Ad Disclosure
What you need to know about every SEC West opponent in Week 3
By Brad Joyal
Published:
This is going to be fun. After an entertaining Week 2, nearly every SEC West team will begin conference play this weekend.
As you prepare for the third week of the season, here is a preview of every SEC West team’s opponent for Week 3.
OLE MISS (VS. ALABAMA)
Ole Miss 2016 PPG: 36.0
Ole Miss 2016 PPG allowed: 29.0
Strength: The Rebels will showcase their high-powered passing attack led by quarterback Chad Kelly. After he threw three interceptions in a 45-34 loss to Florida State in the season opener, the signal-caller rebounded by completing 20-of-27 passes for 3 touchdowns and no picks against Wofford in Week 2. Against the Terriers, Kelly lost one of his favorite red zone targets — D.K. Metcalf suffered a broken foot — but Evan Engram, Demore’ea Stringfellow, Van Jefferson, Quincy Adeboyejo and company will provide the quarterback with plenty of options on Saturday.
Must stop: With so many offensive weapons at the skilled positions, Alabama will have to try to prevent big plays. The Rebels will enter Saturday with eight different receivers who have each caught passes for 20-yard gains or better. Engram is the deadliest of the bunch. He has caught 11 passes for 164 yards through two weeks, but Kelly has proven that he’ll find the open man for big gains.
Notable: Ole Miss has had the Crimson Tide’s number in recent years. The Rebels upset Alabama 23-17 in 2014 before escaping Tuscaloosa with a 43-37 victory last season. Despite the Tide’s distinction as the No. 1 team in the nation, Ole Miss will enter Saturday knowing what it takes to pull off an upset.
TEXAS STATE (AT ARKANSAS)
Texas State 2016 PPG: 56.0
Texas State 2016 PPG allowed: 54.0
Strength: For the second straight week, Arkansas will face a team that likes to attack opposing defenses through the air. Although the Bobcats don’t boast the same firepower TCU possessed last week, they did show major improvements when they went on the road and outlasted Ohio 56-54 in a Week 1 shootout after scoring 26.9 points per game last year.
Must stop: After going on the road to win its opener, Texas State will have the luxury of traveling to Fayetteville after a Week 2 bye. That should bode well for the passing attack, which already looked sharp against Ohio. Even though he threw two interceptions in the win, quarterback Tyler Jones completed 40-of-55 pass attempts for 418 yards and 4 TDs against Ohio. He’ll also have plenty of options against the Razorbacks, including Eric Luna (10 catches, 90 yards, 1 TD), Elijah King (7 catches, 105 yards, 2 TD) and Gabe Schrade (6 catches, 72 yards).
Notable: As good as its offense looked against Ohio, it’s important to note Texas State’s defense was pitiful when the team posted a 3-9 record in 2015. Not only did the Bobcats surrender an average of 39.2 points per game last season, they also allowed opposing offenses to convert 49.1 percent of third down attempts.
TEXAS A&M (AT AUBURN)
Texas A&M 2016 PPG: 49.0
Texas A&M 2016 PPG allowed: 12.0
Strength: So far, scoring points hasn’t been an issue for the Aggies this season. Between its 31-24 victory over No. 16 UCLA in Week 1, and its 67-0 shellacking of Prairie View A&M last Saturday, Texas A&M has already recorded 1,114 yards of total offense. Both the run game (79 rushing attempts, 480 yards, 7 touchdowns) and passing attack (49 completions, 634 yards, 4 touchdowns) have gotten the job done, giving the Aggies one of the most electric and dynamic offenses in the nation.
Must stop: While everybody has gotten into the act, quarterback Trevor Knight has been phenomenal through the first two weeks of the season. So far, the Oklahoma graduate transfer has completed 43-of-79 pass attempts for 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions through the air. On the ground, the new signal-caller has run for 109 yards and 3 touchdowns on 16 carries.
Notable: When the Aggies last visited The Plains in 2014, they squashed Auburn’s hopes of playing in the inaugural College Football Playoff by upsetting the then-third-ranked Tigers 41-38.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (AT LSU)
Mississippi State 2016 PPG: 23.5
Mississippi State 2016 PPG allowed: 17.5
Strength: One week after Damian Williams ran for 93 yards in the Bulldogs’ 21-20 loss to South Alabama in the season opener, Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen showcased the team’s other — and even better — mobile quarterback in Week 2. After sitting against the Jaguars, Nick Fitzgerald took over behind center and ran wild for 195 yards when the Bulldogs opened SEC play with a 27-14 win against South Carolina on Saturday.
