SEC PRIMER (Week 8): COVID won't let go of the football season
Compiled by GRAHAM DUNN
Christmas can’t get here soon enough.
And when it does, we might still be trying to finish the regular season of college football.
Postponements are piling up (as of Thursday night there were 10 of them across the country this weekend). They have affected 11 of the 14 SEC teams. How Arkansas, Ole Miss and South Carolina have avoided it is pure luck (and don’t get too comfortable since the scheduled will be changed to fit every game).
Rumors are flying that Ole Miss and South Carolina may not play this weekend. The Rebels have been fighting with COVID for a month.
No every team has endured the problem. Alabama’s biggest scare came when Nick Saban was quarantined prior to the game against Georgia. It was a false positive.
Other teams such as Georgia have had a case or two but not enough to stop them from playing.
At the moment, only one game is left unscheduled. LSU-Alabama doesn’t have a free date to play. There will be rearrangement at some point so no, the Bengal Tigers cannot avoid a date with the Tide.
Unfortunately, more will come. With COVID cases on the rise nationally, expect a few more games to be moved.
The question of why may center around contact tracing. Rules are different in each conference. In the SEC, there is a 14-day quarantine. Commissioner Greg Sankey stated on Wednesday that those controls are out of his hands.
“We don't dictate those policies,” Sankey said. “Those policies exist in the public health domain. Over time, our test positivity rate is incredibly low among our student-athletes, something like .005 percent. Even this week the positive test numbers, even where they've risen, are relatively small. But the contact tracing has the potential to magnify even one positive test.”
There is a faction of “experts” who want to control the activities of the nation. Include college football in that list. Read plenty of national media columns (especially this week) and find out who is on the side of playing and who is not. (Ironically, many of the naysayers were part of ESPN layoffs last week.)
It’s a sticky wicket where safety and concern abound while trying to finish what has been an entertaining season.
Just wait ‘til basketball season starts in two weeks. Then it really gets fun.
NOV 14 Schedule/Notes
GAMES POSTPONED
Alabama (6-0) at LSU (2-3) - TBD
Auburn (4-2) at Mississippi State (2-4) – Rescheduled for Dec. 12
Georgia (4-2) at Missouri (2-3) - TBD
Texas A&M (5-1) at Tennessee (2-4) – Rescheduled for Dec. 12
Vanderbilt (0-5) at Kentucky (2-4)
11 a.m. CST (SEC Network)
Kroger Field, Lexington
Series: KY, 46-42-4 (Last: 2019 – KY, 38-14)
Last Week: Mississippi St def. Vandy, 24-17; Kentucky did not play
5 Things to know about VANDY/KY
The Kentucky program was dealt a blow on Thursday with the passing of assistant coach John Schlarman, who had battled cancer. He was diagnosed two years ago and was unable to coach the team since Oct. 24.
Vanderbilt leads the SEC in least amount of penalties – 22 and fewest yards of penalties, 182.
Kentucky is second in the nation in interceptions with 11, one behind Arkansas.
KY RB Chris Rodriguez had 108 yards rushing against Georgia, his second 100-yard game of the season.
Vandy’s defense held Miss St’s offense to minus-22 yards rushing, a program record.
RRS PREDICTION: Kentucky 31, Vanderbilt 14 (KY favored by 17)
Arkansas (3-3) vs Florida (4-1)
6 p.m. CST (ESPN)
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Gainesville
Series: UF, 9-2 (Last: 2016 - @ARK, 31-10)
Last Week: Arkansas defeated Tennessee, 24-13; Florida def. Georgia, 44-28
5 Things about ARK/FLA
In the win last week, the Gators held Georgia to just nine completions for 112 yards. Of Georgia’s 165 yards rushing, 75 came on the first play from scrimmage.
Kyle Trask broke Kerwin Bell’s school record for passing yards against Georgia (408) - by the end of the third quarter (412).
The Gators are coming off consecutive 40-point games against SEC opponents for the first time since 2008 (5 times).
Arkansas LB Bumper Pool had 14 tackles for a second-straight game. He leads the SEC with 12.8 tackles per game.
Arkansas leads the SEC in turnover margin, plus-8.
RRS PREDICTION: Florida 28, Arkansas 17 (FLA favored by 17.5)
South Carolina (2-4) at Ole Miss (2-4)
6:30 p.m. CST (SEC Network)
Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium, Oxford
Series: Tied, 8-8 (Last 2018 - SC, 48-44)
Last Week: Texas A&M def. South Carolina, 48-3; Ole Miss did not play
5 Things about SC/OLE MISS
South Carolina gave up 264 yards rushing against Texas A&M last week.
Ole Miss QB Matt Corral tied a school record for touchdown passes in a game vs. Vanderbilt (6) and most in regulation.
Ole Miss ranks in top 3 in 11 categories in the SEC, eight of which are on offense.
SC’s Kevin Harris continues to be among the SEC leaders in rushing, averaging just under 100 yards per game (95.7).
SC has not held a lead in a game since the win over Auburn on Oct. 17.
RRS PREDICTION: Ole Miss 37, South Carolina 31 (Ole Miss favored by 11)