There are only 5 SEC games today, but two will play a big role in determining who wins the SEC East.

These are the biggest storylines for Week 9 in the SEC.

1. Party on, Cocktail winner

You probably know the Florida vs. Georgia winner has won the SEC East each of the past 3 years. (Most think that streak will extend to 4 this season, though Kentucky certainly has a chance to end the trend.)

You might not know that each of the past 8 times Georgia or Florida won the East, it also won the Cocktail Party. You have to go all the way back to 2005 to find the last time that the SEC East champ lost the Cocktail Party. That year, Florida won 14-10, but dropped three other conference games and finished a game behind Georgia.

History won’t stop Elijah Holyfield in the open field today, but it provides the context for what makes this game an annual treasure.

2. Jake Fromm needs Isaac Nauta

It’s easy to forget now, but Nauta and Jacob Eason arrived in the same class, speaking the same language. From their initial connection in Georgia’s 2016 spring game, Nauta was a frequent and favorite target for Eason.

Nauta caught 29 passes as a freshman, finishing third on the team. You know how many he’s caught in the two seasons since, the two seasons without Eason? Twenty-two. That’s it.

It was obvious from the jump last season that Nauta and Jake Fromm weren’t reading the same book, much less the same page. Nauta caught just 9 balls last season. He’s caught just 13 this year. His 3 TD receptions in the past 2 years matched his freshman total.

And his only TD catch this year, of course, was thrown by Justin Fields.

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Fromm prefers to throw sideline routes. When he checks down, it’s typically to a running back. Nauta obviously works the middle of the field.

Nauta caught 3 balls against LSU, the most he’s had against an SEC team with Fromm.

Nauta grew up in Jacksonville, watching this rivalry. This game isn’t just another SEC matchup.

Whatever the reason for the disconnect, it would benefit Georgia if Fromm gave Nauta and chance to meet or exceed that total today.

3. Which backup has the better day?

Georgia’s Justin Fields needs snaps. So do Mississippi State’s Keytaon Thompson and South Carolina’s Michael Scarnecchia. I’m less convinced that Terry Wilson is holding back Kentucky. I actually think he’s ideal for that offense because his running ability keeps linebackers from keying on Benny Snell. I tend to think Mark Stoops saying he’s going to give Gunnar Hoak an opportunity today against Missouri is more of a diversion, a tactic to give Barry Odom something else to prepare for.

At any rate, the four backups — five if you include Tennessee’s Keller Chryst, who might play depending on Jarrett Guarantano’s health — have a huge opportunity to shake up the pecking order today.

Kirby Smart would be wise, not just for this season but beyond, to get Fields much more involved in the offense. Is he ready to throw it 10 times in a game? No. But his talent and ceiling far exceed Fromm’s, and he’s a running threat that Fromm never will be.

If Georgia falls behind, it wouldn’t surprise me if Fields got 3 or more series today, start to finish, rather than the 1-play cameos he’s been getting.

4. Kentucky needs a show-me something game

The Wildcats haven’t looked right for a while. They played their best ball in September and have mostly survived October. They’ve scored just two touchdowns in each of their past two SEC games. That included last week’s 14-7 win over Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt’s defense is OK, but let’s remember: South Carolina, Florida and Georgia all scored at least 37 points against the Commodores. Tennessee State scored 27.

Kentucky’s style this season isn’t going to allow for a 40-point explosion, but coming out of a bye week, it was fair to expect more than two touchdowns against an average Vandy defense.

Today, they’ll definitely need more than two touchdowns.

Stephen Johnson had one of his best days as a Wildcat last season against Mizzou, throwing for 298 yards and 2 TDs. He didn’t outplay Drew Lock, but he did enough to win a 40-37 shootout.

Can anybody really see this Wildcats offense winning a shootout today? Their East title hopes might depend on it.