TUCKER’S PICK ‘EM: College football picks and previews for Week 8

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – 41NBC’s Tucker Sargent makes his picks in this week’s games of interest.

Record last week: 8-3

Record this season: 63-20

All Times Eastern

All FBS rankings reflect latest Associated Press poll

Miami (4-2, 1-2 ACC) @ Virginia Tech (4-2, 2-1 ACC)
Thursday, October 20 at 7 p.m. ESPN
Miami has lost two in a row, falling to Florida State and North Carolina by a combined eight points.

Virginia Tech was shocked last week in Syracuse, falling to the Orange by two touchdowns:

Miami 28, Virginia Tech 21

Actual Score: Virginia Tech 37, Miami 16 (LOSS)

Troy (5-1, 3-0 Sun Belt) @ South Alabama (3-3, 0-3 Sun Belt)
Saturday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m. ESPNU
Well, I had to throw my alma mater on here, partly because my Trojans are finally relevant again and partly because the list of “interesting games” this week is slim.

South Alabama has wins over Mississippi State and San Diego State but is winless in three tries against Sun Belt teams:

Troy 40, South Alabama 14

Actual Score: Troy 28, South Alabama 21 (WIN)

NC State (4-2, 1-1 ACC) @ No. 7 Louisville (5-1, 3-1 ACC)
Saturday, October 22 at 12 p.m. ABC
NC State turned some heads last Saturday in Clemson, taking the No. 3 Tigers to overtime before losing 24-17.

The spread here (Louisville by 21) is just too much, right?

Louisville 34, NC State 23

Actual Score: Louisville 54, NC State 13 (WIN)

Central State (1-6, 1-2 SIAC) @ Fort Valley State (1-6, 1-3 SIAC)
Saturday, October 22 at 2 p.m.
Maybe the Wildcats can get a homecoming win.

If not, at least the weather looks good:

Fort Valley State 21, Central State 14

Actual Score: Fort Valley State 30, Central State 28 (WIN)

No. 6 Texas A&M (6-0, 4-0 SEC) @ No. 1 Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC)
Saturday, October 22 at 3:30 p.m. CBS
After manhandling Tennessee in Knoxville, the Crimson Tide returns to Tuscaloosa for essentially the SEC West championship game.

Texas A&M enters as an 18 point underdog, despite being 6-0:

Alabama 35, Texas A&M 24

Actual Score: Alabama 33, Texas A&M 14 (WIN)

Mercer (3-3, 2-2 SOCON) @ Austin Peay (0-6, 0-5 OVC)
Saturday, October 22 at 5 p.m. OVC DIGITAL NETWORK
Mercer steps out of SoCon play after evening its record there last week against Western Carolina.

The Bears have a cakewalk matchup in Tennessee before a visit to Wofford next week:

Mercer 42, Austin Peay 17

Actual Score: Mercer 41, Austin Peay 34 (WIN)

No. 17 Arkansas (5-2, 1-2 SEC) @ No. 21 Auburn (4-2, 2-1 SEC)
Saturday, October 22 at 6 p.m. ESPN
One of the few top 25 matchups this weekend will be at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Arkansas is coming off a win over Ole Miss. Auburn is coming off a bye week:

Auburn 34, Arkansas 21

Actual Score: Auburn 56, Arkansas 3 (WIN)

Mississippi State (2-2, 1-4 SEC) @ Kentucky (3-3, 2-2 SEC)
Saturday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m. SEC NETWORK
Mississippi State is in danger of a last place finish in the SEC West.

It’s beaten five straight opponents from the SEC East:

Mississippi State 21, Kentucky 17

Actual Score: Kentucky 40, Mississippi State 38 (LOSS)

Georgia Southern (3-3, 2-1 Sun Belt) @ New Mexico State (2-4, 1-2 Sun Belt)
Saturday, October 22 at 8 p.m. ESPN3
Troy is clearly the class of the Sun Belt right now, but Georgia Southern still has time to get things going.

It starts with New Mexico State Saturday night. Idaho beat the Aggies by 32 last week:

Georgia Southern 38, New Mexico State 23

Actual Score: Georgia Southern 22, New Mexico State 19 (WIN)

No. 23 Ole Miss (3-3, 1-2 SEC) @ No. 25 LSU (4-2, 2-1 SEC)
Saturday, October 22 at 9 p.m. ESPN
Ole Miss is the best three-loss team in the country.

After this game, it will be the best team with a losing record in the country:

LSU 24, Ole Miss 20

Actual Score: LSU 38, Ole Miss 21 (WIN)