The first week of the season is in the books and the SEC didn’t do badly at all, claiming 12 victories in 14 games.
Can the conference do it again this week? Here are the key matchups for each game that will go a long way in answering that question.
Eastern Kentucky at Kentucky
12 p.m. ET Saturday
Kentucky secondary vs. Eastern Kentucky QB: The Wildcats will have to tighten up against the passing game because Eastern Kentucky QB Tim Boyle can spin it. He threw for 320 yards against Western Kentucky, while the Wildcats relinquished 309 passing yards to Southern Miss last week.
UT-Martin at Ole Miss
12 p.m. ET Saturday
Shea Patterson vs. UT-Martin pass defense: Patterson threw for 429 yards and four touchdowns against South Alabama a week ago, but the Skyhawks’ defense limited their opponent to just two completions for 53 passing yards in their opener. But that was against the Clarion Golden Eagles.
Fresno State at Alabama
3:30 p.m. ET Saturday
Fresno St. freshman RBs vs. Alabama defensive front: Stopping the run has been a signature characteristic for the Tide under Nick Saban, and while the Bulldogs’ freshman RB tandem was able to churn out 200 yards in their season opener, it was against an Incarnate Word defense that isn’t on the same planet as that of Alabama.
TCU at Arkansas
3:30 p.m. ET Saturday
Arkansas run game vs. TCU front four: The Razorbacks got 120 rushing yards from Chase Hayden in last week’s 49-7 victory over Florida A&M. As a team, the Hogs piled up 246 rushing yards, and they will need at least that kind of output to move the ball against Gary Patterson’s 4-2-5 defense.
Indiana State at Tennessee
4 p.m. ET Saturday
Marquez Callaway (above) vs. Indiana State DBs: Tennessee’s budding star is in line for another big game against a porous Sycamores secondary that yielded 202 passing yards to Eastern Illinois last week. The Tennessee wide receiver should continue on his ascent to stardom following a 115-yard, two-touchdown season debut.
Alabama A&M at Vanderbilt
4 p.m. ET Saturday
Ralph Webb vs. Alabama A&M run defense: While QB Kyle Shurmur grabbed the limelight a week ago, throwing for 296 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-6 victory over Middle Tennessee State, Webb could return to star status against a defense that yielded 252 yards in UAB’s return to football.
Auburn at Clemson
7 p.m. ET Saturday
Jarrett Stidham vs. Clemson pass rush: Don’t expect the Tigers to rush for 535 yards on Clemson like they did on Georgia Southern. It isn’t going to happen. Therefore, Stidham will have to be much more of a weapon against a solid Clemson defense that limited Kent State to one yard passing a week ago.
South Carolina at Missouri
7 p.m. ET Saturday
QBs vs. DBs: Will either team play pass defense this week? South Carolina gave up 415 passing yards to N.C. State while Missouri yielded 353 to Missouri State. South Carolina QB Jake Bentley threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns, while Missouri QB Drew Locke totaled 521 passing yards and seven touchdowns. The over/under for this game is 74 points. Take the over.
Nicholls State at Texas A&M
7 p.m. ET Saturday
Texas A&M run game vs. Nicholls State D-line: Trayveon Williams, who rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s season opener, and Keith Ford, who added 114 yards and three scores, will play key roles again this week as the Aggies continue to ease in a quarterback.
UT-Chattanooga at LSU
7:30 p.m. ET Saturday
LSU run game vs. UT-Chattanooga defensive front: Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams combined for 214 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the opener, and the two backs will once again be key in attacking a Mocs defense that yielded 184 rushing yards in their opener.
Georgia at Notre Dame
7:30 p.m. ET Saturday
Georgia RB duo vs. stingy Irish run defense: Nick Chubb and Sony Michel hope to control the game this week while QB Jake Fromm gets his feet wet. The duo, which combined for 183 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the season opener, goes up against a Notre Dame defense that held Temple to 85 rushing yards.
Mississippi State at Louisiana Tech
7:30 p.m. ET Saturday
Mississippi State DBs vs. Louisiana Tech QB: The Bulldogs will be tested this week after holding an inferior Charleston Southern team to 15 passing yards. Louisiana Tech QB J’Mar Smith threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns in his season opener.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
