SEC PRIMER: Hurricane Delta dawns on the SEC's third week
STAFF REPORT
Two weeks in and this league is all bunched up.
At least in the middle.
It’s like an SEC sandwich, even after just two games.
At the top – we’ll go with three teams – Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
At the bottom – Vanderbilt is holding up the rest of the league. Kentucky, at least at the moment, is just a touch above but could fall fast with another poor performance this week.
In between – everybody else.
It will work itself out but let’s be honest, the 10 teams between top and bottom are more or less a mirror of each other.
All 10 have their strengths. All 10 have their warts. Let’s hold off for the moment on just what those are.
Three of the four new coaches already have a victory in their possession. The fourth – Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz – will have some difficulty due to being handed one of the toughest schedules in the nation.
So here we go to Week 3 complete with another disturbance in the Gulf to cause havoc in Louisiana and Mississippi. If you haven’t heard, LSU and Missouri are now playing in Columbia and earlier in the day.
The game between Alabama and Ole Miss is also on the move but only in the time. The game is still on for Saturday but with a new start time – 6:30 p.m. CDT. The game will still be available on ESPN.
SEC VOICE
This week, Andy Hodges of ESPN ARKANSAS joins RRS Radio to discuss the new sheriff in Razorback football (that would be Sam Pittman), his disdain for the former Arkansas coach (Chad Morris) and how all of this might lead to an Arkansas upset of Auburn this weekend. Beware - He’s candid!
OCT 9 Schedule/Notes
South Carolina (0-2) at Vanderbilt (0-2) – 11 a.m. CDT (SEC Network)
Vanderbilt Stadium - Nashville
Series: SC, 25-4 (Last: 2019 – SC, 24-7)
Last week: SC lost to Florida, 38-24; Vandy lost to LSU, 41-7
5 THINGS about SC/VANDY
Vanderbilt hasn’t won in Nashville vs. SC since 1998 and have just one win there in 15 tries.
SC WR Shi Smith leads the nation with 22 receptions and 11 catches per game.
Vandy is last in the SEC in passing efficiency averaging 131 yards per game and a rating of 95.7.
SC has lost five straight with the last win coming against Vanderbilt on Nov. 2, 2019.
SC and Vandy are two of four teams still winless in the SEC.
RRS PREDICTION: South Carolina 23, Vanderbilt 17 (SC favored by 13)
Florida (2-0) at Texas A&M (1-1) – 11 a.m. (ESPN)
Kyle Field – College Station
Series: Tied, 2-2 (Last: 2017 – A&M, 19-17)
Last week: FLA def. South Carolina, 38-24; A&M lost to Alabama, 52-24
5 Things about FLA/A&M
FLA QB Kyle Trask is averaging 342 yards passing per game and his 684 yards are the most by a Gator since 2001 (Rex Grossman).
Kellen Mond fell to 0-8 as a starter against Top 5 opponents in last week’s loss to Alabama. He faces another in No. 3 Florida on Saturday.
A&M under Jimbo Fisher is now 0-7 vs. Associated Press Top 5 teams with each loss by an average of 19 points.
FLA TE Kyle Pitts already tied the school record for TDs by a tight end with 12 and is one shy of the single-season record for a TE which is 7.
FLA’s defense is currently 13th in the SEC allowing 471 yards per game. A&M is 8th averaging 400 ypg.
RRS PREDICTION: Florida 35, Texas A&M 30 (Florida favored by 6.5)
Tennessee (2-0) at Georgia (2-0) - 2:30 p.m. CDT (CBS)
Sanford Stadium, Athens
Series: UGA, 24-23-2 (Last: 2019 – UGA, 43-14)
Last Week: UT def. Missouri, 35-12; UGA def. Auburn, 27-6
5 Things about UT/UGA
Saturday’s UGA-UT game will be the first time since 2006 that both teams are ranked in the top 15.
Georgia is tied for fourth nationally in scoring defense (8 ppg) and third in rushing defense (58 ypg).
Georgia opponents have reached the Red Zone just two times in the first two games and managed two field goals.
UT OL Cade Mays was granted eligibility by the SEC office prior to the Vols’ win over Missouri. He originally signed with Georgia and sued to gain eligibility at Tennessee after transferring in the spring.
Tennessee is yet to suffer a turnover this season. The Vols are one of five teams in FBS yet to have one. They are tied for seventh in the SEC with plus-3.
