Another week of SEC football is upon us and the cream is beginning to rise to the top. Five conference matchups will further that process as the haves continue to separated themselves from the have-nots.
Here are all eight games on Saturday that involve SEC teams and the key matchup in each game.
Vanderbilt (3-1, 0-1) at Florida (2-1, 2-0)
Noon
Luke Del Rio vs. Vanderbilt secondary: Not sure how long this matchup will be relevant given the revolving door that is the Florida quarterback position. But from the kickoff, it will be critical that Del Rio move the team. That includes an improvement on a passing game that currently ranks eighth in the SEC and is going against a Vanderbilt defense that leads the league in pass defense, yielding just 116.8 yards per game.
New Mexico State (2-2) at Arkansas (1-2, 0-1)
Noon
Arkansas pass rush vs. Aggies QB: Tyler Rogers has already thrown for 1,413 yards and 12 touchdowns. But the Arkansas defense ranks fifth in the SEC against the pass and five Razorbacks have recorded sacks this season. Putting pressure on Rogers will be key in keeping the Aggies off the scoreboard while Arkansas tries to find its running game and limit the time Rogers and the Aggies’ offense is on the field.
Georgia (4-0, 1-0) at Tennessee (3-1, 0-1)
3:30 p.m.
Georgia run game vs. Vols defensive front: Bulldogs QB Jake Fromm has performed admirably in taking the reins of the offense as a freshman. But Georgia’s bread and butter is the run game with the senior tandem of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel churning up the yardage. Add freshman D’Andre Swift to the mix and you have one of the most formidable run games in the country. That’s what Tennessee’s run defense, which ranks dead last in the SEC, is up against.
Eastern Michigan (2-1) at Kentucky (3-1, 1-1)
4 p.m.
Kentucky pass defense vs. sputtering EMU offense: The Wildcats should be able to stuff EMU’s non-existent run game, so it will be up to the back end of the defense to stop what could become an aerial attack. Eagles QB Brogan Roback is averaging 266 passing yards through three games, so if the Wildcats can keep him under wraps it could in turn keep the Eagles off the scoreboard.
Mississippi State (3-1, 1-1) at Auburn (3-1, 1-0)
6 p.m.
Nick Fitzgerald vs. Auburn’s attacking defensive front: Getting back on track is a must for Fitzgerald and the Bulldogs if they hope to remain relevant in the SEC West. Auburn will give him and the Bulldogs’ backfield fits with its relentless pursuit. The Tigers lead the SEC in tackles for loss (33) and are second in sacks (12). They must add significantly to this total in order to keep the Bulldogs chained up.
Troy (3-1) at LSU (3-1, 0-1)
7 p.m.
LSU’s sporatic run game vs. Troy’s stingy D-line: Whether or not the mysterious season of Derrius Guice continues with the Tigers’ star running back seeing limited or no time at all against the Trojans, the Tigers must rely heavily on their ground attack while they decide on a quarterback. The Tigers could turn once again to Darrel Williams if Guice can’t go. The Troy run defense leads the Sun Belt Conference, allowing just 95.5 yards per game.
South Carolina (3-1, 1-1) at Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0)
7:30 p.m.
Passing games vs. poor pass defenses: The football will certainly be in the air for this one. It’s a matchup between the worst pass defenses in the SEC. South Carolina is giving up 277.5 passing yards per game, and they’re not even the worst. That dubious honor belongs to the Aggies, who are yielding 300.5 over their first four games. The defense that somehow finds a way to slow the opposing passing game will likely come out with the victory.
Ole Miss (2-1) at Alabama (4-0, 1-0)
9 p.m.
Tide’s powerful offensive line vs. Rebels’ rush defense: Alabama won’t fool Ole Miss in its approach. The Tide will run, run and run some more against a Rebels run defense that ranks 10th in the SEC. Owning the best run game in the conference, the Tide will no doubt force the Rebels to stop them at the point of attack. If they can’t, the Tide will roll as it did against Vanderbilt a week ago.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
