Welcome to the third Saturday in October and your week eight SEC Preview. The air is growing crisp, the leaves are changing color, and the trash talk is in full bloom between Knoxville and Tuscaloosa. Last year’s game lived up to the hype. Tennessee knocked off Alabama on a last-second field goal to send Neyland Stadium into a frenzy and the sent goalposts down to the bottom of the Tenessee River. The Vols enjoyed their cigars and celebrations and didn’t mind rubbing the victory in the face of the Tide. To the victor goes the spoils; after losing the previous 15 contests, they deserved it. The 2023 version will be different.
Last year, fans were given a top-ten matchup between two high-powered offenses. This year, defense is each team’s calling card, and both cannot afford to lose if they want to set their sights on Atlanta. Alabam also has plenty of pride on the line. Nick Saban has only lost nine times at home, covering 16 years and more than 100 games, and has not lost multiple games at home since his first season back in 2007. We hope Josh Heupel and the Vols enjoyed their cigars last year because they will be in for a battle on Saturday afternoon.
Week 8 SEC Slate
| 🗓️ Date | ⏰ Time | Television | Matchup | 💰 Line | 💵 O/U |
| 10/21 | Noon | ESPN | Mississippi State vs. Arkansas | ARK -6 | 49 |
| 10/21 | 3:30 p.m. | CBS | No. 17 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Alabama | ALA -9.5 | 49 |
| 10/21 | 3:30 p.m. | SECN | South Carolina vs. No. 20 Missouri | MIZ -7 | 60 |
| 10/21 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN | No. 13 Ole Miss vs. Auburn | Miss -6.5 | 56.5 |
| 10/21 | 7:30 p.m. | SECN | Army vs. No. 19 LSU | LSU -30 | 57.5 |
SEC Week Eight Preview
SEC Preview #1: Mississippi State vs. Arkansas
Close only counts in hand grenades and horseshoes. Neither of which Sam Pittman and the Razorbacks are interested in at the moment. Arkansas is a disappointing 2-5 on the season, with four of their losses coming by seven points or less. The next four games (Mississippi State, Florida, Auburn, and FIU) allow Pittman to get the Hogs back on track and save their season and possibly his job. They welcome in Mississippi State, whose troubles increased last week against Western Michigan. Four-year starting quarterback Will Rogers went out with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Rogers has started 32 straight games for the Bulldogs, and his loss would make Saturday’s matchup all the more difficult.
Prediction: Arkansas 34, Mississippi State 20
SEC Preview #2: No. 17 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Alabama
Looking for a crazy stat for this one? Alabama ranks deal last in the SEC with 31 sacks allowed this season. Tennessee ranks 3rd in the SEC with 24 sacks. When asked if Saban was concerned, he responded in his Monday press conference with a resounding, “Hell yeah!” This Alabama team has shown plenty of warts and flaws this year. In addition to sacks, they take a lot of false starts and bad penalties. If Tennessee is to capitalize in this game, they will need a big performance from Joe Milton. Milton ranks in the bottom half of the SEC in completion percentage, yards per attempt, and dead last in completions over +20 yards. Those aren’t the kind of numbers that call for an upset.
Prediction: Alabama 24, Tennesse 10
SEC Preview #3: South Carolina vs. No. 20 Missouri
Missouri used an 18-0 fourth quarter to knock Kentucky off on the road last week. The Tigers continue to be one of the dark horse candidates to win the East. The key to their offense is not beating themselves. Brady Cook has been efficient on offense this year, throwing for 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions. It helps to have big targets like Theo Wease Jr. and Luther Burden III as targets. South Carolina is reeling. They blew a 10-point lead last week in their loss to Florida, and Shane Beamer made headlines this week with breaking his foot in anger after the game. After a promising first two years under Beamer, 3-9 is likely for the Gamecocks.
Prediction: Missouri 38, South Carolina 30
SEC Preview #4: No. 13 Ole Miss vs. Auburn
Lane Kiffin at Jordan Hare at night? This is must-see TV, because things are going to get weird. Kiffin had an “alleged” long and drawn-out flirtation with Auburn last year before deciding to stay in Oxford. A win on Saturday night will be the first time in 71 years that Ole Miss can claim back-to-back wins against the Tigers. During his Monday press conference, Kiffin spoke of the magic of Jordan Hare Stadium. “I think that place just sometimes it kind of has some magical things happen,” Kiffin said. “They’re always sold out. Fans seem to be in all the games from the beginning on. They seem to play better there, especially at night.” Auburn is in need of magic or an exorcism. Their offense appears broken and hapless in Hugh Freeze’s first year. While the numbers say Ole Miss should be good to go in this one, Jordan Hare probably has just enough magic to make it interesting.
Prediction: Ole Miss 27, Auburn 17
SEC Preview #5: Army vs. No. 19 LSU
Speaking of magic. Has LSU turned a corner? LSU dismantled Auburn last Saturday night at Tiger Stadium. It was the Tiger’s best defensive performance of the season. Auburn was held to 293 total yards and was 3-12 on third down. Army comes in and will once again challenge LSU’s front seven on the ground. The Tiger’s offense continues to cook this season. They became the first team to have totaled 500+ yards of total offense in six straight games. LSU will honor the Army this weekend by having camo endzones this weekend in Baton Rouge.
Prediction: LSU 45, Army 21
