Randy Smith
Two weeks left. That's it. That's all that remains of the 2018 college football regular season. Hard to believe isn't it? The SEC Championship Game match up is set with Alabama to face Georgia in a rematch of last season's National Championship Game. For the most part, the only real suspense involves teams that are still fighting for a bowl berth and one of them is Tennessee.
The Citadel at Alabama
Auburn may challenge Alabama next week in the Iron Bowl but The Citadel Bulldogs will not be in the game much after the two teams kick it off in Tuscaloosa.
The Crimson Tide can name the score this week, even though back up quarterback Jalen Hurts is injured and starter Tua Tagavailoa is still hampered with a knee problem. If those injuries don't heal by December 1st at 4:00, 'Bama could have a hard time with Georgia.
Alabama 55 The Citadel 7
Arkansas at Mississippi State
Mississippi State played Alabama as tough as any SEC team has thus far this season, last week. The Bulldogs lost 24-0, but retained a top-25 national ranking coming in this week at number 21. Arkansas is just not very good at all as Coach Chad Morris's squad is still winless in SEC play. MSU should win this pretty handily on their home field.
Mississippi State 37 Arkansas 14
Liberty at Auburn
The Tigers played pretty well in the first half of last week's loss at Georgia, but it's becoming very obvious this Auburn team is not nearly as good as the Tigers were in beating Washington in the season opener. They were ranked as high as sixth in the country early in the season but now stand 6-4 and 3-4 in the SEC. Unless the Tigers totally fall apart this week, they should win easily.
Auburn 45 Liberty 10
Idaho at Florida
The Florida Gators have surprised a lot of people this season in Coach Dan Mullen's initial year in "The Swamp" Florida came from behind to score a win over South Carolina last week. Felipe Franks played exceptionally well in leading the Gators to the win. Franks has developed into one of the better quarterbacks in the SEC under Mullen's tutelage. Idaho should be no match for Florida this weekend.
Florida 42 Idaho 13
UMass at Georgia
The Bulldogs are still very much alive for a college football playoff spot, but that berth likely comes with a win over top-ranked Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. That meeting is still a couple of weeks down the road and after this week's game with UMass, Georgia must face old time rival Georgia Tech before the 'Dawgs can think about facing the Crimson Tide. This week will be easy.
Georgia 52 UMass 0
Middle Tennessee at Kentucky
This is a battle of 7-3 teams as the Wildcats may still be reeling from their 24-7 loss at Tennessee. Kentucky has lost two in a row and the scores haven't really been that close. If the 'Cats have folded up for the year, the Blue Raiders have a chance. MTSU has won four in a row and they're playing very well. They are still alive for a chance to play in the Conference USA title game. I'm really tempted to pick my alma mater in an upset, but I pick much better with my head than I do with my heart.
Kentucky 34 MTSU 21
Rice at LSU
The 7th ranked LSU Tigers are still in contention for a playoff spot but they need a lot of help to get there. Teams ahead of them in the poll must lose, while they must win out the rest of the way. It's really hard to imagine a team with two losses making the playoffs this season, so the Bengals may be headed to the Sugar Bowl or perhaps the Peach Bowl. Regardless this has been a good season for Ed Orgeron's crew. At least, they're not calling for his head in Baton Rouge.
LSU 38 Rice 12
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
This is one of just three conference match ups this weekend. And as far as Vandy actually having a chance to win, this is a good opportunity. The Commodores are 4-6 overall and they still have a chance to play in a bowl game, but they have to win against the Johnny Rebs this week and beat Tennessee in Nashville next week to be eligible. Vandy has beaten Tennessee two of the last three years so both games present real possibilities. Of course for the Tennessee match up next week to have any meaning at all, Vandy must beat Ole Miss this week. I don't see that happening.
Ole MIss 34 Vanderbilt 28
Chattanooga at South Carolina
This will be the season finale for the Mocs who have shown great improvement in Coach Tom Arth's second season. They got off to a great start, even being ranked for a couple of weeks, but the Mocs have struggled in their last few games and currently stand 6-4. Regardless of what happens in Columbia today, UTC will have a winning season. That's a lot better than the 3-8 mark of last year. Arth will eventually get the Mocs back to relevance in FCS, but I see 6-5 as being their best finish for 2018.
South Carolina 55 UTC 21
UAB at Texas A&M
The Aggies are headed to a pretty good bowl game in Jimbo Fisher's initial season in College Station. A&M is 6-4 overall and next week, they close out their regular season with a home game against LSU. You can look for Texas A&M to be much better in years to come, maybe even challenge for a national championship. Considering that two of the Aggies four losses came to Clemson and Alabama, this has really been a good year. UAB could present quite a challenge if the Aggies are looking ahead to LSU, but that's not likely.
Texas A&M 37 UAB 14
Missouri at Tennessee
I actually picked Tennessee to beat Kentucky last week and got it right. The Vols played with passion and fire in beating the Wildcats 24-7 in a gfame that was more lop-sided than the score indicated. Missouri however is a different animal. The Tigers have won two in a row and stand 6-4 on the year. Even though Kentucky had a better record and was nationally ranked, Missouri will be a tougher game for the Vols.Drew Lock is one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC and will provide the Vols' young secondary quite a challenge. The key for Tennessee is to put pressure on Lock as they did last week against Kentucky's Terry Wilson. If that happens, the Vols have a chance. If not, it could be a long day for Tennessee. I think the streak continues.
Tennessee 30 Missouri 27
Last week: 7-0
Year to date: 70-22
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Randy Smith can be reached at rsmithsports@epbfi.com