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It’s here. It’s finally here.
We have official SEC games tonight, but with the season starting up tonight and this weekend, which games do SEC fans need to be tuned in to? Here’s the slate of the SEC’s most interesting games for week one of the 2014 college football season.
No. 21 Texas A&M vs No. 9 South Carolina (Thursday on SEC Network – 6 p.m. EST)
The lowdown: Not only is this SEC’s 2014 debut game, but it will also be the debut game broadcast for the SEC Network. South Carolina comes into the season as the favorite to claim the SEC East title, but will Dylan Thompson be able to lead them to the SEC Championship game? For the Aggies, quarterback Kenny Hill makes his first collegiate start and freshman phenoms Speedy Noil and Myles Garrett will set out to prove their worth the hype. Williams-Bryce Stadium provides a perfect atmosphere for the first SEC game of the season as one of the most underrated stadiums in the conference.
Boise State vs No. 18 Ole Miss (Thursday on ESPN – 8 p.m. EST)
The lowdown: Boise State once again travels east to Atlanta for a match-up with an SEC team. The Broncos came away a victory against Georgia in the Georgia Dome in 2011, but this is a different looking Boise State squad as they enter their first season without head coach Chris Petersen. On the Ole Miss sidelines, the Rebels will be led by senior quarterback Bo Wallace and super sophomores Laquon Treadwell and Robert Nkemdiche. Hugh Freeze has stocked up some of the best talent in the SEC, but is this the year the Rebels make the jump and compete for the SEC West title?
Arkansas vs No. 6 Auburn (Saturday on SEC Network – 4 p.m. EST)
The lowdown: Whether it’s deserved or not, much has been made of the “war of words” between Bret Bielema and Gus Malzahn. Regardless, it’s only hyped up this season-opener even more as the reigning SEC champs look to prove last season’s success was legitimate. Nick Marshall is back with Sammie Coates and new wide receiver Duke Williams. Auburn has lost running back Tre Mason to the NFL, but Malzahn’s hurry-up, no tempo offense will be on full display this weekend. Arkansas went winless in the SEC last year, but the Razorbacks are hoping to see improvement this year behind a healthy Brandon Allen and strong stable of running backs.
No. 16 Clemson vs No. 12 Georgia (Saturday on ESPN – 5:30 p.m. EST)
The lowdown: A rematch of last season’s thrilling contest, Clemson and Georgia meet up in Sanford Stadium to kick off their respective seasons. Clemson is without their two key offensive weapons from 2013 – Sammy Watkins and Tajh Boyd – but offensive coordinator Chad Morris will look to devise ways to give quarterback Cole Stoudt enough time to pick apart an unproven Georgia secondary. The Bulldogs also feature new starting quarterback Hutson Mason and an offense that will roll out arguably the best running back duo in the conference – Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. One stat to be aware of – Georgia is 35-1 at home against non-conference opponents since 2001.
No. 14 Wisconsin vs No. 13 LSU (Saturday on ESPN – 9 p.m. EST)
The lowdown: LSU and Wisconsin will be the nightcap for the opening Saturday of the season at 9 p.m. Thankfully for Wisconsin, the game will on a neutral-site instead of at Tiger Stadium. The Badgers will ride the legs of running back Melvin Gordon all night, hoping he and the experienced Wisconsin offensive line can gash some holes in the middle of LSU’s front seven. This match-up will also be the country’s first glimpse of potential Heisman candidate and LSU’s true freshman running back Leonard Fournette. If the Badgers emerge with a win, they’ll have a great shot to run the table through the Big 10, but Les Miles is 3-0 at neutral-site openers against ranked opponents. So you know he’ll have his players ready to make a statement.
Drew Laing will be providing analysis and insight on Florida, Georgia, Missouri and South Carolina.
