B&S Week 11 game-by-game previews 2023
Marquee games headline Week 11 with Georgia-Ole Miss, Tennessee-Mizzou, and LSU-Florida.
By: Bossman Slim, Hammer
The time has changed back, it’s getting darker earlier, which means we’re in the dying light of the college football season. Just three weeks to go, but still a ton of good football games left to be played and bowl season to go, thank goodness. We’ve got some awesome matchups in the SEC this week. Can’t wait for a full day of football
Let’s check in on how the crew fared through Week 10:
Bossman tied it up after a scorching 6-0 week, his second straight week with no losses in the straight-up column. No one is mathematically eliminated yet, so this will come down to the wire in both columns.
Let’s hit the previews.
Bossman Slim: Alabama got their second revenge game out of the way last week by throttling LSU in the second half. Now on the home stretch of their schedule, it looks like they could coast to the SEC Championship. I think that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Kentucky hasn’t lived up to expectations this season and I don’t see Devin Leary blowing the doors off of this one against a stellar Alabama defense. The plan against Kentucky is simple: stop Ray Davis and make Leary beat you with his arm. He was almost able to do just that against Tennessee, but this Kentucky offense has only reached 30+ points in SEC play twice, once against a hapless Vanderbilt and once against Florida. I don’t think this Kentucky offense has enough juice to take down a Tide team that’s found their identity and brimming with confidence. I expect Jalen Milroe to have a nice day against Kentucky and this Tide defense to shut down the Wildcat attack.
#8 Alabama 31
Kentucky 16
Hammer: Potential letdown spot here for Alabama coming off a big win at home against LSU and then turning around and making a road trip to Lexington, KY to play the Wildcats. A classic college football letdown spot, only Alabama has years and years of results under Nick Saban suggesting they don’t have many letdowns, and I don’t think they have succumb to one here either. Jalen Milroe is really coming into his own, and the Alabama defense remains dominant. Sure, LSU moved the ball in that first half on the Tide but Kentucky doesn’t have near the firepower of LSU. And yet again last week, the Tide dominated in the second half. Kentucky is a solid team with solid players and playing at home helps. But they won’t be able to take down Alabama in this game. I think Milroe has another big game running the ball and the Tide roll to yet another victory in their warpath back to Atlanta.
#8 Alabama 31
Kentucky 17
The Waco Kid:
#8 Alabama 43
Kentucky 20
Bossman Slim: The Battle for the Basement is in Columbia, South Carolina this week. Both of these squads are reeling and well under .500, though if Shane Beamer’s squad can pop off three straight wins, they’ll head to a bowl game, though that’s unlikely. It’s been a rough year for South Carolina, who have been decimated by injuries, especially along the offensive line that pretty much ended this season before it began. Vanderbilt is Vanderbilt, and they’re still a long way from competing in the SEC. In their eight straight losses, they’ve lost by an average margin of 19 points, and are losing by an average of 25 points on the road in the SEC. Yikes. With the Vandy QB situation in an odd spot (Ken Seals will start, but AJ Swann is “available”), and Spencer Rattler and Xavier Legette on the other side, I just don’t see a world in which Vandy is able to pull off a win here. Give me the Cocks to win and cover.
South Carolina 37
Vanderbilt 20
Hammer: Every week I have to preview a Vandy game, and every week I say the same thing. This team is not good and won’t win an SEC game. South Carolina is at home and coming off a “big win” against Jacksonville State if you ask Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks have had a brutal year and need all the wins they can get. I expect Spencer Rattler to have a good game and get a solid win, although I’ll take Vandy to cover.
South Carolina 28
Vanderbilt 17
The Waco Kid:
South Carolina 35
Vanderbilt 21
Bossman Slim: I’m a Mizzou homer this season, have been since the beginning. But with two losses now, injuries mounting, and a tough schedule left to go, my 8-4 preseason prediction is looking prescient. I was leaning Tigers early this week until I saw the injury report. With Luther Burden questionable (and even if he plays he’ll likely be hobbled), Theo Wease probable, and Brady Cook still playing through pain, I think it might be too much for the Tigers to handle. Tennessee is banged up in their own right, and losing top CB Kamal Hadden to season-ending shoulder surgery, among other injuries on the team. Even without Hadden, this Vols defense is tough. These are two solid offenses that both will score points. At the end of the day, I think the Volunteers will lean on their running game and get a turnover or two to seal the game, but it will be close.
