B&S week 12 game by game preview
Cupcake Saturday is here as teams gear up for Rivalry Weekend. Can The Waco Kid make up ground in the B&S standings?
By: Bossman Slim, The Hammer, The Waco Kid
The game of the week could get interesting. (Photo via @RazorbackFB)
If last week was cupcakes, this week is the wedding cake. Three heavy layers of cake with a heaping of icing. Not much to see here, but one interesting game and a few interesting storylines to keep an eye on.
Current B&S standings:
The Hammer: 68-16 overall
Bossman Slim: 66-18 overall
The Waco Kid: 64-20 overall
The Waco Kid needs to make up some ground, fast. If he doesn’t gain a few on The Hammer and Bossman this week he’s finished, unless we throw him a lifeline during bowl season. Fat chance. The Hammer continues to lead the pack with Bossman drafting right behind him.
Early Games
#1 Georgia vs. Charleston Southern 12:00 pm ET on SEC Network+/ESPN+ (Georgia - 54.5)
Bossman Slim: Nothing to see here, move along. UGA will pay Charleston Southern for a glorified scrimmage before they get to wreck the Ramblin’ Wreck next week.
#1 Georgia 52 - Charleston Southern 3
The Hammer: This is one of many clunkers this weekend. Maybe JT Daniels will see the field some here but otherwise, I’m not sure what you would tune in for. Dawgs by a million.
#1 Georgia 49 - Charleston Southern 0
The Waco Kid: The number 1 team in the nation vs Charleston Southern. Lord help the teams that are paid to come into Athens and play the Dawgs. This is a no-brainer. UGA by 50.
#1 Georgia 62 - Charleston Southern 3
#16 Texas A&M vs Prairie View 12:00 pm ET on SEC Network+/ESPN+ (Texas A&M -45.5)
Bossman Slim: Cupcake #2. Aggies roll at home at Kyle Field. This should be a cakewalk win - but keep an eye on the offense. I expect Jimbo to step on the gas to get his offense back on track and test them. 34-0 with shaky play and multiple punts won’t cut it. This one needs to be 52-0 and the Aggies need to play angry on both sides of the ball. They let a NY6 bowl get away from them last week, time to play like it and get it back on the rails before LSU next week.
#16 Texas A&M 42 - Prairie View 6
The Hammer: Not a bad time for this game as the Aggies are coming off a tough loss against Ole Miss, and they have a night game in Death Valley looming against a depleted, yet feisty LSU squad. The halftime show will be the best part of this game as both Texas A&M and Prairie View have phenomenal bands. Ags win big.
#16 Texas A&M 41 - Prairie View 3
The Waco Kid: This is the battle of the bands. The Corp vs. the fightin’ Panthers on the gridiron. Who will win, that’s up for grabs. As far as football goes, this is one that you can go ahead and skip. Texas A&M will look to rebound after a loss against Mississippi and this is the perfect game to do so. Get Calzada some more confidence and allow him to go into the LSU game, big confidence swingin’. The Ags dominate on defense and put up at least 40 in this one.
#16 Texas A&M 45 - Prairie View 10
#25 Mississippi State vs. Tennessee State 12:00 pm ET on SEC Network+/ESPN+ (Mississippi State -44.5)
Bossman Slim: Cowboy Will Rogers throws for 600 yards on these fools. Alright, it may not be 600, but it’s going to be something like 340 and 5 TDs. Expect some quick, bomb strikes from Cowboy and the State offense to put this one away early. Hail State, big.
#25 Mississippi State 52 - Tennessee State 10
The Hammer: Man, this early SEC slate is terrible. Yet another FCS matchup heading your way in Starkville. Cowboy Will Rogers and this Mississippi State offense is rolling right now and I don’t expect that to stop against Tennessee St. Bulldogs take care of business.
#25 Mississippi State 49 - Tennessee State 10
The Waco Kid: All of my predictions about MSU lately have been incorrect, but this might be my redeeming week. This should be a cakewalk for Mike Leach and the boys but good or bad the Pirate always seems to keep things interesting. The Bulldogs have hit their stride on both sides of the ball so I can only see this going one way. But out of all of the cupcake games this week, this might be the most intriguing.
#25 Mississippi State 38 - Tennessee State 18
New Mexico State at Kentucky 12:00 pm ET on SEC Network (Kentucky - 36.5)
Bossman Slim: What’s that you say? Another cupcake? Please stop giving them to me, this is now abuse. I can’t eat any more cake. New Mexico State is terrible. Kentucky is pretty good. Chris Rodriguez runs wild and Levis throws a few dimes. Big Blue by a mile.
Kentucky 41 - New Mexico State 10
The Hammer: We just saw Alabama dismantle New Mexico State a week ago. Kentucky isn’t Alabama but they’re a hell of a lot better than New Mexico State. Cats by 90.
