2015 SEC Football Predictions – Week 5

By Eric Taylor -

Week 4 Record (5-4) | Overall Record (32-10)

Welcome back to SEC Football Predictions. The folks over at Vols Today had the audacity to criticize our picks prior to Week 4’s games. And, boy, were they right. The Week 5 edition of SEC Football Predictions will be utilizing near-identical tactics as everyone associated with the Tennessee football program regarding Week 4 — hope for a miracle invention similar to what the Men In Black use to erase memory. Until that apparatus is invented, we will take our lumps, dust ourselves off and give the Predictions the old college try.

I live in Nashville, Tennessee, and feared the sky was falling when Florida quarterback Will Grier hit receiver Brandon Powell for his fifth completion in as many tries on fourth down late in the fourth quarter. The completed pass on the deep curl route that was enough to move the chains on fourth-and-14 turned into a touchdown and the Gators first lead since early in the first quarter. As Tennessee fans sat, waiting for a stop on fourth down, Florida fans jumped in jubilation as the Vols snatched defeat from the jaws of victory for the second time this season.

To add salt to the wound, Vols kicker Aaron Medley didn’t just miss a 55-yard field goal that would have won the game on the last play. He missed a 55-yard field goal by mere inches to the right that, had it been from 60 or even 65 yards out, it would have had time to hook just enough left to sneak in just inside the right upright. Medley approached the ball like most kickers approach an extra point. Two relaxed steps and a swing of the hips and legs to give the ball some lift. Most kickers don’t want lift on kicks outside 50 yards. This one had lift and it struck the net with velocity around the bottom of the Allstate hands logo. It was one of the most impressive misses we’ve ever witnessed.

Enough reliving heartbreak for my local brethren who choose to wear orange. Let’s get this week’s aberration better known as Week 5’s SEC Football Predictions.

All Times Eastern | Utilizing AP Rankings until the College Football Playoff Selection Committee Rankings are released in October.

SEC Football Predictions | Week 5
Saturday, October 3, 2015

South Carolina (2-2, 0-2 SEC) at Missouri (3-1, 0-1 SEC)
Noon ET | SEC Network

Quick word of wisdom: When you tally the number of 2015 conference wins for South Carolina, Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee you get a total of zero. During the preseason when Alabama-Georgia was the obvious main event, the Carolina-Mizzou/Arkansas-Tennessee games appeared to be great bookends. Now we have a combined 0-5 SEC record among the four aforementioned teams.

Don’t let the records fool you. Desperation breeds instant classics in the SEC and Week 5 is full of desperation.

Missouri will be without senior starting quarterback Maty Mauk because he violated the ever-sacred policies of his team. We won’t go into the obvious violation to which this usually refers, but did you know you can consume a bowl of lettuce in Colorado and Washington without much fuss?

Tigers fans hope this is the first of many great starts for freshman quarterback Drew Lock. South Carolina will have a freshman taking snaps as well in Lorenzo Nunez. He already leads the team in rushing and appears to be the Gamecocks’ signal caller from here on out.

The last time South Carolina was in Columbia West, they handed Missouri their only conference loss of 2013 before the SEC Championship Game. This time, the Gamecocks hand the Tigers their first conference win of 2015.
PREDICTION: Missouri 17, South Carolina 13

#13 Alabama (3-1, 0-1 SEC) at #8 Georgia (4-0, 2-0 SEC)
3:30pm ET | CBS

Big game word of wisdom: Alabama has not been an underdog since 2008… when they faced Georgia in a Saturday night blackout in Athens. Nick Saban, Julio Jones, and the Tide ran out to a 31-0 halftime lead and have not looked back since.

In a rare feat, the same coaches that faced off in October of 2008 are the same ones that will meet at midfield Saturday afternoon. Something that many forget was Mark Richt’s face and comment when he was interviewed by ESPN’s sideline reporter before heading off the field at halftime saddled with a 31-point deficit. Richt looked at the camera, smirked, and said something along the lines of, “We are getting our a**es kicked.” It was the equivalent of watching a preacher drop 10 F-bombs from the pulpit.

