Need a viewer’s guide on what to watch for during the second Saturday in the SEC? We’ve got you covered.
Week 2’s 5 best individual matchups
Georgia’s offensive vs. Vanderbilt’s front seven — The Bulldogs’ veteran offensive line had their way up front with Louisiana-Monroe, opening several gaps up front that Nick Chubb and Keith Marshall exploited for big plays. Georgia also did a good job of blocking downfield, creating lanes for playmakers to do their thing in space. It won’t be as easy against Vanderbilt’s attacking scheme, a defense that played well in its first outing against one of the nation’s top statistical offenses (And by the way, Western Kentucky’s 2-0 after Thursday night’s 41-38 win over Louisiana Tech). Chubb’s gunning for his ninth straight 100-yard rushing effort and holds the key to Greyson Lambert finding success through the air if he can bring Vanderbilt’s defensive backs closer to the line of scrimmage.
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield vs. Tennessee’s secondary — Down two starters and assistant coach Willie Martinez last week, the Vols’ secondary showed extreme signs of weakness against Bowling Green — especially on the perimeter. The Falcons unleashed several deep balls down the sideline that Tennessee corners struggled to defend and the yardage piled up. Many believe Oklahoma’s new Air Raid offense under former East Carolina play-caller Lincoln Riley will exploit the noticeable holes, but few realize the impact Neyland Stadium and 100,000-plus will have on a visiting offense. John Jancek didn’t try a ton of stunts up front in last week’s game, saving at least some of the defensive playbook for the Sooners. I’d expect a couple new wrinkles, including several blitz packages, to try and disrupt Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield’s rhythm.Tennessee’s running game vs. Oklahoma’s linebackers is another interesting matchup to watch. If the Vols get the ground game going and limit the Sooners’ total possessions, the secondary won’t be as pressed to make plays.
Florida quarterbacks Will Grier vs. Treon Harris — For the second consecutive week, I’m highlighting the Gators’ ongoing competition under center as a matchup to watch since there was no clear separation following Florida’s 61-13 win over New Mexico State. Watching the replay, both quarterbacks showed command of the offense and were able to hit open targets (hooray for tight ends) at the second level. There were a couple misfires here and there but for the most part, Grier and Harris seemed comfortable in Jim McElwain’s revised scheme. For the first time in two years, Florida’s offense looked largely formidable.
South Carolina running back Brandon Wilds vs. Kentucky’s Boom Williams — It’s the ‘Battle of Underrated Ballcarriers’ in Columbia Saturday night as Kentucky takes on South Carolina in a must-win game for both teams to open SEC play. Earlier this week, Gamecocks senior Wilds demanded more touches and right now, he’s this offense’s clear-cut No. 1 option on the ground. For Kentucky, Williams managed 135 yards last week, his third 100-yard game over his last four outings. It could be beneficial for Kentucky offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson to put more of an emphasis on Williams in his Air Raid scheme considering South Carolina’s susceptibility to big gains by speedy tailbacks. Tar Heels sophomore Elijah Hood only carried the football 12 times in Charlotte, but picked up 138 yards against the Gamecocks.
LSU quarterback Brandon Harris vs. Davis Wade Stadium — Will the Tigers’ sophomore first-year starter fold under pressure in LSU’s opener? Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has tried to prepare for Harris for everything Manny Diaz and the Mississippi State defense will throw at him this week, from odd-man fronts to edge blitzes to disguised coverages. The Bulldogs are going to try and make it tough on the LSU offense from a passing standpoint. Noise level will be a factor inside one of the SEC’s loudest stadiums, cowbells at all. Not only is finding an early rhythm key for Harris, but Leonard Fournette could make running the offense much smoother if he’s able to find success on the ground.
