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Who doesn’t like schedule facts?
They’re quick, easy and most important … they’ll make you sound really smart when you drop them into casual conversations.
Today, take a look at 10 interesting tidbits about Week 12 of the SEC schedule:
1. It’s the annual “cupcake week” in the SEC, as four teams from the conference are paired against FCS opponents and two more are set to square off against the Group of 5. All 14 SEC teams play with four league games on the slate as well.
2. SEC teams hold a collective 4-0 record against their Week 12 non-conference opponents dating to the 2002 season. Texas A&M vs. UTSA are playing for the first time.
3. The six non-conference programs playing SEC teams in Week 12 went a combined 2-4 in Week 11.
4. Overall, the six opponents are 23-36 entering Week 12. Alabama’s opponent, Chattanooga (8-2), holds the best record.
5. Saturday will feature the rescheduled game between LSU and Florida after Hurricane Matthew forced a delay and change of scenery, moving the contest from Gainesville to Baton Rouge. Florida leads the series at 31-28-3, but LSU has won the past three. Playing at home matters quite a bit, as the Tigers have taken the five of the past six from UF in Death Valley by an average of 11.2 points.
6. This is easily Florida’s most important game to date. With a win, it clinches the SEC East and goes on to play Alabama in the SEC Championship Game for a second straight year. (Florida and Alabama are the only teams to play a rematch in consecutive SEC title game. They met three consecutive title games from 1992-94, then again in 2008-09.) With a loss, the Gators will need Tennessee to lose to either Missouri or Vanderbilt to win the East.
7. Missouri holds a 3-1 series advantage over Tennessee since joining the SEC in 2012, but the Volunteers can make it two in a row this weekend after last season’s 19-8 win in Columbia. The Tigers aren’t going to go bowling in 2016, but will bring a certain degree of confidence after ending their 11-game conference losing streak against Vanderbilt in Week 11 and would be happy to knock UT out of contention.
8. Since 2012, Mississippi State ranks fourth in the SEC with a 13-8 record following a loss. Backed up against the wall and in need of two wins to become bowl eligible, the Bulldogs will host an Arkansas opponent that has a lowly 12-17 record in the same category, which ranks second-to-last in the conference behind Kentucky (9-25).
9. Can Shea Patterson revive Ole Miss’ lost season and get the team into a bowl game? After an incredible debut in a win over then-No. 8 Texas A&M in College Station, the true freshman is in prime position to kick off his career with a 3-0 record and a last-minute postseason appearance … if the Rebels can take care of business at Vanderbilt, that is.
10. To no surprise, Vegas expects many blowouts this week. Texas A&M (-27.5) is the SEC’s biggest listed favorite, with Georgia (-23), Tennessee (-16), LSU (-13.5), Ole Miss (-10), and Mississippi State (-1.5) following close behind.
Tyler Waddell is a member of the Saturday Down South news team. He brings over five years of professional journalism experience and is closing in on a Bachelor's in sports management. Follow him on Twitter (@Tyler_Waddell).
