Editor’s note: Saturday Down South recently completed its annual SEC Crystal Ball prediction series, from which we selected the 10 biggest upsets of the 2024 season. For team previews: Alabama | Arkansas | Auburn | Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | LSU | Mizzou | Mississippi State | Oklahoma | Ole Miss | South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Texas A&M | Vanderbilt

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If you don’t predict upsets, you might hate fun.

Sorry, that was harsh. You might like fun. You might not know how to have it. Upsets are the lifeblood of college football. To scoff at them is to spit in the face of fun.

I like fun, especially in the form of an Earth-shattering upset. I’m not saying that I picked 10 Earth-shattering upsets in our Crystal Ball series. Some are more fun/Earth-shattering than others.

I realize that the hit rate on these isn’t exactly Graham Mertz’s completion percentage. Think of it more like a batting average. If I hit 3 out of 10, that’s All-Star level. If I hit 4 out of 10, they’re building me a statue.

Having said that, I expect all 10 of my upsets to hit. Anything less than a 100% hit rate wouldn’t be fun.

So, here are my top 10 SEC upsets for 2024:

10. Texas beats Georgia in Austin

Let’s start with a bang. Yes, this one lives up to the billing. Both teams trade blows in what feels like a true heavyweight fight. It’s the type of game that never sees a deficit get beyond a touchdown with big plays on both sides of the ball. So then what proves to be the deciding factor? Steve Sarkisian scheming in the passing game late. In an extremely uncharacteristic sequence of events, UGA leaves Isaiah Bond uncovered after a miscommunication in the secondary. He waltzes in for a go-ahead touchdown to give Texas a 31-28 victory that has everyone begging for a rematch. Texas pulls off the “upset,” though a 2-point spread at the time of the matchup prevents it from being higher on this list.

9. South Carolina beats Kentucky in Lexington

Through 3 seasons, Shane Beamer already has more victories against Mark Stoops (2) than Will Muschamp (1) had in 5 seasons. Say what you want about the Beamer-Stoops beef. This is when Kentucky’s backfield depth is tested and South Carolina’s improvement in the ground game takes shape. Rocket Sanders takes off early and UK’s offense has some 2023 vibes. Brock Vandagriff struggles to get on the same page as his pass-catchers, which results in a late interception that closes out a gritty road win for South Carolina.

8. Oklahoma beats Auburn in Auburn

This feels like such a pivotal game for programs that are determined to be part of the 12-team Playoff discussion. It wouldn’t be surprising if Jarquez Hunter and Gavin Sawchuk got rolling in the ground game and this turned into a matchup in which both teams struggled to get off blocks. So what tips the scales toward Oklahoma? Jackson Arnold’s legs. His ability to extend plays and keep drives alive deflates the raucous Jordan-Hare crowd. Oklahoma’s first SEC road win sends a loud message to the rest of the conference.

7. South Carolina beats Texas A&M in Columbia

A&M’s road woes will resurface while South Carolina will remind us all that nobody is safe in Williams-Brice. Why? Fresh off a bye, the Gamecocks look like a well-rested group that finally puts 4 quarters together on offense. A Rocket Sanders-heavy approach works like a charm to give South Carolina an early lead that it doesn’t look back on. A 45-pass attempt day for Conner Weigman leads to South Carolina taking advantage of the 1-dimensional A&M offense. The Gamecocks pick up a huge win to keep bowl hopes alive.

6. Oklahoma beats Alabama in Norman

A game with massive Playoff implications goes to the home Sooners in thrilling fashion. Why? Oklahoma’s wideouts feast on Alabama’s inconsistent secondary. It’s not quite 2020 Alabama-Ole Miss levels of shootout, but let’s just say that points aren’t lacking in Norman. Jalen Milroe and Arnold deliver one of the games of the year. Nic Anderson proves to be too much for the Alabama defense, which finally can’t get that late stop.

5. Oklahoma beats Mizzou in Columbia

In the Theo Wease Bowl, Oklahoma shows that it has plenty of pass-catchers who can play at the SEC level. That turns into another frustrating day at the office for Mizzou’s secondary, which looks overmatched for the third time in as many games. Anderson makes a pair of jump-ball grabs downfield that deflate the home crowd. Brady Cook tries to put on his cape, but he ends up suffering a leg injury while trying to extend a play. He shows grit by staying in, but ultimately, Oklahoma dials up too much pressure for him to mount a comeback. The Sooners hand Mizzou a devastating home loss.

4. Texas A&M beats LSU in College Station

For the first time all year, LSU’s offensive line doesn’t win the battle up front. Nic Scourton and Shemar Turner put on a clinic leading Mike Elko’s defense. On the road, a sped-up Garrett Nussmeier turns the ball over 3 times (2 interceptions, 1 fumble) in a game that A&M comes out with something to prove. Weigman, on the other hand, responds to everything that Blake Baker throws at him with a 300-yard, 3-touchdown showing. LSU’s 7-0 start and top-5 ranking go up in smoke at the hands of the wild-card Aggies.

3. Auburn beats Mizzou in Columbia

Just when everyone is praising Mizzou and writing off Auburn, the visiting Tigers pull off a significant upset in Columbia. The backfield depth is Auburn’s biggest weapon against a work-in-progress Mizzou defense. It’s not just Hunter breaking off big runs. Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb both look well-rested coming off the bye week while Mizzou looks like a program that just traveled across the country to play … UMass. A weird day at Faurot Field turns into one of the more head-scratching results of SEC play.

2. Arkansas beats Tennessee in Fayetteville

This is the game that reminds everyone that if you’re not ready for an SEC road game, you’re in trouble. Tennessee, following an emotional loss to Oklahoma and the bye week, falls victim to that. This is the game that Arkansas fans have been waiting to see from Taylen Green. He connects with Luke Hasz and Andrew Armstrong at will against an overmatched Tennessee secondary. Landon Jackson and Arkansas make it a frustrating day for Nico Iamaleava and the high-powered Tennessee offense. The Hogs avoid that dreaded 2-4 start while Tennessee suffers consecutive losses for just the third time in the Josh Heupel era.

1. Florida beats LSU in Gainesville

Just when we think the Gators are in total free-fall after losing 4 in a row to spoil a 5-0 start, they do the unthinkable — they finally end the LSU losing streak. For the first time since 2018, Florida is on the right end of a thriller against the Tigers. Nussmeier struggles with his decision-making on the road while the Gators play like a team that’s happy to be home for the first time in a month. The Gators’ passing attack lights up the LSU secondary in a game that Billy Napier desperately needs to clinch bowl eligibility and avoid another 5-game losing streak. LSU, meanwhile, is suddenly in jeopardy of missing out on the 12-team Playoff after its third consecutive loss.