SEC PRIMER (Week 10): Plenty of turkeys in the SEC this season
Compiled by GRAHAM DUNN
Have we learned enough about this league after nine weeks of play to make assessments of A) the league it self and B) the individual teams in it?
Here’s a start and thanks to Kentucky coach Mark Stoops for pointing it out.
There are nine teams in the league heading into Thanksgiving weekend with three or less wins.
Nine.
In nine weeks.
Nobody has played nine games but most have played six and only two teams – LSU and Missouri – are at .500.
This shouldn’t be a surprise. COVID-19 has certainly played a large role in some of the demise but while it might have factored in a couple of wins or losses, it didn’t in most.
It’s not fair to say the league is down. Without the non-conference gimmes, the record looks much worse. Add those four games and several of those teams would be sporting six wins on the record which would mean bowl season was a reality.
The disappointments are there – Tennessee, LSU, Kentucky, even Georgia, which has five wins but for all circumstances is out of the championship race.
Arkansas has been fun to watch as it moves out of the cellar. But reality is setting in with losses to LSU and Florida and (we think) Alabama not too far on the horizon.
Ole Miss is in the same category. The Rebels entertained us by scaring Alabama then followed that up with a real stinker against Arkansas. But that sounds like Ole Miss, year in and year out.
Auburn is about what we thought. Ditto for the lowly teams at South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State.
Despite the downtrodden, the league will probably send eight teams to bowl games with a few carrying a losing record with them.
It’s not going to get much better. Ole Miss might get to four wins (if it gets to finish the season). LSU has got to figure out how to beat Florida or Alabama with a win over Ole Miss to finish level par.
Mizzou has the best chance while Tennessee basically has none.
When it’s all said and done, chances are six teams will be officially bowl eligible whereas had a full schedule with non-conference games been played, the number would have been closer to eight or nine.
Yeah, we can place the blame on the virus but the league has cracks. There have been few upsets among the top teams and none are expected this week.
But, there’s always 2021, right?
VOICE OF THE SEC
Brett Northsworthy of the Ole Miss Radio Network talks about the “Battle for the Golden Egg” and why he likes the game to be played on Thanksgiving night, which it’s not this year.
NOV 28 Schedule/Notes
GAMES POSTPONED
Arkansas (3-5) at Missouri (3-3) – Reschedule TBD
Tennessee (2-5) at Vanderbilt (0-7) – Reschedule TBD
OPEN
Tennessee (2-5)
Arkansas (3-5)
Vanderbilt (0-7) at Missouri (3-3) (RESCHEDULE)
11 a.m. CST (SEC Network)
Faurot Field, Columbia, Mo.
Series: MIZZOU, 7-4-1 (Last: 2019 – @VU, 21-14)
Last Week: Florida def. Vandy, 38-17; Missouri def. South Carolina, 17-10
5 Things to know about MIZZOU/VANDY
Both teams were scheduled to play different teams this week. Vandy was set to face Tennessee while Missouri was to play Arkansas. Neither game has been rescheduled. This is the third time this game has been scheduled.
Mizzou has had six schedule changes this season including a change in venue with LSU after Hurricane Delta disrupted what would have been a road game for the Tigers.
Mizzou punter Grant McKinniss had five punts downed inside the 15-yard line and twice inside the 1-yard line in the win over South Carolina.
Vandy’s offense has averaged 428 yards in the last four games.
Wideout Chris Pierce has at least one receiving touchdown in four consecutive games, a first since 2012.
RRS PREDICTION: Missouri 27, Vanderbilt 20 (MIZZOU favored by 14)
Kentucky (3-5) at Florida (6-1)
11 a.m. CST (ESPN)
Spurrier-Florida Field, Gainesville, Fla.
Series: UF, 52-18 (Last: 2019 - UF, 29-21)
Last Week: Alabama def. Kentucky, 63-3; Florida def. Vandy, 38-17
5 Things about KY/UF
UF’s Kyle Trask added to his totals on Saturday giving him 31 touchdown passes for the season.
Florida’s offense averages 522 yards per game on just 70 plays.
In the loss to Alabama, UK played without five starters.
KY intercepted the 12th pass of the season, which ranks second in the SEC and is tied for fourth nationally.
UK is facing its highest ranked opponents back to back since 2009, ironically it’s Alabama and Florida again. This is the third Top 5 team the Cats have played this season.
