B&S week 7 game by game previews
Some great matchups to look forward to today and storylines abound.
By: Bossman Slim, The Hammer, The Waco Kid
Watch The Hammer & Bossman Slim preview week 7 with Steven Willis, then read up on the rest of our previews.
We’ve arrived past the halfway point of the season, and what a year it’s been so far. Upsets galore, we’ve been calling it the “chaos year.” A&M over Alabama, Oregon over Ohio State, Arkansas over A&M, Clemson falling off the map, Iowa in the top 5. Expect the unexpected this year. With that in mind...
Here’s how the crew fared last week:
The Hammer: 6-1; 50-11 overall
The Waco Kid: 5-2; 50-11 overall
Bossman Slim: 5-5; 47-14 overall
Last week was one of the best Saturdays of college football we’ve ever witnessed from start to finish. Let’s see what this week has in store.
Early Games
#17 Arkansas vs Auburn - 12:00 PM ET on CBS (Arkansas -4.5)
Bossman Slim: Both of these teams have been a bit overrated at times this year. I think Arkansas is probably a top 25 team, but they still may be a little high. Auburn is probably an “others receiving votes” team, just outside the top 25. The Hogs are coming off a rebound performance on offense against Ole Miss where they were a two-point conversion away from knocking off the Rebels. Auburn is coming off getting steamrolled by Georgia, a fate that Arkansas suffered two weeks ago. I can’t pin this Arkansas offense, but I also can’t pin the Auburn offense. I think this is a lower-scoring game in the 20s, and it’s the year of chaos. Give me Auburn.
Auburn 27 - #17 Arkansas 24
The Hammer: This game fascinates me. Both teams recently took a beating from Georgia. Arkansas just lost a heartbreaker in Oxford to Ole Miss. They return to Fayetteville this weekend to host a wounded Auburn Tigers team. If that doesn’t get you excited you need to check your fanhood. Despite back-to-back tough losses, I like the Hogs in this one. They’re coming home, and I think they will get off the mat and take care of business. KJ Jefferson has been playing very well outside of Georgia and I think he has a great game here and the Hogs win a close one. Auburn will fight tooth and nail here, as we’ve seen all year, I just like the Razorbacks here. Bo Nix on the road is still a crapshoot, and if Arkansas can contain him and keep him in the pocket, they’ll win this game.
#17 Arkansas 34 - Auburn 27
The Waco Kid: If Arkansas hadn’t put up 51 on Ole Miss this might be a completely different conversation. But they did and that cannot be ignored. The Razorbacks have been impressive this year but their offense lacked the firepower to keep the Pitt ablaze. After this past weekend, I am not so sure. On top of that, I still have no confidence in Bo Nix no matter what he has shown in the past few contests. The Hog defense will stall the Tigers just enough to secure the win. Arkansas will continue to surprise while War Eagle will continue on its path to rebuilding greatness under Bryan Harsin. This will be a fun game to watch, so pour the mimosas, bloody marys, or whatever liquor may be calling your name, and have a great time watching an exciting game.
#17 Arkansas 41 - Auburn 31
#20 Florida at LSU - 12:00 ET on ESPN (Florida - 11.5)
The Tigers are depleted and now will have to go the distance without star WR Kayshon Boutte. (Photo: Chris Parent)
Bossman Slim: I so badly want Coach O to remain the coach at LSU and for the Tigers to be good. I said this on the POMcast preview this week before my hotel internet shut me down for making too many good picks. Coach O epitomizes Louisiana and fits in that role better than any coach in America. But it’s very obvious it isn’t working, and it’s snowballing on the Tigers in Baton Rouge. Derek Stingley was ruled out for the season last week, and Kayshon Boutte and Eli Ricks went down for the season this week. Orgeron can’t buy a break, and Max Johnson’s safety net is now on the sidelines. This comes at a time when LSU’s defense is looking porous and Florida is pissed off. The Tigers are hobbled, the Gators are better and have Dan Mullen calling plays. If UF loses this one, the Florida fanbase will start howling about Mullen again. But they won’t lose.
