Published November 10, 2011 - 8:00am
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The SEC East has been a whirlwind of sorts this season. We all knew it would be weaker than the West, but I’m not sure we knew just how much weaker it would be. As it turns out, the East cannot hold a candle to the West.
However, there’s still unfinished business and an SEC East Championship at hand that will be decided this weekend.
Florida at South Carolina
Florida (5-4, 3-4) travels to Columbia to take on the Gamecocks (7-2, 5-2). The Gators are coming off a win against Vanderbilt, while South Carolina is coming off a loss to Arkansas on the road.
Now, Florida is out of the East race, but South Carolina can still win the East if they can beat the Gators. But Georgia will have to lose to Auburn in order for the East crown to go to South Carolina.
South Carolina does have the head-to-head win against Georgia.
Florida is getting players healthy again, including John Brantley and Chris Rainey, and Florida’s offense performed better last week against the Commodores than the previous few weeks.
I expect this to be a defensive battle, as both defenses will be ready to play against lesser offenses. It could be a very low-scoring game.
I would give the edge to the Gamecocks because they are playing at home.
Auburn at Georgia
Georgia (7-2, 5-1) hosts Auburn (6-3, 4-2) in Athens on Saturday for the East crown. If the Bulldogs can pull off the victory against the Tigers, Georgia will represent the East in Atlanta, and the weight on Mark Richt’s shoulders will have lifted, immediately.
Georgia is coming off a victory against New Mexico State and Auburn is coming off the bye week, where they had an extra week to prepare for the Bulldogs.
It is unclear how this game will turn out, simply because theoretically Georgia’s defense should hold Auburn’s offense down – but it could turn into an unanticipated shootout.
I give the edge to Georgia because of their defensive play and Auburn’s lack of defensive play this season.
If Auburn beats Georgia, the 4th place SEC West team will have beaten the top three SEC East team, making the SEC East representative in the SEC Championship essentially the 5th best team in the SEC West, if they were in the SEC West. Can anyone say championship game blowout?
And if SC beats Clemson in a few weeks, who Beat Auburn, then Carolina is now better than Auburn ….blah blah….that kind of this team, beat that team, so now, team X is better than team Y is flawed illogical thinking.
But I do agree that the SECCG could get ugly if the team from the East doesn’t come out to play.
if was a fifth I’ll be drunk right now! Go Dawgs!!!!
Georgia needs to win TWO games to secure the East (if SC wins). Auburn and Kentucky. Georgia can’t wrap anything up this weekend if South Carolina beats Florida.
Good point MrPalmetto: It will take TWO UGA wins if USCe beats FLA this Sat.
I too am tired of all the West vs East stuff. For YEARS the West was the little brother to the EAST.
Ok, it’s switched for now. The West has the better teams, well actually the better top 3 teams. Get over it, move along….
i agree. the west was the little brother to the east for alot of years and now all of a sudden things has changed. its not like every team is awesome in the west. they have 2 awesome teams and then theres arkansas. thats only 3 teams that are the best lol they need to let it go
As much as it would actually hurt the SEC, I would seriously love to see the upset of the year and Georgia or Carolina upset LSU or Arkansas in Atlanta. That would make my year.
@the real usc……..I agree with you. Which ever one of us goes, needs to break some hearts. I want to say we would have a better chance to do it….We have all of our players, pending arrests/suspensions…