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Savoring the spotlight: Biggest Week 3 games in the SEC East and SEC West
By Jordan Cox
Published:
Some teams around the conference are beginning SEC play, which an enormously welcome sight for us fans. (Last week’s games were so hard to watch.)
There are some big conference games and out-of-conference games for the SEC in Week 3, and SDS is going to break down who’s savoring the spotlight.
SEC East
Tennessee at Oklahoma: This a tough road game for a very young Tennessee team, but it’s good to see the Vols back to playing big-time national opponents. The Sooners are the favorite in the Big 12 and are among many experts’ finalists for the four team playoff. Justin Worley and the Tennessee offense face a tough Oklahoma front seven, a good measuring stick for Worley’s improvement under center. The Vols have played a lot of freshmen through its first two games, and some of those are going to need to have an impact in a tough environment in Norman in primetime.
Georgia at South Carolina: With these two teams having met as top-15 and, at times, top-10 teams in recent years, this rivalry has become one of the most heated in the conference. This game has also become an early-season elimination game in the SEC East, and unless chaos ensues later on in the season, one of these teams will be in the driver’s seat to claim the division after the dust settles. These two teams boast elite running backs and defenses that are looking to improve. Can Huston Mason throw the ball? Will the Georgia defense replicate its second half performance against Clemson? Can the Gamecocks defense get off the field on third down?
SEC West
Arkansas at Texas Tech: This, to me, is one of the underrated games of the weekend. Arkansas looks to improve off its dismal 2013 and Texas Tech is a rejuvenated program under former Red Raider quarterback Kliff Kingsbury. The Razorback offense went off against Nicholls State but this Texas Tech team poses a different challenge. The Arkansas defense faces a stiff test with that Tech offense that loves to air it out. Look for the Hogs to try to dictate the pace with its run game in order to leave Lubbock with a win.
Alabama vs. Southern Miss: This is not at all a big game, but its an important one for an Alabama team that is looking to solve its quarterback situation before the Florida Gators come to town next weekend. Alabama will have no problems and will win this game going away, but if neither quarterback can separate himself against the Golden Eagles defense, Lane Kiffin and Nick Saban may have a real issue on their hands.
After living in Birmingham, Ala., Jordan left the ground zero of SEC Nation to head south to Florida to tell the unique stories of the renowned tradition of SEC football. In his free time, his mission is to find the best locales around.
