It’s that time once again. Do you know what the best part of Wednesday is? It’s basically Thursday. That means it’s almost Friday. And, that means it’s almost Saturday. We’re one day away from games being back on television, and just three days from a big week in the SEC.
Here’s one thing we want to see from every SEC team in their Week 3 game.
Alabama (vs. Florida State) – Revenge and a killer instinct
This feels like that moment in the video game Mortal Kombat where the opponent is teetering back and forth, and those two words pop up on the screen – “Finish Him.” Alabama has lacked a killer instinct under head coach Kalen DeBoer at times. They need to change that Saturday and send the Seminoles home early.
Arkansas (vs. Georgia) – A functional family
My grandma used to say, “We put the fun in dysfunctional family.”
There’s nothing fun about the dysfunction in Arkansas right now.
Auburn (vs. Florida) – Jordan-Hare being Jordan-Hare
A -2.5 point underdog to a similar team with a new head coach and zero wins over Power Four opponents? At Home? In Jordan-Hare Stadium. Time to get weird on the plains.
Florida (at Auburn) – That they made the right hire
These two head coaches were both finalists for several landing spots in the offseason hiring cycle. Depending on which fanbase you talk to, each thinks they made the right hire. Through two games, Florida looks better, but they haven’t played anyone yet. This is one of the most underrated games of the entire weekend.
Georgia (at Arkansas) – A Kirb-Stomping
Arkansas’ head coach Ryan Silverfield decided to talk trash about Georgia’s off-field issues last season completely unprovoked. Also, it’s important to remember that was when he was at Memphis, not Arkansas. Kirby Smart won’t forget, and that stadium will be emptier than Texas A&M’s trophy case by the third quarter.
Kentucky (at Texas A&M) – The ability to throw the ball downfield
Kenny Minchey is completing 80.6% of his passes within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. That number drops to 22% of passes over 20 yards or more. Kentucky has to be able to throw the ball downfield and stretch the field if they’re going to succeed.
LSU (at Ole Miss) – Composure
I believe Lane Kiffin when he says that the pressure is on Ole Miss’ team. Everyone outside of Louisiana is pulling for Ole Miss, and all offseason they’ve been the ones praised for their poise in winning the breakup with Kiffin. On Saturday, the moment will be big for everyone, but it can’t be too big for Kiffin and LSU. There can be no “get your popcorn ready” moments. LSU is the better team. They cannot get in its own way in that environment if they expect to win.
Mississippi State (at South Carolina) – The defense win a game
Everyone has talked about how great quarterback Kamario Taylor has been this season, and for good reason. But, if Mississippi State is going to win this game then it’s the defense that will have to do it. Shane Beamer is 25-5 when scoring 30-plus points at South Carolina. The Bulldogs will need to make sure his offense doesn’t get to that mark.
Missouri (vs. Troy) – Get the run game going
Quarterback Austin Simmons has been awesome so far this season, but Missouri does need to get the run game going a bit. They’re only averaging around 30 yards less per game in comparison to last season despite dropping from No. 1 in the SEC to No. 8. However, the 4.44 yards per carry is a far cry from the 5.32 a season ago.
Oklahoma (vs. New Mexico) – John Mateer get his confidence back
The Sooners need to get their quarterback going and get him going early. He took a major blow to his confidence a week ago in Ann Arbor.
Ole Miss (vs. LSU) – Forcing turnovers
The best path for Ole Miss to win Saturday isn’t in a shootout with LSU. No matter how good quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is, if they want to win against the Tigers, they’ll need to force them into uncomfortable situations early. Creating turnovers hasn’t been the Rebels forte so far this season, ranking last in turnover margin in the SEC. They’ll need to win that turnover battle and give themselves some short fields if they want to win against their former head coach.
South Carolina (vs. Mississippi State) – LaNorris Sellers steal the spotlight
Everyone in America is talking about MSU’s Taylor. His Heisman trophy odds skyrocketed from 150-to-1 to 22-to-1 in just two weeks. South Carolina has a pretty good quarterback as well. Saturday needs to be a reminder to everyone just how good LaNorris Sellers is, and just how high his, and this team’s, ceiling can be when he’s on.
Tennessee (vs. Kennesaw State) – A perfect tune up before next week
Tennessee has looked really good so far through two games. They get the Owls of Kennesaw State this weekend after playing a team 20 miles south off the same highway a week ago. For the Vols what everyone wants to see before next week’s game against Texas is a flawless tune up and 3-0 start to the season.
Texas (vs. UTSA) – No let downs
Last week’s win was historic, as the Longhorns became the first team in more than 20 years to defeat a No. 1 ranked team after trailing by 20+ points in the fourth quarter. This week they bring in an opponent with a Looney Tunes character as a mascot. There’s no rest for the weary in this league, and next week the Horns go to Knoxville for a massive game against Tennessee. It’s important that they continue to fire on all cylinders like their fourth quarter last week and not the previous three.
Texas A&M (vs. Kentucky) – The OL pushing people around
Last week Texas A&M’s offense had zero or negative yards on 30% of their first 30 rushing attempts. This week they play a Kentucky team that was gashed in the second half of last week’s game against Alabama. The Tide averaged 6.3 yards per carry in the second half, and the Aggies really need to show that this new offensive line they purchased from the portal can push people around.
Vanderbilt (vs. NC State) – Jared Curtis
He’s finally starting, which is great, but now how well can he play in his first start, especially against a Power Four opponent? Curtis is the future of the program, and handing the keys to him now is the right move even if he can literally barely drive.
