Published July 4, 2010 - 4:00pm
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Happy 4th of July!
As we celebrate our independence from tyranny and taxation without representation, I want to look forward to the 2010 football schedule and see which SEC teams are most likely to celebrate independence from homecoming busts.
Which SEC schools are also the most likely to lose their 2010 homecoming football game?
Which SEC schools scheduled a push-over for their homecoming game?
Which schools have the toughest hurdle to win their game and have a big homecoming celebration?
Here is the 2011 schedule of homecoming football games. Before we jump into the 2010 homecoming schedule, let’s look at the results from last year’s homecoming games:
2009 Homecoming Football Games
Alabama - Won vs South Carolina 20-6
Arkansas - Won vs Eastern Michigan 63-27
Auburn - Won vs Furman 63-31
Florida - Won vs Arkansas 23-20
Georgia - Won vs Tennessee Tech 38-0
Kentucky - Lost vs Mississippi State 24-31
LSU - Won vs Louisiana Tech 24-16
Mississippi State - Lost to Houston 24-31
Ole Miss - Won against UAB 48-13
South Carolina - Won vs Vanderbilt 14-10
Tennessee - Won vs Memphis 56-28
Vanderbilt - Lost vs Georgia 10-34
There were three SEC schools that lost their homecoming football games last year: Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt. I was at the Kentucky homecoming game where they lost to Mississippi State. It was a heartbreaker and put a damper on the festivities that evening. The biggest victory last year was Georgia who pitched a shutout of 38 to nothing against Tennessee Tech. Both Arkansas and Auburn had high scoring games of 63 points against their opponents. The toughest matchup may have been Florida scheduling Arkansas, but Florida went on to win their 21st straight homecoming game against the Razorbacks by a narrow margin of 23 to 20.
Now let’s jump into the matchups for the upcoming season and look at our predictions.
2010 SEC Homecoming Football Schedule
October 16
Alabama Homecoming (against Ole Miss)
Florida Homecoming (against Mississippi State)
Georgia Homecoming (against Vanderbilt)
October 23
Kentucky Homecoming (against Georgia)
Mississippi State Homecoming (against UAB)
Vanderbilt Homecoming (against South Carolina)
October 30
Arkansas Homecoming (against Vanderbilt)
November 6
Auburn Homecoming (against Tennessee Chattanooga)
Ole Miss Homecoming (against Louisiana Lafayette)
South Carolina Homecoming (against Arkansas)
November 13
LSU Homecoming (against Louisiana Monroe)
Tennessee Homecoming (against Ole Miss)
2010 Homecoming Predictions and Analysis
Alabama Homecoming (Ole Miss – Oct 16, 2010)
Alabama has once again scheduled a legit SEC opponent for this years homecoming game. Though Ole Miss has played them tough in the past, expect the Crimson Tide to roll.
Arkansas Homecoming (Vanderbilt – Oct 30, 2010)
An up and coming Razorback team has slated Vanderbilt University for its 2010 homecoming. Arkansas is 5-2 all-time against Vanderbilt. This marks the first time since 2005 that Arkansas has schedule a fellow SEC opponent for homecoming (lost to South Carolina). However, this time they are counting on a different result, and if last season’s 63-27 smack-down of Eastern Michigan is an indicator, they may just get their wish.
Auburn Homecoming (Tennessee Chattanooga – Nov 6, 2010)
Auburn likes to win big against small schools on their homecoming weekend. Last year they had a high scoring affair against Furman University and may score more this year against Chattanooga. No chance for an upset with this matchup. Plan the festivities accordingly.
Florida Homecoming (Mississippi State – Oct 16, 2010)
Florida likes to schedule SEC teams for their homecoming games and is not afraid of a tough matchup as shown in 2006 when they beat #10 LSU for homecoming. This matchup is not going to be that tough and even in a post-Tebow era, Florida will win big in this game. They are 33-18-2 all-time against Miss State. Mark another one in the win column and get the party started.
Georgia Homecoming (Vanderbilt – Oct 16, 2010)
Georgia is 49-15-2 all-time against Vanderbilt. They take their historical 76% percent winning percentage as confidence into this matchup. I am going out on a limb here to predict that Georgia gets their 50th win against Vanderbilt in this year’s homecoming game. This game should not even be close and Georgia fans can start planning their homecoming parties with confidence that a Vandy will not put a downer on the event.
Kentucky Homecoming (Georgia – Oct 23, 2010)
Kentucky has a tough matchup against a strong Georgia team that returns 11 starters on offense. Kentucky’s all-time record against Georgia is 12-49-2 for only a 21% winning percentage. They are however coming off a win last year in Athens. Kentucky will hope to duplicate that result, but I am not predicting a win in this game. I think it will be close, but Georgia will put a damper on the homecoming festivities.
