SEC Update

The LSU-Alabama game is not this weekend! It just seems that way due to coverage (over coverage?). There is still plenty of SEC action to grab your attention, beyond the behind-the-scenes machinations involving Missouri.

For one thing Florida-Georgia is this weekend and that game is usually fun, if a bit one-sided. But this year, the dominant team in the series in recent years, Florida, is the dog so the game should be compelling. The Bulldogs cannot rewrite their recent series history (only 3 wins in last 21 games) and need to get that out of their minds as they focus on a potential SEC East title. Still you wonder how they will handle adversity. As for the Gators, they obviously value this game as a rivalry and coach Muschamp played for Georgia. More importantly, they need to win to avoid falling to .500 at 4-4 with South Carolina and Florida State still to play.

The other key game in the SEC East takes place in Knoxville, where a struggling Vols team host a South Carolina squad trying desperately to hold onto their slim first place advantage. Tennessee is 0-4 in SEC play for the second straight year and have lost those games by an average of 32 points. They go with a true freshman at QB in Justin Worley against an SC club that has had two weeks to scheme plays for a number of offensive weapons not named Marcus Lattimore. If the Gamecocks can mix the ball around on O and pressure the kid on D, they'll remain number one in the East for one more week while sending the Vols to a second straight 0-5 conference start. SEC game number six this year? At Arkansas on November 12.

Speaking of the Hogs, they have a big game at Vanderbilt this weekend. I say that it is big as Arkansas needs to keep winning in an attempt to claim the unofficial number three ranking among SEC clubs. Although this is not a year for depth in the conference, being considered third best here always carries a lot of credit and a nice January bowl game. Of course, Arkansas has a sot to finish as the team considered second best in the SEC, but I'll believe a win at LSU later this year wen I see it.

Auburn-Mississippi was never much of a rivalry back 50 years ago when both were good because they did not play. The Tigers are 24-4 in the series since 1971 and should up that to 25-4 on Saturday. Meanwhile Mississippi State must get their act in gear this season and there is no better place to do that than in Lexington against the Wildcats.