In the college football world that most matters, Week 5 is serious business for several SEC football teams. In five games with outcomes in doubt, nine SEC football teams will have their momentum shift. For some, the shift can be so dramatic as to define their 2025 future.
The Sept. 27 SEC Football Schedule
Let's start by discarding some clutter. Vanderbilt will beat Utah State to go 5-0. Tennessee will win by two or more touchdowns against Mississippi State in Starkville. Missouri will cruise to a laugher against UMass.
SEC Football Week 5 Key Games
- Notre Dame (1-2) at Arkansas (2-2) - The Fighting Irish are ranked No. 22, and the Hogs are unranked. The Golden Domers are favored by 3.5 points, making a strong statement about the strength of the SEC. It is a must-win for the Irish to avoid dropping to 1-3. Every game is a must-win for the Razorbacks. Arkansas is not a good defensive team. Notre Dame is worse. I'm picking the Hogs as long as Taylen Greens throws no more than one interception.
- LSU Bengal Tigers (4-0) at Ole Miss Rebels (4-0) - Whether it is Austin Simmons or Trinidad Chambliss, who is expected to start, Ole Miss has enough offense to best an improved LSU defense. The Ole Miss defense should keep LSU in the game, but Brian Kelly's offense will not have enough firepower to win a shootout. I'm taking Ole Miss (favored by 1.5 points) to win a close one.
- Auburn (3-1) at Texas A&M (3-0) - Auburn has a good defense that should limit the A&M running game. The Aggies have multiple receivers who can cause the Auburn secondary problems. A&M quarterback Marcel Reed is enough of a running threat that the Tigers are unlikely to allocate the numbers to double any of the A&M receivers. The Tigers should find success on the ground. If Jackson Arnold helps his leaky offensive line by getting the ball out quicker, the game could be close. The Aggies are favored by a touchdown. My pick is Texas A&M
- Kentucky (2-1) at South Carolina (2-2) - Both teams are at must-win junctures. The Gamecocks are reeling from back-to-back losses to Vanderbilt and Missouri. South Carolina quarterback LaNorriss Sellers gives his team a big advantage over Kentucky's Cutter Boley. Kentucky could have and probably should have beaten Ole Miss. The South Carolina game is important for the Wildcats because Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Auburn, and Florida follow on UK's schedule. Sellers and the home crowd should give the 5.5-point favorite Gamecocks the win. My prediction is South Carolina by double-digit points.
The biggest SEC game is on Saturday night, with the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Georgia Bulldogs. A detailed game prediction will be provided on Saturday.