The SEC West might be all but settled by Saturday night.

The Alabama-Texas A&M winner will have a huge advantage, and based on other results, could emerge with essentially a two-game cushion. Meanwhile, the Gus Bus might be dropping into third gear for the stretch run, and Mark Stoops looks to do something for Kentucky that hasn’t been done since 2005.

Here are our headline predictions for Week 8:

Massachusetts at South Carolina: Bentley era begins?

The Gamecocks start their third quarterback of the season in Jake Bentley as they look to jump start a flagging offense. The year began with talk of a redshirt for Bentley, but now the final stretch of the season will be focused on how he might pilot the program.

Texas A&M at Alabama: Revenge again propels Tide

Much was made of Trevor Knight and Oklahoma knocking off Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl. But Alabama shows off its top-ranked rushing defense to bottle up the Aggies running game and put too much on Knight’s shoulders.

Middle Tennessee at Missouri: Tigers survive shootout

Drew Lock bounces back from a 39-yard passing performance at Florida to outlast the high-powered Blue Raiders and re-establish himself among the top SEC signal-callers.

Arkansas at Auburn: Turnaround Tigers gain 4OT revenge

Auburn collects its fourth consecutive win and avenges last year’s four-overtime thriller. The sophomore sensations of Sean White, Kamryn Pettyway and Kerryon Johnson combine for four touchdowns in the win.

Mississippi State at Kentucky: Wildcats yank Mullen off back

Mark Stoops does what Joker Phillips and Rich Brooks couldn’t do, and beats Dan Mullen and the Bulldogs to snap a seven-game slide in the series. Stephen Johnson — and the multi-pronged rushing attack — puts on his best game of the year and wins a battle of mobile quarterbacks.

Tennessee State at Vanderbilt: Mason momentum rolls on

The cross-town meeting gives the Commodores a chance to build on the Georgia momentum from last week as Darrius Sims becomes the program’s career leader in kickoff yardage. Kyle Shurmur finds some room in the passing game and eclipses the 200-yard mark for just the second time this season.

Ole Miss at LSU: Fournette returns to clip Rebels

It’s the sixth game of the past eight in the series decided by seven points or fewer, but the biggest backfield absence in the league is filled when Leonard Fournette returns from a three-game absence to send Ole Miss to a second consecutive loss. The Ed Orgeron legend grows as the Rebels fall to a shocking 3-4.