Think about this.

Every SEC game this week has significant Playoff, non-Playoff New Year’s 6 Bowl, or bowl eligibility stakes. That’s ideal for a full SEC slate with no byes or nonconference games. Every game matters.

There. Did I sell you on Week 11? Maybe?

OK, here are some early impressions that’ll do a better job of selling Week 11 in the SEC:

No. 8 Alabama at Kentucky — The Bear Bryant Bowl has “weird” written all over it

When you close your eyes and picture an SEC game, there are probably 100 combinations that come to mind before Alabama and Kentucky kicking off at noon in Lexington. It’s strange. It’s strange for an Alabama team that hasn’t played in a road noon ET game since the Texas showdown last year. Of course, we remember how that played out. In Alabama’s lone 11 a.m./noon kickoff this year, it struggled to put away lowly Arkansas.

So in Alabama’s first 11 a.m. CT/noon ET road game since 2020 at Arkansas, should we expect a sleepy start coming off the all-important LSU win? It’s not out of the realm of possibility against a Kentucky team that pounced on Florida early in that noon kickoff back in Week 5. UK quarterback Devin Leary has looked better since the bye week and the Cats could be playing with house money after clinching bowl eligibility via their first win in Starkville since 2008. A tricky start could be in store for the Tide, who have played in 1-score games in the 4th quarter against SEC competition 17 of 22 times since the start of 2021.

Vanderbilt at South Carolina — I’d love to see Juice Wells back

I saw this quote from Shane Beamer on Sunday and all I could think of was “so you’re telling me there’s a chance … ?”

The preseason All-SEC receiver has been sidelined with a foot injury since Week 3 against Georgia. Fortunately for South Carolina, Xavier Legette has had himself an All-American season as Spencer Rattler’s go-to target. Unfortunately for South Carolina, Wells’ potential return date has been a mystery. He hasn’t dressed yet, despite Beamer’s hesitancy to rule him out during the week. Also unfortunately for South Carolina, the margin for error to make a bowl game is nonexistent. That means winning out against the likes of Vandy on Saturday, then Kentucky and obviously, Clemson.

I bring that up because for all we know those 2 things could be related. If Wells doesn’t feel 100%, rushing back for a team without bowl hopes might not be in the cards. Alternatively, he could be gearing up for a stretch run to potentially give South Carolina an elite 1-2 punch with Legette that we’ve barely seen on the field at the same time. Fingers crossed that it’s the latter.

No. 14 Tennessee at No. 16 Mizzou — This is a non-Playoff New Year’s 6 Bowl elimination game

That’s what it feels like. Both teams are 7-2 and vying for that second spot in the East. And while the Vols technically have division title hopes still alive, those are dashed if Georgia wins on Saturday night against Ole Miss OR next week at Tennessee. Vols fans shouldn’t be holding their breath on the team with a 3-year regular season winning streak losing consecutive games to open the door.

But don’t get it twisted. A non-Playoff New Year’s 6 Bowl is significant for both programs. For Tennessee, that would mean BCS/New Year’s 6 Bowl berths in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1998-99 (back when it was the BCS). For Mizzou, that would mean reaching a BCS/New Year’s 6 Bowl for the first time ever (the 2013 and 2007 Cotton Bowl appearances weren’t BCS bowl games that season). Both teams could still have 10-2 regular seasons, though it’s actually Mizzou who might have a more favorable path to that with Georgia in the rearview mirror. Whatever the case, significant bowl implications are on the line in Columbia.

Auburn at Arkansas — Why 2023 Arkansas is taking a page out of 2022 Auburn’s playbook

Last year, Auburn dealt with a late-October firing and with an interim coach running the offense, it pivoted to a ground-heavy approach because it was what the Tigers did best. That’s what this Arkansas team did well in the upset win at Florida to keep bowl hopes alive. Interim OC Kenny Guiton deserved immense praise in his first game as a play-caller. Arkansas posted season-highs in both rushing attempts (47) and rushing yards (226) against a Florida team that hadn’t lost at home in a year.

But here’s the more baffling stat — KJ Jefferson’s 25-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter marked the Hogs’ first rushing score in SEC play this season. They went 382 minutes and 15 seconds in between rushing scores dating back to Week 3 against BYU. Like, a team with Jefferson at quarterback went that long without a rushing score. No wonder Dan Enos was fired. That wasn’t just the byproduct of Rocket Sanders being banged up. Perhaps with Sanders back and coming off his best game of the season, we see another 2022 Auburn-like game from the Hogs with another ground-heavy attack.

No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 1 Georgia — History is working against Ole Miss

I’ll stick with 2 big reasons.

One is that entering this season, Lane Kiffin was 1-19 against Power 5 teams who went on to win at least 9 regular season games. His first and only victory against one of those teams was 12 years ago when he led USC to a win against Oregon. To be fair to Kiffin, it appears he’ll get win No. 2 against a 9-win team if LSU can win its final 3 games. Georgia, of course, is already at that 9-win mark.

Speaking of Georgia, the Dawgs haven’t lost a home night game since 2009. This game, in case you haven’t looked at Saturday’s schedule yet, is at night. That favors Georgia, AKA the team rocking a 26-game winning streak that also hasn’t lost a home game since 2019. It doesn’t favor Ole Miss, AKA the team that hasn’t beaten an AP Top 5 team on the road since the 2015 win at Alabama.

Whoops. I said that I’d stick to 2 reasons.

Florida at No. 18 LSU — Jayden Daniels’ status is obviously pretty important

After taking that hit from Dallas Turner, the LSU quarterback tried to come back in the game, but was then ruled out after he went into concussion protocol. Brian Kelly said that Daniels will undergo testing this week to determine his status. That’s significant for the obvious reason that it could mean LSU won’t have one of the best offensive players in the sport. Given the struggles of the LSU defense this year, the margin for error might not be great, even against a struggling Florida squad. Let’s not forget that 11 consecutive games in this rivalry have been decided by 14 points or less.

Yes, Garrett Nussmeier appears to be a capable backup. The last time that he got real reps against SEC competition, he was excellent in the second half of the SEC Championship against eventual-national champion Georgia. What’s also true is that Daniels’ game has ascended to an extremely high level. To assume that a gunslinger like Nussmeier can automatically pick up where Daniels left off is ambitious, though not impossible because of that elite offensive line with those tremendous outside weapons.

Mississippi State at Texas A&M — The over/under for Mississippi State touchdowns should be 1

Does that sound harsh? Harsh is forcing anyone to watch this disastrous, depleted offense. At least with Woody Marks out there, the Bulldogs had someone who could make something out of nothing. With him banged up and with Will Rogers still out with a shoulder injury — I’m not holding my breath on his return — we’ve seen the Bulldogs go into the toilet offensively. To be fair, they were at least nearing the toilet before those midseason injuries, but consider this. Mississippi State is averaging 7.7 points per game and 4.2 yards per play with Mike Wright as the starter the last 3 contests.

And sure, Mississippi State will face an A&M defense that was just gashed by another school from the Magnolia State, but Kevin Barbay’s offense and Lane Kiffin’s offense have as much in common as Spam and filet mignon. Hence, why the spread is A&M -18.5. Never mind the fact that the Aggies are banged up on offense and the 3 SEC teams they beat are a combined 4-14 in SEC play. That expected wide margin is all about the understandable lack of faith in the Mississippi State offense.