LSU Homecoming (Louisiana Monroe – Nov 13, 2010)
Louisiana State is scheduled to host UL-Monroe for this year’s homecoming game. Though LSU is understandably a clear and heavy favorite, their recent homecoming experiences raise cautionary flags. For example, in 2008 LSU had to rally late in the 4th quarter to escape defeat at the hands of Troy University. Then in 2009, LSU unimpressibly inched out Louisiana Tech 24 to 16. So expect a festive celebration following this year’s homecoming game, but it could be closer than the experts think.
Mississippi State Homecoming (UAB – Oct 23, 2010)
Mississippi State scheduled a team that Ole Miss played last year for their homecoming. If Ole Miss can beat the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), why can’t Mississippi State? This matchup may be a little tougher for the Bulldogs than you think. UAB has received some good recruits over the past couple of years and are building up their football program. But after being humiliated in last year’s homecoming game against Houston, Miss State is sure to come out strong. Get your cow bells ready to celebrate this win.
Ole Miss Homecoming (Louisiana Lafayette – Nov 6, 2010)
Ole Miss is looking to make it a perfect 3-0 against Louisiana-Lafayette this year and in typical Rebel style expect a homecoming blowout. The grove will be ready for the celebrations.
South Carolina Homecoming (Arkansas – Nov 6, 2010)
This year South Carolina will attempt to avenge the 2006 embarrassment at the hands of the Razorbacks. Arkansas spoiled South Carolina’s homecoming that year. This is also a bold move as historically they have a losing record against Arkansas. Expect another upset this year, but this should be at least be a close game.
Tennessee Homecoming (Ole Miss – Nov 13, 2010)
The Volunteers are 43-19-1 against Ole Miss. That historical record may not help them this year as the Rebels come to town in the wake of Lane Kiffin. Tennessee may still have talent, but this is a down year. I am predicting a homecoming bust against Ole Miss. At least the fans can get prepared for this loss, unlike the shocker they had two homecomings ago against Wyoming with a big score of 7-13.
Vanderbilt Homecoming (South Carolina – Oct 23, 2010)
Tough game. Vanderbilt has selected Georgia the past few years for homecoming and lost all of those games. I predict another homecoming downer this year as the Old Ball Coach comes to town with a good team. Their all-time record against South Carolina is 4-15-0. When this game rolls around, at least Vandy will be that much closer to basketball season.
General Commentary on 2010 Homecoming Matchups
A few things stuck out to me while looking at the 2010 homecoming games in the Southeastern Conference.
First, notice that both Arkansas and Georgia selected Vanderbilt as their homecoming opponent. If that wasn’t enough, the University of Connecticut also picked Vandy for their homecoming game on October 2, 2010. With three schools picking your team as the most likely homecoming victory of their schedule, that is a pretty big slap in the face to the Commodores. I hope they ruin at least one of these homecoming parties.
Notice how Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss picked homecoming opponents that are outside the Southeastern Conference. Of these schools, Auburn didn’t select Division I competition and went with Tennessee Chattanooga out of Division I-AA.
For the fans of Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt, this may not be a good homecoming year. There may be other homecoming busts, but I like the matchups for the other SEC homecoming games.
What are your thoughts? Will your team win their homecoming game? Leave your comments below:
From a BAMA fan’s point of view, I think the South Carolina – Arkansas homecoming date will be a whim-doozy! Looking forward to watching that one. I think the Florida – MSU game may be tougher than it looks. Ole Miss may catch Bama in a state of mourning since they lost to S.C. last week. Kentucky – Georgia will make for an interesting game. Poor ole Vandy! The easy homecoming choice for games not worth seeing will be the Auburn and L.S.U. homecomings. Vandy can handle either of those homecoming opponents. M.S.U. could get a surprise with U.A.B. I don’t think Ole Miss outmatches ULLafayette. I believe they’ll beat the Rebs..so will the Vols for there homecoming.
Well sir, Mississippi State won that game against Florida. Guess you don’t know your football huh.
Well, I’ve missed one game already. Mississippi State has a legitimate team this year. It’s hard to call these games in the middle of the summer. Who else will be upset on their homecoming weekend?
You’re a fool for trying to say Arkansas is going to ruin South Carolina’s homecoming. I mean seriously look at how the Gamecocks play at home, one loss last year and so far undefeated this year. Alabama couldn’t even come in and get a win in Columbia. It doesn’t matter what team comes into Williams-Bryce to play the Gamecocks but I will assure you one thing, those Gamecocks will take on anybody. You were right about one thing though, it should be a close one. Look for Lattimore to take over the game in the second half to put it away.
Arkansas won 41-20