The SEC season has hit the midway point as we turn to the second half of the season. Week six left no big surprises on the scoreboards as we look forward to the upcoming week seven. Only four games are on the schedule but that includes the biggest game of the year for the SEC East.
SEC Standings
We’re one week closer to finding out who’s going to Atlanta. Florida and Georgia both won which puts all the pressure on this week’s matchup. Both teams go in with one loss meaning the winner more than likely would represent the East in the title game.
Alabama holds on to their commanding lead of the SEC West. They maintain their tiebreaker over Texas A&M should they slip up over their final four games, and it’s unlikely third place Auburn could catch them at this point.
There was little movement at the top of the conference in the rankings. Oklahoma State’s loss to Texas allowed Texas A&M and Florida to move up a spot. Wisconsin was idle due to COVID-19 stipulations and also fell behind Florida.
Auburn jumped back into the top 25 after a blowout of LSU. It’s the first time in three weeks the SEC has had five or more teams ranked, one of those being Auburn. The Tigers should remain stagnant this week as they have a bye week before playing at Mississippi State.
Georgia defeated Kentucky for the 11th straight season. (Photo by aseaofblue.com).
Week six was largely monotonous with all six games decided by double figures. The closest game of the day was the first game between Kentucky and Georgia. The Wildcat defense had an excellent game and kept their team in it. But the Bulldog offense did what it does best and stifled Kentucky for a 14-3 win.
The rest of the games were mostly blowouts. Ole Miss scored seemingly at will against Vanderbilt for a 54-21 win. Missouri tried to keep it close with Florida but ended up losing 41-17. Mike Leach was shutout for the first time in his coaching career in a 41-0 loss at Alabama. And LSU’s woes continued as Auburn scored a season high 48 points in a 48-11 rout of LSU.
Arkansas and Texas A&M was the next closest game though the Aggies really put the game away in the third quarter. A pair of fourth quarter scores by the Razorbacks made a respectable score of 42-31. Arkansas had a chance to make it a different game but left points on the field early with a pair of missed field goals.
In one of the biggest games of the day The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party will have fewer participants this weekend. Georgia has won the last three games en route to SEC Championship appearances in each season.
Florida is coming off a feel good win against Missouri after being sidelined several weeks due to COVID-19. The defense looked much better allowing a season best 248 yards. The offense cruised with once again Kyle Pitts catching the bulk of Kyle Trask’s throws in his 345 yard day.
Florida will have two players suspended for the first half after a Missouri and Florida brawl incited by Florida head coach Dan Mullen. (Photo by cbssports.com).
Georgia’s defense repeated a season long dominance on Kentucky. They denied the Wildcats the endzone making it the second time this season a team has been held to just field goals. Georgia’s passing offense struggled against a good Kentucky defense, but the ground game through and kept the offense moving enough for the win.
It’s bound to be a close game either way but Florida’s lack of defense is still cause for concern. Team’s have been able to attack the Gators through the air which stands to reason Stetson Bennett and Georgia should have better success. Watching Florida’s high powered offense against one of the best defenses in the country will be a sight to see Saturday.
Prediction: Georgia wins and covers
At the same time a much less entertaining game takes place between the bottom of the SEC East and the bottom of the SEC West. Both teams got steamrolled last week as Vanderbilt allowed 54 points to Ole Miss and Mississippi State got shutout by Alabama.
Vanderbilt has been abysmal this season on both sides of the ball. Besides the first game the defense has been a doormat for SEC offenses. Vanderbilt allowed 645 yards last week and is allowing just over 38 points per game.
Mississippi State’s offense has been the exact opposite, scoring just 21 points in four games since scoring 44 in game one. So far there haven’t been anymore players entering the transfer portal, but the Mike Leach air raid has come to a complete halt this season.
The good thing for the Bulldogs is an excellent defense. They’ve been responsible for nine points in the games since the LSU win. They should have no trouble containing Vanderbilt’s underwhelming offense. After injury to K.J. Costello against Alabama it looks like freshman Will Rogers will be responsible for trying to get the Bulldog offense going.
Prediction: Mississippi State wins and covers
Texas A&M is coming off a solid win against Arkansas in a game that wasn’t as close as the score would show. The Aggies had the game put away at the end of the third quarter with a score of 42-17. South Carolina is coming off a bye week and hoping to bring a big upset to Williams-Bryce Stadium.
The Aggies have utilized Isaiah Spiller much more since the win against Florida and it has paid dividends. Spiller’s recent success has propelled the Aggies run offense into the top five of the SEC. After receiving just eight and 11 carries in the opening two games, the sophomore has gotten 18 or more carries in the following three games.
South Carolina’s defense has allowed 100 yard rushers in each of the last two games. Containing Spiller will need to be a focus if they want to pull off the upset. Kevin Harris has been as dangerous in the backfield as Spiller this season with three 100 yard games in the first half of the season.
Prediction: Texas A&M wins, South Carolina covers
The nightcap brings two 2-3 teams that could not be more different from a fan standpoint. Tennessee fans are livid after three consecutive blowouts in a year they expected to turn the corner and win big. Arkansas fans are thrilled with the first multi-SEC win season since 2016.
For Tennessee the defense has shown flashes at times but it’s the offense that has been the biggest frustration. After a sufficient start to the season Jarrett Guarantano has attracted flocks of boo birds in Knoxville. The running game hasn’t been enough to offset the woeful passing game and it’s resulted in some disappearances by the offense.
Jarrett Guarantano has six turnovers over his last three games, three of which went for defensive touchdowns. (Photo by fansided.com).
Arkansas’s defense has given headaches to several teams this season. Last week was the exception but Barry Odom has had very good gameplans for his defense that leads the SEC in turnovers this season. They should be able to smother the Tennessee passing game but have been susceptible to the ground game. They’ll have their hands full with a solid runningback duo of Eric Gray and Ty Chandler that’s averaging 126 yards per game.
Prediction: Arkansas wins
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