RRS PREDICTION: Florida 47, Kentucky 20 (UF favored by 25.5)
Auburn (5-2) at Alabama (7-0)
2:30 p.m. CST (CBS)
Bryant-Denny Stadium - Tuscaloosa
Series: UA, 28-22-3 (Last: 2018 - UT, 30-24)
Last Week: Auburn def. Tennessee, 30-17; Alabama def. Kentucky, 63-3
5 Things about AU/UA
The Iron Bowl is the first matchup of ranked teams in the conference since Florida-Georgia on Nov. 7.
Smoke Monday’s 100-yard interception against Tennessee return was the third in Auburn history.
Anders Carlson leads the SEC in field goals made with 11.
Devonta Smith became the all-time leader in TD receptions with 33 last Saturday. He is currently fourth in Alabama history in receptions, second in receiving yards, first in receiving TDs and fourth all time in yards per catch.
Bama’s Mac Jones first 11 games as QB starter - 75.3 percent completions, 3,598 yds, 31 TD passes compared to Tua who in his first 11 starts had 69.2 percent completions, 2,865 yds, 31 TD passes. Jones leads the nation in QBR, Adj Completion percentage and yards per pass attempt and is 2nd in the nation in Pass Eff Rating, Completion percentage, and is third in the nation in passing yards per game.
RRS PREDICTION: Alabama 44, Auburn 24 (Bama favored by 24.5)
Mississippi St (2-5) at Ole Miss (3-4)
3 p.m. CST (SEC Network)
Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium - Oxford, Miss.
Series: UM, 62-46-6 (Last 2019 - @Miss St, 21-20)
Last Week: Georgia def. Miss St, 31-24; Ole Miss did not play (Postponed)
5 Things about MISS ST/UM
First time since 2001 the Egg Bowl is not “scheduled” to be the last game of the regular season for either team. It is also the first time since 2016 the game is not scheduled for Thanksgiving night.
Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore needs 12 receptions to pass AJ Brown with the single season school record for receiving (85). He leads the nation with 1,054 receiving yards.
MSU held Georgia to just 8 rushing yards, the lowest output by UGA all season.
Ole Miss scored 50-plus points for the first time in school history.
MSU freshman running back Jo’quavious Marks ranks second nationally among freshmen with 44 receptions this season.
RRS PREDICTION: Ole Miss 35, Miss St 28 (Ole Miss favored by 9.5)
LSU (3-3) at Texas A&M (5-1)
6 p.m. CST (ESPN)
Kyle Field – College Station, Texas
Series: LSU, 34-21-3 (Last: 2019 - @LSU, 50-7)
Last Week: LSU def. Arkansas, 27-24; A&M did not play (postponed)
5 Things about LSU/A&M
Texas A&M sits as the top defense with 338.2 yards allowed per game.
The Aggies enter the LSU game with an 5-1 SEC record with a chance for 6-1, which would be the first time since 2016. That season they finished 4-4 in SEC play, 8-5 overall.
As a team, A&M leads the SEC in average yards per carry (5.41).
After the win last week over Arkansas, LSU under Ed Orgeron is still undefeated coming off a loss (13-0).
This is the first time LSU and A&M meet with the Aggies the lone ranked team in the game since they joined the SEC. The last time that happened was 1995 when A&M was a member of the Big 12.
RRS PREDICTION: Texas A&M 35, LSU 27 (A&M favored by 14.5)
Georgia (5-2) at South Carolina (2-6)
6:30 p.m. CST (SEC Network)
Williams-Brice Stadium – Columbia, SC
Series: UGA, 51-19-2 (Last: 2017 - SC, 20-17 2OT)
Last Week: Georgia def. Miss St, 31-24; Missouri def. South Carolina, 17-10
5 Things about UGA/SC
SC coach Mike Bobo spent 21 years as either a player or coach at Georgia. He was a teammate of Kirby Smart.
QB JT Daniels made his Georgia debut, passing for 401 yards and four TDs, both career highs.
Georgia continues to lead the SEC in rushing defense and is second in total defense.
South Carolina leads only Kentucky in passing efficiency with an average of 115.1. Only Kentucky is worse.
Luke Doty came off the bench at QB and passed for 130 yards and rushed for 59 yards for the Gamecocks last week.
RRS PREDICTION: Georgia 30, South Carolina 14 (UGA favored by 21.5)