Let’s get ready to rumble. We will forgive Vanderbilt and UMass for spoiling a rather sweet Week 5 SEC slate. We have games in all three windows that are must-see television. Folks in Fayetteville will be watching closely as those in Gainesville wait for the likely inevitable. Before we get to the games, let’s take a quick look at the permanent opponents the SEC announced this week as the league moves to nine conference games next year.
- Alabama: Auburn, Tennessee, Mississippi State
- Arkansas: Missouri, Texas, LSU
- Auburn: Alabama, Georgia, Vanderbilt
- Florida: Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky
- Georgia: Auburn, Florida, South Carolina
- Kentucky: Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina
- LSU: Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M
- Mississippi State: Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Alabama
- Missouri: Arkansas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma
- Oklahoma: Missouri, Ole Miss, Texas
- Ole Miss: Mississippi State, LSU, Oklahoma
- South Carolina: Georgia, Florida, Kentucky
- Tennessee: Alabama, Kentucky, Vanderbilt
- Texas: Texas A&M, Arkansas, Oklahoma
- Texas A&M: LSU, Missouri, Texas
- Vanderbilt: Auburn, Tennessee, Mississippi State
Here are three thoughts on the pairings:
- Why did we lose Alabama-LSU? We’ve already lost the SEC West, do we need to lose the Saban Bowl too? (Note to self: trademark Saban Bowl.)
- O U serious? Ole Miss and Oklahoma permanent rivals? The Lane Train said it best. “Oklahoma is really disappointing. We don’t have anything in common with them or our fans. So that doesn’t make any sense at all. And so that’s unfortunate with so many great teams that we’ve played for a long time here, especially from our SEC West years.”
- At least we protected some rivalries….
- Alabama-Auburn (Iron Bowl)
- Oklahoma-Texas (Red River Rivalry)
- Florida-Georgia (The Cocktail Party)
- Ole Miss-Mississippi State (Egg Bowl)
- Texas-Texas A&M
- Tennessee “Trifecta”: Rocky Top key its top three historical rivals (Alabama, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt)
Week 5 SEC Betting Lines: Let’s Get Ready to Rumble
FanDuel Week 5 SEC Betting Lines
Rankings are based on the AP media poll. Lines and game totals are courtesy of FanDuel. All games are Eastern Standard Time. Check the links for insights from your favorite Last Word on College Football writers. After the lines, we’ll take a big picture look and predict the five biggest Week 5 SEC matchups on the weekend.
| Matchup | Date | Time | Channel | Line |
| No. 22 Notre Dame @ Arkansas | 9/27 | Noon | ABC | #GoIrish -4.5 |
| Utah State @ Vanderbilt | 9/27 | 12:45 PM | SECN | #Vandy -23.5 |
| No. 4 LSU @ No. 13 Ole Miss | 9/27 | 3:30 PM | ABC | #Sip -1.5 |
| Auburn @ No. 9 Texas A&M | 9/27 | 3:30 PM | ESPN | #12thMan -6.5 |
| No. 15 Tennessee @ Mississippi State | 9/27 | 4:15 PM | SECN | #RockyTop -7.5 |
| No. 17 Alabama @ No. 5 Georgia | 9/27 | 7:30 PM | ABC | #GoDawgs -2.5 |
| UMass @ No. 20 Missouri | 9/27 | 7:30 PM | ESPNU | #MIZ -43.5 |
| Kentucky @ South Carolina | 9/27 | 7:45 PM | SECN | #GoCocks -5.5 |
Picks last week:
We are back to .500. Arkansas fumbled late (again) to keep us from a 4-2 mark. We really missed the mark on Ole Miss, but who had the Sip boat racing the Green Wave? Let’s get to the five biggest Week 5 SEC games.
- Week 1: 3-2
- YTD: 10-10
No. 22 Notre Dame @ Arkansas
This is a weird matchup. We know. Notre Dame will play anybody, anywhere, any time…but Fayetteville? It just doesn’t seem to fit. The Hogs have had some bad luck, seeing late fumbles turn what could have been likely victories into cranking up the hot seat on Sam Pittman. Pittman likes a challenge, though. He likes to be counted out. If he can keep his offensive coordinator focused on The Irish and not gathering boosters to pay Pittman’s buyout, the Hogs should score against a weak Irish defense. Can the Hogs avoid a self-inflicted wound for a second week in a row?
Yes, Sir: Arkansas
No. 4 LSU @ No. 13 Ole Miss
2:30 pm for a kickoff? They had to bring the stealth bomber for a flyover to get folks out of The Grover for the afternoon kick. But, let’s be honest. This game deserves an all-day tailgate so that the fans will be in full spirits when they come into the Vaught. This is one of the conference’s great rivalries and is protected by the permanent opponents. Ole Miss comes into the game flying high on offense and defense after clowning Tulane last week. LSU has something to prove. The Week 1 Clemson win has lost all of its shine. Can Nuss and the Tigers get the offense in gear to top Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss?
Hell yeah! Damn right! Hotty Toddy, Gosh almighty, Who the hell are we? Hey! Flim flam, bim bam, Ole Miss by damn!
Auburn @ No. 9 Texas A&M
Fore! Auburn
No. 15 Tennessee @ Mississippi State
This one is a sneaky good game of the Week 5 SEC slate. The Cowbells are undefeated and 4-0 for the first time since 2014. Jeff Lebby’s squad is feeling good and will face its biggest test of the season. Mississippi State found a late miracle to knock off Arizona State a couple of weeks ago, but they will need more than that to help them beat the Vols. Joey Aguilar has made the “Nico who?” crowd smile. He has the accuracy and big-play ability to make the Vols’ offense hum. He will need to limit turnovers in order to get Rocky Top back to an SEC Championship or CFB Playoff appearance.
Rocky Top, you’ll always be Home sweet home to me
No. 17 Alabama @ No. 5 Georgia
Go Dawgs
Main Photo: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images
