UCF at Florida
Saturday, Oct. 5 — Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — Gainesville, Florida
6:45 p.m. on SEC Network
UCF was riding high before being humbled in Week 5 by the Colorado Buffaloes and coach Deion Sanders. The Gators and coach Billy Napier enjoyed their bye week after what has been a very up and down campaign to begin the 2024 season. If Florida wants any chance of success against UCF, it needs to focus on slowing down the No. 2 rushing offense in the country.
A masterclass by redshirt senior quarterback Graham Mertz is the only chance Florida has of staying in this game. While the Knights redshirt senior QB KJ Jefferson no longer plays in the SEC, the two-hour drive from Orlando, Florida to Gainesville should give him just enough time to practice his gator hunting skills. Florida, get Napier’s pink slip ready.
Prediction: UCF 35, Florida 31
No. 12 Ole Miss at South Carolina
Saturday, Oct. 5 — Williams-Brice Stadium — Columbia, South Carolina
2:30 p.m. on ESPN
After being upset by the Kentucky Wildcats, 20-17, in Week 5, Ole Miss and coach Lane Kiffin have been labeled frauds. South Carolina was on a bye and has a record of 3-1 behind the legs of senior running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders and the defensive presence of fifth-year edge rusher Kyle Kennard.
It turns out having a cakewalk to begin the season and boost stats was not the key to success for Ole Miss. “This can be a really big challenge on us improving this week,” Kiffin said. The Rebels will need to improve for a shot at taking down the Gamecocks, who were one play away from beating LSU in Week 3 and being amongst the undefeated in college football. Don’t get cocky, it’s gonna get rocky in Williams-Brice Stadium.
Prediction: Ole Miss 27, South Carolina 17
No. 4 Tennessee at Arkansas
Saturday, Oct. 5 — Razorback Stadium — Fayetteville, Arkansas
6:30 p.m. on ABC
The undefeated Volunteers bashed the Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma in Week 5, forcing three turnovers and procuring 345 yards of offense. Arkansas was handed its second loss of the season after turning over the ball three times versus Texas A&M in AT&T Stadium. The Razorbacks and offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino failed to assemble any semblance of offense in the second half in Week 5.
Things aren’t getting any easier, as the Volunteers have the best defense in the country. Not to mention redshirt freshman QB Nico Iamaleava, whose excellent play has him as the sixth-ranked betting favorite for the Heisman Trophy, according to BetMGM. The Volunteers will have plenty of leftover bacon to bring back to Good ol’ Rocky Top.
Prediction: Tennessee 48, Arkansas 20
Auburn at No. 5 Georgia
Saturday, Oct. 5 — Sanford Stadium — Athens, Georgia
2:30 p.m. on ABC
Georgia just had its first regular season loss since the 2020 season, having its 42-game win streak snapped by the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide. Auburn, on the other hand, choked away the upset versus the No. 19 Oklahoma Sooners in Week 5. In what was statistically one of the best games of redshirt senior QB Peyton Thorne’s Auburn career, he still managed to throw a game-losing pick-six.
The Bulldogs’ top-20 scoring defense is going to welcome the Tigers to Sanford Stadium and completely tear apart Auburn coach Hugh Freeze’s questionable play calling. Auburn seems to just find a way to lose week in and week out. In the words of Georgia native and Bulldog fan Quavo, “If it’s us versus them, who you think gon’ win?”
Prediction: Georgia 52, Auburn 16
