It's Week 8 of the College Football season, where the No. 19 Missouri Tigers host the Auburn Tigers on Homecoming in Columbia. No. 7 at Alabama at No. 11 Tennessee and No. 5 Georgia at No. 1 Texas highlight the SEC slate.
No. 8 LSU at Arkansas and No. 24 Michigan at No. 23 Illinois are other big games on the viewing guide.
It's shaping up to be another huge Saturday, so let's make some picks.
Sammy Stava: Mizzou puts forth their best performance of the season on Homecoming to start the second half. Auburn is reeling, and Missouri is able to take advantage of them in front of the home crowd. I feel a big day upcoming from Brady Cook. 35-28, black and gold Tigers.
Chad Moller: This is one of those games where I'm not trusting what my eyes are seeing on the field versus what I'm seeing in the line movement. Mizzou looked like it was on the mend last week at UMass, and Auburn was off, but has spent all season long stepping on rakes and making a mess of things in general. Why would this line start off at Mizzou -7.5 and suddenly drop to -4.5 in a couple of days? That gives me pause that my eyes are betraying me. I'm going to pray the right Tigers win, but because of the line movement I'm picking a tight one. I'll say Mizzou 27, Auburn 24.
Sammy Stava: Tennessee didn't look their best last time out against Florida, but man, is Alabama incredibly fortunate to win that game vs South Carolina. With the way Bama lost to Vandy in Nashville, I don't think Kalen Deboer's team is ready for the big stage in Knoxville.
Vols win it with their strong defense, 24-20.
Chad Moller: The Vols are really scuffling of late, but you can say the same thing about 'Bama ever since their Georgia game, as they've followed that monumental win by losing at Vandy and barely holding on at home for a narrow win over South Carolina. I'm a believer in the maxim that defense travels, but defense isn't Alabama's strong suit this year, and even though UT's offense has been ragged the last couple of outings, I think they'll find a pulse at home in this big rivalry game. It'll be a good one, but I'll take the home team for the win. Let's say Tennessee 34, Alabama 27.
Sammy Stava: In a down season for Michigan, the Wolverines are plenty vulnerable and beatable. This is huge opportunity for Bielema and the Illini to get a signature win against a brand name program at home. They won't get it done, however.
Michigan finds a way to get the W with their stingy defense. 17-16, Wolverines.
Chad Moller: I've got an Illini friend who swears that anytime they host a big game, they fall flat on their face. Sounds like the psyche of a typical Mizzou fan! I haven't seen enough of Illinois to know just how well they match up with Michigan, but I like what Bielema has cooking in Champaign so I'm going to say the home team pulls the minor upset in this one. Illinois 23, Michigan 17.
Sammy Stava: Arkansas is one of the most improved teams in the country sitting at 4-2. They should have beaten Oklahoma State on the road and lost a close one to Texas A&M. The Razorbacks pulled off the upset over Tennessee, and they're going to find a way to do it again over LSU in Fayetteville.
31-30, Hogs.
Chad Moller: Both teams are coming off emotional wins, so who will find the proper equilibrium to stay on track in this one? LSU's defense has shown signs of improvement under the traitor defensive coordinator Blake Baker, and I think that side of the ball will make the difference in this one. I also think Tiger QB Garrett Nussmeier is playing his way into the upper echelon of the upcoming NFL Draft. I'm taking the better QB in this matchup and will say LSU wins, 38-27.
Sammy Stava: Georgia has what it takes to beat the No. 1 team in the country on the road. Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs still have that championship pedigree, but this game will come down to better quarterback play and Quinn Ewers will outplay Carson Beck.
Texas gets it done to solidify that they're the best team in the country. 35-27, Longhorns.
Chad Moller: Georgia doesn't seem to be the team we thought they were before the season started, and conversely, Texas seems to be better than anticipated. So why is this spread sitting around a field goal difference? Factoring in the standard home field advantage of around three points, the books are saying this would be a pick-em on a neutral field. A loss here by Georgia, and all of a sudden they are going to be in trouble for even making the CFP field as an at-large team. For no intelligent reason I think Georgia pulls it out. I just find it hard to believe that Georgia would have two losses barely halfway into this season. I also just don't see Texas going undefeated this season. I definitely don't think Georgia is as good as I anticipated, but I still think they will find a way to scratch this one out. I'll say Georgia 31, Texas 30.