Welcome to your Week 13 SEC Preview. Thanksgiving is a time for family gatherings, delicious food, and FOOTBALL. Who needs jingle bells when we have cow bells clangin’ in Starvegas for the Egg Bowl? In the spirit of the season, we will start your family arguments early with a final SEC power ranking and then share what each team has to be thankful for in 2023.
SEC Thankful & Power Rankings
The Top Half
1. Georgia
Kirby Smart. Smart has Georgia recruiting and playing at an elite level. December and January will tell if he and Georgia have indeed passed Nick Saban and Alabama.
2. Alabama
The Process. The 2023 season has been Saban’s masterclass. Many wrote the Tide off in September. Saban and his staff have doubled down, set their sights on an SEC Championship, and returned to the College Football Playoff.
3. Ole Miss
Lane Kiffin. He used the transfer portal and an electric offense to reenergize The ‘Sip and have them competing now for the SEC Championships. 2023 has shown the Rebels can win shootouts and rock fights.
4. LSU
Jayden Daniels. Daniels is having an electric 2023. Despite the Tiger’s porous defense, he has vaulted himself into the center of the Heisman conversation.
5. Missouri
Eli Drinkwitz. Drinkwitz made a move that saved his job and vaulted the Tigers into the top 5 in the SEC in 2023. He stepped aside from calling plays and took over as more of a CEO of the team. Kirby Moore has worked wonders with the Tiger offense and has lined himself up for a head coaching job of his own.
At least you’re going bowling.
6. Tennessee
Dolly Parton. The 77-year-old country singer was the highlight of Rocky Top last weekend in Neyland Stadium. The team remains ranked in the top 25 despite lacking a signature win. Josh Heupel must find a quarterback to fix the Vols offense in 2024.
7. Auburn
Jordan Hare Stadium. Two years ago, the cast at SEC Shots gave us gold with the Auburn Fan Experience. They may have topped it this week with their call for help. Being an Auburn fan is no doubt a roller coaster experience. Last week, the Tigers were blown out by New Mexico State. What does that mean for this week’s Iron Bowl? Jordan Hare will be rocking, the fans will be surfing, and we will have four quarters of chaos for the final regular season SEC game on CBS for the foreseeable future.
8. Kentucky
Florida, Vanderbilt, and Mississippi State. There are only three SEC wins this year.
9. Texas A&M
The 12th man’s deep pockets to buy out Jimbo. Who’s next?
Maybe Next Year
10. Florida
Ricky Pearsall. Where are the Gators and, more importantly, Billy Napier without the dynamic receiver against South Carolina?
11. South Carolina
Hot streaks. Don’t look now, but Beamer and the Gamecocks are on another late-season heater. Do they have one more in them to go bowling again?
12. Mississippi State
New beginnings. Zac Arnett was put in a tough spot last year. AD Zac Selmon needs a difference-maker to rekindle the energy back in Starkville.
13. Arkansas
A reset. Sam Pittman got the vote of confidence from AD Hunter Yurachek. Let’s hope he called Sean Lewis to fix the Razorback’s offense.
14. Vanderbilt
Baseball season. The South end zone wasn’t the only thing under construction in 2023. Clark Lea has his hands full for 2024.
Week 13 SEC Slate
All times are EST. The visiting team is listed first. Lines are current as of the time of publishing. Week 13 picks against the spread are in bold. Click on the links to follow the latest from our Last Word on College Football staff.
