There are several key SEC games this week, and the biggest may not be Arkansas taking on Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas.
The Razorbacks conventional offense vs. the Aggies unconventional attack. This game could mean a lot by the end of the season, but Missouri traveling to South Carolina will most likely be an elimination game for the SEC East title.
Vanderbilt going to Kentucky will decide the cellar dweller of the East.
Last week I missed on two games that looked like locks, picking LSU over Mississippi State and Missouri over Indiana, but 6-2 is OK and that runs the season record to 34-4.
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M
There was already a growing concern for how tough the SEC East might be this year, and then Steve Spurrier dogs out his team after their effort against Vandy. The Aggies' quality victory was against the Gamecocks, but perhaps it wasn't quite what it first appeared to be. Every team in the East already has a loss, the only losses by West teams were to conference opponents. In the preseason I went with Arkansas, and despite the impressive offensive stats the Aggies have put together I'm sticking with a Hogs victory. This one could be determined by turnovers, penalties and special teams play. Arkansas 31, Texas A&M 21.
Louisiana Tech at Auburn
Skip Holtz will have his Bulldogs focused and ready. He's a coach who knows no fear, but he just doesn't have the personnel to keep up with the Tigers. Some weren't impressed with Auburn's victory at Kansas State, but Manhattan, Kan., is a tough place to get a win and the Tigers were more in control than the 20-14 score indicated. The Tigers will improve. Auburn 42, Louisiana Tech 21.
Tennessee at Georgia
Both teams are trying to prove they are better than what they appear to be. The Bulldogs were favored by many to win the East but fell to South Carolina. Tennessee tuned up with victories over Utah State and Arkansas State, but mustered only 313 yards of offense against Oklahoma and went down 34-10. Butch Jones has his Volunteers improving but the Bulldogs can't afford a letdown. Georgia 35, Tennessee 24.
Vanderbilt at Kentucky
I still think the Wildcats were robbed in Gainesville, Fla., -- what is it about that place that gets so much home cooking -- and may be one of the most improved teams in the SEC East. If they don't get bowl eligible it won't be the defense's fault. The Commodores are in a total rebuilding mode. Kentucky 35, Vanderbilt 17.
New Mexico State at LSU
If the Tigers don't beat the daylights out of the Aggies something is wrong. The Tigers were outplayed at home last week by the Bulldogs of Mississippi State and now take on a team that has beaten Georgia State 34-31 and Cal Poly 28-10. It is time Les Miles took the quarterback situation by the horns and makes someone be the leader. LSU 49, New Mexico State 14.
Memphis at Ole Miss
The Rebels are quietly under the radar, helped by arch-rival Mississippi State's victory over LSU, but to stay in that comfort zone they know better than to take the Tigers lightly. Memphis played UCLA off its feet in Pasadena, Calif., in week two before falling by a touchdown. Ole Miss 35, Memphis 24.
Missouri at South Carolina
If the Tigers can't win in Columbia Mo., there's no reason to believe they can in Columbia, S.C. Usually after Spurrier publicly scolds his team, as he did this week after an unimpressive victory at Vanderbilt, they play much better. He is right: The Gamecocks are not a great team, but better than the Tigers. South Carolina 38, Missouri 28.
Sports on 09/26/2014