Week Eight SEC Predictions

Last week's predictions were 7-0, with an overall record of 54-10. This week, Auburn faces Vanderbilt in Nashville at 11:21 am CT on the SEC Network. Other games include Alabama at Tennessee and South Carolina at Florida.

Auburn at Vandy, 11:21 am CT, SEC Network

Auburn plays away from home for the second consecutive weekend when it travels to Nashville to battle Vanderbilt. The Commodores are 2-4 overall, 1-3 in the SEC while Auburn is 1-5 and 0-4 in conference play.

Saturday's game will be the 42nd meeting between the two teams with the series tied 20-20-1. Auburn has won 13 of the last 14 meetings, but in games played in Nashville, Vandy holds a 11-7 record.

The first-half of Auburn's 2012 season hasn't been pretty. Many thought the Tigers would have enough wins to be invited to a bowl game but at 1-5, it would take a miracle to reach six wins. Sitting at 0-4 in conference play, Auburn could easily end up winless in the SEC when the long season is finally over. This weekend's game is probably the best opportunity for the Tigers to get a victory in conference play.

Auburn enters the contest against Vandy as underdogs because of inconsistent play on offense. The Tigers average 16.2 points per game and have been outscored 62-3 in the fourth quarter this season.

The play at the quarterback position continues to be a major problem as both Kiehl Frazier and Clint Moseley haven't found any rhythm under center. Moseley started last weekend in the 41-20 loss to Ole Miss. Moseley was 11-of-18 for 112 yards, but had just 22 passing yards in the second half.

Defensively, Auburn allows 26.5 points per game, 191.5 rushing yards, and 225.2 passing yards with one interception and 12 sacks. After recording 16 tackles against Ole Miss, Daren Bates leads the SEC with 70 tackles and ranks sixth nationally.

Last weekend, Vandy suffered a 31-17 loss to Florida. While Auburn is winless in conference play, the Commodores beat Missouri 19-15 earlier in the season.

Overall, the Commodores average 20.5 points per game, 365.7 yards of total offense, 149 rushing yards and 216.7 passing yards.

Vandy is led by quarterback Jordan Rodgers, who has completed just 55.2 percent of his passes for 1,068 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Tailback Zac Stacy has 499 rushing yards and four touchdowns so far in 2012.

The duo of Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd combine to average 170.3 receiving yards per game. Matthews, the No. 1 receiver in the SEC in catches, ranks second in the league with a 102.8-yard receiving average. Boyd ranks No. 8 in the SEC with a 67.5-yard average.

Defensively, Vandy allows 22.3 points per game, 203.5 rushing yards, and 148.2 passing yards with two interceptions and 10 sacks. Kenny Ladler leads the team with 42 tackles, while Chase Garnham has 38 tackles and two sacks.

The Tigers' last trip to Nashville in 2008 resulted in a 14-13 loss. During that season, Auburn saw Kodi Burns and Chris Todd sharing time at quarterback, with Tony Franklin as the new offensive coordinator and Paul Rhoads as new defensive coordinator but managed just five wins.

The 2012 season is very similar to that of 2008 but it's unlikely Auburn will reach five wins. The embarrassing loss to Vandy in 2008 was probably a big reason why Tommy Tuberville was fired at the end of the season. If the Tigers lose this weekend, will Gene Chizik suffer the same fate?

Prediction: Vandy 24-17.



LSU at Texas A&M, 11 am CT, ESPN

Prediction: Texas A&M 17-14.



South Carolina at Florida, 2:30 pm CT, CBS

Prediction: Florida 28-23.



Middle Tennessee at Mississippi State, 6 pm CT, ESPN2

Prediction: Mississippi State 38-10.



Alabama at Tennessee, 6 pm CT, ESPN

Prediction: Alabama 35-13.



Georgia at Kentucky, 6 pm CT, FSN

Prediction: Georgia 41-20.

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