SEC PRIMER (Week 12): SEC East? How about SEC Least
Compiled by GRAHAM DUNN
It might not be a popular sentiment but it’s time to kick out half of the Southeastern Conference. That’s half as in the Eastern Division.
No, not just Vanderbilt or Missouri.
Leave Kentucky basketball and get rid of the rest. Fire them. Show them the door.
Ixnay that side of the league and do it now.
Florida, you have become an embarrassment. South Carolina? Really?
Georgia can stay but only if you get rid of the spiked shoulder pads.
Yes, this is sarcasm… or is it?
Have you looked at the recent Eastern Division standings?
Two teams –count ‘em – two are above .500.
As a whole, the division owns three wins against the West, two of those by Georgia.
There are two more chances to add to its win total with South Carolina facing Auburn and Missouri playing Arkansas. But don’t hold your breath.
Otherwise, what a pathetic showing.
It hasn’t helped that the Gators have crapped in the bed. Or that Kentucky suddenly can’t find itself.
We knew Vandy and Missouri would be bad this year. South Carolina would struggle.
Tennessee has made some progress and will celebrate bowl eligibility in two weeks. Small victories but you take them considering where the program has been lately.
When will it get better? Do you have faith in Shane Beamer? Josh Heupel? Can Clark Lea make the ‘Dores respectable?
The luster is already falling off Eli Drinkwitz. We might be seeing the last of Dan Mullen. Mark Stoops will hang around and win seven games again and again and Kentucky fans will be satisfied until basketball season tips off.
The prospects for the future may look good to some. For others, it’s too early to tell.
The best idea is to treat that side of the league like baseball does with developing players… send them to the minors. Let Mizzou and Vandy join the MAC for a while. Put South Carolina in the ACC – they can finish in the top three in either division.
Florida? Start a league with FAU and FIU and maybe Miami and let them punch each other out until the last one is standing. Add UCF to make it more interesting. Nothing would be better than a Sunshine League.
There is no easy way to make improvements. Just find a way and get back to us when you do.
SEC Schedule for Nov. 13 (Rankings are from CFP)
New Mexico St (1-8) at (2) Alabama (8-1, 5-1 SEC)
11 a.m. CST • SECN
Tuscaloosa Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (100,077)
Series: Bama leads, 1-0 (Last meeting – 2019, @ Bama, 62-10)
Last week: Bama def. LSU, 20-14; Utah St def. NM St, 35-13
What about NMST/BAMA
Alabama missed a PAT kick for the first time since 2019 (LSU). The Tide had made 112 straight (Will Reichard/Joseph Bulovas). Bulovas had the last miss in 2nd quarter vs. LSU in 2019.
Will Anderson continues to lead the nation in TFLs with 21 (3.5 recorded against LSU).
The 5 yards rushing against LSU was the lowest total for an Alabama offense since 1990 (9-0 loss vs Penn St) and again in 1940. Both were 6 yards.
James Burnips’ six punts were the most in a game for Alabama this season.
RRS Prediction: Alabama 55, New Mexico St 9 (BAMA favored by 51.5)
Samford (4-5) at Florida (4-5, 2-5 SEC)
12 p.m. EST • SEC+ / ESPN+
Gainesville, Fla. • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Spurrier-Florida Field (88,548)
Series: UF leads, 2-0 (Last meeting, 1922 - @ Fla, 57-0)
Last week: Samford def. Citadel, 35-14, South Carolina def. Fla., 40-17
What about FLA/SAMFORD
Two schools played back-to-back in 1921-22, with the first game played at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl.
Samford has two wins against SEC opponents in its history, winning over Mississippi State in 1909 and Ole Miss in 1934. The Bulldogs are 2-78-3 overall against the SEC.
Florida was held to a season low 82 yards rushing against South Carolina.
RRS Prediction: Florida 52, Samford 13 (No line)
(1) Georgia (9-0, 7-0 SEC) at Tennessee (5-4, 3-3 SEC)
3:30 p.m. EST • CBS
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium (102,455)
Series: UGA leads, 25-23-2 (Last meeting - 2020, @ UGA, 44-21)
Last week: UGA def. Missouri., 43-6; Tennessee def. Kentucky, 45-42
What about UGA/TENN
This is Tennessee’s fourth straight game against a ranked team. Against UK, UT earned its first win over an AP Top 20 team on the road since 2006.
First time since 1973 the teams have met in November.
UGA has outscored its opponents 346-59. The defense has scored five times.
UGA tight end Brock Bowers leads the team with 28 catches for 493 yards.
UT QB Hendon Hooker has accounted for two or more touchdowns in eight straight games and is responsible for 25 TDs this season.