Kentucky 38 - New Mexico State 6
The Waco Kid: Luckily for SEC fans across the nation they could sleep in this morning because this early game lineup is just sad. This is the week teams get a break from the gauntlet and prepare for the next week against, most likely, ranked opponents. There is nothing different about this contest. Kentucky is a better team by a mile and will blow out New Mexico State like they should. Levis with 3, C-rod with 2.
Kentucky 45 - New Mexico State 13
Midday Games
#2 Alabama vs #21 Arkansas 3:30pm ET on CBS (Alabama -20.5)
Bossman Slim: This is the one SEC game I’m excited for this weekend. Arkansas hit a slide in the back half of the season after rising into the top 10 for the first time since the Egyptians built the pyramids. Alabama is #2 in the country but has vulnerabilities. Can the Hogs beat Bama? Yes - if they catch lightning in a bottle like A&M did a few weeks back. I just don’t see it happening here. Bryce Young has too many weapons on the outside and while Arkansas will score, it won’t be enough to keep up with the Tide in the end. Valiant effort by the Hogs, but the Tide prevail yet again.
#2 Alabama 45 - #21 Arkansas 28
The Hammer: Finally! A good matchup...sort of. I like Arkansas to cover here, but I think Alabama pulls out the win. Arkansas has been better at home than on the road this year, and I like Alabama’s passing game in this matchup. Arkansas plays solid, sound defense but Jamison Williams, John Metchie and the Alabama tight ends should be able to get open against this secondary. And if Arkansas is only rushing three and trying to drop eight all game, I think Bryce Young can get to them in the RPO game. If Arkansas is able to run the ball, they’ll keep it close but I think the Tide will be ready in this one. Too much talent for Bama here.
#2 Alabama 38 - #21 Arkansas 24
The Waco Kid: Finally a decent game on the docket. Will it be decent? I doubt it, but what a wonder it would be if the Hogs could overturn the Tide and throw the West into complete chaos. Sam Pittman is on the verge of greatness but for this year we will have to chalk this up as an L to the number 2 team in the nation. I expect a slow start, defensive excellence, but by the time Bama has been reamed by Saban during a halftime locker room talk, they will take complete control of the game and win by three scores. Don’t expect a blowout, and if there isn’t, go ahead and put all of your money on Georgia in the SEC Championship.
#21 Arkansas 18 - #2 Alabama 34
Florida at Missouri 4:00 pm ET on SEC Network (Florida -9.5)
Bossman Slim: I have no idea who to pick in this game. Does Florida have more talent? Yes. Does Florida still believe in their coach? No. It feels like Mullen has lost the locker room, while Eli Drinkwitz is slogging through a tough season, but the Tigers still believe in what he’s building. If Samford can put up 52 on Florida, Mizzou and Tyler Badie can run wild on these dudes. I think this one is a shootout, and whoever has the ball last probably wins. This is going to look like arena football, defense is optional. I’m picking Florida just so they can let me down one more time this year.
Florida 45 - Missouri 41
The Hammer: Missouri and Florida are both sitting at 5-5 right now, and need this game for bowl eligibility. Missouri played pretty well a week ago against South Carolina and Florida...well they gave up 52 points to Samford. I don’t trust this Gator defense at all right now, and Tyler Badie is poised for a big day. Connor Bazelak has been a bit disappointing this year, but he can still make plays. I think this Missouri offense will have a big day. Despite Florida’s pathetic defense, they have been able to score points for the most part, other than against South Carolina. And Mizzou’s defense still really stinks, although they’ve looked slightly better the last two weeks. I have no faith in this Florida team right now so give me the Tigers to get this win outright at home.
Missouri 52 - Florida 45
The Waco Kid: Florida has been falling worse than an LSU team coached by, well to blount Ed Orgeron. Dan Mullen may be in the hot seat but he still has some steam behind him with this team and if Florida is smart they will keep him around to see what he can accomplish. Mizzou, on the other hand, has been abysmal in the majority of the games they have played. I never go into a week thinking, “Oh the Tigers might pull this off”. They have the players to do so but something needs to come together within the team to actually win in quality games. I think Emory Jones rides his 6 TD game, while against Samford, into this one and puts on just as much of a show.
Florida 38 - Missouri 14
Late Games
Auburn at South Carolina 7:00 pm ET on ESPN (Auburn -7.5)
Bossman Slim:
I don’t know, man. That Larry David gif perfectly encapsulates how I feel about this one. I’ll watch it I suppose. It’s an SEC matchup, but it’s been hard for me to bring myself to watch this Gamecocks team this year. They’re just bad. I like Beamer, I think he’ll get this program going over the next few years, but it just isn’t there this year. I’m interested to see TJ Finley play a full game for the Tigers against SEC competition. A night game at Williams-Brice should help, but I expect Auburn to win this one with relative ease.
