The race for the SEC East is heating up.
Division-leading Florida suffered a huge loss at Arkansas last weekend but can take a step toward locking up the title against South Carolina, which is holding on but needs all kinds of help.
Kentucky and Tennessee, the other contenders, have a crucial matchup in Knoxville that could greatly influence the SEC East race.
Many possibilities remain, but if Florida and Kentucky win Saturday, Florida wins the East. A Florida loss or a Tennessee win extends the race to Atlanta.
Meanwhile, Georgia hosts its old rival Auburn, which seems to be on a collision course for an SEC West-deciding game with top-ranked Alabama. Vanderbilt’s trip to Missouri rounds out the weekend slate for the division.
Here’s what the SEC East is up against in Week 11.
No. 22 Florida (6-2, 4-2) vs. South Carolina (5-4, 3-4)
South Carolina PPG: 19.2
South Carolina allowed: 21.2
Gamecocks’ strength: Will Muschamp’s defensive mind has been a boon for South Carolina, which ranks in the top 22 nationally in scoring defense and passing defense (194.2 yards per game).
Must stop: South Carolina has turned a corner offensively and gone 3-0 with true freshman quarterback Jake Bentley, who has completed 73 percent of his passes for 622 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. Classmate Rico Dowdle has flourished as the feature running back in the second half of the year, averaging 121 yards and a touchdown over the past three weeks.
Notable: This will be a personal game for Muschamp, who served at Florida from 2011-2014. He went 28-21 with a 17-15 SEC record before getting fired.
Florida PPG: 27.0
Florida allowed: 14.1
Gators’ strength: Defense would be Florida’s strength even if that unit wasn’t one of the best in the country. The Gators rank No. 3 nationally in total defense, No. 2 against the pass and No. 5 in scoring.
Must stop: With an SEC-leading four interceptions, junior cornerback Teez Tabor is a big reason Florida is so stout defensively. Senior safety Marcus Maye, a 2015 first team All-American who has 49 tackles and five pass breakups this season, is the enforcer in the Gators’ loaded secondary.
Notable: Florida owns this series, 25-8-3.
Georgia (5-4, 3-4) vs. No. 8 Auburn (7-2, 5-1)
Auburn PPG: 34.8
Auburn allowed: 16.0
Strength: Behind bruising running back Kamryn Pettway, the Tigers are the third-best rushing offense in the country with 299.8 yards per contest. That dominating ground game, coupled with the nation’s No. 9 scoring defense, is what has made Auburn the hottest team in college football over the past month.
Must stop: Pettway, a 240-pound sophomore, has bullied his way to 138.3 rushing yards per game, which is the fourth-most in the country. His status is unknown, however, after suffering a leg injury last week. When junior defensive end Carl Lawson hasn’t gotten to quarterbacks for one of his 8.5 sacks (second in the SEC), he has hurried them 23 times.
Notable: “The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry” is incredibly close, with Georgia holding a 56-55-8 series lead.
Kentucky (5-4, 4-3) at Tennessee (6-3, 2-3)
Tennessee PPG: 32.1
Tennessee allowed: 25.9
Volunteers’ strength: With a defense decimated by injuries, Tennessee has had to establish its offensive identity. The Volunteers are among the top 50 scoring offenses in a points-happy FBS.
Must stop: Senior quarterback Josh Dobbs engineers the offense, completing 58.9 percent of his passes for 1,869 yards and 18 touchdowns while also serving as a rushing threat. Derek Barnett is a terror at defensive end, leading the SEC in tackles for loss (14.5) and sacks (9).
Notable: The Vols have dominated this all-time rivalry, known as “The Battle for the Beer Barrel,” holding a 78-24-9 record against Kentucky.
Kentucky PPG: 27.3
Kentucky allowed: 30.4
Wildcats’ strength: Kentucky reinvented itself to become a run-first team, and that move has played a big role in its surprise push for the SEC East title. The Wildcats rank No. 31 in the country with 215.8 rushing yards per game.
Must stop: That running game excels thanks to Kentucky’s thunder-and-lightning backs, junior Stanley “Boom” Williams and true freshman Benny Snell Jr. Williams has dashed and sprinted his way to 898 yards, while the more powerful Snell has gained the majority of his 775 yards between the tackles.
Notable: The Wildcats need just one more win to become bowl-eligible for the first time under coach Mark Stoops. A victory Saturday also would give them a winning record in the SEC for the first time since 1977.
Missouri (2-7, 0-5) vs. Vanderbilt (4-5, 1-4)
Vanderbilt PPG: 20.2
Vanderbilt allowed: 21.6
Commodores’ strength: Vanderbilt’s defense has propped up a struggling offense all season, ranking 26th nationally in scoring.
Must stop: Junior linebacker Zach Cunningham is the heart and soul of the unit with an SEC-leading 94 tackles, including 13.5 tackles for loss, which is second-most in the conference. Junior running back Ralph Webb is the Commodores’ most consistent offensive threat, having rushed for 901 yards and six touchdowns.
Notable: Vanderbilt and Missouri have split their four meetings as SEC foes, and the Commodores won last year’s matchup 10-3 in Nashville.
Missouri PPG: 31.8
Missouri allowed: 30.4
Tigers’ strength: Missouri’s passing offense has petered out in conference play, but it’s still the Tigers’ best asset. Their 295.9 passing yards per game is 22nd-best in FBS, helping them rank No. 25 nationally in total offense.
Must stop: Junior receiver J’Mon Moore has 39 catches for 605 yards and six touchdowns, which makes him Missouri’s best weapon in the passing game. Charles Harris has been the best player on a bad defense, piling up 7.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble from his defensive end position.
Notable: The Tigers have 11 consecutive SEC games since beating South Carolina on Oct. 3, 2015.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
