Published November 2, 2011 - 7:47am
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The “other” game in the SEC this weekend has a major bearing on the fate of the SEC East – South Carolina at Arkansas.
Arkansas is likely the third team in the West – I realize they still have to play LSU, but I’m calling a spade a spade at this point in time – right now.
The winner of Alabama and LSU will win the West, theoretically. And Alabama has already beaten the Razorbacks earlier in the year, so Alabama has the head-to-head.
But what has not been won is the SEC Eastern division.
Early on, South Carolina beat Georgia 45-42 in a shootout that will be remembered for a long time by both schools. So the Gamecocks hold the head-to-head against the Bulldogs for the East right now.
However, if South Carolina loses this weekend, Georgia will more than likely win the SEC East, with their weak remaining schedule.
Georgia’s remaining schedule:
November 5th – New Mexico State
November 12th – Auburn
November 19th – Kentucky
November 26th – @ Georgia Tech
Both SEC games remain for Georgia, and both of them are in Athens. Auburn is very beatable, and Kentucky will be a victory for the Bulldogs.
South Carolina’s remaining schedule:
November 5th – @ Arkansas
November 12th – Florida
November 19th – The Citadel
November 26th – Clemson
South Carolina can either win both of those games, or they could lose them both just as easily.
The outcome of this weekend’s matchup for South Carolina will determine the SEC Eastern division championship because Georgia more than likely will not lose to either Auburn or Kentucky.
Let us all remember, the loser of the Georgia-South Carolina has never made it to Atlanta. This could be the year.
The Arkansas-South Carolina game will determine the champion in the “other” league in the SEC – or should we say weakest league?
Well theres what I call An ARK favored article! No mention of tje real matchup !ARK’s offense vrs USC’s defense!
not sure that it’s Ark favored article,. But I believe you’re right, I see the key match up as Ar off vs SC’s def. should be good game decided in the 4th. 3 of your last 4 games do look to be tough ones, good luck with all of them……Well except the one on Sat. WPS
I still think Georgia loses to Auburn. But that’s just me.
SC can lose Saturday night, beat Florida and still win the East. With that being said if the Gamecocks don’t reach Atlanta, the home game against Clemson is our Super Bowl.
I agree Auburn will beat UGA because of special teams or the lack of.
thats what I was thinking as well. Georgia seems to have their head on straight, but Auburn isn’t exactly the weakest link this year that everyone makes them out to be. Yes Auburn lost to Clemson, but a Clemson that was in the top 5 about a week ago. When my hogs played them, I’m not sure if the whooping was because of the emotional linkage with the players and the fans from last year, if we just played real football, or if they were just playing badly. either way, the negative connotation that follows Auburn this year because of their record, is a little misleading. 3 losses to top 10 teams, not so bad if you ask me.
anyways,
GO HOGS
You’re wrong about the Georgia – Auburn being easy for Georgia. Having seen both teams play, that game looks like a push to me.
The home game with Clemsux is our super bowl this year even if we do make it to Atlanta.
“South Carolina has to win this game to win the East, because Georgia will not lose in their last two SEC games.”
Count Auburn out at your own risk. It be just like Georgia to blow their chance to get to the championship.
With a bye week to rest up, a QB we’ve got newfound faith in, a defense that’s improved all season, Dyer being Dyer, and Emory back at 100% I think we can get a big win in Athens.
As much as auburn has ruined our past two seasons I can’t believe I’m actually gonna be pulling for them. I legitimately think they’ll pull off the “upset”.
well i agree with the team that wins saturday between bama and lsu will win the west, but there is one way arkansas wins the west… lsu beats bama, hogs win out…. the tie goes to the hogs… hogs win the sec championship game and then they would go to the nc game…. its a long shot and i know that but it could happen but if bama wins and the hogs win out… bama wins the sec championship game hogs go to sugar bowl… that is more likely to happen… but win this week and let everything work itself out…this is going to be a real tough week… i think playing at home gives the hogs the small edge this week
How do they figure a three way tie? If Ark beats LSU after they beat Bama….Then Bama still holds the Head to Head over Ark. Yeah Ark would hold the head to head over LSU but, they can’t very well let Ark in over Bama if Bama beat Ark.?.?.?.? So how do you say they hold the tie breaker?