#13 Tennessee 27
#14 Mizzou 24
Hammer: This is a huge game. Tennessee is still clinging to SEC East title dreams if they can win out and UGA loses to Ole Miss this weekend and then the Vols take them down next weekend. They can’t get ahead of themselves though because Mizzou is good and they’re back home in Columbia for this one. Luther Burden is questionable and that really makes this one tough because he is a difference maker. Cody Schrader is still ballin’ for the Tigers at running back, leading the SEC in rushing with 919 yards and 10 touchdowns. Brady Cook had a rough outing last week against Georgia but he’s been playing so well this year I don’t expect those turnovers to carry over. If the Vols want to win on the road here, they must take it. Mizzou ain’t going to hand them the game. That said, I think the Vols can win this one, especially if Luther Burden is out or limited. Joe Milton’s deficiencies have been well documented but he is a solid QB that usually takes care of the ball. The Tennessee running game is still lethal, especially when Milton gets a few carries himself. I think the Vols run game will be effective enough in this one to move the ball and tire out Mizzou’s defense. On the other side, I continue to believe in the Vols front seven. I think they come up with a few timely sacks in this one and escape Columbia with a close win.
#13 Tennessee 30
#14 Mizzou 27
The Waco Kid:
#13 Tennessee 28
#14 Mizzou 24
Bossman Slim: This one could go either way. Auburn’s year has been tough but gone about as expected for those outside of Toomer’s Corner, but Arkansas has imploded in a way that few saw coming. They righted the ship last week though against Florida, getting a big win and a boost of confidence heading into the final three games. I think that carries over to this game and it always helps to be in the friendly confines of your home stadium. It won’t be easy though, as Auburn has a sneaky good defense that is top-five in the SEC. It will be tough for Arkansas to pass on this team, but the Tigers run defense leaves much to be desired. That’s a scary omen for Auburn, as you have to account for a 250 lb freight train in KJ Jefferson who can beat you with his legs. Auburn’s offense is so anemic that I don’t think they’ll be able to put up enough points to keep up with Arkansas. Give me the Hogs to run wild and have a solid day, notching another good win and cooling Sam Pittman’s seat even more.
Arkansas 31
Auburn 24
Hammer: I have no idea what to think about this one. Arkansas was dead in the water before they rose from the dead and beat Florida in The Swamp last week. Now they are favored at home against Auburn? Sure, I guess so. I’ll ride with the Hogs here and just bank on the fact that Dan Enos had no clue what he was doing and the offense is more like what we saw last week against Florida than what we saw the first two months of the season. I think KJ Jefferson and Rocket Sanders can do enough in this game to beat Auburn given how poorly the Tigers offense has been most of the year. The X factor here is Jarquez Hunter cause he’s been running the ball really well as of late. Payton Thorne has looked better the last few games but I’m not ready to trust him on the road at Arkansas. Too much PTSD from earlier in the year. If Arkansas can hold Jarquez Hunter close to 100 yards, I think they win. Turn that damn jukebox up and shout out to Kenny Guiton for turning this offense around. Hogs win a tight one.
Arkansas 24
Auburn 21
The Waco Kid:
Arkansas 35
Auburn 32
Bossman Slim: Should I pick the upset!? This could be a rain game, which changes the calculation for both teams. Even if the rain stays away for the game, it looks like there will be sporadic rain throughout the day, so expect the playing surface to be soggy. Jaxson Dart and the boys are playing with a ton of confidence, having run up five straight wins since their embarrassing loss to Alabama in Week 4 in which they only scored 10 points. Two things scare me off from picking an upset: 1) The Rebs did not play well against Alabama’s defense, and Georgia’s is just as good if not better and 2) I saw what Texas A&M’s offense did last week to this Rebels defense, and Georgia’s offense is better than the Aggies. To me, this is another boa constrictor game. Ole Miss hangs with the Dawgs for a half before Georgia makes halftime adjustments and their talent wears you out. I think Carson Beck and the UGA offense will be able to do what they want against Ole Miss, and I don’t think the Rebels will be able to do enough on offense to pull off the monumental upset. I’m also thinking we see a Jaxson Dart INT that helps Georgia seal the deal. Give me the Dawgs.
