B&S week 5: game by game previews
A sleepier slate of games this weekend, but still some matchups with big implications.
By: Bossman Slim, The Hammer, The Waco Kid
Photo: Butch Dill, USA TODAY Sports
Early Games
Auburn at Ole Miss - 12:00 PM ET on SEC Network (Auburn -9.5)
Paging Bo Nix. The Sophomore signal caller for Auburn had a tough week against South Carolina last week, throwing for just one touchdown and three interceptions in the loss. No surprise, folks on the Plains aren't happy. Gus Malzahn’s seat is heating up and there have been calls for Nix to be benched. Luckily, the Ole Miss defense is terrible. If there was ever a week for Nix to get back on track, it's this one. But Ole Miss can score the ball too, so Auburn will need a big game from Nix to keep pace. It’ll be interesting to see if he has one in him.
Matt Corral also had a rancid game last week, throwing SIX interceptions against Arkansas. I see that as more of an anomaly (and solid defense by the Hogs) and expect Corral to play well, but it's hard to know what a six interception game could do to a young quarterback’s confidence. Can Lane, Corral and their running back tandem of Conner and Ealy get back on track this weekend?
Let’s be real, neither one of these teams is very good overall. Talented at certain positions, yes, but so far this season both squads have been pretty mediocre. I think Auburn being favored by 9.5 is a big stretch, but I do like them to win the game in a close one. Gus Malzahn has enough cockroach in him to pull this one out. The man just won’t die. Y’all won’t get rid of him that easily, Auburn. Expect a hefty workload for Tank Bigsby and for Auburn to outlast the Rebels in the end.
Auburn - 38
Ole Miss - 35
The Hammer
Midday Games
Photo: Michael Patrick, News Sentinel-Knoxville
#2 Alabama at Tennessee - 3:30 PM ET on CBS (Alabama -20)
Dave in Tuscaloosa put together another bang-up preview on this Bama-Vols matchup, which you can read here. We’ve got a snippet for you here:
“So, could the magic of 1982 make an appearance at Neyland Stadium this Saturday? I believe in Jeremy Pruitt and his staff to continue to build a solid program that will contend for SEC titles in the future, and impressive recruiting continues to fill the Vols roster with talent and depth (according to 247 Sports, the Vols currently have the 9th ranked class in the nation for 2021 with 26 commits). The time seems right for a major victory for the Vols, and the parallels between 2020 and 1982 certainly exist with the door for a Tide letdown wide open. Yet, Alabama has shown that they don’t even entertain going through that door, as Saban and his staff do a masterful job of preparing the boys in Crimson and White the same way, no matter the opponent, each week as shown by their stellar 93-0 record against unranked opponents (Bama Trivia: When was the last time the Tide fell to an unranked opponent? Answer...2007, Sir Nick’s first year at the helm when Louisiana-Monroe strolled into Bryant Denny and stunned Bama 21-14).”
#2 Alabama 47
Tennessee 24
Kentucky at Missouri - 4:00 PM ET on SEC Network (Kentucky -6)
Photo: Jacob Noger, SEC Photo
This is our B&S SEC Game of the Week, so you can check out our full preview here. But here’s a quick preview of our preview:
“Connor, meet the Wildcat secondary. This is not going to be the LSU field day you had two weeks ago. LSU is dead last in the SEC in pass defense, while Kentucky boasts one of the best defensive backfields in the nation, ranking second in the SEC (and second in the entire country) in interceptions with nine, and third in the SEC in passing defense (what world are we living in?). Three of those have been returned for touchdowns. Talk about a wet blanket secondary. Their defense is quite literally the reason they are winning games at all. Don’t forget that rush defense either - they’re 4th in the SEC, giving up just over 100 yards per game.”
Click the link for our score prediction.
Bossman Slim
Late Game
South Carolina at LSU - 7:00 PM ET on ESPN (LSU -7.5)
This weekend’s night game features two teams that are having unexpected years for their programs. LSU might be the most disappointing team in the SEC, while Will Muschamp has South Carolina competing with strong conference opponents on a weekly basis. Sure, the Gamecocks are 2-2, but their two losses came from #16 Tennessee and #3 Florida and both were close games. USC also posted an impressive win last weekend against #15 Auburn. LSU on the other hand enters the game with a 1-2 record, both losses coming from more Tuesday morning trash teams, Mississippi State and Mizzou. The one thing the Tigers and Gamecocks have in common this season is that they both beat Vanderbilt 41-7. In a time when citizens across the country are arguing about every little thing, the nation is unified by one undeniable truth: Vanderbilt football is the worst.
Photo: Dave Rappoccio on Twitter
Vanderbilt’s top NFL player of the last decade.
LSU’s outlook got worse when Coach O announced that starting quarterback Myles Brennan would not play this weekend due to a lower body injury. This thrusts true freshman quarterback T.J. Finley into the limelight against a team that seems to have hit its stride defensively. South Carolina’s defense caused a toddler fight between Auburn quarterback Bo Nix and wide receiver Seth Williams on the sideline after forcing three interceptions. In other news this season could serve as the sequel to the 30 for 30 short film: “You don’t know Bo.” LSU did have an extra week to prepare for the upcoming battle due to the matchup against Florida being postponed. The extra rest and preparation should be beneficial for a freshman quarterback - but at the end of the day, if the Tigers don’t want to see Baton Rouge burned down Saturday night, they will HAVE to play defense. No more giving up 40+ points to the likes of Mississippi State and Mizzou, no more Big 12 football, there has to be a resurgence of the tenacity and nastiness that we have grown accustomed to seeing down on the bayou.
This by no means is a game that South Carolina should be counted out of. If that defensive secondary led by Shilo Sanders and Jaycee Horn, the sons of two former NFL stars, can show up the way they did against Auburn, Finley could be in for a long Louisiana nightmare. Quarterback Collin Hill will have to continue his offensive production and look to receive Shi Smith anytime the Gamecocks are in trouble. This game will be decided by quarterback play, if USC can light up the LSU defense and cause Finley to make as many mistakes as Bo Nix, then the Gamecocks will leave Death Valley with another W. If LSU’s Finley can refrain from turning the ball over and use his 6’6, 242 lbs frame to make plays in both the passing and rushing game, South Carolina will have an uphill battle to fight. I have to go with my gut on this one, South Carolina has been innocent of any atrocious losses unlike LSU. LSU has to prove they can beat a decent team before getting a positive verdict.
It will be close but Will Muschamp’s crew will make enough stops and cause enough turnovers to narrowly escape Baton Rouge. Either way we can count on Muschamp to give us some great facial expressions throughout the game.
South Carolina 34
LSU 27
The Waco Kid