#20 Florida 35 - LSU 24
The Hammer: Supposedly the LSU team had a “players-only meeting” this week. You know when you hear that, things are bad. And they are real bad right now. LSU got pounded by Kentucky last weekend. That should never happen with the talent in Baton Rouge. Tiger fans are angry, and rightfully so. Problem is, things don't get any easier. Florida is good and gave Kentucky a much better fight than LSU did. Couple that with the Kayshon Boutte injury and I’m not sure how LSU finds a way to win. Maybe this is the week they show some fight, but Dan Mullen and the Gators need to take care of business here, and I believe they will. Look for a good game running the ball from Emory Jones and the Gator tailbacks and Florida cruises to a win here.
#20 Florida 38 - LSU 21
The Waco Kid: Good game historically, however, LSU is also historically bad. Coach O is fighting for his job and needs a signature win to secure his spot in Baton Rouge. This is not the game to do so. Death Valley is a hard place to pull out a win but so is the Swamp so in this aspect I think both teams are ready for the rowdy fans. Emory Jones lit it up last week and will continue to do so against a decimated Tiger secondary. Don’t get me wrong, the Bayou boys have a chance in this one because of the competition that happens when these two squads meet, but this year just not going well for the purple and gold. Down a top receiver and without a real dominant quarterback, Louisiana State may be in some real trouble. I will watch it because I think it will be close, but there is no doubt in my mind that the Gators secure a win in the Western swamplands.
#20 Florida 35 - LSU 24
#21 Texas A&M at Missouri - 12:00 ET on SEC Network (Texas A&M -8.5)
Bossman Slim: The classic letdown game. Coming off a huge, physical, emotional win, Texas A&M now faces a reeling Missouri team who would be easy to overlook with an 11 AM kick. It won’t happen, though. A&M’s defense is playing at a high level. If they can hold Alabama off and force turnovers, they can bottle up Tyler Badie, Connor Bazelak and this Mizzou offense. The Aggies also seem to have found their new groove. Calzada has confidence after that Alabama win and I think we’ll see this offense click through the end of the year. Aggies by two touchdowns.
#21 Texas A&M 38 - Missouri 24
The Hammer: Last season, Texas A&M started the year slow, then beat #4 Florida at home 41-38 on a last-second field goal. Sound familiar? Well, last year, the Aggies won the rest of their games following that big win. That may not happen again in 2021, but I think they get started on the right foot this weekend and steamroll Mizzou. What we saw last weekend from the Aggies was something special. I don’t expect them to match that level of intensity and execution, but they won’t need to in order to take down the Tigers. Missouri is really bad. Their defense is dead last in the FBS in run defense, allowing an average of 287.2 yards per game, and their total defense ranks 129th nationally. Texas A&M should be able to run the ball at will and score plenty of points. On the other side of the ball, Mizzou can score. Tyler Badie and Connor Bazelak are both good, but the Aggie defense is as well. I think Bazelak will be under pressure often, and we could see some more turnovers forced by A&M. Give me the Aggies big here.
#21 Texas A&M 41 - Missouri 24
The Waco Kid: If you get blown out by Tennessee, your season is over. Mizzou may have a couple of more wins in them but it will not be against this A&M team. They are coming off of a thrilling win against the #1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, in which all aspects of the game finally seemed to click. The Tigers may put up a few but if Zach Calzada plays the way he did in the win over Bama, this game is over by halftime. The Ags live and die by the QB as we have seen so far this year, but the confidence that they must have at this point is more than enough to propel a defensive led team to an overwhelming win this week.
#21 Texas A&M 45 - Missouri 13
Midday Games
#11 Kentucky at #1 Georgia 3:30 ET on CBS (Georgia -22.5)
Bossman Slim: Kentucky is 6-0 for the first time since 1950, and this is the first time two 6-0+ teams will face off in the SEC East (which is crazy!). That’s why both GameDay and SEC Nation are in Athens today. This is going to be a fun one and I would love to see a Kentucky upset to keep the chaos meter at 11. But it just won’t happen. Georgia is a boa constrictor and their offense has enough weapons to beat you. Tombstone Bennett adds another headstone to the graveyard this week, Kentucky doesn’t have enough on offense to overcome this Dawgs defense.
