Halfway through the season? Seems absurd, doesn’t it? But yes, if your favorite SEC squad hasn’t had its bye week (and few have), then this Saturday marks the halfway mark of college football’s regular season. If you think THAT seems crazy, wait until you see the bold predictions we have drawn up for SEC Week 6.

Alabama (‘s defense) outscores Arkansas

Sure, nothing bold about predicting the Tide to take down the Razorbacks. But how’s this for bold? Leave the offense out of it. Alabama will score more points with its defense than Arkansas scores for the game. Consider this a referendum both on how good Alabama is (plenty) and how lousy Arkansas’ offense is (also plenty).

Jake Bentley makes a statement

Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Last week, many Gamecocks fans were calling for the benching of USC QB Jake Bentley. Oddly, playing Kentucky now seems to do that. But while Jake had a bad game last week, he’s about to feast on a Missouri defense that has given up 293.8 passing yards per game. Mizzou is next to last in the league in both pass defense and pass defense efficiency, as they have allowed seven scores through the air with only two picks. Bentley will outpass Drew Lock and lead Carolina to a 14-point win.

Brossette has a big day

LSU’s Nick Brossette is fourth in the SEC in rushing, and facing the Florida Gators run defense, which is 13th in the SEC in that category, he’s good for a big game. Give Brossette 160 yards rushing (to lead the SEC) and LSU a second-half comeback for the win, after Florida holds a narrow halftime advantage. LSU by 13.

500 for Ta’amu

Earlier this season, we called for a career high in passing yardage for Ole Miss’ Jordan Ta’amu. That week, he let us down — he had 442 yards, six shy of his career high. So this week, we’re aiming higher. How about 500 passing yards against UL-Monroe? You heard it here first.

Kentucky does it again

No, it won’t be the same old story. A&M won’t be able to stop Benny Snell, but they will slow him down. The surprise is that Terry Wilson has just enough mojo in his passing arm to take advantage of the SEC’s worst-ranked team in pass defense efficiency. At this point, Kentucky knows it can count on Snell and Josh Allen. Despite a big game from the Aggies’ Trayveon Williams, this game ends up with Wilson having his first big moment as a Wildcat. Kentucky by a field goal.

Georgia with the biggest (margin) win of the week

Kirby Smart didn’t get this far by not knowing the pulse of his own team. After a couple of fairly dozy victories from the Bulldogs, they’re going to be ready to play Saturday against Vanderbilt. The odds line on the ‘Bama game is eight points higher than this one, but we’ll take Georgia for the league’s thumping of the week, which will be a statement game for the rest of the SEC that while Georgia was napping, they weren’t asleep.

Two and through (with losing) for MSU

Vegas says the Bulldogs fall for the third time in three games. But against an Auburn team that has failed to seem even remotely engaged, we just don’t see it. Auburn doesn’t have the spark one would expect from a road favorite. Sure, they’re talented, but State is just plain hungrier for this game. Joe Moorhead didn’t come to Starkville to go 7-5. Nick Fitzgerald will get it going, and MSU wins a defensive slugfest 17-14.