#2 Georgia 42
#9 Ole Miss 27
Hammer: Big game in Athens, GA here. Massive game actually. Ole Miss continues to impress with their wins and how tough they play. Jaxson Dart sets the tone on offense and is playing great. Plus, with Quinshon Judkins getting things going on the ground and Tre Harris and Caden Prieskorn getting healthy and producing in the passing game, Ole Miss can win this game. Georgia is really good, and they might be even better with Brock Bowers potentially returning in this one, but they are not unbeatable like they have been. There are enough slight weaknesses with this team for Ole Miss to win. Carson Beck is playing great, but it's actually the defense in this game that worries me the most. Ole Miss is lethal, just ask Texas A&M, who for all their faults has had a great defense this year. If Ole Miss can run the ball, which is a big if, in Athens, they can win this game. I expect a really competitive, four-quarter battle in this one. Either team can win and it will be neck and neck coming down the stretch but I’ll take Georgia. One thing to keep an eye on in this one is how many 4th downs can Ole Miss convert. We know how aggressive Lane is and he’s hurt the Rebs a few times in big games with too many fourth down attempts that fail. How aggressive will he be here? Something to watch for no doubt. Georgia has won 23 consecutive games at home and 34 straight overall. Hard to bet against a team like that at home, regardless of how well Ole Miss is playing. I’ll take Kirby and the Dawgs to win in a nail-biter.
#2 Georgia 31
#9 Ole Miss 28
The Waco Kid:
#2 Georgia 35
#9 Ole Miss 27
Bossman Slim: This one is pretty simple to me. LSU is the better team, Jayden Daniels is likely to play, and it’s at night in Death Valley. Florida hasn’t won in Baton Rouge since 2016 and have lost four straight against the Tigers. I think it will be five straight after this weekend. LSU just has too much offensive firepower for a middling Florida defense to stop, especially without their top tackler Shemar James, who is out for the season. The Gators are going to score points, but LSU is going to make this a shootout, and the Tigers don’t get beat in shootouts. Give me LSU to win but not cover.
#19 LSU 41
Florida 30
Hammer: Florida is in trouble. They lost to Arkansas and now are staring down their final three-game stretch, all against ranked opponents, starting with this night game in Baton Rouge. The Gators offense should look great against LSU because everyone has. If Napier and company have a chance to win here, they need to run the dang ball and keep LSU’s weapons off the field. Slow this game down and beat up the LSU defense with physicality. LSU’s defense is lost and they don’t do much of anything well, but if you let this game become a track meet, I like LSU. And I like them even if Jayden Daniels is not playing. Nussmeier may not be ready to be the guy in Baton Rouge, but he is capable of beating a mediocre Florida team at home. At the end of the day, I just don’t know how you can trust this Florida team, especially on the road. I think the Gators play hard and keep it close before LSU pulls away late in the second half.
#19 LSU 41
Florida 27
The Waco Kid:
#19 LSU 42
Florida 31
Bossman Slim: That is a big spread for a 5-4 team to cover, but that tells you just how little Vegas thinks of Mississippi State. Now, if Will Rogers plays, and it looks like he’s nearing a return, then that line will drop considerably before game time. Word out of A&M is that Max Johnson will give it a go, but we could also see the Aggies third-string quarterback in Jaylen Henderson, a Fresno State transfer. If Johnson does not play, all bets are off. Luckily for the Aggies, they are likely getting back a few key pieces in the secondary and their defense is still the best unit on this team by a wide margin, and Mississippi State’s offense hasn’t been able to find their footing all season long. A&M found some confidence on offense against Ole Miss and they’re also getting star WR Evan Stewart back. The Aggies are too talented to not win this one at home. A&M gets it done to improve to 6-4, but the fanbase will be restless no matter how the Aggies finish out the season.
Texas A&M 35
Mississippi State 16
Hammer: Cowboy Will Rogers, also known as the Aggies kryptonite appears to be coming back since he has returned to practice. Zach Arnett said he is still day to day, but his being back in pads is a positive sign. On the other side, Max Johnson’s rib injury does not appear to be severe enough to keep him sidelined for this one. That dude has taken more hits than anyone in the SEC and is tough as nails. The Aggies have stumbled against good teams in conference and lost close, heartbreaking games. Mississippi State is not a good SEC team, though. Their offense is inconsistent and can’t throw the ball, even with Will Rogers. And the defense has been surprisingly bad given the experience and that side of the ball being Arnett’s specialty. With the athletes Texas A&M has on the defensive front seven and offensive skill positions, they will win this game comfortably. Expecting them to cover an 18-point spread gives me a lot of pause but I’m not concerned with them losing this game and I’ll trust DJ Durkin and that defense to limit the Bulldogs enough for a cover. The Jimbo hot seat conversation will be subdued for another week.
Texas A&M 30
Mississippi State 10
The Waco Kid:
Texas A&M 31
Mississippi State 20