Ole Miss 17, Arkansas 10.

Western Carolina at Alabama (-48.5)

Brad: Will the Catamounts score a touchdown? Probably not against the new national champion favorite. Alabama 45, Western Carolina 3.

Christopher: The Catamounts already lost to the Samford Bulldogs, which should make for some interesting but totally illogical Iron Bowl week comparisons based on Saturday’s results. Both of those schools have an outside shot at an FCS playoff bid. Western Carolina got skunked by South Florida, one of the worst FBS teams, and also lost to Presbyterian, which Ole Miss beat, 48-0. But Nick Saban traditionally doesn’t run up the score, and Alabama will rest as many people as possible in this game. Alabama 42, Western Carolina 3.

Samford at Auburn (-40)

Brad: The Bulldogs faced another high-octane offense earlier this season and gave up 48 points to TCU, but Samford is ranked No. 2 in FCS in pass defense and allow 18.6 points per game. As much as Auburn’s defense has struggled, I see Samford getting at least 10 points in this game, so the Tigers better be prepared to score more than 50 to cover here. Nick Saban calls off the dogs and Gus Malzahn typically does not, but I don’t see it happening. Auburn 49, Samford 13.

Christopher: The Bulldogs faced another high-octane offense earlier this season and gave up 48 points to TCU, but Samford is ranked No. 2 in FCS in pass defense and allow 18.6 points per game. As much as Auburn’s defense has struggled, I see Samford getting at least 10 points in this game, so the Tigers better be prepared to score more than 50 to cover here. Nick Saban calls off the dogs and Gus Malzahn typically does not, but I don’t see it happening. Auburn 49, Samford 13.

Missouri at Tennessee (-3.5)

Brad: Mizzou’s lack of respect is the perfect motivational fuel this time of year. I picked the tigers last week and I’m picking them again … or am I? Is this a possible loss for the Eastern Division frontrunner? The loss of A.J. Johnson in the middle for the Vols is a detrimental blow to a defense that’s had several holes at times this season. But Joshua Dobbs makes plays, enough to beat the Tigers. Tennessee 34, Mizzou 31

Christopher: This may be the game of the week in the SEC. Can Tennessee win four consecutive SEC games to close the season? Or will Missouri get within one game of back-to-back SEC East titles? As well as the Tigers’ defense has played, Joshua Dobbs, Jalen Hurd and the reworked UT offense is thriving. Missouri’s offense is limited. But Gary Pinkel’s teams have thrived as a road underdog in recent years, and I think defensive ends Markus Golden and Shane Ray will torment the Tennessee offensive line, and a full game of Aarion Penton and Braylon Webb in the secondary make the difference. Missouri 24, Tennessee 23.

Vanderbilt at Mississippi State (-30)

Brad: Disclaimer — Mississippi State’s season is far from over and while Saturday may be Vandy’s ‘Super Bowl’ as Derek Mason called it, the Bulldogs will unload their anger in the home finale on the Commodores. The Bulldogs get back to business on the ground in a game that shouldn’t be close. Mississippi State 35, Vanderbilt 7.

Christopher: The Bulldogs offense tailed off in recent weeks, though Arkansas and Alabama have great defenses. If Vanderbilt can contain Dak Prescott and Josh Robinson as between-the-tackles runners, I like the ‘Dores to hold Mississippi State to 38 or less. If Ralph Webb and Johnny McCrary can score a couple times, Vandy should improve to 6-2 ATS in the last eight games. Mississippi State 38, Vanderbilt 10.