#1 Georgia 31 - #11 Kentucky 17
The Hammer: Kentucky is 6-0 for the first time since Bear Bryant coached there. They have two massive wins over Florida and LSU. They are a good football team. If you can’t tell what I’m doing yet, it’s called building someone up before bringing them down. Georgia is going to rock Kentucky on Saturday - sorry Wildcat fans. That doesn’t mean Kentucky is a bad football team, they just aren't on Georgia’s level. I don’t see how Kentucky’s offense moves the ball in this game. No team has been able to move the ball on the Dawgs so far, and Kentucky’s offense has improved, but it is not elite, especially on the outside at wide receiver. Will Levis is also not a very accurate passer downfield so if Georgia can shut down the Chris Rodriguez and the Wan
Dale Robinson screen game, they will roll. Kentucky’s defense will give Georgia some trouble but in the end, the Dawgs will find some room and make enough plays to pull away.
#1 Georgia 34 - #11 Kentucky 13
The Waco Kid: This Georgia team will win the SEC East, at least, hands down. But every team needs a wake-up call and I think that is exactly what Kentucky brings to the table. The Dawg defense is nasty so not many points can be expected against opponents but this Wildcats offense is something else. Everything in me wants to root for the Bluegrass Boys but I just cannot. UGA seems unstoppable this year and every little aspect of the game would have to go awry for them to lose. But then again that is exactly what happened to Bama last weekend. Will Levis and CRod will lead the blue and white into Athens for a battle that will not go unnoticed. I fully expect to see Stetson Bennett starting again which could work in favor of Stoops’ squad but it all depends on the black and red defense. And if I were a betting man, which I am, I would put my money on a defense that has not yet been broken. Both teams will start slow but a couple of rushing TDs in the second by Smart’s running backs will be the ultimate downfall for UK. Big Blue will score twice in the second half but by then it will be too late. Take Georgia with no question.
#1 Georgia 35 - #11 Kentucky 14
Vanderbilt at South Carolina 4:00 ET on SEC Network (South Carolina -18.5)
Bossman Slim: I hate being the guy dismissing South Carolina and Vandy’s matchups every week. I wish they were competitive. But neither of them are right now, at all. South Carolina has a long road ahead to get back to the days of Spurrier, and Vanderbilt has the biggest rebuild in the NCAA outside of UConn. The fact that USC is an 18.5 point favorite tells you all you need to know about Vandy. South Carolina by two touchdowns.
South Carolina 31 - Vanderbilt 16
The Hammer: I don’t have much to say about this game. These are the two worst teams in the SEC and it’s not really close. That said, Vanderbilt is far worse than the Gamecocks. South Carolina will roll at home this weekend.
South Carolina 28 - Vanderbilt 6
The Waco Kid: Horrible time slot, no one wants to see this game. Neither team looks impressive but I guarantee one will get a win in this game. A Clark Lea victory could change the Commodores program while the Gamecocks have nothing to gain at this point. This is obviously a rebuilding year for Shane Beamer’s squad so for that reason, all I have to say is “Anchor Down.” I also love to pick one upset of the week and I would enjoy nothing better than watching SC lose to an “up-and-coming” program.
Vanderbilt 24 - South Carolina 20
Late Games
#5 Alabama at Mississippi State 7:00 ET on ESPN (Alabama -17)
Telling my kids this is Will Rogers, QB, Mississippi State (Photo: RCA)
Bossman Slim: Cowboy Will Rogers is a gun flinger. Bryce Young is also a gun flinger. The Pirate has Mississippi State playing well after a few early hiccups. Nick Saban and the Tide are coming off a shocking loss to Texas A&M. That alone is why I’m taking Alabama by 600. You do not want to play Darth Saban after an Alabama loss. That means you are in the way of a cement truck with no breaks coming down a mountainside at 100 mph. I wouldn’t want to be in the way of that.
