Quality over quantity.

That’s what I’m telling myself as we prepare for just 4 SEC games for the second time in 3 weeks. It’s, well, strange. I get it.

Oh, 5 of the 8 teams in action have losing records right now? OK. So maybe “quality over quantity” isn’t the mantra this week.

The actual good news is that we have the Cocktail Party. Once again the SEC East will be decided in Jacksonville. Of all the things that have been weird of 2020, that at least feels like normal.

But fear not. We won’t just talk about Florida-Georgia/Georgia-Florida this week. Here are my early impressions on every SEC game:

Vanderbilt vs. MSU — The SEC’s 2 worst teams are made for each other

I have these 2 buddies who live on the East Coast. We met at an internship when we were in college. Unfortunately, the program was only 10 weeks. We’ve since seen each other twice in the 8 years, but whenever we get together, we’re always fired up to see each other. It’s a breath of fresh air. It’s belly laughs and good times. It’s a break from the grind.

That’s how I think Vandy and MSU will feel about seeing each other Saturday.

In this conference-only season, these 2 teams need each other like some long-lost buddies. MSU needs to see a defense that is clearly depleted, and Vandy needs to see an offense that won’t run all over the field against it. MSU averaged 7.5 points in its last 4 games since its record-setting opener while Vandy hasn’t kept a team under 40 points since its opener. MSU is working with a true freshman quarterback and a roster in total flux while Vandy is also working with a true freshman quarterback with a roster in total flux (because of COVID).

I know we’re supposed to be social distancing, but I picture Mike Leach and Derek Mason giving each other a bear hug at midfield before this game.

“MAN, am I glad to see you!”

“How have you BEEN?!”

Texas A&M vs. South Carolina — Stick Jaycee Horn on Ainias Smith, Will Muschamp

You’ll regret it if you don’t. Trust me.

The hybrid Texas A&M sophomore has been a revelation for the Aggies. He’s exactly what A&M needs to truly be “multiple.” Smith has 33 carries and 23 catches in 5 games, and he’s had 70 scrimmage yards in every game this season. He’s capable of taking over a game, and given A&M’s lack of game-breakers at the wide receiver position, sticking Horn on Smith seems wise.

If Smith lines up in the backfield to pass protect, Horn blitzes. If Smith lines up in the slot, Horn follows him. If Horn runs a wheel route out of the backfield, Horn stays with him stride for stride. Well, at least he’ll attempt to. Even Barry Odom, who has been as good as anyone at the SEC in preparing for offenses in 2020, couldn’t come up with the right plan to contain Smith after a bye week.

On a somewhat related note, is there anybody in the SEC who toes the sideline like Smith?

Smith is averaging a score once every 9.2 touches. If Muschamp tries to stick a linebacker on him or simply doesn’t prioritize him in coverage, he’ll make the Gamecocks’ woes continue.

Tennessee vs. Arkansas — Can Sam Pittman be the ultimate “let’s rethink things” coach?

I pointed this out ahead of last week’s game against A&M. Pittman was beginning a streak of 3 consecutive games against Year 3 coaches — Jimbo Fisher, Jeremy Pruitt and Dan Mullen. I wondered how Pittman, who was facing arguably as steep of an uphill climb as any new Power 5 coach (perhaps with the exception of Greg Schiano at Rutgers), was going to make opposing athletic directors feel during that stretch. This applies to Tennessee.

Think about it. What does it say about the direction of your program if in Year 3, your coach can’t beat an Arkansas team that entered 2020 without an SEC win in over 1,000 days and had — according to anonymous coaches — a roster that “looked like it was hit by NCAA sanctions.” Man, that’s not exactly a vote of confidence.

And let’s think about this from Tennessee’s standpoint. You’ve got a veteran quarterback, 5-star talent on the offensive line, a capable ground game and it’s Year 3 of that defense, too. In the same way that Auburn had its new low in 2018 when Tennessee came in and stunned the Tigers in Year 1 with Pruitt, Arkansas would have a similar “what are we doing” impact on the Vols. At least they should.

Pruitt got an extension that’ll keep him in Knoxville for at least another year — his buyout is just south of $13 million — but this feels like a monumental game in terms of his public perception.

Florida vs. Georgia (in Jacksonville) — It’s all about “Third and Grantham”

You know it. I know it. Florida knows it. Georgia knows it. Todd Grantham sure as heck knows it, too. After the Gators were dominated on 3rd down in the last 2 Cocktail Parties, they watched the 2020 season start with a 3rd-down defense that ranked No. 99 of 101 FBS teams through 3 games. Then Mizzou came to town and Grantham’s defense got after it. The Tigers were held to a 20% conversion rate. Grantham simplified things and didn’t send overly exotic blitzes. That makes sense considering 3 of his starting defensive backs were out and Florida needed to avoid putting its defensive backfield in tough spots if blitzes didn’t get home.

That was 1 game. How the shakes out against Georgia remains to be seen. The Dawgs converted 5-of-9 3rd downs against Kentucky, which was after they were at a respectable 46% through the first 4 games. The good news is that for the first time during this stretch, it’s not Jake Fromm at quarterback. It’s Stetson Bennett IV, who has 5 interceptions in his last 2 games. He’ll make mistakes, and Florida’s defense can flip the game with a batted pass against the 5-11 quarterback.

What can’t happen for Florida? It’s pretty easy. Don’t let Georgia convert 12-of-18 3rd downs like 2019, and don’t let Georgia convert 8-of-14 3rd owns like 2018. If the Dawgs are looking at a 63% clip in that department, it’ll be more Jacksonville frustration for the Gators.

It’s as simple as that.