There will be no shortage of desperation throughout the conference on Saturday and this game will have a large dose. Although many see this as a potential preview of the SEC Championship Game, Alabama is sitting at 0-1 in conference play with no room for a second loss if they expect to play in the state of Georgia again in 2015. Georgia looks to keep the momentum alive as they head into a winnable remainder of the schedule, but a loss could lead to a letdown next week in Knoxville against a Tennessee team that will eventually put four full quarters of football together before this season is over.

Georgia is at home. Alabama is desperate with a great defense that matches up really well against teams that don’t run flashy spread offenses. Georgia is getting great play from quarterback Greyson Lambert, who has 733 yards passing with seven touchdowns. The biggest and most impressive number Lambert possesses is zero. He has thrown zero interceptions in the first four games. The Dawgs will be barking with the joy of victory if Lambert continues playing turnover free football.

Which quarterback keeps the ball out of the defense’s hands? The answer will tell you the winner. This predictor thinks Georgia plays enough mistake-free football to get their first win over Alabama since 2007 and first win in Athens since 2003.
PREDICTION: Georgia 34, Alabama 27

San Jose State (2-2) at Auburn (2-2, 1-1 SEC)
4:00pm ET | ESPN

Quick word of wisdom: Auburn does not look very good, but they should beat San Jose State.
PREDICTION: Auburn 28, San Jose State 14

#3 Ole Miss (4-0, 2-0 SEC) at #25 Florida (4-0, 2-0 SEC)
7:00pm ET | ESPN

Quick(ish) word of wisdom: Although Alabama and Georgia are getting the attention from the nation, this is quite possibly the biggest game in college football on Saturday. Florida will need to come down off a miracle win last week over Tennessee. Ole Miss showed the effects of its Tuscaloosa marathon as Vanderbilt hung around within one score much of the night.

We will find out how good Florida’s defense can be and we’ll also find out if Jim McElwain will be setting himself up for a season he may never be able to duplicate. A win against Ole Miss would catapult the Gators into SEC East contenders and a spot near the top ten.
PREDICTION: Florida 21, Ole Miss 16

Arkansas (1-3, 0-1 SEC) at Tennessee (2-2, 0-1 SEC)
7:00pm ET | ESPN2

Quick word of wisdom: The pain is real for both teams. An honest fan of either team will admit that they were pondering about what trajectory the program will take following wins over Texas A&M (Arkansas) and Florida (Tennessee) just prior to complete meltdowns just hours apart.

Rumors of Clint Stoerner running out the game ball and laying it near midfield are greatly exaggerated, but pretty fitting for this battle in Knoxville on Desperation Saturday in the SEC.
PREDICTION: Tennessee 31, Arkansas 21

Eastern Michigan (1-3) at #9 LSU (3-0, 1-0 SEC)
7:00pm ET | ESPNU

Quick word of wisdom: The biggest theme here is for LSU and it is simple. “Nobody Get Hurt.”
PREDICTION: LSU 48, Eastern Michigan 0

Vanderbilt (1-3, 0-2 SEC) at Middle Tennessee State (2-2)
7:00pm ET | CBSSN

Quick word of wisdom: Middle Tennessee has won each meeting in this series since 2001. The 2001, 2002 and 2005 games were played at Vanderbilt Stadium. The 2005 version saw an undefeated Vanderbilt with quarterback Jay Cutler and a winless MTSU play a classic that was won by the Blue Raiders on a blocked field goal as time expired.

Middle will not change tradition just because it’s been a few years and the game is being played 35 miles southeast of Nashville in Murfreesboro.
PREDICTION: MTSU 21, Vanderbilt 13

#21 Mississippi State (3-1, 1-1 SEC) at #14 Texas A&M (4-0, 1-0 SEC)
7:30pm ET | SEC Network

Quick word of wisdom: The Aggies of A&M are staking their claim as a true force in the SEC. A win Saturday at home against Mississippi State Saturday night will give the team huge momentum going into the open date before they host Alabama on October 17.
PREDICTION: Texas A&M 33, Mississippi State 24

Eastern Kentucky (2-1) at Kentucky (3-1 2-1 SEC)
7:30p.m. ET | SEC Network

Quick word of wisdom: Kentucky should win this game,
PREDICTION: Kentucky 44, Eastern Kentucky 28

Eric Taylor is a contributor to FBSchedules.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricFromSpfld or contact him via email at EricFromSpringfield–at– gmail–dot– com.

