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Column: Most SEC teams on clear path entering final month of the season
By John Brasier
Published:
Though some teams still have half their SEC games remaining, there’s a clear pecking order in the conference as we enter what promises to be an exciting final month of the regular season.
Most teams are headed in obvious directions — some up, some down. Only a few treading water, waiting to find their course down the stretch.
LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss will fight it out for the West Division title. Texas A&M and Mississippi State will be factors, too, in a series of much-anticipated matchups of national powers. Leonard Fournette will wrap up the Heisman Trophy.
Don’t expect many big surprises such as the late-season runs Missouri and Arkansas made last year.
For starters, Florida has locked up the East. The Gators will climb into the top 10 while waiting for their annual showdown with Florida State. Chances are good that the West winner will face a one-loss, top 10 Florida team in Atlanta.
Florida is gaining momentum and confidence. Quarterback Treon Harris has played well in relief of Will Grier. Playing Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Florida Atlantic the next three weeks will keep the Gators rolling. Meanwhile, FSU is struggling. The loss to one-win Georgia Tech was horrific. Plus, the Seminoles have issues at quarterback.
The remainder of the East seems easy to figure as well. Tennessee is primed to embark on a winning streak. The others have problems with no solutions in sight.
The Vols, competitive in every game despite four losses, should cruise through an easy month against teams in disarray and take a five-game winning streak into a bowl game.
Everybody else is in freefall – poor offenses with poor quarterback play is a common denominator everywhere except Kentucky.
Georgia doesn’t have a quarterback and Mark Richt’s job may be in jeopardy.
Missouri and Vanderbilt have problems not only at quarterback, but with their entire offensive units.
South Carolina’s situation was so bad Steve Spurrier quit at midseason when chances for a winning season disappeared. The Gamecocks’ starting quarterback is Perry Orth, a former walk-on with only modest talent.
Kentucky’s breakthrough season has broken down. Dreams of an elusive winning record in the SEC are gone. The Wildcats have lost three in a row, the last two by a combined 94-37. They’ll play Georgia on Saturday in a game both teams must win to steady their courses.
While the three-way title race in the West should provide plenty of excitement and drama, it should come down to Saturday’s game between LSU and Alabama.
Ole Miss could muck up the SEC’s playoff chances by beating Arkansas, LSU and Mississippi State and earning the spot in Atlanta. But that’s not likely. And if that were to happen, Florida, which routed Ole Miss, could come to the playoff rescue.
This much is clear: LSU and Alabama are headed for either the playoffs or Big 6 bowl games. Ole Miss, Mississippi State will play in upper-tier, if not Big 6, bowl games. Texas A&M and Auburn are going bowling. And barring an upset, Arkansas will be the nation’s best 5-7 team.
Surprises? Perhaps, not so many. Excitement? Plenty. It doesn’t get any better than November football in the SEC. This year will be no exception.
