Important Games to Watch: Week 8

College football is now past the midway point of the season, and every team in the SEC has at least one loss on its record. At this point, the games are no longer just about which matchups are entertaining, but also about which results can help LSU make a push toward the postseason.

The slate of games this weekend is not as strong as it has been over the past few weeks, but if this season has taught us anything, it’s that anyone can lose on any given Saturday.

With that in mind, here are a few important games to watch in Week 8.

Tennessee at South Carolina – 2:30 p.m. on ESPN

Tennessee goes on the road to face South Carolina in a matchup that could have major implications for the SEC standings.

South Carolina pulled off a massive road upset against Florida two Saturdays ago and had a bye last week. Even though the Volunteers are ranked No. 11, the Gamecocks are still a 2.5-point favorite in this matchup.

Tennessee will have to get DeSean Bishop going early, but if South Carolina can frustrate him the same way it frustrated Jadan Baugh, that could keep this game close and give the Gamecocks a legitimate opportunity to pull off another upset against a ranked opponent.

Ole Miss at Texas – 6:30 p.m. on ABC

Ole Miss travels to Austin to take on Texas in one of the biggest matchups of the weekend.

There are rumblings around Austin that confidence in the offense is starting to slip inside the locker room because of the quarterback issues.

Arch Manning has a lot of questions to answer in this game, and the luster of the last name on the back of his jersey seems to be beginning to fade.

If Manning is unable to compete with one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in Trinidad Chambliss, there may actually be a quarterback change in Austin at some point.

This is a game where LSU fans need Ole Miss to lose. The Tigers would still have an opportunity to hand Texas its third loss of the season.

The Longhorns enter this matchup as a 3.5-point home favorite.

Texas A&M at Alabama – 2:30 p.m. on ABC

Finally, Texas A&M travels to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Both teams are looking for a quality win, but A&M is especially desperate for one. This season has not gone the way anyone in College Station expected.

At some point, Marcel Reed is going to have to make some competent throws if the Aggies want to beat a hungry Alabama defense.

The Crimson Tide are looking to bounce back after back-to-back losses to SEC rivals.

This will be a challenge for the Aggies, but if they can pull off the upset, it would create a massive opportunity for LSU to move up in the rankings. It would also cause people to view LSU’s dominant home victory over A&M in a much different light.

Which Game Matters Most for LSU?

What games are you looking forward to this weekend, and which matchup do you believe will have the biggest impact on LSU’s postseason chances?

Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments.