This Week in the SEC (Week 4)
It was a fun week 3. Some of the highlights were Leonard Fournette running ALL OVER Auburn, Kliff Kinsbury saying things to Bret Bielema that his mother would not be happy about, and Ole Miss beating Bama…again. We don’t have as exciting of a week ahead unfortunately, but you can never go wrong with some SEC football.
Power Rankings:
1) Ole Miss (1-0, 3-0)
Last week: W 43-37 at #2 Alabama
This week: vs Vanderbilt
Very similar start to last year for the Rebels. Let’s see if they can keep it up this time.
2) LSU (2-0, 2-0)
Last week: W 45-21 vs #18 Auburn
This week: at Syracuse
LEONARD. FOURNETTE. That is all.
3) Georgia (2-0, 3-0)
Last week: W 52-20 vs South Carolina
This week: vs Southern
Is Georgia really that good or is SC really that bad? Or both?
4) Texas A&M (0-0, 3-0)
Last week: W 44-27 vs Nevada
This week: at Arkansas
You shouldn’t let Nevada score 27 on you…
5) Alabama (0-1, 2-1)
Last week: L 43-37 vs #15 Ole Miss
This week: vs UL-Monroe
Has Ole Miss become Nick Saban’s kryptonite?
6) Missouri (0-0, 3-0)
Last week: W 9-6 vs UConn
This week: at Kentucky
…A win is a win??
7) Florida (1-0, 3-0)
Last week: W 14-9 vs Kentucky
This week: vs Tennessee
It wasn’t pretty, but Florida beat a team most experts thought they would lose to.
8) Mississippi State (0-1, 2-1)
Last week: W 62-13 vs Northwestern State
This week: at Auburn
Dak Prescott against Shaun White. This isn’t snowboarding so it shouldn’t be a contest.
9) Tennessee (0-0, 2-1)
Last week: W 55-10 vs Western Carolina
This week: at Florida
A lot on the line this weekend in Gainesville. Maybe the Vols won’t choke this time.
10) Kentucky (0-1, 2-1)
Last week: L 14-9 vs Florida
This week: vs Missouri
Let this sink in: Kentucky and Florida play every year. Kentucky hasn’t won in 30 years.
11) Auburn (0-1, 2-1)
Last week: L 45-21 at #13 LSU
This week: vs Mississippi State
Good news: Auburn doesn’t have to play Leonard Fournette again.
Bad news: Auburn is terrible.
12) South Carolina (0-2, 1-2)
Last week: L 52-20 vs #7 Georgia
This week: vs UCF
The Old Ball Coach might get fired before he retires!
13) Arkansas (0-0, 1-2)
Last week: L 35-24 vs Texas Tech
This week: vs #14 Texas A&M
Bret Bielema learned a very important lesson: Do NOT talk trash to Kliff Kingsbury.
14) Vanderbilt (0-1, 1-2)
Last week: W 47-7 vs Austin Peay
This week: at #3 Ole Miss
Vandy won a game! Vandy won a game!
Game of the Week:
Tennessee at Florida
Saturday, 3:30 ET, CBS
You know it’s a lame week when the best SEC game is between two unranked teams, however this one will go a long way in determining who wins the East. Florida comes in undefeated, but hasn’t played very good football. The Vols have looked superb (expect in the 4th quarter against Oklahoma), but we won’t go there. It’s the Vols versus the Gators for Game of the Week.
The Breakdown:
Even with a below average game against Kentucky, Will Grief figures to be the guy for UF. The redshirt freshman got his second consecutive start against Kentucky, and, well…played like a redshirt freshman. Nonetheless, he’s got a tremendous skillset and he’s still learning how to play against SEC teams. For Tennessee, Josh Dobbs has gotten off to a decent start, but could definitely be more accurate throwing the ball. He has to play much better than he did against Oklahoma if the Vols want to come out of Gainesville victorious. As we saw against Kentucky, Florida’s defense is stout and it will be a very difficult matchup for Dobbs so he can’t afford to make mistakes.
Prediction:
It’s always tough to get a win in the swamp, but Tennessee has the talent to do it. If their defense can play well and force the young Will Grier to make a few mistakes, the Vols will be in great shape. Grier will be the key factor. If he plays really well I think Florida comes out on top, but expect him to struggle some down the stretch. I’m taking Josh Dobbs and the Vols in a close one.
Score: Tennessee 20, Florida 17
Other Games to Watch:
#8 LSU at Syracuse
#14 Texas A&M at Arkansas
Upset Alert:
Arkansas over #14 Texas A&M
