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SEC Week 6 was a scrambler. Literally half of the SEC has 2 wins. Last week, we wondered if everybody could end up 5-5 … maybe the better question is whether Alabama, Georgia, Florida, A&M, and surprising Auburn aside, everybody else could go 4-6?
We’ll break it down here, predicting how everybody finishes the 2020 regular season.
Alabama: 10-0
Why would you expect anything else at this point?
Arkansas: 4-6
Exhibit A in our 4-6 argument. The Razorbacks (2-3) still have to play at Florida and against Alabama. But winning 2 of 3 against Tennessee, LSU and Missouri seems plausible.
Auburn: 6-4
We were impressed with the Tigers, but not impressed enough to pick them to beat Alabama or A&M. We do feel pretty good about their games with Mississippi State and Tennessee, which would get them to a winning season anyway.
Florida: 9-1
A week ago, we felt like Florida would lose to Georgia and drop another game. Now, looking at the post-Georgia schedule, we’re not sure if anybody will even play close to the Gators. Meanwhile, their matchup with Georgia looks much more favorable given the Bulldogs’ inconsistency and the emerging Gators defense.
Georgia: 8-2
We’ll pick Florida in the Cocktail Party, but that game aside, the Bulldogs aren’t likely to be challenged again … which means the East comes down to next week. Not exactly surprising.
Kentucky: 4-6
Even without an offense, UK can probably handle Vandy and they host Carolina to end the regular season. No shot at Florida or Alabama, though.
LSU: 4-6
From a national title to a losing record? With a schedule that still includes Alabama and road games at A&M and Florida, yep, that’s what we’re seeing. Honestly, at Arkansas is far from a lay-up. The Tigers are more likely to go 3-7 than get to 5-5.
Mississippi State: 2-8
They should handle Vandy, but beyond that, unless their offense is really clicking in the final two weeks, 2 wins is about all that’s out there for the taking.
Missouri: 5-5
Georgia should be a loss and Vandy should be a win. But winning 2 of 3 (vs. Arkansas, at Carolina, at Mississippi State) is possible. Getting Mizzou to .500 in his first season feels like a minor miracle for Eli Drinkwitz.
Ole Miss: 4-6
As things stand, the Rebels could well play LSU for a shot at .500 to end the regular season. A&M looks like a loss, but otherwise, Ole Miss could sneak into a 5th win. For the moment, that feels a little optimistic, but let’s see how bad LSU is looking in a few weeks.
South Carolina: 3-7
Games against A&M and Georgia look beyond hope. Winning 1 of these 3 (vs. Mizzou, at Ole Miss, at Kentucky) seems plausible, but it’s hard to see much more than that breaking the Gamecocks’ way.
Tennessee: 3-7
Home games with A&M and Florida feel like losses, and at Auburn doesn’t look much better. That leaves the Vols looking at 4 wins, but at Arkansas feels like a game that could be a referendum on the Jeremy Pruitt era. Hard to feel optimistic if that ends up as a loss.
Texas A&M: 9-1
At Auburn is probably the toughest game left on the slate, but with mediocre opponents from now until December, the Aggies should be in very good shape for that one.
Vanderbilt: 0-10
Until we can forecast negative wins, we’re stuck on this.
Joe Cox is a columnist for Saturday Down South. He has also written or assisted in writing five books, and his most recent, Almost Perfect (a study of baseball pitchers’ near-miss attempts at perfect games), is available on Amazon or at many local bookstores.
