B&S week 13 game by game preview
Read up on the previews after your post-turkey nap. Rivalry Week is here and we’ve got a solid slate to be thankful for.
By: Bossman Slim, The Hammer, The Waco Kid
The Egg Bowl takes the spotlight on Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving week is upon us which means one thing...Rivalry Week. You thought I was gonna say turkey, but we have a one-track mind here at Biscuits & SEC. FOOBAW. Don’t worry, we’ll be enjoying a hearty helping of turkey, stuffing, gravy, beer and are on track again this year to own the kid’s table, but that comes second to football because this week has BIG implications.
Let’s check in on the crew:
The Hammer: 77-17 overall
Bossman Slim: 74-20 overall
The Waco Kid: 72-22 overall
The Hammer has been hot to trot (nice) all season and holds onto a “slim” lead (nice). I’m in full dad joke mood for Thanksgiving. The Waco Kid needs a miracle at this point but could get it done.
The Waco Kid is getting shelled by the corporate man, so he sent in his picks. If he’s able to get to his previews we’ll update the blog.
Let’s dig in.
Thursday
#9 Ole Miss at Mississippi State 7:30 pm ET on ESPN (Mississippi State - 1.5)
Bossman Slim: I cannot wait for this game. It feels like either team really could win this game. On paper, the Rebels are the better team and their ranking shows that. Mississippi State lost some games earlier this year that hurt their standing, but they’ve got some good scalps on their wall (NC State, Texas A&M, Kentucky, Auburn). Had they not lost to Memphis or LSU, both of which were winnable games, we’d be talking about Leach for National Coach of the Year and Hail State would be in the top 10 right there with their rivals. They aren’t far off. Cowboy Will Rogers is in full command of this offense, having been on fire for the last four weeks. This one will be interesting in that it’s a completely different test for this Ole Miss defense. Last week, they sold out against the run and dared Zach Calzada to beat them with his arm - he couldn’t. This week, they’ll need to drop an extra man in coverage and try to limit Rogers and co. through the air. Mississippi State's defense has been stingy, ranking 4th in the conference in total defense and 3rd in the conference in rush defense. With Will Rogers on fire and that defense stingy in the run game...I like the Bulldogs against Ole Miss, especially at home. Clanga!!
Mississippi State 31 - #9 Ole Miss 27
The Hammer: Perhaps the best game of the weekend and it gets center stage on the night of Thanksgiving. Perfect. I really don’t know what to expect in this game. Ole Miss and Mississippi State have been hard to pinpoint this year. The Rebels have been winning with, dare I say, defense lately? Meanwhile, Mississippi State has lost a few close games, some head-scratchers but competes with everyone (except Bama) and Cowboy Will Rogers has gone scorched earth on opposing defenses over the last two months. I have no idea how the Ole Miss defense will fare against Rogers and the air raid, but I know this: they need to get pressure with 3 or 4. Rogers has shown if you can't get pressure with your defensive line, he will carve you up like Thanksgiving turkey. And as soon as you bring a blitz, he knows exactly where his hot route is and will find it. On the other side, the Bulldogs defense has been solid but not outstanding, and a healthy Matt Corral with nearly all his weapons back, could be lethal. I would not be surprised to see some wild play calls and 4th down tries either with Kiffin and Leach walking the sidelines. I’m going to give Mississippi State the nod here as Ole Miss has been a different team on the road this year, but this game is a coin flip in my mind.
Mississippi State 38 - #9 Ole Miss 35
The Waco Kid:
Mississippi State 45 - #9 Ole Miss 35
Friday
Missouri at #25 Arkansas 3:30 pm ET on CBS (Arkansas -14.5)
Bossman Slim: It’s been a tough year overall for Drinkwitz and co., but the whole thing was made worth it after Jed(El)i Drinkwitz got to stomp on his arch-nemesis Dan Mullen last week. Now the Tigers have a golden opportunity to keep that momentum going into a bowl game. Arkansas took Alabama to the wire and is much improved this year, defying expectations for the second year in a row. This one comes down to the Hogs defense being able to shut down Mizzou, which I think they will do. Missouri’s defense can be exploited by KJ Jefferson and that offensive talent for Arkansas and they don’t have enough to get it done against the Wild Hogs D. Hogs don’t cover but win comfortably.
#25 Arkansas 34 - Missouri 24
The Hammer: Missouri has somehow rallied from SEC doormat to being bowl eligible with a two-game win streak. The Razorbacks are playing good football as well with recent wins over Mississippi State, LSU, and a close loss on the road to Bama a week ago. Hopefully, Treylon Burks is healthy for this one, because that dude is a beast and torched Bama with a bum shoulder. I like how the Tigers are playing, and their run defense has been much better over the last few weeks, but Arkansas is the better team here. I think Mizzou can keep it close for a while before Arkansas takes control late with the playmakers the Hogs have on offense.
