SEC Week 8 predictions (and bets)
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We’re back with another round of predictions in anticipation of Week 8 of the SEC season.
Of course, this weekend’s action lost much of its luster when the SEC was forced to postpone four games: Alabama at LSU, Texas A&M at Tennessee, Auburn at Mississippi State and Georgia at Missouri. Thankfully, we still have a few games to pick looking ahead to this Saturday.
SDS news desk editor Michael Bratton (@MichaelWBratton) and SDS Podcast co-host Chris Marler (@VerneFUNquist) are back again to share their predictions picking SEC games and making picks against the spread.
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Chris is 19-20-1 against the spread for the season while Michael is 13-27 on the season.
Here is how the guys predict the Week 8 action to play out:
Vanderbilt at Kentucky (-17)
Michael: Kentucky has had two weeks to prepare for this one while Vanderbilt has had two starters transfer out of the program just this week. This one seemed to be a layoff for Kentucky to not only win but cover heading into Thursday but following the tragic death of offensive line coach John Schlarman, there’s no telling how prepared the Wildcats will be for this game. I bet they’ll come out and play with some passion, setting the tone early on the way to a big win. Terry Wilson, provided he returns to the starting lineup, couldn’t have asked for a better team to face to get his season back on the right track.
Kentucky 28 Vanderbilt 10
Chris: Wear a mask.
Kentucky 27 Vanderbilt 10
Arkansas at Florida (-17.5)
Michael: Some of the games that we lost this weekend may have looked like better games heading into the season but this was the best game on the scheduled this weekend. Don’t be surprised if the Feleipe Franks Bowl is decided late in the second half as the only team that Arkansas hasn’t threatened this season was Texas A&M, a team that Florida also failed to beat in College Station. If Kyle Pitts can’t go this weekend, that’s just going to make this game that much more competitive. The biggest issue in this game for the Razorbacks may be the loss of Sam Pittman for the weekend, but even then, interim coach Barry Odom not only has experience taking at team into the Swamp, he’s led a team to a win on the road against Florida.
Florida 35 Arkansas 23
Chris: This is the best game of the week not only in the SEC, but in the whole country. Arkansas comes in after yet another big win after being down by double digits in the 2nd Half. And, Florida comes in riding high off the biggest program win in years. Both of these stories have been so much fun to watch, and I love that Feleipe Franks is finally getting the respect he deserves as one of the best QBs in the SEC. The very underrated matchup with Dan Mullen’s offense vs. Barry Odom’s defense that I expect to be close early and a lot of fun to watch throughout. I think the Hogs keep it somewhat close in the first half and maybe into the 3rd quarter, but I don’t know how many teams in the country can stop this Florida offense for 4 straight quarters.
Oh, and wear a mask.
South Carolina at Ole Miss (-11)
Michael: Credit the Gamecocks for coming out and expressing their support for their head coach this weekend but the reality is their performance on the field is the thing that could save Will Muschamp’s job. While the Gamecocks talk about having Muschamp’s back, they are playing as if they want him fired before the season ends. It’s ironic that once Muschamp finally landed a quality offensive coordinator, his Gamecock defense fell apart, but that’s exactly what has happened. That’s the most damning thing that can be said about this South Carolina team, which has allowed 100 points combined during the team’s previous two games. Ole Miss has had two weeks to prepare for this one and if they come ready to play on Saturday, expect them to hand Muschamp his final loss as an SEC head coach.
Ole Miss 38 South Carolina 17
Chris: Wear a mask.
Ole Miss 37 South Carolina 24
Feleipe will follow up the Heave to Cleve with a Bomb to Burks.
If this is Muschamp’s final loss as a head coach. Guess that means he’ll win out
lol great pun
Let the dynasty begin!
If you wager on the NFL, bet on the Titans every time they play at home. I just watched them get 4 1st downs by penalty on ONE freaking drive. Bad enough they go the whole month of October without a road game, then follow that with 2 of the next 3 at home in November. Guess the league wanted Vrabel to get off to a good start.