| 🗓️ Date | ⏰ Time | 📺 Television | Matchup | 💰 Line |
| 11/23 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN | No. 12 Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State | MISS -10 |
| 11/24 | 4:00 p.m. | CBS | No. 9 Missouri vs. Arkansas | MIZ -9 |
| 11/25 | Noon | ABC | Kentucky vs. No. 10 Louisville | LOU -7 |
| 11/25 | Noon | ESPN | Texas A&M vs. No. 14 LSU | LSU -11.5 |
| 11/25 | 3:30 p.m. | CBS | No. 8 Alabama vs. Auburn | ALA -14.5 |
| 11/25 | 3:30 p.m. | SECN | Vanderbilt vs. No. 21 Tennessee | TN -27 |
| 11/25 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN | No. 5 Florida State vs. Florida | FSU -6.5 |
| 11/25 | 7:30 p.m. | ABC | No. 1 Georgia vs. Georgia Tech | UGA -24 |
| 11/25 | 7:30 p.m. | SECN | No. 24 Clemson vs. South Carolina | CLEM -7.5 |
Week 13 SEC Preview
No. 12 Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State
The Egg Bowl is one of the great Thanksgiving traditions. Mike Leach upset Kiffin to secure what would be his final victory in his storied career last year. Kiffin and the Rebels have a shot at double-digit wins and a New Year’s Six Bowl. The Rebel got off to a slow start last week in their final game at the Vaught. A 21-point third quarter showed the Rebels still have plenty of spark. Look for Kiffin to make a statement in Starkville.
Prediction: Ole Miss 31, Mississippi State 17
No. 9 Missouri vs. Arkansas
Missouri survived last weekend against the Gators. They travel across the border to face a team that has had plenty of ups and downs. If the Tigers win big, does it give Yurachek pause and change his mind?
Prediction: Missouri 38, Arkansas 21
Kentucky vs. No. 10 Louisville
Kentucky has won four straight in the series. This isn’t Scott Saterfield’s Cardinals. Jeff Brohm has Louisville playing at a high level with eyes on an ACC Championship next week. That’s bad news for Stoops and the Wildcats.
Prediction: Louisville 38, Kentucky 28
Texas A&M vs. No. 14 LSU
The 12th man felt good last week in their first game past Fisher. Tigers stadium won’t be as kind in an early kick. Look for Daniels to continue putting up big numbers in preparation for his trip to New York as many Aggies contemplate their portal options.
Prediction: LSU 41, Texas A&M 28
No. 8 Alabama vs. Auburn
Saban is 4-4 at Jordan Hare in the Iron Bowl. Add to that the fits Hugh Freeze gave the Tide while the head coach at Ole Miss, and this one is no doubt must-see TV. Alabama will have to keep its focus on the Tigers and not look ahead to its matchup next week against Georgia. Auburn will have to wait until next year to roll Toomers again.
Prediction: Alabama 28, Auburn 24
Vanderbilt vs. No. 21 Tennessee
It could be the opportune moment for Nico Iamaleava to assume the QB1 role of the Vols. Ben McKee from 247 Sports reported that this year’s bowl game will not contribute to Iamaleava’s redshirt limit. Vols fans and Josh Heuple have probably seen enough from Joe Milton and should be ready to shift their focus to the future. It may be worth considering acquiring a quarterback from the transfer portal as insurance to revitalize the struggling Volunteer offense in 2024.
Prediction: Tennessee 34, Vanderbilt 17
No. 5 Florida State vs. Florida
This matchup was a must-see TV in the late 90’s, but that was almost 30 years ago. The series has seen both teams ebb and flow in opposite directions of one another. The injury to Jordan Travis last week likely will keep the Seminoles on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoff and the ACC Championship this year. The Gators showed plenty of fight last week against Missouri and are 9-3 at home in Napier’s first two years. The Gators will also be starting a backup quarterback in Max Brown. Another season without a bowl is on the line for the Gators.
Prediction: Florida State 26, Florida 24 (3OT)
No. 1 Georgia vs. Georgia Tech
The top-seated Bulldogs look to play their first of two straight in Atlanta. A win in the flats gives them the record for most consecutive victories, 29, in the SEC. Records are nice; championships are better. Georgia has let their last eight opponents score first, better to get it out of the way early.
Prediction: Georgia 48, Georgia Tech 10
No. 24 Clemson vs. South Carolina
How big is the gap between 5-7 and 6-6? A Sandstorm and a night game in Columbia. Just what the Gamecocks and Beamer need to avoid finding out.
Prediction: South Carolina 34, Clemson 31 (OT)