Auburn 31 - South Carolina 17
The Hammer: We’ll see if Auburn can get off the mat after blowing at 28-3 lead to Mississippi State and losing Bo Nix to injury for the remainder of the year last weekend. Luckily, South Carolina is still very limited. Even with TJ Finley at QB, Auburn should win this game. In fact, Finley is probably one of the better backups in the SEC. Auburn’s defense should be able to get back on track against a much more normal, and very limited, offense from the Gamecocks.
Auburn 27 - South Carolina 14
The Waco Kid: Auburn. South Carolina had a good win against a struggling Florida team but outside of that have been less than impressive in SEC play. The Tigers may be down Bo Nix, no big deal, but they have TJ Finley that has proven he can come in and finish out a game for the W. Finley should have a big game with Tank Bigsby leading the rush attack over a less than desirable Gamecock Defense. I think this gets boring very fast.
Auburn 56 - South Carolina 21
#12 Ole Miss vs Vanderbilt at 7:30 pm ET on SEC Network (Ole Miss -36.5)
Bossman Slim: Ole Miss gets the best cupcake of the day in Vanderbilt, as they can count this one as a “conference game.” Ole Miss is good and has Matt Corral, Vanderbilt is really bad and has nothing. This one is at home in Oxford to boot. Ole Miss throttles the Commodores in Corral’s final game at Vaught-Hemingway.
#12 Ole Miss 42 - Vanderbilt 21
The Hammer: Vanderbilt has been trying. Unfortunately, that’s about the best thing I can say about them. They just are not good right now, and traveling to Ole Miss is a bad matchup. Look for Lane and Corral to come out firing to put this game away early. With the Egg Bowl looming on Thanksgiving day, it would be smart to empty the Ole Miss bench as early as possible and get those starters some rest.
#12 Ole Miss 35 - Vanderbilt 10
The Waco Kid: Vandy is a joke and Ole Miss is coming off a win against a ranked Texas A&M team that has a stacked defense. There’s no reason to go into detail. The Rebs by 40 while Kiffin contemplates a move to the ACC.
#12 Ole Miss 56 - Vanderbilt 10
South Alabama at Tennessee 7:30 pm ET on ESPNU (Tennessee - 28.5)
Bossman Slim: Yawn. I wish some of these cupcakes were funfetti, like maybe a Marshall or a JMU. At least those teams compete. South Alabama is 5-5 and has a logo that looks like one of the five random generic ones you could pick in dynasty mode on EA Sports NCAA Football. Tennessee is a solid football team and will trounce the...Cougars? I think that’s their name. This one is over early.
Tennessee 48 - South Alabama 13
The Hammer: Former South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley is playing at South Alabama this year, and he’s having a decent season. Unfortunately, Bentley is unlikely to play due to injury which will probably limit their offense heavily. Easy win here for Tennessee as they look to gain bowl eligibility. No chance South Alabama can keep pace with Hendon Hooker and this high-powered Heupel offense.
Tennessee 42 - South Alabama 17
The Waco Kid: What a pleasant surprise Josh Heupel has been this season. I had no faith in him starting out the year but now I am starting to believe the #Heupel. Another throw-away game for an SEC team that has finally found its stride. Hooker will put this game out of reach by halftime and then the Vols can just sit back and cruise to a victory.
Tennessee 43 - South Alabama 12
UL Monroe at LSU 9:00 pm ET on ESPN2 (LSU -28.5)
Bossman Slim: Terry Bowden and Rich Rodriguez walk into the valley of the shadow of death. The Warhawks are 4-6 and are not very good. LSU is also 4-6 but they’ve got some talent on the roster and they’re wearing those slick alternate unis. I’ll be interested to see what LSU does at QB. It seems Max Johnson is the starter, but how quick is the hook? How much playing time does each one get and when? It may not matter in this one, but it’s something to keep an eye on. LSU gets an easy win.
LSU 35 - UL Monroe 13
The Hammer: This one could be tricky for LSU. UL Monroe isn’t very good, they are 4-6 right now, but they have been competing much more than most expected, myself included. This is a much-improved football team compared to a year ago, and you just have to wonder how hyped-up LSU will be for this game. I know the Tigers have competed very well the last two weeks against Alabama and Arkansas, and I expect them to play tough against A&M to close the year, but this seems like a classic look-ahead game to me. Given the game is in Death Valley at night, I’ll go with LSU, but don’t be surprised if this one is closer than expected.
LSU 28- UL Monroe 14
The Waco Kid: I would pick ULM but because they lost to Texas State recently, I cannot justify that pick. Still someone has to lose this week to a nobody and LSU is just as capable as any other team to pull off that accomplishment. The SEC slate kind of bums me out this week outside of ARK vs. Bama there are no real games. But this showdown of the Cajun state should be fun to watch. Expect it to be closer than normal but the Bayou Bengals still come out on top.
LSU 31 - UL Monroe 21