Around the SEC: Week 8

Week 8 of SEC football has arrived, and the SEC continues to be a powerhouse with six teams in the top 25. Headlines of the week include Georgia's increasing injuries, a ranked SEC matchup and Mizzou's ranking in the top 20 for the first time since 2014.

Here’s all you need to know on week eight of the SEC.

Georgia's Injuries

No. 1 Georgia left Nashville this past weekend with a win over the Vanderbilt Commodores, however, mounting injuries put a dampener on an otherwise solid win.

Star tight end Brock Bowers suffered an injury in this game, and it was announced he will undergo ankle surgery that will place him on a four to six-week recovery path.

Bowers’ name was added to the growing list of team injuries and puts to question if the upcoming bye week will allow enough rest for the back-to-back National Champions. Georgia is in desperate need of that rest as it prepares for Florida, and then a hot-ranked Missouri.

This week's matchup: Bye Week

No. 11 Alabama vs No. 17 Tennessee

Every college football fan remembers last year when Tennessee beat Alabama, stormed the field and carried the goalpost all the way to the Tennessee River. There will be no field storming this year if Tennessee wins as this year's game is in Tuscaloosa.

What many fans might not know is that this was the first time Tennessee had beaten Alabama in 16 years. A decades-old rivalry that sees the winning team’s staff, players and fans light up Cigars, No. 17 Tennessee and No. 11 Alabama will face off Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

But who will smoke 'em’ this year? The odds are in Alabama's favor heading into the weekend, as it still runs the SEC West currently holding a 4-0 record against division opponents.

However, look for a fierce Tennessee to frustrate Alabama’s offense, as Tennessee tries to save the Tuscaloosa air from cigar pollution.

This week's matchup: Tennessee at Alabama

Missouri's 3rd in the SEC East?

Not many people expected Missouri to perform as well as it has this year. The 6-1 Tigers are pulling a Cinderella season as they tackle games week by week which has seeded them at No. 20 in the AP Polls.

The season started off with an unexpected win over the at-the-time No. 15 Kansas State Wildcats. This was due to kicker Harrison Mevis who made history with a Southeastern Conference-record 61-yard field goal to put the final score at 30-27.

This past weekend, Mizzou climbed into the top 20 with a statement win over Kentucky 38-21.

Missouri has yet to face its toughest opponents with teams like Georgia and Tennessee still ahead. Will the Tigers win out their regular game season, or will the SEC simply get the best of them? Only time will tell.

This week's matchup: South Carolina at Missouri

Bronwyn Liber is a first-year student majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact her, email brl5354@psu.edu