Week Five SEC Predictions

As the calendar changes to October, the college football season gets more interesting, with conference play starting up across the country.

The conference and divisional races will start to take shape, especially in the SEC, where four important matchups will take place this Saturday.

Here are The Power T Report’s week five picks:

13 Alabama (3-1) at 8 Georgia (4-0)

(3:30, CBS)

In the preseason, this game looked like it would be a top ten battle of undefeated teams, but Alabama’s loss to Ole Miss took away a little of that hype.

But even with that loss by the Crimson Tide, this game is still a huge factor in sorting out the SEC standings.

With a win, Georgia would solidify itself as the leader in the SEC East, but if the Bulldogs lose, the SEC East is back to a three-team race between Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia.

As far as the game itself, two Heisman contending running backs in Alabama’s Derrick Henry and Georgia’s Nick Chubb will go head to head.

In the games that Georgia has played so far this season, the Bulldogs offense has been more reliant on the run than the pass. For the teams that they have been playing against, they have been able to win with just the run, but that won’t be the case against Alabama.

Alabama’s stout run defense will force Georgia quarterback Greyson Lambert to throw, where the Crimson Tide’s pressure will get to him.

Alabama 35, Georgia 20

3 Ole Miss (4-0) at 25 Florida (4-0)

(7, ESPN)

With their win over Tennessee last weekend, Florida is starting to look like a potential contender in the SEC East.

This week’s game against College Football Playoff contender Ole Miss will reveal more about the Gators.

Ole Miss did not look like the number three team in the country last week against Vanderbilt, but part of that can be attributed to overlooking the SEC’s worst team after the Rebels had just achieved the biggest win of the college football season.

As opposed to that game, Ole Miss will be ready this week.

Rebels’ quarterback Chad Kelly will show once again that he is one of the best in the conference, and the Ole Miss defense will give Florida quarterback Will Grier trouble all night.

Ole Miss 42, Florida 17

21 Mississippi State (3-1) at 14 Texas A&M (4-0)

(7:30, SEC Network)

This game is undoubtedly being overlooked with the Georgia-Alabama game going on earlier in the day, but it could end up being the best game of the day.

Mississippi State has been flying under the radar, partially because they were expected to drop off after last season, but the Bulldogs’ only loss so far this season has come to No. 9 LSU, a two-point defeat.

Texas A&M had a big win over Arizona State in week one, but that victory doesn’t look quite as good since Arizona State has not lived up to their expectations.

Mississippi State will keep this close and have a chance to win, but the crowd at Kyle Field will boost Texas A&M to a win.

Texas A&M 31, Mississippi State 23

Arkansas (1-3) at Tennessee (2-2)

(7, ESPN2)

This game was supposed to be a battle of two teams on the way up, and an indicator of which third year head coach was ahead of the other.

Instead, it pits two teams that both have suffered multiple heartbreaking defeats.

Though each team has their problems, this game could serve as a new start for both the Vols and the Razorbacks.

The winner will move to 1-1 in conference play and with some help, could start to move up in the division standings.

If Tennessee wins this game, it will be because of improved play from the wide receivers.

The Vols receivers have the talent to be a strong unit, the production just hasn’t been there.

If they can start producing consistently, Tennessee will play well in this game, and for the rest of the season.

The receiving core, with Josh Dobbs passing the ball well, will haunt an Arkansas defense that has struggled so far this season, and Tennessee puts themselves back in position to compete for the SEC East.

Tennessee 28, Arkansas 20

Other picks:

Missouri 21, South Carolina 17

(12, SEC Network)

Auburn 35, San Jose State 10

(4, SEC Network)

Middle Tennessee State 17, Vanderbilt 16

(7, CBS Sports Network)

9 LSU 52, Eastern Michigan 3

(7, ESPNU)

Kentucky 42, Eastern Kentucky 7

(7:30, SEC Network)

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