SEC PRIMER (Week 11): Yes, there is crying in college football
Compiled by GRAHAM DUNN
We try hard to prepare for it.
Yet, like the sounds of fingernails on a blackboard, they arrive right on cue and with a repulsive nature unique to itself.
The cries of unfairness moments after the release of the first College Football Playoff poll were expected as was where they came from. The list never changes. But since these are the self-proclaimed arbiters of college football, why should there be surprise?
Let’s take a brief look at their bereavement…
Tim Brando
“They no longer even care about giving a G5 team a mirage of sentiment. It’s just go away don’t bother us you’re not privileged and we won’t anoint you. Ours is a Country Club of The Exclusionary. It’s now essential the Playoff expand and that won’t happen until realignment ends.”
Danny Kannell
“The College Football Playoff needs to wake up and see how much damage their process is hurting CFB. More coaches, media, and fans are calling it out for the sham it is. They need to wake up, stop holding meetings, and take action to change this invitational to an actual playoff.”
Joel Klatt
“For the record I am in favor of any measure that would dilute or strip power from this ridiculous 13 person committee...The structure of (CFP) has done more harm to our great sport than good...My hope is that expansion will fix some of the issues...I won't hold my breath”
If you disagree with them, you are “tribal” or a homer. Or you just don’t care about the teams that are treated unfairly.
Brando, in typical fashion, went after everyone – personally – if there was disagreement.
It’s rather sad, but it has become part of the show each Tuesday in November.
The Southeastern Conference is an easy target but that’s what happens when you are on top.
Ditto for Alabama, which once again created the most vitriol for being tabbed as the second-rated team.
Nevermind the fact that the Crimson Tide control their own fate by winning out and beating No. 1 Georgia.
This comes back to fairness.
That’s why this system will never work for most people.
Not true? Ask 100 people on any subject what’s fair and you’ll get 100 answers.
These three were used as a very small sample but others are of like mind. Other than social media, do we really know how this system plays on college football fans?
Chances are, if their team doesn’t have much of a prayer of getting in, they don’t like it and want a new system. But that’s normal and where everyone with an opinion is coming from.
To end this debate, ask the question…. Do you want something that is “fair?” Or is this about the four best teams?
If the future holds true, the “fairness” side of the aisle is about to get their wish with an expanded playoff (but they won’t be happy with that either since there is always a conspiracy).
Otherwise, there is no reconciliation between the two factions.
That means the crying will never end. What a pity.
SEC Schedule for Nov. 6 (Rankings are from CFP)
Florida (4-4, 2-4 SEC) at South Carolina (4-4, 1-4 SEC)
7:30 p.m. EDT • SECN
Columbia, S.C. • Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559)
Series: UF leads, 29-9-3(Last meeting – 2020, @ UF, 38-24)
Last week: Georgia def. Florida, 34-7; SC did not play
What about UF/SC
Since losing to Alabama in the SEC Championship game last year, Florida is 4-5 overall. Since losing to LSU last season (Dec.12), the Gators are 4-7.
Each of the last eight meetings in this series has been decided by 14 or less points.
UF is 13th in the SEC in turnover ratio at minus-7. SC is first in the SEC in takeaways with 17.
UF has outgained its opponents in all eight games (including Saturday with one more yard vs. UGA).
Seven different players have thrown a pass for SC this season.
RRS PREDICTION: Florida 34, South Carolina 14 (Fla favored by 18)
Liberty (7-2) at (16) Ole Miss (6-2, 3-2 SEC)
11 a.m. CDT • SECN
Oxford, Miss. • Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038)
Series: First meeting
Last Week: Auburn def. Ole Miss, 31-20; Liberty def. UMass, 62-17
What about LIBERTY/OLE MISS
First meeting for two programs as Hugh Freeze returns to Oxford for the first time since fired in
Last time Liberty met an SEC team was 2018, a 53-0 loss to Auburn.
Liberty QB Malik Willis has accounted for 30 TDs. Along with Matt Corral are the only two QBs ranked among the top 30 in both passing and rushing TDs.
Corral an “Snoop” Conner are the first Ole Miss teammates to have 10 rushing TDs in a single season.
RRS Prediction: Ole Miss 42, Liberty 38 (Ole Miss favored by 9.5)
Missouri (4-4, 1-3 SEC) at (1) Georgia (8-0, 6-0 SEC)
12 p.m. EDT • ESPN
Athens, Ga. • Sanford Stadium (92,746)
Series: UGA leads, 9-1(Last meeting - 2020, UGA, 49-14)
Last week: UGA def. Florida., 34-7; Missouri def. Vandy, 37-28
What about UGA/MIZZOU
Georgia has clinched the Eastern Division for the ninth time. It ties the earliest a division has been clinched since Auburn did it in 2004. Alabama also did it the same week in 1993. It will be the fourth trip to the SEC Championship in five years.
The UGA defense has scored four TDs while giving up five.
