SEC PRIMER (Week 12): No time to rest for SEC Championship teams (UPDATED - Adam Zucker inverview)
Compiled by GRAHAM DUNN
Must there be a debate as to whether or not both Alabama and Florida should be playing a game this weekend?
It seems to be OK that Clemson, Notre Dame, Ohio State and what’s left of the Big 12 race have decided in one way or another to sit out the week before their respective conference championship games.
What is the world coming to?
Granted, if Mac Jones or Kyle Trask break a fingernail this weekend, it will make the news. But it’s not time to be dramatic.
It’s actually good that the Gators and Crimson Tide are on the field this weekend.
At least it looks right heading into it.
We all remember the big brouhaha that erupted a couple of years after the SEC Championship was created when a few teams decided to take the weekend off prior Championship Saturday.
In 1994, the second year of the game, Alabama and Auburn moved the Iron Bowl two weeks before the championship. They did it again the next year.
Steve Spurrier and Florida didn’t vacate that Saturday and played Florida State in each case (and lost and tied the two games). Yet, the Gators won both SEC titles in ’94 and ’95.
The off week controversy lasted a few more years, although Alabama wasn’t the frequent visitor it had been between ’92 and ’96. But no one seemed to care who played (or didn’t) up to the title game.
Eventually, the SEC office refused to let anyone take a Saturday off prior to the championship. Alabama and Auburn would play one week and the SEC game would be played the next.
It’s been that way ever since, even though the date could have gotten a pass this year.
So, Alabama will travel to cold and wet Fayetteville, Arkansas this Saturday while Florida will be in cozy Gainesville taking out frustrations on the lowly LSU Tigers.
Is there an advantage? Only if you want it to be.
The key is who is taking notes? The ACC must be or else Florida State would be the host to Clemson this week. Notre Dame already had the weekend off. Would it be unfitting if the situation had not been alleviated? We’ll never know but there is no reason to think Dabo Swinney went to the ACC powers and said “this isn’t fair.”
No one expects any upsets but that’s not really the problem. If Najee Harris or Kyle Pitts ends up with an injury and can’t play next week, somebody will hear about it.
But don’t expect a quick response from Greg Sankey’s faction. They will be too busy celebrating the new ESPN contract announced on Thursday.
SEC VOICE
Adam Zucker joined RRS Radio to discuss the upcoming SEC Championship as well as this weekend’s Army-Navy game and how close he was to becoming the play-by-play talent during the Bama-LSU game last week.
Dec. 12 Schedule/Notes
GAME CANCELLED
Ole Miss (4-4) at Texas A&M (7-1) – Will not be rescheduled
IDLE
Kentucky (4-6) – Season completed
South Carolina (2-8) – Season completed
Alabama (9-0) at Arkansas (3-6)
11 a.m. CST (ESPN)
Reynolds Razorback Stadium – Fayetteville, ARK
Series: BAMA, 20-8 (Last: 2019 - @BAMA, 48-7)
Last Week: Alabama def. LSU, 55-17; Missouri def. Arkansas, 50-48
5 Things about BAMA/ARK
Alabama enjoyed its 29th game of scoring 50 points or more under Nick Saban last week. Of those, 15 are in SEC play.
Arkansas’ 13 interceptions are tied for the lead in the SEC and third in the nation.
Arkansas’ Grant Morgan leads FBS in tackles with 111.
The top three scorers in the SEC are from Alabama, led by Najee Harris (13.3 ppg).
Alabama is ranked third in the nation in scoring offense, 49.2 points per game, and fourth in total offense at 548.3 yards per game.
RRS PREDICTION: Alabama 42, Arkansas 14 (Bama favored by 31.5)
Georgia (6-2) at Missouri (5-3)
11 a.m. CST (SEC Network)
Farout Field – Columbia, MO
Series: UGA, 8-1 (Last: 2019 - @UGA, 24-0)
Last Week: Missouri def. Arkansas, 50-48; Georgia did not play (postponed)
5 Things about MIZZOU/UGA
Missouri received its first CFP ranking since 2018.
Georgia had 322 rushing yards against South Carolina, the most in 2020 and most since 2018 (UMass).
Georgia continues to lead the SEC in rushing defense, giving up just 75 yards per game. Only two teams have rushed for more than 100 yards against the Dogs, Alabama and Kentucky.
Mizzou freshman QB Connor Bazelak set career records with 32 of 49 completions in the win over Arkansas.
James Cook had his first game of 100 yards or more rushing in the Bulldogs’ win over South Carolina. He also scored his first two rushing touchdowns.
RRS PREDICTION: Georgia 27, Missouri 16 (Georgia favored by 13.5)
Tennessee (2-6) at Vanderbilt (0-8)
3 p.m. CST (SEC Network)
Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, TN
Series: UT, 76-33-5 (Last: 2019 - @UT, 28-10)
Last Week: Florida def. Tennessee, 31-19; Vanderbilt did not play (postponed)
5 Things about UT/VU
Tennessee is suffering through a six game losing streak, the longest since 1988 (six games).
Tennessee and Vanderbilt are 12th and 13th, respectively, in total offense in the SEC.
Tennessee has thrown for more than 240 yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 2016.
Vandy is 13th in the league in turnover margin at minus-13 but has just two in the last three games.
Tennessee has not won two straight over the Dores since 2014 and 2015.
RRS PREDICTION: Tennessee 28, Vanderbilt 20 (UT favored by 16)
LSU (3-5) at Florida (8-1)
6 p.m. CST (ESPN)
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Gainesville, FL
Series: UF, 33-30-3 (Last: 2019 - @LSU, 42-28)
Last Week: Florida def. Tennessee, 31-19; Alabama def. LSU, 55-17
5 Things about LSU/UF
Florida’s defense leads SEC in sacks with 29 and TFLs with 60.
Florida have five games of more than 500 yards in offense against SEC opponents for the first time since 2001.
In the loss to Alabama, freshmen and sophomores recorded all rushing yards (98) and passing yards (254) for LSU.
LSU’s loss to Alabama (55-17) was the worst by a defending national champion in the AP era.
This is the second time LSU and Florida have met in December (1964).
RRS PREDICTION: Florida 45, LSU 19 (UF favored by 23)
Auburn (5-4) at Mississippi State (2-6)
6:30 p.m. CST (SEC Network)
Davis Wade Stadium – Starkville, MS
Series: AU, 64-27-2 (Last: 2019 - AU, 56-23)
Last Week: Texas A&M def. Auburn, 31-20; Mississippi State did not play
5 Things about AU/MISS ST
Mike Leach was the coach of Washington State when they opened the season against Auburn in 2013. The Tigers won, 31-24.
MSU has broken 15 passing records this season. The Bulldogs could break six more.
Auburn hasn’t lost three straight games since 2012 when it lost five straight.
Miss St continues to be last among FBS schools in rushing, averaging 23.8 yards per game. They will set an SEC record low in the category.
Miss St is ranked 13th in third down conversions (33 percent). Auburn ranks fifth at 50 percent.
RRS PREDICTION: Auburn 28, Miss St 21 (AU favored by 6.5)