#25 Arkansas 34 - Missouri 21
The Waco Kid:
#25 Arkansas 34 - Missouri 21
Saturday Early Games
#1 Georgia at Georgia Tech 12:00 pm ET on ABC (Georgia -35)
The best side is Yellow Jacket.
Bossman Slim: This ain’t your daddy’s Ramblin’ Wreck. The Georgia Tech team that dominated during the Rudy years (he was offsides) is long gone and hardly a soul alive today knows they were ever a good football team. They won’t make anyone remember they were on Saturday either. Last week, the Yellow Jackets got ramblin’ WRECKED 55-0 by a Rudy-less Notre Dame. The Golden Domers are good, but come on man. Georgia would be Notre Dame by 20 right now, so give me Georgia in a Vanderbilt-style beatdown.
#1 Georgia 52 - Georgia Tech 3
The Hammer: Georgia has completely annihilated every team they have played this year with the exception of week one against Clemson. Georgia Tech is currently 3-8, has lost five games in a row, and most recently got shut out 55-0 by Notre Dame. Dawgs BIG! Oh, and keep an eye out for George Pickens in this one...looks like he could be back in action against the Yellow Jackets.
#1 Georgia 48 - Georgia Tech 3
The Waco Kid:
#1 Georgia 47 - Georgia Tech 10
Florida State at Florida 12:00 pm ET on ESPN (Florida -2.5)
Bossman Slim: Shrug emoji. Florida is rudderless with no head coach and Florida State is bad, but the Noles have shown some life in recent weeks with wins over Miami and Boston College. The Gators on the other hand have been lifeless and quit on their coach (and vice versa), losing 4-straight SEC games. Emory Jones may not even play, putting Anthony Richardson back in the spotlight. Florida State is slightly trending up and there is no reason that Florida should win this game. That’s exactly why I’m picking the Gators, because it makes no sense that they would win this game, so they undoubtedly will. That’s just how this year has been. Chomp Chomp, not Chop Chop.
Florida 33 - Florida State 28
The Hammer: With Dan Mullen, Todd Grantham, and John Hevesy all fired at Florida, who is left? Does anyone even care? I doubt it. Florida State on the other hand has been playing hard for Mike Norvell. After a disastrous start to the season where the Noles found themselves 0-4 with a loss to FCS Jacksonville State, they have managed to win 5 of their last 7 and are one win away from going to a bowl. Bottom line here is one team cares and the other does not. Give me the Noles.
Florida State 27 - Florida 21
The Waco Kid:
Florida 34 - Florida State 13
Saturday Midday Games
#3 Alabama at Auburn 3:30 pm ET on CBS (Alabama -19)
Bossman Slim: Alabama is beatable this year under the right circumstances and Auburn has shown flashes. Unfortunately for Auburn, those flashes were with Bo Nix sans one drive with TJ Finley against Georgia State. Nix won’t be trotting out against the Tide and the referees this week, so Auburn fans will pray that some Jordan-Hare magic will rub off on Finley and Tank Bigsby. Without Nix, I don’t think Auburn has the horses to hang with Alabama. The Tide are too explosive on offense and will score points, and a team that only put up 17 on South Carolina with Finley at the helm won’t be able to keep up. Tide roll to Atlanta for the showdown we’ve all been waiting for.
#3 Alabama 44 - Auburn 21
The Hammer: A few weeks ago, this game looked like a huge matchup. Auburn was rolling and Alabama has really struggled to win at Jordan Hare historically. Then Texas A&M flatted Auburn and fast forward a few weeks, the Tigers have blown a few big leads and are now 6-5 with Bo Nix out for the season following ankle surgery. TJ Finley has potential but has yet to show the consistency needed to be a good SEC starting QB. The same could be said for Zach Calzada, and he managed to beat Bama, but the Auburn offense does not have the same weapons A&M does, so I wouldn't get your hopes up, Auburn fans. The Alabama defense has struggled more than usual this year, but I don't see Auburn being able to take advantage. All Bama needs to do is stop Tank Bigsby, and the Auburn coaching staff may even help them out by not feeding Tank. Plus, Bryce Young and the Tide passing attack is really hitting its stride as of late. Roll Tide.
#3 Alabama 41 - Auburn 20
The Waco Kid:
#3 Alabama 35 - Auburn 31
Vanderbilt at Tennessee 3:45 pm ET on SEC Network (Tennessee -31.5)
Bossman Slim: Yankees-Red Sox, Alabama-Auburn, Cowboys-Redskins, Tennessee-Vanderbilt. The great rivalry returns. Alright, I kid. In football, this is no rivalry, as the Vols have dominated this series 77-33 overall. Vanderbilt did win 3 straight from 2016-2018, but even two years makes a huge difference. Heupel has the Vols clicking and dreaming big for the future, while Clark Lea has the toughest turnaround job in college football - and it ain’t going well so far. This one is at home for Tennessee, Vandy is a doormat, and the Vols will wipe their feet on the mat and await their bowl game fate.