Must stop: While both quarterbacks have played well — especially Fitzgerald, who also completed 19-of-29 pass attempts for 178 yards, a pair of touchdowns and an interception against the Gamecocks — the Bulldogs’ offense is all about the running game. Through two games, the team has run for 529 rushing yards on 79 carries, including 290 yards on Saturday. Fitzgerald had a team-high 17 carries against South Carolina, but Brandon Holloway (26 carries, 96 yards) has also played well thus far.
Notable: The Bulldogs beat the Tigers 34-29 when the two teams last met in Baton Rouge in 2014 before LSU returned the favor and won, 21-19, in a rematch in Starkville a year ago.
LSU (VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE)
LSU 2016 PPG: 24.0
LSU 2016 PPG allowed: 14.5
Strength: With Heisman Trophy hopeful Leonard Fournette out with an ankle injury he suffered in the Tigers’ season-opening loss to Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, sophomore Derrius Guice reminded the nation that LSU’s running attack isn’t just a one-man show on Saturday. Guice recorded 155 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, as he helped the Tigers rebound and beat Jacksonville State, 34-13, in Week 2. In 2015, LSU ranked seventh in the nation with 256.8 rushing yards per game. This season, the offense has continued to ground and pound against opponents.
Must stop: Fournette is expected to return to the backfield on Saturday, which should scare the Bulldogs. He played a key role in the Tigers’ 21-19 victory in Starkville last fall as he rumbled for a then-career-high 159 yards and 3 touchdowns. Mississippi State will certainly have its hands full if Fournette plays, especially considering the do-everything back will likely be motivated to have a big performance after missing Week 2.
Notable: As strong as the Tigers’ running game may be, there are undoubtedly some question marks at LSU. While head coach Les Miles is once again on the hot seat, quarterback Brandon Harris may be fighting for the starting job with Purdue transfer Danny Etling, who last week finished 6-for-14 with 100 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT against Jacksonville State.
ALABAMA (AT OLE MISS)
Alabama 2016 PPG: 45.0
Alabama 2016 PPG allowed: 8.0
Strength: Like most seasons, the Crimson Tide is once again the class of college football. Alabama will enter Oxford as the No. 1 team in the nation after blowing out USC, 52-6, in its season opener and handling Western Kentucky, 38-10, on Saturday. The Crimson Tide has gotten it done on both sides of the ball through its first two games, but the offense has been especially even-keeled with the passing and running attacks providing five touchdowns apiece.
Must stop: While Damien Harris (20 carries, 183 yards) has established himself as Alabama’s most electric running back, it seems as though Jalen Hurts may finally be separating himself as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback. So far, the signal-caller has completed 29-of-47 pass attempts for 405 yards and 4 TDs, numbers which will only grow once he completely takes over the reins of the offense.
Notable: Aside from the 2013 Iron Bowl against Auburn, Alabama hasn’t lost to another SEC team besides Ole Miss since 2012, when Johnny Manziel led Texas A&M to a 29-24 victory in Tuscaloosa. No team has had the Tide’s number quite like Hugh Freeze and Ole Miss, so Nick Saban and Alabama will certainly be fired up for this one.
AUBURN (VS. TEXAS A&M)
Auburn 2016 PPG: 32.0
Auburn 2016 PPG allowed: 16.5
Strength: The Tigers have relied on balanced offensive production thus far as they’ve run for 549 yards and passed for 419 through the first two weeks of the season. After quarterback Sean White looked shaky against Clemson (10-of-21, 140 yards, 1 INT) in the season opener, the signal-caller rallied to light up Arkansas State for 244 yards and 3 TDs in a 51-14 thrashing last weekend.
Must stop: White should feel more comfortable after dominating in Week 2, but Auburn also has a deadly running game it can use in hopes of keeping the Aggies’ offense off the field. Kerryon Johnson (41 carries, 218 yards, 3 TDs) has carried the majority of the load thus far, though Kamryn Pettway (15 carries, 152 yards) is dangerous each and every time he touches the ball.
Notable: Even though Auburn had a down 7-6 year last season, the Tigers went into College Station and upset Texas A&M 26-10 last November. However, the two teams are 2-2 in their four meetings since the Aggies joined the SEC.
