We’ve almost made it back to the full SEC schedule.
Kentucky-Alabama gave us a Week 2 SEC snack, and this week, we’re up to 5 SEC-on-SEC games. But as usual, we’re going to make the job of watching college football as easy as possible.
Here’s the rundown on the games you can’t miss and the games that might be a snoozer.
Whether you’re about catching all the action or trying to pick a must-see game or 2, we’ve got you covered. Here’s the rundown of this week’s SEC action, ranked from 1 star to 5 stars on viewability.
Snooze-fest ⭐ (1-star games)
These are the games you can fall asleep to:
Troy at Missouri (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network+)
The Missouri Tigers are 2-0, and Jon Sumrall isn’t walking through that door for the Trojans. The Tigers won’t have a battle on their hands in this one.
Kennesaw State at Tennessee (7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
Likewise, the Vols aren’t going to show much against the Owls, who just lost by 2 touchdowns at home against Georgia State. Unless you’re deeply interested in the depth of the Vols’ bench, there’s not much to see here.
A bit compelling ⭐⭐ (2-star games)
Not the best the weekend has to offer, but mildly intriguing:
New Mexico at Oklahoma (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
New Mexico isn’t going to give the Sooners much to handle, but the aspect of seeing how Oklahoma‘s offense responds to that brutal performance against Michigan makes this a little more interesting.
UTSA at Texas (8 p.m. ET, SEC Network+)
The Texas Longhorns deserve a week to relax, and they should get it. How heavy will the head be that wears the crown? That’s the reason to watch this one.
Now we’re listening ⭐⭐⭐ (3-star games)
If you’ve got nothing else going on, relax and check these games out:
Kentucky at Texas A&M (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
The Wildcats had a nice 2 and a half quarters against Alabama, but will need much more firepower to survive Texas A&M. The Aggies have been sluggish, so their first foray into league play carries a few question marks.
Georgia at Arkansas (Noon ET, ABC)
For this game to be competitive would be shocking, but it is the first SEC play for one of the SEC’s top teams and likely its worst. Worth at least a half of viewing.
Break out the guacamole ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4-star games)
Invite some friends over to watch these matchups:
NC State at Vanderbilt (12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
The Wolfpack took an ugly Week 0 loss and Vanderbilt has been a very unimpressive 2-0. But the real story here is the Jared Curtis Era, which officially begins this week. Can he rescue Vandy from an almost inevitable dropoff from the Pavia era?
Florida State at Alabama (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
In many ways, this probably feels more like a 3-star game. Florida State already has a loss to SMU, Mike Norvell’s hanging on by a thread, and about the only thing that could salvage his job is an upset of the Tide. The development of Keelon Russell is another interesting story.
Block off the time, turn off the phone, pop the popcorn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5-star games)
You’re not going to want to miss a single second of these matchups:
Mississippi State at South Carolina (4:15 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
There are 3 must-see games — one obvious, and 2 under-the-radar. Mississippi State vs. South Carolina is one of the under-the-radars. The Bulldogs are a surprising 2-0 and South Carolina is looking to break out of the middle of the pack of the SEC. The Kamario Taylor vs. LaNorris Sellers QB battle should be fascinating.
Florida at Auburn (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Two 2-0 teams, 2 new coaches, 2 programs trying to bank a relatively easy win before the rougher tests of the SEC arrive. Florida seems to be getting a little more respect, but the Gators have been awful on the road in recent seasons. Auburn‘s win over Baylor wasn’t glamorous, but it’s the most meaningful game either of these teams have faced yet.
LSU at Ole Miss (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
What, did you think we forgot? Lane Kiffin tries to go home (OK, his fourth home or something) again. Sam Leavitt may or may not be hurt. The Ole Miss Rebels would like a win probably as much as in any game they’ve played since the 1960s. Clear the calendar. Throw away the telephone.
The Game to See
Pretty obvious choice here. See above. It’s LSU-Ole Miss.
Dark Horse Game to Watch
That’s got to be one (or both) of the subtle 5-star games. Competitive SEC play. Four teams with plenty to prove and the chance to sort out the middle of the SEC in one Saturday evening? Sounds like some quality viewing.
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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.