Mizzou’s Tyler Badie leads the SEC in rushing ave. 123 ypg. He also leads the league in scoring with 90 points.
The highest rated defender for UGA in tackles in the SEC is Channing Tindall with 40, which ranks 50th in the league. Adam Anderson is 13th in the league in sacks (5).
RRS Prediction: Georgia 35, Missouri 7 (UGA favored by 39.5)
(13) Auburn (6-2, 3-1 SEC) at (14) Texas A&M (6-2, 3-2 SEC)
2:30 p.m. CDT CBS
College Station, Texas • Kyle Field (102,733)
Series: A&M leads, 6-5 (Last meeting – 2020 – A&M, 31-20)
Last week: Texas A&M did not play; Auburn def. Ole Miss, 31-20
What about AUB/A&M
Auburn has never lost at Kyle Field (4-0). Auburn was the first team to win a road game in the series three years ago (2018) since A&M joined the league in 2012. AU has a .487 winning percentage on the road in the month of November.
A&M had 280-plus rushing yardage in the last two games, a first since 2012.
A&M ranks fourth in the nation in defensive scoring, allowing 16.1 ppg.
AU’s Zakoby McClain had 14 tackles and two sacks against Ole Miss.
Auburn’s OL has had the same starting five save once (Arkansas) in every game this season, six counting the tight end.
AU’s Tank Bigsby had 140 yards rushing vs. Ole Miss, his highest rushing total in a game this season.
RRS Prediction: Texas A&M 24, Auburn 21 (A&M favored by 4.5)
(17) Mississippi State (5-3, 3-2 SEC) at Arkansas (5-3, 1-3 SEC)
3 p.m. CDT • SECN
Fayetteville, Ark. • Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000)
Series: ARK leads, 17-12-1 (Last meeting, 2020 - ARK, 21-14)
Last week: Miss St def. Kentucky, 31-17; Arkansas did not play
What about KY/MISS ST
Miss St leads the series 4-3 in games played in Fayetteville including the last time the two met in 2019, a 54-24 victory. ARK has lost the last four home games in the series.
MSU broke a 14-game losing streak of trailing after the first quarter and losing. The Bulldogs trailed KY 7-0 after the first but came back to win.
ARK has held opponents to a 28-percent third-down conversion rate this season, tops in the SEC and fourth nationally.
MSU is third in the SEC in rushing defense and fifth in the nation (89.4 ypg).
ARK QB KJ Jefferson has 20 rushes of 10 yards or more.
RRS Prediction: Arkansas 27, Mississippi St 24 (Ark favored by 4)
LSU (4-4, 2-3 SEC) at (2) Alabama (7-1, 4-1 SEC)
6 p.m. CDT • ESPN
Tuscaloosa Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (100,077)
Series: Bama leads, 54-26-5 (Last meeting – 2020, Bama, 55-17)
Last week: LSU and UA did not play
What about LSU/BAMA
First time game is not on network television since 2011 and only second time since 2011 game is not on primetime network television (2019).
Under Nick Saban, Alabama is 10-4 after an open week. All four losses have come to LSU. There was no open week between Alabama-LSU last season due to COVID-19 scheduling. The game was played Dec. 5.
Last year’s 55 points given up to Alabama was the most in regulation since 1996 to Florida (56-13).
LSU is allowing 28.8 points and 408.5 yards per game, including 270 yards passing. Currently, it is the second straight season the Tigers are allowing 400-plus yards per game and the worst (non-COVID) since 1998 (408.7). It is the worst passing since 2001. Outside of last season, it is the most points allowed by the defense in school history.
LSU has the fewest penalties in the SEC (32) while Alabama is 12th with 58.
UA RB Brian Robinson is second in the league in rushing TDs with 13.
RRS Prediction: Alabama 50, LSU 13 (BAMA favored by 28.5)
Tennessee (4-4, 2-3 SEC) at (18) Kentucky (6-2, 4-2 SEC)
7 p.m. EDT • ESPN2
Lexington, Ky. • Kroger Field (61,000)
Series: UT leads, 81-26-9(Last meeting, 2020 - KY, 34-7)
Last week: Miss St def. Kentucky, 31-17; Tenn did not play
What about KY/TENN
Last road game of the season for the Vols, who are 1-2 currently. UT has four road games this season. KY returns home for first time since Oct. 9 (5-0).
UT has a plus-8 turnover margin in the last six games.
UK enters the game ranked 18th in AP poll, fifth week and the longest stretch since 2018 (12 weeks).
KY is 130-0 when scoring at least 42 points in school history.
UT has already eclipsed its point total of 215 points (10 games) from last year with 299. It is the most since 1995 through eight games.
RRS Prediction: Kentucky 31,Tennessee 28 (Pick ‘em)
RRS RECORD: Last week: 2-2 (0-4 vs. spread); Season: 60-18 (28-38 vs. spread)