As the race to Atlanta for the SEC Championship continues to unfold, here are our picks for week eight:
Auburn vs. Arkansas
Godsey: Arkansas is coming off a bye week and will look to regroup after the 13-point loss to Alabama. After the win over Tennesse and the decent performance against the Tide, I would say Arkansas is on the upswing. Auburn is also looking better each week. With an extra two days of rest, they'll try to keep up the momentum they have gained after the critical win over Kentucky. My opinion is that Auburn tends to have a lot of trouble at Arkansas. Combine that with Auburn not playing as well in the 11 o'clock games and I think you have a recipe for a Razorback win.
The Pick: Arkansas 31 Auburn 24
Griff: Auburn took a big step in the right direction against Kentucky. The extra time off will help rejuvenate the Tigers to start the second half of their season.
The Pick: Auburn 27 Arkansas 23
Tennessee vs. (8) Alabama
Godsey: Tennessee also had a week to rest before they come to T-town to take on rival Alabama. The Tide had an impressive win over Texas A&M, silencing the twelfth man. If Alabama doesn't commit costly turnovers, this game shouldn't be that close at all. I don't think the location is going to help the Vols either.
The Pick: Alabama 38 Tennessee 17
Griff: The loss to Ole Miss might've been the best thing that could've to the Tide. Since then, they've arguably been the best team in the conference and have really flexed their muscle over some really good teams. This game has the lowest chance of being an upset in my eyes, and I see the Alabama defense having a good day on Saturday.
The Pick: Alabama 42 Tennessee 20
Missouri vs. Vanderbilt
Godsey: For the second time this season, Missouri has played "Who has the best kicker?" That tells me Missouri has some trouble moving the ball and finding the end zone inside the 20. The Tiger defense has played well, and it'll be interesting to see if Vandy can move the ball on them without turning the ball over.
The Pick: Missouri 27 Vanderbilt 20
Griff: I don't see Vanderbilt winning a SEC game this season, after they blew what was seemingly their only chance against South Carolina last week. Turnovers from the Commodores' offense trump whatever success an improving defense can provide.
The Pick: Missouri 17 Vanderbilt 6
(15) Texas A&M vs. (24) Ole Miss
Godsey: Both teams are coming off losses and will battle it out to see who is going to have two-straight losses. I do believe these two teams are about even. Ole Miss will have the home-field advantage, but I don't know if it'll be enough. If A&M can avoid three pick-sixes, I think they take this one.
The Pick: Texas A&M 34 Ole Miss 28
Griff: After losing to Memphis last week, it's tough for me to show confidence in the Rebels. That being said, I'm going to take a chance on them in a big SEC West showdown that'll likely be a fun shootout to watch.
The Pick: Ole Miss 41 Texas A&M 35
Western Kentucky vs. (5) LSU
The Pick: LSU 38 Western Kentucky 17
Griff: The only thing about this game that interests me will be Leonard Fournette's stat line. LSU wins big at home.
The Pick: LSU 45 Western Kentucky 6
Kentucky vs. Mississippi State
Godsey: Both teams will be trying to get back on track in SEC play, each having lost their last SEC contest. I think this will be a decent game. Kentucky is not a bad team, and they find ways to hang around until the end. I think the difference in this game will be Dak Prescott's mobility. I like the Bulldog defense a little more also, so I believe State takes this one at home.
The Pick: Mississippi State 31 Kentucky 24
Griff: This game was a good one last year, and I see it being another physical contest again this year. The result will be the same, however, and the Bulldogs get a big conference win at home.
The Pick: Mississippi State 24 Kentucky 20
(6) Clemson vs. Miami (FL)
Godsey: Miami will look to knock off the Tigers and shake things up in the rankings and standings. They'll have to conjure up a running game better than the one that they showed against FSU. I do believe it's possible that there's an upset brewing down in Miami. It is possible, but not likely.
The Pick: Clemson 34 Miami (FL) 17
Griff: The Tigers have done a great job starting fast on offense, and this matchup against the Hurricanes starts a three-week stretch that's going to be critical for Clemson to make the playoff. After Miami, Clemson travels to N.C. State followed by the biggest game on their schedule, where they host FSU in Death Valley. Some people are calling for the Hurricanes to upset the Tigers, but Clemson proves why they are top 10 team this week against Al Golden's squad, despite a strong showing from the Hurricanes.
The Pick: Clemson 38 Miami (FL) 20
(23) Duke vs. Virginia Tech
Godsey: Depending on which Virginia Tech team shows up, this could be a good game. While they differ in records, I believe that they're similar in talent. However, it seems the Hokies are really good with their turnover margin. They either create turnovers, or throw the ball away themselves. Duke will have to be careful which side of the turnover battle that they end up on. Virginia Tech may be down this year, but it's still Virginia Tech team that could give Duke a lot of problems.
The Pick: Duke 27 Virginia Tech 24
Griff: I really like this ACC Coastal matchup, and the cyclical nature of college football is in full effect in this one. About 10 years ago (and probably less than that), nobody gives Duke a chance in this ball game. Nowadays, however, it seems the tables have turned, and the Blue Devils are predicted by many to come out of Blacksburg with the win. I can't say I disagree.
The Pick: Duke 20 Virginia Tech 14
(3) Utah vs. Southern California
Godsey: There was a lot of drama surrounding the Trojans last week. Even though they lost, they still produced a good showing against Notre Dame. They'll have the home field advantage, but that's about all they'll have against Utah.
The Pick: Utah 38 Southern California 31
Griff: I will ask this question about the Trojans and Cody Kessler: How much better would Kessler have been with a steady coach throughout his college career? Southern Cal has had a difficult time maintaining continuity amongst their leadership, and the results have mirrored this deficiency. Utah is the surprise team in college football, and this is a huge week for them to continue their incredible run. A win against the Trojans would be another huge spark of confidence for the Utes, as they still have to travel to Washington and Arizona before hosting UCLA and Colorado to end the season. The Utes' defense comes up big in the Coliseum, and Utah moves on to host an Oregon State team that's undergoing the definition of a "rebuilding year."
The Pick: Utah 45 Southern California 28
As always, ladies and gents, thanks for reading! Be sure to follow Griff on Twitter @griffaldo!
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