Bilo's College Football PASS/FAIL Reports Week 8: SEC

PASS: Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Kentucky
Alabama was seriously challenged for a time against the Aggies this week, as was supposed to happen, but the Tide did what they do. They pulled away, and dominated late, and the Tide remains the best team in the nation. The upcoming LSU game looms large for them, and the Auburn game is getting more interesting by the moment.
Auburn made that game interesting by beating Arkansas 56-3 this week, but remains a game and a half behind the Tide. Auburn needs to win out between now and the season finale, and that is possible. If they did so, the Iron Bowl would be one of the most important games of the season.
LSU has been a more relaxed football team since firing Les Miles, and it proves that the move should have been made at the end of last season. The Tigers now have a huge game coming up against Alabama, and are tied for 3rd with Auburn. The Tigers need to win out as well, and that means beating Alabama in 2 weeks.
Mark Stoops is still hanging in there at Kentucky, and the Wildcats are just a half game behind Florida in 2nd in the East this week. The Cats need help, having already lost to Florida, but it is a miracle, even in a terrible division, that the Cats are that close. They beat Mississippi State 40-38 to stay in the race.

FAIL: South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Missouri, Mississippi State
It was not a banner week for the SEC this week. South Carolina and Vanderbilt both get failing grades for wins this week against U Mass for SC (34-28), and FCS member Tennessee State for Vandy (35-17). South Carolina could not separate from U Mass late, and Vanderbilt needed a solid second half to pull away from the lower division Tigers. Both wins were uninspired.
Texas A&M had Alabama on the ropes, but then took their foot off of the pedal, allowing Alabama to pull away in the second half. The Aggies are still just a half game out of the West, but now need some serious help in this race. No worries, as the Aggies, if they don't fall apart now, will still bowl in a New Years Bowl.
Arkansas absolutely no showed with Auburn after a huge win over Ole Miss last week, and the Razorbacks took one of their worst losses in years. Bret Bielema has been all over the place as coach of the Hogs, but this loss was a head scratcher.
Ole Miss fell apart once again this week, getting shut out in the 2nd half against LSU in a 38-21 loss, the second in a row for the Rebels. Hugh Freeze may be in trouble, as they fall to 3-4 and just 1-3 in SEC play.
Missouri is down this year, but losing at home to Middle Tennessee is just unacceptable for the Tigers. Missouri is now 2-5 on the year, and have yet to win an SEC game.
Mississippi State is in a 3 way tie for last place in the SEC West without Dak Prescott, and there seem to be no real breaks coming their way. Dan Mullen's star is dimming.