They lost…
That’s funny right there
Chris STFU we don’t give a crap about your mask wearing opinions
In between times you get your keyboard commando fix in each day, go buy some masks.
I have masks I just don’t want other peoples opinions forced down my throat when I’m trying to read about football
Poor you
This is a football site. If you’re not going to talk about football related things why are you here?
Because covid is bad enough that it cancelled four sec games this week. I think they’re relatable topics.
I second that motion Diesel. I am sick of the virtue signaling.
Arkansas is a very solid football team. But even so, taking Arkansas +17 in the Swamp is a very precarious bet. I think Florida will cover.
I couldn’t be so sure that Florida will win that bad, but I can be sure they will win. Anyways, GO GATORS!!!
This is the first Arkansas game I have not been certain of a cover. Even without Pitts, the Gators have so many weapons, and Trask is a surgeon back there. He doesn’t make many mistakes, even when pressured, and I feel the Hogs will have some trouble bringing pressure quickly enough (or at all). Hoping we play a competitive game and don’t get beat deep. Still might get picked apart though. Go Hogs!
Can we just take a bye this Saturday…maybe for the rest of the season?
South Carolina has been taking off for the last couple of weeks.
Weeks? Try years….5 to be exact!
Michael you are 13-27 ats on the season? Wow I doubt I would post that.
OUCH!!
“It’s ironic that once Muschamp finally landed a quality offensive coordinator, his Gamecock defense fell apart, but that’s exactly what has happened.”
Let’s examine that quote shall we?
Muschamp was hired in December 2015 and inherited a team from Spurrier that finished the 2016 season ranked #6 in the SEC in team defense.
In 2017, the team slipped one spot to #7.
In 2018, the team dropped all the way to #13.
In 2019, the team finished the season at #11.
The team is currently ranked #11 in 2020.
Now go back to the quoted statement and see whether it makes any sense. SC, prior to playing LSU and TX A&M, gave up an average of 24 points per game and that includes a 41-7 drubbing of a depleted Vandy squad. SC had less offensive yards than every other team they had played, including the win over Auburn, until back to back blowouts by LSU and A&M.
The defense has completely regressed under Muschamp and it happened way before the LSU game this year.
Seems the more we hear “wear a mask” the more this virus spreads. My theory is that people think because they have on a mask, they can just go and do as they please. Keeping clean hands is the biggest deterrent to any virus.
Those who wager, take Michigan this weekend.
Yea idk how you guys will play but the Hogs are a bit overvalued this week just like they were in the A&M game…..although they did get a late cover in that one after A&M pulled some starters.
Hogs are such a great story tho and they really are a pretty good football team this year, but I think Gators to cover is fairly safe..with the caviot being the Hogs getting a late score after the game is practically over and UF pulls Trask.
Should be safest bet this weekend.
Vandy+18 v Uk…vandy plus the points and the over are a good play.
Ole Miss-11 v Cocks…Cocks plus points and the under is the 2nd best bet in the SEC this weekend.
Only game with any real value tho is the Gators+17 tho. Should be some pretty easy Skittles.
I once had a job application that asked for an HIV/AIDS test result in the mid-1980’s. That’s where we’re going. Very funny. Maybe wearing a gold star should be next?
Kentucky–34, Vandy–13
Florida–34, Arkansas–23
Ole Miss–35, S. Carolina–31
Vandy 18 UK 24
Arky 23 UF 33
SC 24 Ole Miss 35
Chris your constant whining about “wear a mask” really makes you sound like a sissy. Quit being such a science-denier.
The masks don’t work, as evidenced by an increase in masks doing nothing to slow the numbers down. In fact, case numbers are climbing despite more mask mandates. The people who think masks are working are the same type of people who belong to the flat earth society. Join the rest of us in reality.
Imagine a virus so deadly and scary that you only have to stand 6 feet away from people and wear a piece of cotton over your mouth/nose. Sounds scary. The people who say “I love science” are the same people denying the facts you point out.
Our offense has consistently gone flat in the 2nd half, and Arkansas plays 4 quarters. They could cover.