Evaluating the SEC bye weeks: Good, bad or indifferent?

Four SEC teams don’t play this week. Though a week without a game is an opportunity to rest up and heal in the middle of a grueling season, timing is everything. Depending on injuries, momentum and upcoming matchups, some bye weeks are better than others.

Let’s take a look at how this week’s bye affects Texas A&M, Auburn, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. Is the timing good, bad or should the teams be indifferent about the break?

Texas A&M: Good

The 5-0 Aggies are riding a wave of momentum after consecutive victories over Arkansas and Mississippi State and don’t have serious injury problems. So it might not seem like a good time for a bye week …

Unless you look at the schedule. Then the timing of the bye couldn’t be better. The Aggies have an extra week to prepare for Alabama in a game will either propel them into the driver’s seat in the SEC East and the national playoff picture or put the Tide’s postseason chances on life support.

“There’s no real way to say what is the best time, but for us it is good. We didn’t have it like this last year. I think we had eight games before the bye,” coach Kevin Sumlin said during a Tuesday news conference.

Meanwhile, the Tide faces what promises to be a physical Homecoming game against an Arkansas team it slipped past 14-13 last season in Fayetteville.

Auburn: Good

The Tigers (3-2) are also coming off a victory — over San Jose State. But they need a week to get over the fallout from an alleged punching rampage by former wide receiver Duke Williams, whose victims included backup center Xavier Dampeer, according to the Alabama News Network.

Plus, the time might give them an opportunity to prepare Jeremy Johnson for another shot at leading the Auburn offense after a horrible start to the season. And their next game at Kentucky offers a great chance to bolster their bowl chances with several West Division heavyweights still on the schedule.

The extra week should help defensive back Tim Irvin return to the lineup from a bone bruise on his foot. Coach Gus Malzahn said the break would be “very critical” for freshman defensive end Byron Cowart, citing progress shown by his freshmen after a bye week in 2013.

Kentucky: Indifferent

The Wildcats are playing well, so they risk losing some momentum. But the timing isn’t bad. Auburn and Mississippi State — winnable games — are next on the schedule.

The Wildcats need a break to be on equal footing with the Tigers, though Mark Stoops may have looked ahead bit while preparing last week for Eastern Kentucky. A victory over Mississippi State would put the Wildcats in solid contention in the East with Georgia left on the schedule.

Vanderbilt: Good