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For nearly 12 hours every Saturday, SEC fans can plop themselves on the couch and tune into football games all day. No one wants to waste their time watching a boring game, though, so we ranked all six games that SEC teams are playing in this weekend (Arkansas and Missouri have byes this week). These rankings are subjective, but factor in league impact, how exciting and how close the games will be. Games are ranked on a 1-5 Georgia Dome scale (the site of the SEC Championship Game), with 5 being the most watchable game and 1 being the least.
5 GEORGIA DOMES
No. 6 Texas A&M at No. 12 Mississippi State (12 p.m. ET, ESPN): Once again, Texas A&M finds itself matched up in a clash up styles, this time against the undefeated Bulldogs. Both teams should be ready to slug it out in the first of three marquee SEC West games and easily the biggest game of Dan Mullen’s time in Starkville.
No. 3 Alabama vs. No. 11 Mississippi (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS): Farther north in Mississippi, the Ole Miss Rebels also have one of the biggest games in the program’s recent history. Alabama rolls in as a touchdown favorite, but Ole Miss should have what it takes to stifle the Tide’s offense. Will Bo Wallace and the Rebels offense be up to the task?
No. 15 LSU at No. 5 Auburn (7 p.m. ET, ESPN): This spirited rivalry gets the primetime ESPN slot, and it features as much intrigue as any game in the nation. Is Brandon Harris the answer at quarterback for LSU? Will Auburn’s offense get rolling? Can either defense get stops? With the history between these two teams, anything could happen.
4 GEORGIA DOMES
None this week
3 GEORGIA DOMES
Florida at Tennessee (12 p.m. ET, SEC Network): Believe it or not, both of these teams are very much alive in the SEC East picture, although the loser probably leaves that conversation. Tennessee needs an SEC win after a series of close calls, while Florida needs to find out if Jeff Driskel can lead a competent offense.
2 GEORGIA DOMES
South Carolina at Kentucky (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network): South Carolina is looking to be the biggest bust of the season, far from the lofty top-10 ranking they were awarded in the preseason. After starting the season as the favorite to win the East, the Gamecocks will need some real help to earn a division crown. They’re in for a battle in Lexington, where they’re just 3.5 point favorites against a frisky Kentucky team that could be primed for an upset.
1 GEORGIA DOME
Vanderbilt at No. 13 Georgia (4 p.m. ET, SEC Network): It’s not often you see a spreads this big within the SEC, but oddsmakers have Georgia as a 34-point favorite heading into Saturday. Vanderbilt will likely be without quarterback Patton Robinette, and they’ve been absolutely dreadful without him on the field this year. Georgia should be able to limit Todd Gurley’s carries and take care of this game pretty easily.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