I just read this on the bleacher report. I don’t own the rights to this article! But this answers my question on how is a three way ti figured out…
If Arkansas can put away the Gamecocks, who are without Marcus Lattimore for the rest of the season, they will be the reason that the Bulldogs win the East.
In regards to the West, the Razorbacks currently sit third in their division with a conference record of 3-1. However, if Alabama is defeated by LSU next weekend, Arkansas could ultimately decide the West as well.
That would leave the Tide and the Razorbacks tied for second with season finale against LSU remaining. If Arkansas wins that game, they are likely to win the SEC West because their loss was early in the season.
In a three-way tie, assuming that all three teams win their remaining games, the West will be represented by the team with the highest BCS ranking.
Here is the deal. Assuming Lsu beats Alabama, and Ark beats LSU for a three way tie. Arkansas would likely pass Alabama in the BCS however the tie breaker rules say that the West goes to the highest ranked BCS team unless the other tied team is within 5 places in the BCS . The Tie Breaker reverts back to the head to head determination which favors Alabama. It would depend on how far Alabama falls in the BCS standings. I doubt they would fall lower than 5th. It looks like Alabama would have to lose to Auburn or have a terrible last couple of games to fall 5 places behind the Hogs. If the Hogs run the Table they could always be ranked number 1 or 2 in the BCS and an all SEC NC game would be a possibility depending on OK State, Stanford, etc. I don’t think Boise State would pass a one loss SEC team. There are lots of possibilities and this weekend will determine a lot of them. Right now LSU and Alabama are in the drivers seat and one of them are going to lose. They both have tough games still to be played. Heck even an Alabama/Arkansas rematch is not out of the realm of possibility. Way too many variables and lots of football still to be played.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEC_Championship_Game
On and by the way we’re not sure who will be playing against Auburn with the way these boys party.
Doesnt matter which one makes it to Atlanta their gonna lose to winner of the LSU/Bama game lol
In NO WAY is the Auburn game a lock for UGA. Hell, I was at the UGA/UK game a few years agao when UK won in Athens for the first time since 1977.
The Dawgs are very capable of playing down to their opponent. Assuming ARK beats USC, the pressure will be on UGA for sure. UGA does NOT play well when favored or when they are “supposed” to win.
After being at the Cocktail Party, I don’t see UF beating the Carolina Defense.
I don’t care who wins the East. I think Bama (or LSU) will beat whoever it is. BTW: I like how Jon called it “The other game.”
WILDS + DEFENSE
I’m not saying Auburn will win, but to say we absolutely will not is quite a bold statement.
I wouldn’t put a “W” in Georgia’s column for the Auburn game just yet. As I stated before the season, I’d rather play Auburn early in the season than late in the season. Auburn also has an extra week to prepare for Georgia. Another thing that I mentioned was that a team as young as Auburn is, but also with as much talent as Auburn they have, is capable of beating almost any team on their schedule. They’re also capable of making a lot of mistakes and looking really bad. We’ve seen both scenarios already. The Auburn-Georgia game will likely come down to which Auburn team shows up to play.
Plus, Auburn has already beaten South Carolina this year……………………….Georgia is next! and @ the IRON BOWL, Bama better look out because “WE” always fight our hardest in that game!
I don’t understand why the Ark v S Car game couldn’t have been scheduled for earlier in the day. Why do the two SEC match-ups have to be at the same time? And, of the two games outside of the SEC that I want to watch, one of those, OK St v Kan St, is during the same time. We have an entire Saturday. Why can’t the interesting games be spread out?
Totally Agree!!! REALLY bad scheduling on the networks’ part. SC/ARK should have been at 3:30 and Bama/LSU should have been at 7 or 8. Everyone has known these would be big games for a while now. So dumb!
I think a very important question for any of these teams is whether I pick for them or against them. Apparently, my pick is a curse. lol I’m SERIOUSLY considering picking against Bama for tomorrow. :( Good luck to all SEC teams!! Oh, by the way, I’ll be sure to pick New Mexico St. so GA covers the spread.
I get so tired of the negativity that follows the East by so many journalists. Yes, the West is better but the West has some teams that are lacking too in Ole Miss, Mississippi St. and Auburn at times. The East has some great teams in South Carolina and Georgia and if you want to compare them so bad, compare the good teams from the West and they’re better than EVERY league in the nation. Let’s not have so many negativity for part of a whole SEC league and keep the focus on SEC dominance over the whole nation.
Agreed!