Another week, another round of exciting college football matchups as we tune into Week 8. The SEC standings are getting more and more tight with no room for error for most of these teams with the national championship title still in sight. This Saturday, Oct. 21, will feature the likes of ranked and unranked teams giving their all to stay in contention. This week, we will break down three highly anticipated contests that forecast major implications for a rapidly approaching playoff picture.
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SEC Football Odds for CFB Week 8
With another week in the books for college football, we have a lot to look forward to with a packed week eight in store for all fans across America. While we are highlighting the three most amped up matchups, the SEC has other contests to take note of this weekend. This is the full week eight SEC football schedule for Saturday, Oct. 21:
- Mississippi State vs. Arkansas, Noon ET on ESPN
- No. 17 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Alabama, 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS
- South Carolina vs. No. 20 Missouri, 3:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network
- No. 13 Ole Miss vs. Auburn, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Army vs. No. 19 LSU, 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network
By no means is it a stretch to state the most watched game in the SEC lineup this week will be Tennessee facing off against Alabama. These two conference powerhouse teams are looking for a win to keep their records at only one loss and to vault themselves higher in the national ranks. As we turn our attention to the next game, South Carolina vs. Missouri shares the same time slot with the Vols-Crimson Tide game. The Missouri Tigers are ranked nationally at 20 and have an impressive 6-1 record while the Gamecocks are 2-4. These two teams are motivated for different reasons with the Tigers looking to climb in the ranks and South Carolina fighting for pride and wanting to spoil Missouri’s season. Lastly, we have Ole Miss traveling to Jordan-Hare Stadium taking on Auburn which looks to make a statement against the visiting Rebels.
Tennessee v. Alabama
As stated earlier, this game seems to be the premier matchup of the week. The No. 17-ranked Tennessee Volunteers travel down south to face Alabama , currently ranked at No. 11. This game has a lot at stake for both teams involved with playoff implications being the major theme. Alabama is favored at -8.5 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Tennessee being fresh off a win against the Texas A&M Aggies would make you believe that it is primed and ready having just played such a scrappy team and coming out on top. Unfortunately, the gap between Texas A&M and Alabama is a wide one. Tennessee QB Joe Milton will have to be more efficient in this game — 100 yards of passing offense just won’t be enough to topple an Alabama team that prides itself on explosive plays and defensive takeaways. Vols RB Jaylen Wright will also need another 100-yard rushing performance. Establishing the running game early will help the Vols and Milton with run-pass option plays, and we could see a couple of explosive ones that shift the momentum in Tennessee’s favor.
By this time in the season, we usually know what Alabama brings to the table. Winning games by two or three scores just isn’t what they have been this year. This team has been in games in which it finds ways to win on will power and cerebral prowess. The Crimson Tide have been challenged this season with ranked opponents in Texas and Ole Miss and have been in rock and a hard place scenarios. The rest of the college football world has caught up to Alabama and coach Nick Saban, and Tennessee is no exception. Alabama QB Jalen Milroe is a dual threat. Keeping his eyes down field when flushed out of the pocket and taking off or making a play with his arm is a theme known all too well. The Crimson Tide offensive line has to win the trench battle against the Vols. In addition, Alabama can’t afford to have mistakes in the form of penalties. The Crimson Tide have an astounding 19 penalties for 144 yards in the last two games alone. If Alabama can’t get its discipline in line and these penalties figured out, Tennessee will turn those weak spots into points on the board.
In this game, we are siding with Tennessee to cover the spread. With Alabama not looking like the traditional powerhouse and the penalties stacking up, Tennessee’s defense should put up a performance capable of winning this game. If you’re feeling dangerous, betting the Over wouldn’t hurt either with the total being at 48.5 points.
South Carolina vs. Missouri
The South Carolina Gamecocks find themselves at 2-4 after a heartbreaking loss in overtime to Florida this past weekend. Quarterback Spencer Rattler had an impressive performance with 313 yards and four touchdowns to just one interception. South Carolina gave up 71 rushing yards, which is a positive takeaway going into this next game against Missouri. On the opposite, South Carolina’s defensive performance was a bit left to be desired and needs improvement to get an upset win on the road. Giving up 423 passing yards will cancel all momentum, and this defense is in need of major adjustments to be in top shape to face the Tigers.
Missouri bounced back from its loss against LSU with a win last week against the Kentucky Wildcats. This late in the season, people mostly know what the team is made of, what culture it has and the strengths and weaknesses of the offense and defense. Missouri has been the team that was undefeated for many weeks and finally got a real test and came up short. A big mistake that teams make is underestimating Spencer Rattler and South Carolina. Georgia and Florida both were on upset alert going into the fourth quarter. Missouri Quarterback Brady Cook had a pretty good performance in the win against Kentucky. Cook had one touchdown and one interception with 167 passing yards and completed 19 passes on 29 attempts. If Missouri can take a lead going into halftime, the Tigers should come away with a win. Look for Missouri to have a major passing day as well. Four out of five games, Brady Cook threw for over 300 yards and the only game he didn’t was against Kentucky.
Missouri is a 7.5-point favorite for good reason. The Over/Under is at a staggering 60.5 points, and that somehow does not seem as crazy at first glance. Rattler and Cook are known to light up the field through the air. We’re going to side with Missouri to cover as well as taking the Over in a spectacle that should be a fun one to watch.
Mississippi vs Auburn
The Ole Miss Rebels are currently ranked No. 13 and have an impressive record of 5-1 going into a game against an Auburn team that wants to spoil Mississippi’s season. These two teams have different motivations as we march into week 8. The Rebels still have their eyes set on a national championship. Auburn is on a mission to end this season on a positive note with new coach Hugh Freeze. Mississippi is feeling healthy and refreshed coming off a bye week and looking to remind everyone why this team is ranked in the top 15. Auburn is looking to wash away a dismal loss against LSU and looking towards a contest that heavily favors Mississippi.
Ole Miss Quarterback Jaxson Dart has put this team on his shoulders, and his intentions are clear. The Rebels have been on the outside looking in of the college football world these past few seasons and a shift has taken place. Ole Miss has a team that can compete with the best in the nation and they are taking aim at Auburn. With Mississippi being the healthiest since the start of the season, the Rebels have a major advantage coming off a bye week. Jaxson Dart has 12 touchdowns and two interceptions this season and consistency has been the biggest theme. Those impressive numbers are complimented by the fact he has over 240 yards in his first four games this year. In his last game against Arkansas, Dart threw for 153 yards but had his second best completion percentage this year with 64%. This team is serious, accurate, consistent and as well rounded as they come.
Auburn has lost the last three games after starting this season with three straight wins. Two weeks ago, Georgia was on upset alert in the fourth quarter against Auburn, but Georgia coach Kirby Smart’s team just proved to be too much. This team can hold its own and compete with the best, it just needs some adjustments. Quarterback Payton Thorne has been inconsistent this season to say the least, having performances ranging from 85.5 to 22.3 on the QBR scale. His four touchdowns and four interceptions also don’t help dismiss this narrative. Auburn can win this game, but this team has to break it down from quarter to quarter. Playing at home helps Auburn but Thorne has to step up in a big way. If Missouri goes up early, Auburn can’t get in its own head. Creating opportunities with defensive stops on third down and capitalizing on these opportunities with Thorne is the key to winning for Auburn.
Ole Miss has so much offensive versatility, it may prove to be too much. Even for an Auburn team at home with a chip on its shoulder. Mississippi is favored by 6.5 points and we believe this is the right choice. The Rebels cover on the road in a thrashing win against Auburn this Saturday.
