Week 8 Picks

Last week, my first picking games, went OK, 4-2 overall and 3-3 against the spread. This weeks looks a little different as the lines are all over the place as opposed to last weeks somewhat consistent 7 point spreads.

Tennessee (-1) @ Alabama
As the last blog post shows, I really like UT right now and their run to the front of the SEC East starts this week. Alabama was lucky to beat Houston at home two weeks ago and needed a blown call at the end of last weeks game at Ole' Miss to escape Oxford with a W. Tennessee should win this border battle somewhat easily.
Tennessee 30 Alabama 17

Vanderbilt @ South Carolina (-13.5)
Vandy is coming off a heart breaker last week at home against UGA. Now the Commodores are desperate for wins in their quest to get to 6 and be bowl eligible. Unfortunately the stink on the road and South Carolina has been rolling lately. The gamecocks better not be looking ahead to next Saturday nights showdown in Knoxville though, because VU could possibly pull the upset. Don't count on Spurrier letting his team look ahead.
South Carolina 31 Vanderbilt 10

Arkansas (-5) @ Mississippi
Like I said last week when I predicted Ole' Miss to knock off Alabama at home, they play much better in Oxford. And as noted above, they should have won last week and were a blown (or not according to SEC head of officials) pass interference call from having a shot to at least tie the Crimson Tide. Arkansas just cannot score at all and even though Mississippi's D is not Auburns, they should be able to contain Jones and McFadden enough to win this battle of the only two winless teams in the SEC
Mississippi 20 Arkansas 17

Florida (-6.5) @ Kentucky
ESPN College Gameday travels to Lexington for the first time ever probably to watch as Andre' Woodson tries to follow up last weeks huge win over LSU with an equally huge win over the Gators. Florida looks to bounce back after back-to-back losses. This is likely an SEC East eliminator for both teams as it would give UF a third conference loss and the Wildcats would lose tiebreakers to both their main competitors. Somehow the UK offensive line held its own against LSU, perhaps due to Woodson's audibling on half the plays, don't expect them to hold up again.
Florida 41 Kentucky 24

Mississippi State @ West Virginia (-25.5)
Like South Carolina last week, MSU hits the road in the middle of conference play to play a non-conference foe. Unlike South Carolina last week Mississippi State will not win. West Virginia is no North Carolina and MSU is no USC. Winning this game is pretty unrealistic for the Bulldogs and keeping it close would be a real moral victory for Sly Crooms squad.
West Virginia 42 Mississippi State 13

Auburn @ Louisiana State (-10)
If Auburn's offense could match its defense they would be national title contenders, as it is they'll need to win this one to stay in the SEC West race. Auburn has held its last two opponents to 7 points and last week they held Darren McFadden and Felix Jones to a combined 85 yards on 23 carries. LSU, despite losing last week is still squarely in the national championship hunt and Baton Rouge at night is probably the most difficult place to play in the country. Auburn's tough defense and LSU's mistake prone offense should keep it close
Louisiana State 13 Auburn 7