The SEC football season is nearly at an end. Just one more weekend remains before championship week next week. This week will feature 10 of the 14 teams in action with one canceled game – Ole Miss vs Texas A&M.
SEC Standings
Florida and Alabama secured their place in the SEC Championship game with their wins last week. Outside of that there was little to report from a week ago. Nobody changed positions in the standings which looks likely to be replicated again this weekend.
Once again there was little movement in the rankings for the SEC but Missouri does enter the top 25 for the first time this season. Their win last week was the Tigers’ third in a row who have now won five of their last six games.
Georgia was jumped by Iowa State after the Cyclones won their eighth game last week. The playoff teams will come down to the final weekend as it’s a tight race for the four spots. Alabama looks locked in for a spot but Texas A&M and Florida will need some luck to turn their way to earn a spot.
Five games ended up happening last weekend with a couple that were closely battled. Arkansas and Missouri played in arguably the most entertaining game in the conference. A late, crazy Arkansas 2pt conversion gave the Razorbacks a 48-47 lead with little time remaining. Connor Bazelak was able to lead the Tigers down the field where they hit the game winning field goal to win 50-48.
Texas A&M needed a big fourth quarter to defeat Auburn. The Aggies found themselves down 20-14 but scored 17 in the fourth to win 31-20. Florida dominated Tennessee in their showdown. The Gators were up 31-7 on the Vols before a pair of late touchdowns made the final score 31-19.
The evening games were a pair of blowouts. Kentucky cruised by South Carolina 41-18, making it the sixth consecutive loss for the Gamecocks to end their season. Alabama got their revenge and then some against LSU, putting up 55 against the Tigers in a 55-17 win. The Crimson Tide set a record in the series for most points scored in a game.
*Odds as of 12/10
Georgia is coming off a bye week after their game against Vanderbilt was postponed last week. They’ve won their previous two against Mississippi State and South Carolina. The quarterback switch to JT Daniels seems to be working out early on.
Missouri is suddenly one of the hottest teams in the SEC. They’ve won five of their last six with their lone loss coming to SEC East leader Florida. The offense has flexed their muscles in recent weeks and could be ready to take advantage of a Georgia defense that has been struggling of late.
Prediction: Georgia wins, Missouri covers
Alabama caps off their perfect season run in Fayetteville against Arkansas. The Crimson Tide haven’t been stopped all year and won’t stop now. Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith have one more game before the title game to make a statement for the Heisman Trophy.
Arkansas has had back to back heart breakers now. Both games against LSU and Missouri came down to field goal attempts in the final seconds, both losses by three points or less. It’s been a remarkable year for the Razorbacks that was a few big plays away from what might have been a winning record in Sam Pittman’s first year.
Prediction: Alabama wins, Arkansas covers
Vanderbilt as has been the case this season finds themselves scrambling to get enough players for this weekend’s game against Tennessee. Both teams are in the middle of the SEC’s longest losing streaks with Tennessee at six and Vanderbilt at eight.
The Commodores showed no signs of life in their last game, a 41-0 drumming by Missouri. Tennessee has been able to keep games respectable and have shown they still have some fight left. Expect them to take advantage of the favorable game and come out firing.
Prediction: Tennessee covers
Kyle Trask threw for 433 yards and four touchdowns against Tennessee last week. (Photo by draftwire.usatoday.com.)
The first of two nightcaps features what normally is a highly entertaining game. This year will look a little different. LSU is coming off a beating by the hands of their rival last week and will see a lot of the same this week.
Florida’s offense hasn’t quite looked the same as in past weeks but still should be more than enough to secure the win. With the SEC Championship game and a shot at the College Football Playoff looming, it might be a more conservative play call from Dan Mullen to keep his players healthy for next week.
Prediction: Florida wins, LSU covers
Both the Tigers and the Bulldogs had close games their last time out. Auburn let the game against Texas A&M slip away late as they couldn’t complete the upset. The offense continued to struggle in that game as the Aggie defense held Auburn to 340 yards and just two touchdowns.
Mississippi State has looked much better in recent games. Freshman quarterback Will Rogers seems to be settling in as he has three consecutive games completing better than 70% of his passes with no interceptions. Still, Auburn’s defense should pose more of a threat than Ole Miss or Vanderbilt.
Prediction: Auburn covers
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