Even on a slow week for the SEC, college football always delivers.

Week 8 was wild, especially outside the conference. A pair of top 10 teams fell: North Carolina to Virginia and Penn State to Ohio State. Oklahoma and Texas very nearly joined them, especially Oklahoma.

Florida State is back in the Playoff projections after holding off a better-than-you-think Duke squad. It’s tough to see the Seminoles losing in the regular season (your move, Florida), and I’m not quite sure there’s a team that can down them in the ACC Championship, either.

I like the potential resume of wins over LSU, at Clemson, vs. Duke, vs. Miami and vs. the ACC runners-up over an Oklahoma/Texas Big 12 champion, even if the Sooners finish undefeated. Obviously, a lot has to happen before then. As North Carolina showed Saturday, if you’re not good enough, a loss will find you.

In the SEC, things went about as expected. Ole Miss struggled some with Auburn at Jordan-Hare but pulled away late as the Tigers defense began to wear down. The Rebels are in a NY6 bowl until they lose to a team not named Georgia.

South Carolina failed to make things interesting against Mizzou, which sailed to its 7th win of the season.

The Tigers get a bye week before facing No. 1 Georgia in Week 10. Assuming Brock Bowers will still be out, that could be a tough matchup for the 2-time defending national champs.

Alabama moved out of the Orange Bowl because of North Carolina’s antics and now draw the Peach Bowl against Penn State. The Tide’s 2nd-half comeback was as impressive a half as any in college football this season, scoring 27 unanswered to down Tennessee, 34-20.

What do you make of Tennessee after this? The Vols played an excellent first half followed by what was probably their worst half of football this season. It’s hard to place the blame anywhere but firmly on Josh Heupel’s shoulders.

Regardless, I can’t say this loss wasn’t expected for Tennessee, so they won’t move anywhere for now.

Mississippi State won the week as far as bowl projections are concerned. They beat a hapless Arkansas team with a B1G final score, 7-3. The Bulldogs get Kentucky at home and Southern Miss in the penultimate week of the regular season, sitting at 4 wins on the season following Week 8.

Five teams were on bye this week and 4 more will be on bye in Week 9. Until next week, college football.

SEC college football bowl projections following Week 8

Sugar Bowl (Playoff semifinal): Georgia vs. Washington

Rose Bowl (Playoff semifinal): Michigan vs. Florida State

Peach Bowl: Alabama vs. Ohio State

Cotton Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Oregon

Citrus Bowl: LSU vs. Iowa

ReliaQuest Bowl: Mizzou vs. Clemson

Gator Bowl:  Tennessee vs. Miami

Texas Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma State

Music City Bowl: Florida vs. Wisconsin

Mayo Bowl: Kentucky vs. Duke

Liberty Bowl: Auburn vs. Kansas State

Birmingham Bowl: Mississippi State vs. UTSA