Comments (9)

I fully expect Butch Stones and the Vols to come out on fire like a Salem 100 and choke out the Hogs like a Coach Highsmith Angina attack at Boyce Smith field. Why you might ask? BERT Big Mouth (and Dr. Cherry sized spare tire gut) Bilema has talked a lot of shizzle meanwhile his hogs have taken a big dewskey of their on. While fans feel that Butch Big Stones Jones has underachieved and they may be right, they fail to recognize he has a flat top that Kitty, Jimmy and Buck would all envy for pete’s sakes. Let me repeat myself the man makes $3 Mil per year and he sports a $5 flat top that could only be topped by the infamous Rock Royter pimpin in a 5th grade 1987 Social Studies Class at Westside Elementary. Now you might say what about Bill the Barber why leave him out of the conversation. Well let me ask you this, did you ever know anyone outside of the Sloan clan that got their ear’s lowered in a discrete and little known strip mall between the Gupton’s used car lot and Dowlen’s (we weren’t quite Baldwin’s be we sure as hell were better than Witt’s) BBQ………..crickets. Well believe it or not I know of one person…me! I made that mistake one time. That’s right I did it. The line at Tex was backed up all the way to Park Circle and Buck’s was out of the way so I had Moms drop me at Bill’s Barbershop. Needless to say I came out 2 hours later looking like Derek Dooley caught in a love triangle with Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron on Rye with a side of corned beef and cabbage…..huh what tha? I know your now asking yourself what the Ms. Fudge is this guy on? Ms Quesenberry at the present moment that’s what I’m on and if you ain’t careful Ms Spillman will be next followed by K. Sawyer ….I mean uhh, oh shiz that last one wasn’t supposed to come out there. Wait are we talking SPT barber shops, elementary teachers, or SEC football here. Flattop Stones and the VOLS 37 – BRENT Mangino and the HAWGS 36.7

Oh yeah I forgot to mention I paid the officials to shave 1 minute and 47 seconds off of the 4th qtr so Vols no doubt. WORM CLEAR THE DANG BALL, CLEAR, CLEAR, CLEAR …. YOU CHICKEN SALAD MAKING S.O.B.!!!!

A 1-3 Arkansas @ a 2-2 Tennesee team.Hey Coach Holman I had to wake myself up reading your post.Its 2 insignificant teams going nowhere.Pls dont make me send the University of South Alabama Jaguars back up to Knoxville.

Kevin Wells ole buddy ole pal, I had no idea that you were suffering from Narcolepsy. That is such sad news. I hope you are able to overcome it and bounce back to a normal life. In the meantime lets discuss how the tide blew it against the rebs and the dynasty is over. That will make you feel better. Hotty Totty! Sincerly Chris Kiffin

I try to be transparent and let people know that I’m obviously an Alabama fan, but I also try to be objective. I would love to get it wrong. The QB situation is far from bad in Tuscaloosa, but it’s far from stable.

Thanks again, Day, for reading. Love the comments. Keep them coming.

Holy Cheese Swiss Miss. You hit the nail on the head. I have a lot to break down here and I’ll probably write four pieces on each of these topics. I mean. For reals. Mrs. Jarrett just called and asked if I still have a copy of Jacob Have I Loved. Stupid question. I have 34 copies of JHIL. It’s only the best book written about Jacob from State Farm. Kenneth…. Coach… or Cooooaaaaaaaassshhhh, if you will, thank you for all you’ve done for sports. You always had seven in the box and you taught box-outs like a boss and your block cheese was fantatizzle. In other words, go ‘head, Mr. H. Go ‘head. Mr. Wendell yay hay hey.

Your Buddy,
Walter Horhay

I could’nt disagree with you more on the Alabama @ Georgia game.Strength vs Strength is obviously Georgia’s offense against Alabama’s defense.Im not going to predict the score, but you can believe Bama’s going to prevail.Georgia started as a 2.5 point favorite its PK now, hello.Also Ole Miss @ Florida.I dont understand your thinking at all.Florida won a fluke game against the Vols, they’re overjoyed and Ole Miss finally struggled last week.This is a no-brainer,Ole Miss wins and covers the 6.5.Vandy @ M.Tennesee St.Vandy coming off a physical game last week with O.M. will not be able to stop MTS;s fast break offense that actually played with The Mighty Crimson Tide for a half.Roll Tide Roll !!! ~ The Daddy