RRS Prediction: Georgia 40, Tennessee 17 (UGA favored by 20)
South Carolina (5-4, 2-4 SEC) at Missouri (4-5, 1-4 SEC)
3 p.m. EST • SECN
Columbia, Mo. • Faurot Field (62,621)
Series: Mizzou leads, 6-5 (Last meeting – 2020, Mizzou, 17-10)
Last week: Georgia def. Missouri, 43-6; SC def. Florida, 40-17
What about MIZZOU/SC
Mizzou has won the last two meetings. SC leads series, 5-4 in a permanent crossover rivalry. SC is 5-1 when scoring 21 or more points while losing every game scoring under 20.
Mizzou has yet to lose a fumble, having fumbled just twice.
Kicker Parker White scored on four field goals, a first for the SC program since 2015..
In the win over Fla, the Gamecocks had two rushers over 100 yards while holding the Gators to 82 yards on the ground.
RRS PREDICTION: Missouri 31, South Carolina 28 (Pick ‘em)
(11) Texas A&M (7-2, 4-2 SEC) at (15) Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 SEC)
6 p.m. CST • ESPN
Oxford, Miss. • Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038)
Series: A&M leads, 9-1 (Last – 2020, A&M, 24-17)
Last Week: Ole Miss def. Liberty, 27-14; Texas A&M def. Auburn, 20-3
What about A&M /OLE MISS
A&M is 9-1 all-time against Ole Miss and 4-1 in Oxford
Ole Miss DE Sam Williams set a school record with 10.5 sacks this season and has one sack in eight of last nine games. As a team Ole Miss ranks four in the FBS with 33 sacks
A&M’s Tyree Johnson continued his streak with a sack against Auburn. He has eight sacks for the season, good for third in the SEC.
Ole Miss has six players with at least one 100-yard receiving game, which leads the country.
Ole Miss RB Jerrion Ealy had his best rushing game of the season against Liberty with 115 yards and two TDs.
RRS Prediction: Texas A&M 30, Ole Miss 24 (A&M favored by 2.5)
Mississippi State (5-4, 3-3 SEC) at (17) Auburn (6-3, 3-2 SEC)
6 p.m. CST • ESPN
Auburn, Ala. • Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
Series: AU leads, 65-27-2 (Last meeting – 2020 – @ AU, 24-10)
Last week: Texas A&M def. Auburn, 20-3; Arkansas def. Miss St, 31-28
What about AUB/MISS ST
Miss St QB Will Rogers has thrown for at least 300 yards in seven consecutive games, ave. 377 yards per game.
Miss St leads the SEC in plays against and is fifth in the nation with 526 snaps allowed.
Auburn continues to lead the SEC in TFLs with 7.44 per game.
AU leads the SEC in net punting (44.09) and is fifth nationally. Oscar Chapman’s 46-yard average leads the SEC.
Auburn has not allowed any fourth-quarter points to an SEC opponent in a win. The Tigers defense has not allowed a touchdown in six straight quarters but the offense hasn’t scored a touchdown in the same timeframe.
RRS Prediction: Auburn 28, Miss St. 24 (AU favored by 5.5)
Kentucky (6-3, 4-3 SEC) at Vanderbilt (2-7, 0-5 SEC)
6 p.m. CDT • ESPN2
Nashville, Tenn. • Vanderbilt Stadium (40,350)
Series: UK leads, 47-42-4 (Last meeting, 2020 - @ KY, 38-3)
Last week: Tennessee def. Kentucky, 45-42; Vandy did not play
What about KY/VANDY
After winning the first six games of the season, Kentucky is on a three-game losing streak. Vandy is currently on a four-game losing streak.
Vandy has at least one interception in six straight games. The streak for consecutive games with two INTs ended last week against Missouri.
KY RB Chis Rodriguez needs 82 yards to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the season, second best in the SEC.
KY had its largest offensive output of the season against Tennessee with 612 yards on 99 plays.
RRS Prediction: Kentucky 42, Vanderbilt 14 (Ky favored by 21)
(25) Arkansas (6-3, 2-3 SEC) at LSU (4-5, 2-4 SEC)
6:30 p.m. CST • SECN
Baton Rouge, La. • Tiger Stadium (102,321)
Series: LSU leads, 42-22-2 (Last meeting, 2020 - LSU, 27-24)
Last week: Alabama def. LSU, 20-14; Arkansas def. Miss St, 31-28
What about LSU/ARK
Arkansas has not beaten LSU since 2015 when it won back-to-back games. The Hogs have won just three times in the series since 2010.
Arkansas will play just its second night game of the season.
The Razorbacks lead the SEC in rushing averaging 243.8 yards per game.
LSU’s defense held Alabama to net-6 yards rushing last week.
Ty Davis-Price rushed for 104 yards against Alabama, giving him four games of 100 yards or more rushing this season. That’s only the third time in LSU history a rusher had 100 yards at Alabama.
RRS Prediction: Arkansas 32, LSU 27 (Ark favored by 2.5)
RRS RECORD: Last week: 5-2 (2-5 vs. spread); Season: 65-20 (30-43 vs. spread)