South Carolina at Arkansas – 6:45 p.m., SEC Network
At least South Carolina got to Northwest Arkansas before the FAA stoppage stopped air traffic and threw a week of chaos off the field at teams.
The Razorbacks’ game won’t be affected.
Now they’ve got to figure out how to win a game against a team in the Gamecocks that has already figured that out this year and is on a roll right now becoming one of the surprise teams in the league.
Maybe the best hope for the Razorbacks right now is South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers was listed as probable on the injury report and that was not good. The Hogs don’t need to face another quarterback that can make plays from nothing and has a defense that can pressure the quarterback without blitzing.
The Gamecocks, with former Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles now directing that offense, have a top edge rusher and they don’t have to force the issue.
Even with all the drama going on around the other teams, the only thing about this one is how good will Sellers be able to play against the Hogs. The guess from here is probably still good enough and this one might not be that close. South Carolina 34, Arkansas 17
Alabama at Vanderbilt: 11:45 a.m., SEC Network
All I can think of looking at this is Good Grief. It’s not the last couple of years when the Commodores were competition for the Crimson Tide. Now Alabama is back competing for a national championship and Vandy is just trying to finish the season. Probably the main goal for the Tide now is not getting anyone critical hurt in the first half because if they play focused that’s probably all they’ll be in the game. This is one game Alabama doesn’t want to suddenly be a trap they really didn’t see coming. Not this year. Alabama 41 Vanderbilt 7
Tennessee at Texas A&M: 2 p.m., ESPN
Probably the only thing going for the Aggies this year is when they play at home in Kyle Field. If you’re not aware, it is a huge home field advantage playing there for A&M. The Vols have been very inconsistent until a close loss to South Carolina then jumped all over Kentucky in a 34-6 winthat got everybody’s attention all over and was more what their fans were expecting this season. Now they’ve got to take it on the road against the Aggies who are not what they were last year and Mike Elko can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong. Tennessee is trying to get to a playoff spot, though. Tennessee 27, Texas A&M 20
Missouri at Georgia: 2:30 p.m., ABC
Unless the Bulldogs show up with the same team they put on the field against Auburn and the Tigers have a perfect game this one likely won’t even be close. Georgia has, at times, looked like a clinch for the best team in the SEC and maybe all of college football. If they play to their talent and experience level they really are the best. The preparation each week is just a continuation of what Kirby Smart has brought to Athens and this group may be the crowing achievement. At Missouri, Eli Drinkwitz has a team that can have huge games like they’ve had agaist Arkansas and Florida, then getting kicked all over the field like they faced against Ole Miss and Texas. Georgia 34, Missouri 17
Auburn at Mississippi State: 3:15 p.m., TBA
This one is a pair of teams so similar it could actually be a competitive game unless the Bulldogs’ offense goes in the tank since quarterback Kamario Taylor won’t be playing until next year. The Tigers are coming off a win over a not-very-good Arkansas team where they wre out-played for a lot of it but quarterback Byrum Bryson was almost unstoppable in the second half. State’s defense probably won’t let that happen to them. Auburn is less than a field goal favorite but considering everybody’s nervous the way this season has gone it’s not surprising. The Tigers are one game from qualifying for a bowl while State needs two more. This one may be the closest game in the country. Auburn 31, Mississippi State 21
Florida at Kentucky: 5:15 p.m., ESPN
Both of these teams have been surprises this year. The Wildcats are one of the shockingly good teams in college football after being a doormat for decades and the Gators have won some big games, then mysteriously disappeared in others. Figuring out which one shows up for each team on a game-by-game basis shows just how crazy this season has been. Kentucky is slightly favored, which may be due as much to how unpredictable this season has been as anything. Both have had a season with bi-polar results. This is one the weather may play a role because it’s going to be cold and something tells me that’s going to favor the Wildcats. Kentucky 31, Florida 24
Texas at LSU: 6:30 p.m., ABC
This is probably the game of the week in the SEC and for good reasons. It’s an elimination game for the College Football Playoff with LSU and Lane Kiffin. A third loss will have all those folks in Baton Rouge that ponied up an awful lot of money asking some uncomfortable questions. The Longhorns dropped a pair of games a month ago and most of the blame since has gone to quarterback Arch Manning. Now he’s going to be back as close as he can to his home base of New Orleans. The Tigers are favored either because nobody is thinking about what Alabama did in Tiger Stadium a couple of weeks ago. My thinking on this one is Manning will be incredibly focused and that atmosphere could get the Longhorns playing better than they do at home which also holds six figures in people. Texas 24, LSU 20.
Ole Miss at Oklahoma: Sunday, Noon, TBA
(Editor’s note: This game has been moved to Sunday after the FAA stoppage)
The Rebels have already figured out they’re probably not going to be able to duplicate last year’s stunning success. That has nothing to do with Lane Kiffin now in Baton Rouge, either, but more a product of the way players come and go these days. Ole Miss losing running back Kewan Lacy for much of the season with a shoulder injury that started in the season opener and seems to get worse every week has turned an explosive offense into just a good one. The receivers have dropped off from last year, too, and the defense struggles against the passing game. The Sooners have not figured out their offense, can’t run the ball and the only thing they do have is a passing game in the medium to long-range distances. Since the Rebels’ defense is weakest against what the Sooners do best the prospects may not be great. Oklahoma 28, Ole Miss 21
