After a month of critical SEC matchups and exciting finishes, the Week 8 schedule will likely be a reprieve from the usual madness of college football.
The three traditional SEC East powers — Florida, Georgia and Tennessee — all have off weeks, while Kentucky takes on Mississippi State in the only conference clash among the rest of the teams in the division.
Missouri, South Carolina and Vanderbilt all host non-conference foes, but that doesn’t mean we’re overlooking their opponents. Here’s what each SEC East team is up against in Week 8.
Kentucky (3-3, 2-2) vs. Mississippi State (2-4, 1-2)
Mississippi State PPG: 24.8
Mississippi State allowed: 26.5
Strength: While the Bulldogs’ offense has struggled in the post-Dak Prescott era, their defensive front has been decent enough to keep them in most games. MSU ranks 37th nationally in rushing defense (136.2 yards per game) and 38th in total defense (361.3 ypg).
Must stop: Sophomore quarterback Nick Fitzgerald has been the Bulldogs’ most consistent offensive threat, doubling as the team’s leading rusher while throwing for 998 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior defensive end A.J. Jefferson is one of the most disruptive players in the country with 10 tackles for loss (tied for 10th-most in FBS) and three sacks.
Notable: The East hasn’t beaten the West yet in 2016. MSU has won its past seven meetings with Kentucky to reclaim the series lead 22-21, making this permanent cross-division series one of the closest in the SEC.
Missouri (2-4) vs. Middle Tennessee State (4-2)
Middle Tennessee State PPG: 38.5
MTSU allowed: 26.5
Strength: You know those mid-major teams that throw the ball 50 times a game? Yeah, MTSU is one of those. Behind sophomore quarterback Brent Stockstill, the Blue Raiders have the fifth-best passing offense and No. 25 scoring offense in the nation.
Must stop: Stockstill has completed almost 65 percent of his passes for 2,091 yards and 18 touchdowns to just five interceptions. His favorite target is classmate Richie James, whose 57 receptions and 776 yards are both sixth-most in the country.
Notable: Missouri and MTSU have met only once, a 41-40 overtime win for the Tigers at home in 2003.
South Carolina (2-4) vs. Massachusetts (1-6)
UMass PPG: 19.7
UMass allowed: 33.3
Strength: The Minutemen don’t have much going for them, ranking No. 118 in scoring offense No. 103 in scoring defense out of 128 FBS teams. But UMass’ biggest strength in this matchup is its experience against SEC schools this season: The Minutemen trailed Florida just 10-7 entering the fourth quarter in the opener and led Mississippi State at halftime before losing by 12 points on Sept. 24.
Must stop: Junior linebacker Steve Casali’s 63 tackles are tied for 22nd among FBS players, and he also has 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble to his name. Andrew Ford has filled in admirably for injured quarterback Ross Comis, throwing for 1,117 yards and 13 touchdowns with a 63.6 completion percentage.
Notable: South Carolina has never played UMass, which moved up to FBS in 2012.
Vanderbilt (3-4) vs. Tennessee State (5-1)
Tennessee State PPG: 36.3
Tennessee State allowed: 23.8
Strength: The Tigers’ high-powered offense is a big reason they’re on the fringe of the FCS Top 25. Tennessee State averages just shy of 400 yards per game and has allowed only four sacks this season.
Must stop: That potent offense runs through senior Ronald Butler, who has amassed 11 touchdowns and 1,027 total yards. Junior linebacker Chris Collins is a stat-stuffing defender with a team-leading 47 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and two interceptions.
Notable: Both Vanderbilt and Tennessee State are located in Nashville, separated by just 2.5 miles. Consider this an across-the-road game.
Bye: No. 15 Florida (5-1, 3-1); No. 18 Tennessee (5-2, 2-2); Georgia (4-3, 1-3)
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
