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Week 1 didn’t go as planned for the SEC East.
Three teams won non-conference games, but none looked particularly good. Two others looked worse losing non-conference games.
Here’s what we can expect from the Week 2 opponents:
Florida (1-0) vs. Kentucky (0-1)
Kentucky PPG: 35.0
Kentucky Allowed: 44.0
Kentucky’s strength: Relatively speaking, the offense. Despite its inconsistency from the first half to the second against Southern Miss, the Wildcats showed they could score in bunches with 35 points before halftime. Getting shut out from then on, however, is definitely a cause for concern, but it’s foolish to consider a defense that gave up 520 yards a strength.
Gators must stop: The Gators gave up just 46 rushing yards against Massachusetts, so UK sophomore running back Stanley “Boom” Williams likely will have a tough time getting much going in the Swamp. That means Kentucky sophomore quarterback Drew Barker, who was more than adequate with 323 yards and four touchdowns against Southern Miss, will need to challenge Florida’s secondary early and often.
Notable: Kentucky has not beaten the Gators since 1986, a 10-3 affair.
Florida PPG: 24.0
Florida Allowed: 7.0
Gators’ strength: As was the case last year, Florida’s defense shined in its season opener against UMass. The Gators gave up just 187 yards (14th nationally), allowed only 12 first downs (tied for 13th nationally) and held the Minutemen to just a 1-for-11 clip on third downs.
Wildcats must stop: Sophomore quarterback Luke Del Rio was impressive in his Florida debut, going 29-of-44 for 256 yards, two touchdowns and — more important — no turnovers. If he can continue to pair that efficiency with the Gators’ stingy defense, Florida should continue to win.
Notable: The Gators have beaten Kentucky 29 consecutive times, the longest win streak in the history of the conference.
Georgia (1-0) vs. Nicholls State (0-0)
2015 Nicholls State PPG: 17.7
2015 Nicholls State Allowed: 32.5
Strength: On paper, the Colonels were best at running the football last year, but they must replace two senior running backs. So instead it’s Nicholls State’s defense, which returns nine starters, that might be the Southland Conference team’s best asset.
Must stop: With so much turnover in the running game, senior quarterback Tuskani Figaro will likely need to return to his top dual-threat form that helped him both rush and pass for 1,000 yards in 2013, when he set program’s single-season rushing record. After a broken collarbone ended his 2015 season nine games in, Figaro will likely be intent on improving his mediocre passing numbers (55.5 completion percentage, 925 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions).
Notable: Nicholls State is located in Thibodaux, La., a town of 15,000 that’s situated about 60 miles southwest of New Orleans and doubles as this writer’s hometown.
Missouri (0-1) vs. Eastern Michigan (1-0)
Eastern Michigan PPG: 61.0
Eastern Michigan Allowed: 14.0
Strength: It’s hard to judge the Eagles after just one game against Mississippi Valley State, but its offense seems just as explosive after the loss of running back Darius Jackson and indefinite suspension of quarterback Brogan Roback.
Must stop: Eastern Michigan piled up 300 rushing yards behind the two-headed attack of sophomores Shaq Vann and Ian Eriksen. Despite throwing an interception against the Delta Devils, junior quarterback Todd Porter also looks serviceable after tossing three touchdowns in place of Roback.
Notable: The team had two interesting nicknames while playing at Michigan State Normal College in the early in the late 1800s and early 1900s: the Normalites and the Hurons.
South Carolina (1-0) at Mississippi State (0-1)
Mississippi State PPG: 20.0
Mississippi State Allowed: 21.0
Strength: It’s easy to be down on Mississippi State following its upset against South Alabama and the loss of Dak Prescott. But this is still a team capable of scoring a good bit of points under coach Dan Mullen … if its kicker can connect on field goals.
Must stop: Junior quarterback Damian Williams had a nice showing despite the Bulldogs’ loss, rushing for 93 yards and going 20-of-28 with 143 yards and a touchdown through the air. He also drove them into position for a last-minute win. The high completion percentage is encouraging for Mississippi State fans, but they’d probably like to see him stretch the field more with senior receiver Fred Ross on the outside.
Notable: The Bulldogs have lost seven consecutive against South Carolina, their last victory coming in 1999.
Tennessee (1-0) vs. Virginia Tech (1-0) (Bristol, Tenn.)
Virginia Tech PPG: 36.0
Virginia Tech Allowed: 13.0
Strength: Again, it’s difficult to evaluate a team after one game against an FCS foe. The score suggests the Hokies underperformed against Liberty, but their defense gave up fewer than 100 yards rushing and passing. And those 13 points Virginia Tech allowed?
The Flames scored on a 10-yard drive and returned a fumble recovery, so they could have just as easily been shut out.
Must stop: Senior defensive end Ken Ekanem was disruptive, registering a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. On offense, junior quarterback Jerod Evans poses a threat after tossing four touchdowns and finishing as the Hokies’ leading rusher in the season opener.
Notable: ESPN’s College GameDay will broadcast live from Bristol Motor Speedway, where 150,000 fans are expected to attend the ACC-SEC matchup.
Vanderbilt (0-1) vs. Middle Tennessee State (1-0)
Middle Tennessee State PPG: 55.0
Middle Tennessee State Allowed: 0.0
Strength: Here we go again with the FBS vs. FCS Week 1 matchups. The Blue Raiders absolutely crushed Alabama A&M, outgaining their opponent 681-146. There’s a lot to choose from, but we’ll go with the offense simply because of that eye-popping yardage total. We’ll see if it holds up against one of the East’s best defenses.
Must stop: The high-powered Blue Raiders offense runs through sophomore quarterback Brent Stockstill — son of coach Rick Stockstill — who finished 12th nationally in passing yardage last season and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. He completed 30 of his 36 passes for 329 yards and five scores, at one point connecting on a program-record 22 consecutive throws.
Notable: Middle Tennessee State earned its nickname of Blue Raiders in 1934 when then-player Charles Sarver won a contest to name the school’s athletic teams put on by The Murfreesboro Daily News Journal. Sarver’s reward? A cool $5.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
