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Rivalry Week started Thursday, but today it reaches an entirely different level. SEC teams will end their regular seasons playing their biggest foes.
Many of these matchups include in-state battles, which include both conference and non-conference games. The Iron Bowl, Egg Bowl and Tennessee-Vanderbilt game will take place today, as well as the Florida-Florida State and Kentucky-Louisville games.
It would be easy to say these games can be summed up by the term “pride,” so let’s dive a little bit deeper. Here are ways to describe each Saturday SEC game for Week 13.
Georgia Tech vs. Georgia: “Momentum”
Georgia’s Week 13 matchup goes beyond Saturday’s game. A victory can continue the Bulldogs’ momentum under head coach Kirby Smart heading into his second season.
Smart has had an up and down season, but he’s riding a three-game winning streak and has the opportunity to finish with nine wins. A victory against a 7-4 Georgia Tech team should keep fans optimistic.
Kentucky vs. No. 11 Louisville: “Overmatched”
This one might not be pretty, at least based on pregame perception. Louisville was expected to be the biggest beneficiary of the three top-5 teams losing games in Week 11. Instead, the Cardinals dropped a 36-10 loss at Houston in Week 12, which spoiled their chances of cracking the top 4.
So there’s little doubt that Louisville will be hungry. The Wildcats are a 26-point underdog.
No. 13 Auburn vs. No. 1 Alabama: “Stay the course”
The Iron Bowl. The biggest rivalry in the SEC and arguably all of college football. This year’s matchup features two of the conference’s best teams, but it’s still expected to be an extremely favorable matchup by top-ranked Alabama.
The Tide is on pace to make the College Football Playoff for the third consecutive season and defend its national championship. Still, this is considered a trap game for Alabama. The Tide needs to stay the course and continue its dominance with a perfectly game Auburn team coming to Tuscaloosa.
Even with leading rusher Kamryn Pettway expected to return for the Tigers, Alabama’s defense should enjoy another stellar performance.
Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss: “Pride”
Both Mississippi teams find themselves in the bottom two spots of the SEC West standings each with a 2-5 conference record. Needless to say, this year’s Egg Bowl matchup has far less incentive than the past few seasons, but it still has bowl implications for both teams, although even at 5-7 with a relatively high APR score, Mississippi State would need still need help.
South Carolina vs. No. 4 Clemson: “Keep it close”
Like Kentucky, South Carolina finds itself facing a tough matchup against an in-state ACC foe. Clemson enters today’s game as the No. 4 team in the College Football Playoff poll.
The Gamecocks have already exceeded expectations by securing a bowl game appearance at 6-5. That’s a huge improvement from their 3-9 (1-7 SEC) last place finish in 2015.
If nothing else, South Carolina can put together a respectable performance by keeping Saturday’s game close. That is, unless it does spoil its rival’s College Football Playoff chances.
No. 17 Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt: “Bowl status”
Aside from state pride, the matchup between Tennessee and Vanderbilt is all about bowl status. The Commodores are one win away from automatically bowl eligibility (but likely will go at 5-7 because of its high APR), while the Vols have a chance to play their way into the Sugar Bowl, if several other factors fall into place.
Tennessee is favored in Saturday’s game, but let’s overlook a hungry Vanderbilt team coming off a huge upset against Ole Miss in Week 12. This could be a surprisingly entertaining matchup if the Commodores can keep it close.
No. 15 Florida vs. No. 14 Florida State: “Revenge”
Florida State has dominated its annual rivalry with Florida throughout Jimbo Fisher’s tenure. The Seminoles have won five of their six matchups under Fisher, including the last three consecutive games.
The Gators will look to bounce back from their losing skid after winning five of their last six games. Will Florida be able to carry some extra momentum into the SEC Championship Game?
Jason covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
