With Kentucky visiting Alabama this weekend, it seems like everyone has focused solely on this game. As much as we really don’t care, there are others games this weekend in the SEC, including a matchup of ranked teams in NASHVILLE, where Gameday will also be airing live. Wow, never thought i would say that.
AUBURN @ VANDERBILT 6 pm ESPN
Holy crap, a game between ranked teams in Nashville, Tennessee involving the Commodores. Who would have ever thunk it. Ranked for the first time in forever, # 19 Vandy hosts #13 Auburn on Saturday night. Vanderbilt has had a week to prepare for the Tigers so I look for them to come out ready for everything. Auburn fought hard last week and held off Tennessee 14-12 in Auburn but should be ready for the Dores due to their ranking. Any other year, we might expect the Tigers to overlook Vandy but this year, no one will overlook the Dores. A win on Saturday night for Vanderbilt would put them at 5-0 for the first time since 1943. I don’t look for that to happen though. The ranking ends here! PREDICTION: AUBURN 24, VANDERBILT 21
FLORIDA @ ARKANSAS 12:30 pm RAYCOM
After getting knocked off in the swamp at the hands of Ole Miss, the Gators travel to Fayetteville to rebound against the Hogs. Florida looks to extend their win streak against Arkansas to seven games and take a 7-1 lead in the all-time record against the Hogs. Arkansas is looking for any signs of offense from their team. I think it’s funny to watch a Bobby Petrino team struggle to score considering the entire time he was in Louisville the players could probably score in their sleep. It’s gonna be another week of no offense for the Hogs I’m afraid. The Gators should bounce back nicely in this one. PREDICTION: FLORIDA 35, ARKANSAS 10.
SOUTH CAROLINA @ OLE MISS 2pm
The Cocks travel to Oxford to face the Rebels who are fresh off their upset in the swamp. Both teams come into the game with matching 3-2 records but Ole Miss is 1-1 in SEC play while USC is 0-2. Both have losses to Vanderbilt by nearly the same score 23-17 for one and 23-17 for the other. I think this may be a good game but only because both teams are very mediocre at best. I look for a bit of a letdown on the Rebels side after their big win last week but I’m not sure whether USC can capitalize on it or not. PREDICTION: OLE MISS 17, SOUTH CAROLINA 14
NORTHERN ILLINOIS @ TENNESSEE 7 pm PPV
FINALLY, a cupcake for the Vols to munch on. After a disastrous start to the season, the Vols finally have an easy opponent to play. This just shows how dumb the people of Knoxville are. Most major college programs schedule these games as the first couple of the season to allow their teams to work out the kinks while racking up wins for their records. In Knoxville, they would rather be embarrassed early and then have to defend themselves as a good team the rest of the year. If this game is in doubt going into the second half, Fat Phil may not make it out of the locker room for the rest of the game. Good Luck Phil! PREDICTION: TENNESSEE 34, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 7
Georgia, LSU and Mississippi State are off this week.