Here’s our weekly look at the coaches with the most riding on this weekend’s games.
MOST TO GAIN
Butch Jones: If Jones didn’t save his job with the win over Georgia, pulling the upset against Alabama should do the trick. The Vols have had an extra week to prepare, but the Tide come in riding high after a big win on the road at Texas A&M. Tennessee has gone from preseason darling to a near afterthought in the East and needs a win Saturday to keep its dwindling hopes alive. After Alabama, the schedule becomes much more forgiving, as Kentucky and Missouri are the only remaining opponents that currently have winning records.
Gus Malzahn: With as much consternation that’s surrounded the Auburn program this season, it’s easy to forget the Tigers have only lost two games. To be sure, they’ve failed to live up to their preseason top-6 billing, but there’s also ample opportunity to salvage a respectable record. Auburn got back in the win column last week with a 30-27 victory over Kentucky. A road win over Arkansas would be another step in the right direction as Malzahn tries to steer the season out of the ditch.
Gary Pinkel: It’s been nine long quarters since Missouri last reached the end zone, and the Tigers are in critical need of some positive momentum. The Vanderbilt defense is no pushover, ranking sixth in the SEC in total defense and yielding just 114 yards per game on the ground, but at some point Missouri is going to have to figure out a way to move the ball against a solid defense. At 4-3, the Tigers’ hopes of a third straight division crown have faded, but the season isn’t a total loss. That said, there are no sure-fire wins remaining on the schedule, so a victory over last-place Vanderbilt is vitally important.
MOST TO LOSE
Hugh Freeze: The goodwill lost in last week’s defeat to Memphis might be more than can be reclaimed by a single win — even one over a quality ranked opponent such as Texas A&M. Nonetheless, the Rebels are still alive in the SEC West. The win over Alabama and a remaining game against LSU mean the Rebels can still claim the division if they win out. The flip side? One more loss likely would snub out what hopes remain.
Bret Bielema: Sitting on a 2-4 record after a disappointing showing in nonconference action, the Hogs are in need of another late-season surge to get back to a bowl game. With dates at LSU and Ole Miss looming on back-to-back Saturdays in November, Arkansas’ margin for error is minuscule and a home loss to Auburn would diminish it even further.
Nick Saban: That loss to Ole Miss continues to haunt the Tide. Despite playing like one of the best teams in the country over the course of the last month, Alabama is still just one loss away from falling into a two-game hole in the West that may be insurmountable.
Brent Holloway is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia, LSU and Mississippi State.
