No. 5 Texas at No. 25 Vanderbilt
Saturday, Oct. 26 — FirstBank Stadium — Nashville, Tennessee
3:15 p.m. on SEC Network
The Texas Longhorns were riding high heading into their Week 8 matchup with the Georgia Bulldogs — until the Bulldogs’ defense made a mockery of both redshirt junior quarterback Quinn Ewers and redshirt freshman Arch Manning. Meanwhile, the Vanderbilt Commodores are on a three-game win streak and ranked for the first time since 2013. Graduate QB Diego Pavia has the Black and Gold on the verge of its first bowl appearance since 2018.
With coach Clark Lea on the sidelines and Pavia under center, Commodore fans might have another upset in the works when the Longhorns come to town. Texas needs to prepare to dominate in Nashville if it hopes to rebound from the spanking it was dealt by Georgia. Vanderbilt has a blueprint for defeating top-ranked teams, but Texas might retaliate more than Alabama did in Week 6. This game will also determine the age-old argument of Texas versus Tennessee barbecue.
Prediction: Texas 42, Vanderbilt 28
No. 21 Missouri at No. 15 Alabama
Saturday, Oct. 26 — Bryant-Denny Stadium — Tuscaloosa, Alabama
2:30 p.m. on ABC
Alabama is clearly not the same team that it was under Nick Saban; meanwhile, Missouri needed a 15-point fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the 2-5 Auburn Tigers. After their offense was muzzled by the Volunteers in Week 8, the Crimson Tide and redshirt junior QB Jalen Milroe are looking to feast on the Tigers’ defense. Missouri needs to feed its wide receiver corps, including senior wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. and junior WR Luther Burden III.
In order to win this game, coach Kalen DeBoer is going to need to toughen up his softened program as Alabama has just the 56th-ranked total defense in the country. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ stubborn defense allows just 10 points per game. The last time Alabama lost two games back-to-back was in 2013, so Father Time, please don’t fail me now. In the words of internet personality Druski, “I don’t give a piss about nothing but the Tide!”
Prediction: Alabama 24, Missouri 21
Arkansas at Mississippi State
Saturday, Oct. 26 — Davis Wade Stadium — Starkville, Mississippi
11:45 a.m. on SEC Network
While Arkansas and Mississippi State have very different records, BetMGM has the Razorbacks as just a seven-point favorite over the Bulldogs. That is because of one reason: freshman QB Michael Van Buren Jr., who took over under center when starting redshirt senior QB Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Van Buren has single-handedly rescued the hopes of the Bulldog fans, throwing for 792 yards and two touchdowns so far.
Arkansas turned the ball over three times versus LSU in Week 7, and Mississippi State forced two takeaways against Texas A&M — whoever wins the turnover margin in this matchup will come out on top. If the Razorbacks manage to stay out of their own way, they should be able to feast on a Bulldog defense that allows 33 points per game, the 17th highest in the country. This little piggy is going to Starkville to win a football game.
Prediction: Arkansas 35, Mississippi State 31
Oklahoma at No. 18 Ole Miss
Saturday, Oct. 19 — Vaught-Hemingway Stadium — Oxford, Mississippi
6:30 p.m. on ABC
Ole Miss enjoyed a bye week last week after suffering an overtime loss to LSU in Week 7, while Oklahoma just fired its offensive coordinator after being outscored 69-10 in its last two games. Coach Brent Venables is running out of options fast in his first year in the SEC.
To paraphrase Anakin Skywalker, otherwise known as Ole Miss senior QB Jaxson Dart: If the Rebels still want a chance of qualifying for the College Football Playoff, they have no other option than winning out the remainder of the season.
The Sooners trudge into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium with the sixth-worst total offense in the country and the hometown Rebels have the second-best only behind the Miami Hurricanes. The only thing worse than Oklahoma’s offense is the spelling of the Ole Miss QB’s first name — give me the Rebels plus the spread, as BetMGM only has them as 20.5-point favorites.
Prediction: Ole Miss 52, Oklahoma 10
