To this point of the season, it hasn’t been necessarily a down year for offenses in the SEC. But so far there are just six teams averaging at least 30 points a game, as opposed to nine such teams last season.

So where will each SEC team have its highest-scoring game the rest of the season? Some teams have non-conference FBS opponents still on their schedule, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that is the opponent where a team will score its most points.

Side note: Any remaining FCS opponents on the schedule are not included in these predictions. It’s just too easy to pick those as the highest-scoring games.

Alabama: Saturday vs. Tennessee

Why this game? Of the four remaining FBS opponents on Alabama’s schedule (also have FCS opponent Mercer remaining), Tennessee ranks the lowest in the conference in scoring defense (9th, 23.8 PPG).

The Crimson Tide has also scored 40 or more points in four of the last seven meetings against the Volunteers, including last season’s 49-10 victory in Knoxville.

Alabama’s other remaining FBS opponents are LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn, teams that rank in the top 6 of the conference in scoring defense.

Arkansas: Nov. 4 vs. Coastal Carolina

Why this game? Arkansas hasn’t exactly been an offensive juggernaut this season, especially of late – averaging 15.5 PPG over its last two games. And it would be easy to pick Missouri as the opponent for Arkansas to have its highest-scoring game the rest of the season.

But in Coastal Carolina, the Razorbacks have an opponent that not only ranks at the bottom of the Sun Belt in scoring defense (39.8 PPG), but in five career games against Power 5 opponents, the Chanticleers have allowed an average of 55 points a game.

Auburn: Nov. 18 vs. Louisiana Monroe

Why this game? Auburn does have Arkansas this weekend, and the Razorbacks do rank 12th in the SEC in scoring defense.

But Louisiana Monroe ranks 10th in scoring defense in the 12-team Sun Belt Conference, and the Warhawks have allowed 40 or more points in three of their last four games.

Following Louisiana Monroe for Auburn is the Iron Bowl, so expect some tuning up at the Warhawks’ expense.

Florida: Nov. 4 at Missouri

Why this game? UAB also remains on the Gators’ schedule, so it would be easy to just choose the Blazers as this opponent, especially with the Blazers returning to the field after shutting down the program for two seasons.
But a funny thing has happened this season in Birmingham. The Blazers are very competitive and rank in the middle of the pack in Conference USA defensively.

On the other hand, Missouri ranks last in the conference in scoring defense at 42.2 PPG. And last season, the Gators scored 40 or more points twice. One time was against Kentucky (season-high 45 points).

The other time? Missouri, which allowed 40 points to Florida in a 40-14 loss.

Georgia: Nov. 18 vs. Kentucky

Why this game? The Bulldogs are second in the SEC in scoring (37.6 PPG) and have averaged 46 PPG over their last three games.

Kentucky isn’t a pushover defensively by any means. The Wildcats are allowing just 21.3 PPG this season, which ranks seventh in the SEC. And last week against Missouri was the first time Kentucky had allowed 30 points in a game this season.

But also remaining on the Bulldogs’ schedule are games against Florida, South Carolina, Auburn and Georgia Tech. It makes choosing Kentucky as the opponent a little easier.

Kentucky: Nov. 25 vs. Louisville

Why this game? Ole Miss was a possible opponent to pick here, especially since the Rebels are 13th in the SEC in scoring defense at 34 PPG.

But last season the Wildcats went to Louisville and scored 41 points in an upset win over the Cardinals. And the Cardinals are coming off a loss to Boston College in which they allowed 45 points.

In fact, in five games vs. Power 5 opponents this season, Louisville is allowing 38.8 PPG.

LSU: Nov. 11 vs. Arkansas

Why this game? Arkansas has allowed at least 40 points in each of its last two games, both coming on the road. Guess where its matchup with LSU is this season? Yep, Baton Rouge.

And LSU surprised many by scoring 27 points against Auburn, which possesses a much better defense than the Razorbacks’ unit.

