SEC Week Eight Preview
Undefeated No. 14 Missouri (6-0, 2-0 SEC) hosts No. 22 Florida (4-2, 3-1 SEC). The Tigers have opened up SEC play with back-to-back road wins at Vanderbilt and Georgia, but will be without starting QB James Franklin against the Gators. Florida has also been hurt by injuries, losing RB Matt Jones (79 carries, 339 yards, 2 TD) for the season this week. Missouri controls its destiny in the SEC East, playing host to Florida and South Carolina in the next two weeks.
Auburn (5-1, 2-1 SEC) travels to College Station to face No. 7 Texas A&M (5-1, 2-1 SEC) with the loser facing a tough uphill battle to get back in the SEC West race. The Tigers and Aggies have gotten off to strong starts with their lone losses coming to LSU and Alabama, respectively. Auburn is coming off two-straight wins, but has not won on the road since October 1, 2011 at South Carolina. Texas A&M rallied for a 41-38 road win at Ole Miss last weekend, its second straight road victory. The Aggies are 3-0 all-time against Auburn.
No. 9 South Carolina (5-1, 3-1 SEC) travels to Knoxville to take on Tennessee (3-3, 0-2 SEC) in an SEC East showdown. The Gamecocks have won three-straight over the Volunteers after winning only four times total in the previous 27 meetings. South Carolina blew past Arkansas in week seven, winning by 45 points after winning by a combined 37 points in its first four wins. Gamecocks RB Mike Davis continued his stellar season, rushing for 128 yards to catapult him into the leader in rushing yards in the SEC. Tennessee had a bye week following an overtime loss at home to Georgia and is in the midst of a five-game stretch against ranked opponents.
Vanderbilt (3-3, 0-3 SEC) and No. 16 Georgia (4-2, 3-1 SEC) face off in Nashville in an important game for both teams. Georgia needs a win to keep pace in the SEC East race that has four teams with one loss or fewer, while Vanderbilt seeks a signature win as it strives for bowl eligibility. Both the Bulldogs and Commodores are coming off home losses to Missouri with Vanderbilt dropping a 51-28 decision two weeks ago, and Georgia falling 41-26 last weekend. Georgia has won six-straight and 17 of 18 against Vanderbilt.
Ole Miss (3-3, 1-3 SEC) faces its third top-10 opponent in the last four weeks, hosting No. 8 LSU (6-1, 3-1 SEC). The Rebels have dropped three games in a row, but the last two losses against Auburn and Texas A&M have come by a combined 11 points. LSU has rebounded from a road loss to Georgia with a 33-point win at Mississippi State and a solid 17-6 victory at home against Florida. The Tigers have won three-straight over the Rebels.
Arkansas (3-4, 0-3 SEC) plays its fourth-straight game against a ranked opponent, traveling to No. 1 Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC). The Razorbacks started the season with three-straight wins before dropping the last four contests, including a 52-7 loss against South Carolina last weekend. Alabama rolled past Kentucky, 48-7, and has allowed just 11.3 points per game, despite surrendering 42 points in one game to Texas A&M. In its last four wins, Alabama has outscored the competition 149-16.