By Jeremy Hillman
SouthernPigskin.com

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SouthernPigskin.com Senior SEC Writer Jeremy Hillman recaps week eight in the SEC.

SEC Coach of The Week: Gene Chizik, Auburn (Auburn outgained LSU 526 yards to 243 yards in the big victory for the home Tigers. Chizik and Auburn then leaped into the #1 spot in the latest BCS rankings)

SEC Offensive Player Of The Week: Georgia RB Washaun Ealey (Ealey ran all over the Kentucky Wildcats in a big road win for Georgia, rolling up 157 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns)

SEC Defensive Player Of The Week: Auburn DT Nick Fairley (the massive Fairley harassed the LSU backfield all day and racked up 6 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks in the big win over the Bengal Tigers)

Three UP:
1. Auburn QB Cameron Newton (Newton cemented himself as the clear leader for the Heisman trophy after the win over LSU. His 217 rushing yards in that game give him the highest rushing total for a season, for a quarterback, in SEC history)
2. Georgia LB Justin Houston (after a huge performance in the win over Kentucky, Houston leads the conference in sacks with 8.5 on the season. The outside linebacker has bust onto the scene and is now one of the more feared pass rushers in the nation)
3. Mississippi State (the Bulldogs, in just 8 week of football, are bowl eligible. A huge step for Dan Mullen and the Mississippi State program, this will be State’s first bowl game since 2007)

Three DOWN:
1. LSU QB Jordan Jefferson (Jefferson ran with some effectiveness on Saturday, but his passing was poor…finishing just 7 of 14 for a measly 46 yards and an interception in the loss to Auburn)
2. Tennessee (the Vols were no match for Alabama, especially in the second half, as depth and talent issues continue to rear their ugly heads for Tennessee. Volunteers fall to 0-4 in the SEC and just 2-5 overall)
3. Kentucky defense (the Wildcat offense has proven it can score on good football teams. However, the defense has been less-than-impressive. Kentucky has given up an average of 40 points per game in SEC play. The Wildcats rank 98th in the nation in scoring defense)

SEC Player Of The Year Standings – Updated after Week 8:
1. Auburn QB Cameron Newton
2. South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery
3. Georgia WR A.J. Green
4. Georgia LB Justin Houston
5. Auburn DT Nick Fairley

Bowl Projections – Updated After Week 8:

Birmingham Bowl
January 2nd (Birmingham, AL)
No SEC team eligible

AutoZone Liberty Bowl
December 31st (Memphis, TN)
Kentucky Vs East Carolina

Music City Bowl
December 30th (Nashville, TN)
Florida Vs Georgia Tech

Chic-fil-A Bowl
December 31st (Atlanta, GA)
Mississippi State Vs Virginia Tech

Gator Bowl
January 1st (Jacksonville, FL)
Georgia Vs Michigan

Outback Bowl
January 1st (Tampa, FL)
LSU Vs Iowa

AT&T Cotton Bowl
January 2nd (Dallas, TX)
Arkansas Vs Oklahoma

CapitalOne Bowl
January 1st (Orlando, FL)
South Carolina Vs Wisconsin

BCS Sugar Bowl
January 4th (New Orleans, LA)
Auburn Vs TCU

BCS National Championship Game
January 10th (Glendale, AZ)
Alabama Vs Oregon