Tennessee 49 - Vanderbilt 17
The Hammer: Vandy played okay against Ole Miss last weekend, but these players have to be ready for the season to end. Tennessee on the other hand has some momentum and excitement building with an upcoming bowl game in Josh Heupel's first year. The Commodores won't be able to keep up with the Vols high flying offense here.
Tennessee 52 - Vanderbilt 21
The Waco Kid:
Tennessee 43 - Vanderbilt 7
Saturday Night Games
#15 Texas A&M at LSU 7:00 pm ET on ESPN (Texas A&M -6.5)
Bossman Slim: Texas A&M is an enigma. They lose games they shouldn’t and win games they shouldn’t. LSU won one game they weren’t supposed to and pretty much mailed it in the rest of the season to send Coach O off in style. LSU has injuries all over the field which has hurt them all year as most of their star players are on the bench hobbling around. I say LSU has mailed it in, and their record bears that out, but these kids are fighting for Coach O and playing hard, there’s no doubt about that. It’s always tough to walk into Death Valley and get a win, no matter the circumstances. The Tigers will be amped up and wanting to defend their home turf, and XX guaranteed a win this week against A&M. At the end of the day I think A&M has more to play for and the two-headed monster of Devon Achane and Isaiah Spiller, who the Aggies will feed all night. The defense will be able to contain Max Johnson as he’s without many of his top weapons. Aggies by a hair.
#15 Texas A&M 27 - LSU 24
The Hammer: Texas A&M is the better team, but this is a dangerous spot here. At night in Death Valley for Coach O’s final game with the Tigers one win away from going bowling. LSU is going to bring everything they have to win. If you are Jimbo and the Aggies, you just can’t lose in this spot. The season has been somewhat disappointing, but at the end of the day, the Aggies could go 9-3 with their starting QB breaking his leg in the second game of the year. Losing to a lame-duck coach leading a 5-6 team riddled with injuries cannot happen in year four under Jimbo. I think this team will be ready and will weather the LSU storm thanks to a stout defensive effort. I don’t trust Calzada much on the road, but it’s hard to see LSU scoring more than 14 points here given how dominant the Aggies have been on defense and how weak LSU’s offense has been since losing Kayshon Boutte.
#15 Texas A&M 24 - LSU 14
The Waco Kid:
#15 Texas A&M 34 - LSU 9
#23 Clemson at South Carolina 7:30 pm ET on SEC Network (Clemson -11.5)
Bossman Slim: Clemson is back, write it down. It took them all dang season to get it together, but it looks like the Tigers have righted the ship after it was capsized for much of the year. DJ Ukelele. South Carolina’s defense has stepped up and shown out over the last few weeks, getting big wins to become bowl eligible in Shane Beamer’s first year. I think Beamer has this program headed in the right direction and if they’re gonna get Clemson any year, this would be the year...but they’re starting their third-string QB. Clemson out-talents USC and pulls away late, but the Gamecocks do enough to give them hope of beating the Tigers in the near future.
#23 Clemson 28 - South Carolina 17
The Hammer: South Carolina getting to 6 wins in Shane Beamer’s first season is a hell of an accomplishment. The Gamecocks have been starting a graduate assistant and FCS transfer at QB for goodness sake and they made it to bowl eligibility. Bravo. But beating Clemson isn't in the cards just yet. The Tigers are playing better ball as of late and they just took a top 10 Wake Forest team to the woodshed. Clemson’s offense is still not very good, but neither is South Carolina’s. Clemson wins this one on the strength of the defense.
#23 Clemson 24 - South Carolina 13
The Waco Kid:
#23 Clemson 38 - South Carolina 31
Kentucky at Louisville 7:30 pm ET on ESPN2 (Louisville -3)
Bossman Slim: I expect this one to be close. Louisville has played tight games this year and can beat the Wildcats. I just think UK has more to play for. With a win, Kentucky finishes 9-3 and will keep the momentum going at full steam for Mark Stoops in Lexington (assuming he doesn’t leave 👀). Chris Rodriguez gets his and Levis gets a few in space to Wan’Dale Robinson as Kentucky wins it late.
Kentucky 31 - Louisville 27
The Hammer: I’m surprised to see Louisville favored here. I know they are at home and have been playing well as of late, especially QB Malik Cunningham who should break the 1,000 yards rushing mark in this game and has accounted for 36 total touchdowns coming into this game. He’s a stud. I just think Kentucky is the better overall team. I think Chris Rodriguez and Wan’Dale Robinson are the difference here as Kentucky has more offensive weapons in my mind. Unless Mark Stoops is actually taking one of these jobs he’s been connected to and is checked out, I like the Wildcats to get a close win over their rival.
Kentucky 38 - Louisville 34
The Waco Kid:
Louisville 32 - Kentucky 28