SEC PRIMER (Week 4): Positively a rough week for the conference
STAFF REPORT
It’s COVID-19 Week.
Yeah, ESPN always needs something to promote. Now they’ve got it.
And it really sucks.
Two games off the docket. That’s overshadowed by one man’s positive test. Nick Saban can certainly take over a room but every cable channel in America?
It had to come and let’s hope this is temporary.
We had so much to digest, with the biggest game of the regular season sitting there for the taking. Maybe this is the football gods’ way of telling us it doesn’t matter. Our lives are more important than a silly game, even if it is epic.
Besides, we hear Alabama has a head start on getting a replacement in this game only this time it’s not a quarterback.
Bad joke but allow a little levity in this time of concern.
As for Vanderbilt-Missouri and Florida-LSU, many saw this coming. Vandy had been dealing with it prior to their loss to South Carolina. A little bird said they could have sat out last week having enough cases (some say after the 41-7 drubbing, they actually did). This time, they were left with no choice.
The Florida situation is somewhat different although Dan Mullen was not very nice about the situation in College Station last week. A late fumble and field goal to beat the Gators may have had something to do with that.
But apparently he doubled down in his weekly press conference, telling us he owes no apology for wanting a full house when the Gators face LSU.
Florida Field will be full now…. of empty seats.
Alabama-Georgia will go on, for now. Testing came back on Thursday and we’ll see how that goes. Saban has watched practice via Zoom (is that like the movie “1984” where a man watches you on a screen?). He joked about it Wednesday that his team might practice better without him.
But can they beat Georgia with him watching from a computer screen? And no, rules state he can’t be in the stadium or hooked up via a headset and coach.
If Hugh Freeze can coach from a hospital bed, no reason to doubt Saban’s ability telepathically.
VOICE of THE SEC
Rodney Orr of TiderInsider.com joins RRS Radio to talk Bama-Georgia and how he dealt with last week’s offensive overdose. This interview took place prior to the announcement of Nick Saban’s positive COVID test so it’s not like the subject was avoided….
OCT 17 Schedule/Notes
GAMES CANCELLED
Vanderbilt (0-3) at Missouri (1-2) – rescheduled for Dec. 12
LSU (1-2) at Florida (2-1) - rescheduled for Dec. 12
Kentucky (1-2) at Tennessee (2-1)
11 a.m. CDT (SEC Network)
Neyland Stadium, Knoxville
Series: UT, 81-25-9 (Last: 2019 – UT, 17-13)
Last Week: Georgia def. UT, 44-21; KY def. Miss St, 24-2
5 Things about UT/UK
UT has won 17 straight at home against the Wildcats. Last loss in Knoxville came in 1984.
Tennessee had minus-1 yard rushing in the second half against Georgia.
KY intercepted six passes against Mississippi State, tying the second most for a game in KY history. Two were returned for touchdowns. UT defense also has scored 2 TDs this season.
In the win, KY did not allow a touchdown scored, which is a first since 2009 (Miami, Ohio) and the first time in SEC play since 1996 (Vandy).
UT sophomore LB Henry To’o To’o had 11 tackles in last week’s loss.
RRS PREDICTION: Tennessee 23, Kentucky 20 (UT favored by 6)
Auburn (2-1) at South Carolina (1-2)
11 a.m. CDT (ESPN)
Williams-Brice Stadium – Columbia, Missouri
Series: AU, 10-1-1 (Last: 2014 - @ AU, 42-35)
Last Week: AU def. Arkansas, 30-28; SC def Vanderbilt, 41-7
5 Things to know about AUB/SC
1. Auburn had its first 100-yard tandem rushing/receiving with Tank Bigsby (146 rush) and Anthony Schwartz (100 receiving). First time since 2017.
2. After finishing among the top teams in rush defense a year ago, Auburn is ranked 41st nationally in that category and 48th in total defense.
3. All five touchdowns scored last week by SC were on the ground, a first since 2003.
4. SC defense has held opponents to 6 of 31 on third down attempts (19 percent).
5. Auburn is currently ranked 13th in total offense and is averaging 21 points per game (13th). The Tigers have run a total of 190 plays (13th) which is only seven short of Florida, which is last in the SEC. The Tigers average. 5.2 yards per play (11th).
RRS PREDICTION: Auburn 26, South Carolina 21 (AUB favored by 3.5)
Ole Miss (1-2) at Arkansas (1-2)
2:30 p.m. CDT (SEC Network)
Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville
Series: ARK, 36-28-1 (Last: 2019 - @ OLE MISS., 31-17)
Last Week: Auburn def. ARK, 30-28; Alabama def. OLE MISS, 63-48
5 Things about OLE MISS/ARK
1. Ole Miss looking to win back-to-back SEC road wins since 2017 (Kentucky/Miss St). The Rebels lone win came at Kentucky two weeks ago.
2. ARK Feliepe Franks became the first QB to throw four TD passes in a game since 2015 (Brandon Allen - Miss St.). He also had his first 300-yard passing game.
3. Ole Miss is second nationally in total offense (573 yards per game) and first in passing efficiency. The Rebels are also ranked last nationally in total defense (641.3 ypg).
4. ARK ranks second in SEC (15th nationally) in defensive passing efficiency. The defense is ranked fifth in the SEC overall
5. Ole Miss has yet to suffer a lost fumble and has suffered just one interception.
RRS PREDICTION: Arkansas 42, Ole Miss 38 (Ole Miss favored by 1.5)
Texas A&M (2-1) at Mississippi State (1-2)
3 p.m. CDT (ESPN)
Davis-Wade Stadium, Starkville
Series: MISS ST, 7-6 (Last: 2019 – @A&M, 49-30)
Last Week: Miss St lost to Kentucky, 24-2; A&M def. Florida, 41-38
5 Things to know about A&M/MSU
A&M earned a Top 5 win last week for the first time since 2014 (No. 3 Auburn). The Aggies earned the first Top 5 win for Jimbo Fisher.
For the first time ever, a Mike Leach offense was shut out against Kentucky.
Miss St has gone from 50 percent in 3rd down conversions against LSU to just 34 percent since then.
Miss State’s 70 pass attempts were the most in SEC history, surpassing LSU (69) in 1998.
Kellen Mond became A&M’s all-time career passing yards leader with 8,224 yards. He also holds the school record for completions (680) and attempts (1,168).
RRS PREDICTION: Texas A&M 35, Miss St 21 (A&M favored by 5.5)
Georgia (3-0) at Alabama (3-0)
7 p.m. CDT (CBS)
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa
Series: UA, 40-25-4 (Last: 2018 SEC Championship - UA, 35-28)
Last Week: Bama def. Ole Miss, 63-48; Georgia def. Tennessee, 44-21
5 Things to know about UGA/BAMA
1. Georgia has given up a total of six points in the second half in three games.
2. UGA punter Jake Camarda leads the nation with an average of 51.4 ypp.
3. Najee Harris became the first player to have 200 yards and 5 TDs rushing in a game this season.
4. Alabama broke an FBS record scoring 35-plus points in 16 consecutive games.
5. While it leads the nation in scoring (51 ppg), Alabama is giving up 54 percent conversions on third down, which is near the bottom in the NCAA.
RRS PREDICTION: Georgia 27, Alabama 25 (Bama favored by 4.5)