Saturday’s opponent for LSU – Ole Miss — was also a candidate. But that game will be on the road, as will the Tigers’ game against Tennessee.

Ole Miss: Nov. 11 vs. Louisiana Lafayette

Why this game? If there were only conference games remaining for Ole Miss, then the choice would likely be between Arkansas and Mississippi State.

But Louisiana Lafayette ranks next-to-last in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring defense, allowing 39.7 PPG. In fact, the Ragin’ Cajuns have allowed one fewer point than Coastal Carolina has this season in the Sun Belt.

And in its last 14 games against Power 5 opponents, Louisiana Lafayette has allowed 47.4 PPG, including 45 in a loss to Texas A&M last month.

Mississippi State: Nov. 23 vs. Ole Miss

Why this game? This seems like an easy prediction. Ole Miss ranks next to last in the SEC in scoring defense (37.0 PPG) and has allowed 48.3 PPG over its last three games.

It is also the Egg Bowl, and in last year’s matchup the Bulldogs scored 55 points on the Rebels, which was the second-most points they have ever scored against Ole Miss in the history of the rivalry.

Another candidate for this opponent was Massachusetts, especially after the Minutemen allowed 50 points to Ohio in their most recent game. But UMass also allowed just 17 points in a close loss at Tennessee earlier this season.

The prediction here is that the Egg Bowl will be a high-scoring game. So, expect this to be the Bulldogs’ best chance to light up the scoreboard the rest of the season.

Missouri: Oct. 28 at Connecticut

Why this game? Although 1-5 this season, Missouri proved it can score on just about any defense in the nation when it put up 28 points against Georgia last weekend.

And the Tigers get Idaho at home this weekend, so more points could be in order for Missouri. But the Vandals actually rank 63rd nationally in scoring defense.

UConn, on the other hand, ranks 124th in scoring defense, allowing 40.3 points a game. That means only six teams in the FBS are worse than the Huskies in scoring defense.

South Carolina: Oct. 28 vs. Vanderbilt

Why this game? Picking this as the opponent for the Gamecocks was simply a process of elimination. South Carolina’s other remaining FBS opponents are Georgia, Florida and Clemson.

That leaves the Commodores, who have allowed 49.8 PPG over their last four games, all against SEC opponents. The Gamecocks, who scored 48 points against Arkansas in their most recent home game, should be able to put up a monster point total against Vanderbilt.

Tennessee: Nov. 11 at Missouri

Why this game? It was mentioned earlier that Missouri ranks last in the SEC in scoring defense (42.2 PPG). But what wasn’t mentioned is where that average ranks nationally. Answer: 127th out of 130 FBS teams.

The Volunteers have struggled all season scoring points. In fact, they have the worst scoring offense in the SEC (21.7 PPG). But this should be a game in which Tennessee shows off whatever scoring capabilities it has left this season.

Texas A&M: Nov. 11 vs. New Mexico

Why this game? The Aggies are 4th in the SEC in scoring at 32.1 PPG. But they haven’t had a high-scoring game since Week 4 against Arkansas, when they won 50-43 in overtime.

Enter New Mexico, which has allowed 38 points in each of its last two games, and has allowed at least 30 points in its last 13 games against Power 5 opponents.

The week following the New Mexico game, Texas A&M plays Ole Miss, which has, again, the worst scoring defense in the SEC, so that was also a possible opponent for the Aggies to light it up against. But that game is at Oxford, while the matchup with the Lobos is in College Station.

Vanderbilt: Nov. 18 vs. Missouri

Why this game? It hasn’t been a fun month for the Commodores, who have lost four straight since starting SEC play. The good news for Vanderbilt fans? It scored 35 points in a loss at Ole Miss last weekend, so the potential for offensive success is there.

Vanderbilt does go out of conference next month to host Western Kentucky. But the Hilltoppers have one of the best defenses in Conference USA (2nd in C-USA in scoring defense – 18.2 PPG). So, the pick here will remain Missouri, which has allowed at least 30 points in all six games this season.