#5 Alabama 48 - Mississippi State 28
The Hammer: Part of me thinks Mississippi State can give Alabama a game based on how the Bulldogs handled Texas A&M, but you never want to be the team playing Bama after a loss. If Alabama had beaten the Aggies, I could see Mississippi State sneaking up and giving Bama a game, but not anymore. The Crimson Tide will come out with a vengeance and make everyone remember who they are. The margin for error in Tuscaloosa is gone, and Saban will have this team ready. I really like Cowboy Will Rogers and how he’s been playing, but I think Alabama is too talented and pissed off to drop this game. Bryce Young has looked very good, even in tough road games this year, so I expect him to have a good game. Jamison Williams and John Metchie should be able to find separation in this one and make big plays downfield. Tide roll.
#5 Alabama 42 - Mississippi State 24
The Waco Kid: Alabama is going to be pissed in this one. There is no way MSU can pull it off against an angry Saban and Co. Maybe they had a shot before the Tide was dethroned by an unranked A&M team but now this seems like it may just be a slaughter. I hate having to put dogs down but in this one, it is an inevitability.
#5 Alabama 54 - Mississippi State 17
#13 Ole Miss at Tennessee 7:00 ET on SEC Network (Ole Miss -3)
Bossman Slim: I’m really pumped for this one. Kiffin is back on Rocky Top for the first time as a head coach, and Neyland will be rockin’. Heupel has the Tennessee offense clicking with Hendon Hooker behind center. Ole Miss got back on track last week hanging 52 on Arkansas. Here’s the deal: against stiffer competition, Tennessee has sputtered (Pitt and Florida). Against inferior competition, Tennessee has looked the part. Ole Miss is stiffer competition and they have Matt Corral. I expect this one to be a shootout. If Arkansas can hang 52 on the Ole Miss defense, there’s no reason Tennessee can’t either. However, the Rebels are the better team and I don’t think the Vols are there - yet. Give me Ole Miss by a hair.
#13 Ole Miss 48 - Tennessee 42
The Hammer: I’ve gone back and forth on this one all week. I really like how Matt Corral is playing obviously, and I know Ole Miss will be able to put points against mediocre Tennessee defense. Lane Kiffin won’t want to lose his homecoming to Rocky Top and Ole Miss still has everything to play for with just one loss. But screw it, give me chaos, I’m taking the Vols. The 2021 college football season has been total mayhem, with more ranked teams losing through the first 6 weeks than ever before, so I’m going with another upset. The stars seem to be aligning here. It’s a night game at Rocky Top and they are checkering Neyland. Vol nation will be electric, similar to how Kyle Field was last weekend as Judas returns to Knoxville. Plus, Tennessee has looked much better since Hendon Hooker took over at QB. This goes against everything I think about this game on paper, but sometimes you have to throw out all the numbers and just go with your gut. That’s what I’m doing here and I’m completely ready for it to blow up in my face but I’m riding the Vol nation.
Tennessee 48 - #13 Ole Miss 45
The Waco Kid: Too much pressure in this game. Two red hot offenses facing opposing defenses that may or may not decide to play in the game. Who knows what will happen? This could be the defining game for Arch Manning’s recruitment but I do not really think either team is in the race at this point. I would like to see a Manning cast for this game just to see the intensity that goes on during Saturday night games. Eli playing with hot wheels, Peyton trying on hats that are too small, what a glorious broadcast that could be. I strayed a little but Lane Kiffin is taking on first-year head coach Josh Heupel and even though QB Hendon Hooker has been outstanding since he gained the starting position, Kiffin has the experience and has been through the worst of the West gauntlet whether that be last year or previous years coaching in the conference. With Matt Corral lighting up the defenses, there is not a better sharpshooter in the SEC. So be quick on the draw or go home, the contradiction is no one likes those that are quick on the draw.
#13 Ole Miss 56 - Tennessee 42