Two years ago, Texas A&M-Alabama launched the Aggies and Johnny Manziel onto the national stage. In 2013, it was hyped as the game of the year. This time around, it's a battle of two struggling squads looking to get their good early-season vibes back on track. The winner could use this as a springboard to a late-season run. Who will that be? Let's get on with the picks.
Why Alabama wins: The Crimson Tide haven’t looked anything like those past championship teams, and this team is sick of hearing about it. Coach Nick Saban is, pretty, uh, mad at how his team is being perceived, so there’s plenty of motivation in Tuscaloosa. Alabama cruises against an A&M defense that's giving up almost 35 points a game in conference play. Alabama 31, Texas A&M 21 -- Edward Aschoff
Why Texas A&M wins: This is a good matchup for the Aggies. Nick Saban’s teams traditionally have struggled against up-tempo, no-huddle offenses, and that’s what the Aggies do. Sure, the Aggies have struggled the past two weeks, but they’ve also been missing their best receiver and offensive leader, Malcome Kennedy. He’ll be back, and I’m betting that this team has a chip on its shoulder -- the way it did before going to South Carolina -- after taking two beatings from Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Texas A&M 34, Alabama 28 -- Sam Khan Jr.
Why Georgia wins: The SEC East hasn’t beaten a West team all season, and this might be its best chance. Nobody knows the status of Todd Gurley, but this Georgia team used his absence as motivation in last Saturday’s 34-0 win at Missouri. It was the most complete performance by Mark Richt’s team all season. Another shutout is unlikely against a much-improved Arkansas team, but if the Bulldogs play like they did last week, they’ll be hard to beat. Georgia 31, Arkansas 21 -- Greg Ostendorf
Why Arkansas wins: Call it a gut feeling, but I sense an upset. Georgia, no matter how good it looked against Missouri, isn't the same without Todd Gurley in the backfield. And Arkansas, already with tough losses to Texas A&M and Alabama, has to break through at some point. Arkansas 27, Georgia 24 -- Alex Scarborough
Why LSU wins: Kentucky got off to a 5-1 start by beating South Carolina and nearly upsetting Florida in the Swamp, but this is Saturday night at Tiger Stadium. LSU is not the imposing team it typically has been under Les Miles, yet programs far better than Kentucky’s have been confident prior to a visit to Baton Rouge and still limped home. LSU 28, Kentucky 21 -- David Ching
Why Kentucky wins: These Wildcats are on a roll. They’ve scored more than 40 points in each of their last two games, QB Patrick Towles has been great and they have a new toy to play with: the Wildcat formation. Running back Jojo Kemp has run it to perfection. Defensively, they’ve also been good (18.7 points per game allowed), they get after opposing QBs and they turn teams over (plus-8 turnover margin). Kentucky 28, LSU 24 -- Sam Khan Jr.
Why Ole Miss wins big: One of these days, Butch Jones’ Tennessee team is going to take down a ranked opponent. To date, all the Vols have to show are a near-miss at Georgia and a moral victory at Oklahoma. That landmark win won’t come Saturday at Ole Miss, though. The Rebels will overwhelm the Vols along the line of scrimmage and could win comfortably. Ole Miss 35, Tennessee 17 -- David Ching
How Tennessee can keep it close: Ole Miss is riding high after two huge wins against Alabama and Texas A&M. With a trip to LSU next week, Saturday's home contest against an SEC East bottom-feeder represents your classic trap game. If the Rebels let their guard down, they could easily find themselves in a defensive slugfest with the improving Vols, who have the SEC's second-best pass defense and are giving up just 160.2 yards a game. Ole Miss 24, Tennessee 13 -- Jeff Barlis
More unanimous picks:
Florida over Missouri: The Gators are reeling, but they know a win over Mizzou can turn things around. Being at home and having quarterback Treon Harris back should give Florida enough of a spark to make some plays on a beaten-down Mizzou defense. Florida 24, Missouri 17 -- Edward Aschoff
South Carolina over Furman: After back-to-back crushing losses in the East Division, the Gamecocks have to believe their SEC-worst defense will get well against the FCS Furman Paladins. South Carolina 38, Furman 0 -- Jeff Barlis
Standings
Edward Aschoff 54-9
Jeff Barlis 54-9
Chris Low 54-9
Greg Ostendorf 54-9
David Ching 52-11
Alex Scarborough 52-11
Sam Khan Jr. 50-13