RRS PREDICTION: Georgia 20, Tennessee 17 (UGA favored by 12.5)
Arkansas (1-1) at Auburn (1-1) – 3 p.m. CDT (ESPN*)
Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn
Series: AU, 17-11-1 (Last: 2019 - AU., 51-10)
Last Week: Ark def. Miss St., 21-14; AUB lost to Georgia, 27-6
5 Things about AUB/ARK
Auburn has won the last four meetings by at least 31 points.
ARK LB Bumper Pool recorded 20 tackles which is a single-game high so far this season in the FBS. It’s the first time that’s happened in the SEC since 2015 (Armani Watts – Texas A&M).
Auburn and Arkansas are both near the bottom in total offense with Auburn averaging 270 yards per game while Arkansas is averaging 277.5. Auburn (17.5) or Arkansas (15.5) are averaging less than 20 points and are ranked 11th and 12th in the SEC.
The starting quarterbacks have statistics through two games that are eerily similar. Feleipe Franks 39-64 412 yds w/3 TDs and 2 INTs. Bo Nix 37-68 410 yds w/ 3 TDs and 1 INT. The same is true for many other statistics.
Arkansas leads the SEC in interceptions (4) and turnovers gained (6).
RRS PREDICTION: Auburn 28, Arkansas 17 (Auburn favored by 16.5)
Alabama (2-0) at Ole Miss (1-1) – 6:30 p.m. CDT* (ESPN)
Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium - Oxford
Series: UA, 51-10-2 (Last: 2019 - UA, 59-31)
Last Week: Bama def. Texas A&M, 52-24; Ole Miss def. Kentucky, 42-41 (OT)
5 Things about BAMA/OLE MISS
Alabama QB Mac Jones leads the nation in passing efficiency at 222.1. Ole Miss QB Matt Corral ranks third (211.9).
Alabama tied an FBS record scoring 35-plus points in 15 consecutive games.
In two games, Ole Miss has nine plays of 30 yards or more which ranks ninth nationally. Alabama QB Mac Jones has three passes of 85 yards or more in his career which is the most in school history.
Both teams are allowing more than 290 yards passing but Ole Miss is allowing 304 yards rushing while Alabama is allowing 92 yards per game.
Ole Miss punter Mac Brown had thee punts of 50 yards or more including one for 59 yards.
RRS PREDICTION: Alabama 52, Ole Miss 31 (Bama favored by 24)
Mississippi State (1-1) at Kentucky (0-2) – 6:30 p.m. CDT (SEC Network)
Kroger Field, Lexington
Series: MSU, 24-23 (Last: 2019 – MSU, 28-13)
Last Week: Miss St lost to Arkansas, 21-14; KY lost to Ole Miss, 42-41 (OT)
5 Things about Miss St/KY
After setting several records in the win over LSU, KJ Costello was held to 313 yards and threw 3 interceptions (1 for Pick-6) against Arkansas.
In the loss to Ole Miss, KY had 559 yards in total offense, the most in a home SEC game since 2010 (Vandy).
Mike Leach was the offensive coordinator at Kentucky 1997-98. The Wildcats set six NCAA records, 41 SEC records and 116 school records in 22 games. Of those, 39 school records still stand today.
After leading the nation in passing efficiency, Miss St fell to sixth in the SEC with a 139.5 rating.
·The two teams are tied for last in the conference in turnover ratio (minus-4). KY has yet to force a turnover in the first two games.
RRS PREDICTION: Kentucky 30, Miss St 28 (KY favored by 2.5)
LSU (1-1) at Missouri (0-2) – 11 a.m. CDT (SEC NETWORK ALT)
Faurot Field – Columbia, Missouri
* Game moved to Missouri due to Hurricane Delta
Series: Tied, 1-1 (Last: 2016 - LSU, 42-16)
Last Week: MIZZOU lost to Tennessee, 35-12; LSU def. Vanderbilt, 41-7
5 Things to know about MIZZOU/LSU
LSU will make its first trip to Columbia, Missouri since the Tigers joined the SEC in 2012. The only other meeting in-conference was 2016, Ed Orgeron’s debut as the LSU head coach.
LSU QB Myles Brennen is the first in school history to throw for more than 300 yards in his first two starts. His passing yards (682), completions (50) and TD passes (7) are the most of any quarterback in their first two starts.
Missouri is 9-10 vs. SEC West opponents. That includes two losses in the SEC Championship game in 2013 and 2014.
·Mizzou LB Nick Bolton had a career high 17 tackles in last week’s loss to Tennessee. He is third nationally averaging 12.5 tackles per game.
LSU has not lost to a team from the SEC East not named Florida since 2013 (Georgia).
RRS PREDICTION: LSU 24, Missouri 16 (Off)