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Don’t write off Vols-Gators winner as an SEC East contender
By Andrew Olson
Published:
From 1992 to 2001, the Florida-Tennessee game decided the SEC East.
In recent years, however, the Gators and Volunteers have both been on the outside looking in when it comes to making it to the SEC Championship Game. Sandwiched in between UF visits to Atlanta in 2006 and 2008, UT’s last December trip to the Georgia Dome was a 21-14 loss to eventual national champion LSU in 2007. The Gators saw their hopes of repeating as national champions erased with a 32-13 thumping by Alabama in 2009, and they haven’t been back since.
In this decade, South Carolina, Georgia and Missouri have represented the SEC East at the championship game. The winner of Saturday’s Florida-Tennessee game could join the club.
The Gamecocks do not look to be a factor in the division this year, already 0-2 in conference play and preparing to start their third quarterback in three weeks.
The Tigers are back-to-back champions in the East, but certainly look beatable this season. No. 23/25 Missouri is 3-0, but has yet to play a conference game. UM’s last two wins have been one-possession decisions over Arkansas State (27-20) and UConn (9-6). The Tigers’ 31-27 loss to Indiana didn’t stop them from winning the SEC East last year, but UF and UT have to like their chances in the coming weeks.
The Bulldogs have been a perennial SEC East favorite throughout Mark Richt’s tenure in Athens, especially while Tennessee and Florida have gone through multiple coaching changes. UGA is ranked No. 7 this season and certainly looks like the team to beat.
Recent history suggests, however, that Georgia will lose one or two games it should not. A raucous Neyland Stadium environment could overwhelm Virginia transfer QB Greyson Lambert on Oct. 10. The Gators have also shown that with two weeks to prepare, anything can happen at the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville. Georgia will be motivated on Oct. 31 to avenge last year’s 38-20 loss to UF.
Each team’s SEC West slate will also play a factor.
By the current rankings, Florida has the toughest draw: No. 3/5 Ole Miss at home on Oct. 3 and No. 8/9 LSU in Death Valley on Oct. 17. The Gators could drop both contests and still contend for the SEC East, but would no longer control their own destiny even if they won all inner-division games.
On Oct. 3, Tennessee will host an Arkansas team that has stumbled out of the gate this season. The Volunteers will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face No. 12 Alabama on Oct. 24. Since Phillip Fulmer was fired in 2008, UT has gone a combined 1-17 vs. Florida, Georgia and Alabama, and the lone win belongs to current Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin (45-19 win over Georgia in 2009). If the Volunteers are going to get back to Atlanta, they need to win against their three biggest rivals.
Georgia will host the Crimson Tide on Oct. 3 in a game that could shake up both divisions. UGA’s annual matchup with No. 25 Auburn (Nov. 14) isn’t looking quite as difficult right now as it did in the offseason.
For now, Missouri’s SEC West opponents are both unranked. The Tigers host Mississippi State on Nov. 5 and travel to Arkansas on Nov. 27.
Considering early play and upcoming games, it looks unlikely for the SEC East division winner to finish conference play unscathed. Head-to-head tie-breakers could be a deciding factor, and the Florida-Tennessee winner will notch an important one on Saturday.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
