SEC Update

Although national championship implications always dictate the press coverage of the SEC, for this season the races to win the East and West have each broken down to neat two-team races. Alabama and LSU have not lost to anyone and have a showdown November 5th that everyone expects to settle the divisional title and Georgia has only lost one conference game, to South Carolina, and SC has lost only to Alabama. Sure Arkansas is ranked highly and Auburn is already 3-1 in conference, but not one pundit gives either of them a chance out West, while the four other SEC East teams have already the stench of also-ran about them.

Both Alabama and Louisiana State play home games this weekend before off weeks on October 29. So neither of them have an advantage. LSU has the tougher opponent in Auburn but it is hard to imagine a Tiger squad that has yet to surpass 17 points in any of its past three games to pull off a road upset. The Tide will have the pleasure of sending rival Tennessee to an 0-4 SEC mark.

The intrigue is really in the East were a season-ending knee injury to star back Marcus Lattimore of South Carolina has buoyed Georgia's chances of claiming the division. But Georgia needs some outside help to overcome their loss to SC. The Gamecocks need to lose one of their remaining three conference games--at Tennessee, at Arkansas or home versus Florida while the Bulldogs sweep Florida in Jacksonville and Auburn and home games versus Auburn and Kentucky. That is very possible--especially with the inexperienced Connor Shaw at QB and replacements at tailback--but the Gamecocks could very well rally behind their young QB and backs. We have already witnessed a fired up Steve Spurrier, so there is something to be said for that possibility. The big problem is that every opposing defense schemed for Lattimore and will now put more pressure on Shaw and young skill talent like back Brandon Wilds and wide receiver Bruce Ellington--he of the SC hoops team--who has excelled out of the Wildcat. With a week off, Spurrier will need to come up with some more creative offensive schemes to make up for the loss of one of the nation's finest players.