When the SEC revealed its 10-game conference-only schedule, the plan was for 11 weeks with one bye for every team and the regular season ending on Dec. 5. COVID, however, got in the way and we’re getting 5 makeup games this Saturday.
Division champs Alabama and Florida will each be in action, getting in final tuneups (while hoping to avoid injuries) before facing off next Saturday in Atlanta for the conference title.
Alabama faces division foe Arkansas. Nick Saban is hoping his players are focused on trying to finish 10-0 against the SEC and not looking ahead to the Gators. Speaking of Dan Mullen’s squad, UF is the latest team looking to get revenge against defending national champion LSU. Ed Orgeron’s Tigers won 42-28 last season in Baton Rouge. Florida hosts LSU for its Senior Day home finale on Saturday.
ESPN’s Football Power Index predicts the winner of those two games as well as the other three makeup contests:
- Alabama (97.2 percent chance to win) at Arkansas
- Georgia (83 percent) at Missouri
- Tennessee (82.2 percent) at Vanderbilt
- Florida (85.9 percent) vs. LSU
- Auburn (74.4 percent) at Mississippi State
Here is ESPN’s definition of the FPI:
The Football Power Index (FPI) is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season. FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 20,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule. Ratings and projections update daily. FPI data from seasons prior to 2019 may not be complete.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
