For the first time in a while, we’ve got an almost full SEC slate with double-digit conference teams in action on Saturday. Earlier this week, Texas A&M-Ole Miss was called off, but we’re on track for six SEC games despite significant numbers of sidelined players (COVID, injury, opt-out, transfer portal, etc) at many programs, notably Arkansas, Mississippi State, Missouri and South Carolina.
Alabama and Florida entering Week 9 as the division leaders. The Crimson Tide and Gators will look to move closer to securing their spots in the SEC Championship Game. UF travels to Nashville to take on winless Vanderbilt while UA hosts Kentucky. It’s no surprise to see that Alabama and Florida are both heavily favored to win on ESPN’s Football Power Index.
The FPI predicts the winner of all 6 Week 9 games:
- Florida (97.4 percent chance to win) at Vanderbilt
- LSU (68.8 percent) at Arkansas
- Alabama (96.8 percent) vs. Kentucky
- Auburn (86.3 percent) vs. Tennessee
- Georgia (93.6 percent) vs. Mississippi State
- Mizzou (55.7 percent) at South Carolina
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.
