Week 10 SEC Predictions

The only week all season where the SEC schedule consists of only conference games is setting up to be a big one.

The slate kicks off on Thursday with Mississippi State travelling to Missouri, and is capped off by what is the biggest SEC game of the season – No. 2 LSU at No. 4 Alabama.

This week will once again provide a more clear picture of the SEC’s College Football Playoff chances, and will even potentially crown an SEC East champion.

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

20 Mississippi State at Missouri

Thursday (9, ESPN)

When this game was first placed on the Thursday night schedule, the roles of these two teams were likely thought to be switched.

Mississippi State was picked by many to finish last in the SEC West, and Missouri was thought to at least compete in the SEC East, a division they have won the last two seasons.

Instead, the Bulldogs are a top 20 team, and can still finish as high as second in the SEC West.

The Tigers on the other hand have one of the worst offenses in the country and could potentially finish last in the SEC East.

Missouri might have some early momentum because of the excitement of the Thursday night kickoff, but this might be the week that Missouri’s stout defense starts to crumble with no support from their offense.

Mississippi State 31, Missouri 10

Kentucky at Georgia

Saturday (12, SEC Network)

This game wouldn’t really have any interest at all, but the situation going on in Athens will draw some extra viewers.

After the 27-3 blowout loss to Florida last week, the “Fire Mark Richt” talk around the Georgia program has reached new heights.

A change likely wouldn’t be made before the end of the season, but a loss to a reeling Kentucky team would go a long ways towards helping make that decision.

Kentucky, also coming off a blowout loss, will put up a fight in this game due to the distractions for Georgia, but overall the Bulldogs are just the talented team.

Georgia 27, Kentucky 21

2 LSU at 4 Alabama

Saturday (8, CBS)

Alabama was surprisingly included as number four in the first College Football Playoff Committee top 25, while LSU came in at number two.

This game will be huge in terms of deciding the SEC West champion, and in determining if the SEC can get a team in the playoff.

An Alabama win over LSU could spark a scenario where SEC teams beat up on each other, and the conference ends up being left out of the playoff completely.

But LSU will make sure that doesn’t happen, with a season defining win on Saturday night, their first win over the Tide since 2011.

Alabama is a very good team, but this game will begin to show that they aren’t the same Alabama as years past.

LSU 24, Alabama 20

South Carolina at Tennessee

Saturday (4, SEC Network)

Tennessee started off a very important last five weeks of the season the right way last week, destroying Kentucky, 52-21.

If Tennessee is able to win their last four games to finish 8-4, a bowl game win over a respectable opponent would put Tennessee as a potential top ten team heading into 2016.

Focusing on this game, it might be the toughest left on the Vols’ schedule, as South Carolina has been playing reenergized ever since Shawn Elliot took over as interim head coach.

If the Gamecocks do make this game interesting, it will be because of wide receiver Pharoh Cooper, who torched Tennessee’s secondary last year, and could do it again this year.

But Tennessee is better than when these teams met last season, and South Carolina is worse.

The Vols will win their third straight over South Carolina, this one not nearly as close as the past two.

Tennessee 42, South Carolina 17

Other picks:

10 Florida 30, Vanderbilt 3

(12, ESPN)

18 Ole Miss 34, Arkansas 24

(3:30, CBS)

19 Texas A&M 28, Auburn 20

(7:30, SEC Network)

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