It’s the biggest weekend of the year in the SEC. Well, so far. An absurd four Top 25 matchups will take place in the conference this Saturday. Here’s one thing we want to see from every team in Week 4.
Alabama (vs South Carolina) – The secondary has to figure it out
The secondary was supposed to be the strength of this entire team. Through three games they rank 95th in the nation in passing yards allowed, and have allowed the most 20-plus yard passing plays in the SEC with 13. That number ballooned last week after allowing 377 yards through the air against Florida State.
Arkansas (vs Tulsa) – Nothing
Until they fire the coach or the athletic director, we don’t want to see anything else from Arkansas.
Auburn (vs Vanderbilt) – A win
A win over Vanderbilt would double the Tigers home wins versus SEC opponents in their last 10. The Tigers are 1-9 against SEC teams at home since late 2023. A win would also even the all-time series with Vanderbilt. That’s right, Vanderbilt holds the lead in this series.
Florida (vs Ole Miss) – What Vegas knows
Florida looks awesome so far this season, but them being favored by a field goal over the No. 4 team in America, coming off the second biggest win of the season by any team in the country, is wild. What does Las Vegas know?
Georgia (vs. Oklahoma) – More pass attempts for Gunner Stockton
Right now Stockton leads the nation in QBR at 94.8. That number is actually the third highest in a season in SEC history as it stands today. Stockton is awesome, but he’s only thrown 45 passes in three games. Hopefully we get to see more from him this weekend.
Kentucky (vs. South Alabama) – More explosive plays
Kentucky started throwing the ball downfield against Texas A&M and it opened up the entire offense. Next week they travel to South Carolina for what could be another big road win if they can keep the passing game humming.
LSU (vs Texas A&M) – No turnovers from Sam Leavitt
Leavitt leads the SEC in interceptions. He’s thrown five this season and had at least one in 11 of his 23 career starts. He needs to turn that around at some point, and there’s no better time than now against a defense that’s been notoriously bad at forcing turnovers since last season.
Mississippi State (vs Missouri) – Kamario Taylor Heisman campaign rolling on
They also need to shore up some things on the defensive end, but we all want to see the most exciting player in America have another big game.
Missouri (at Mississippi State) – Austin Simmons interception-less streak
Austin Simmons is one of three SEC starting quarterbacks without an interception this year. Last week, State’s defense forced two interceptions last week at South Carolina.
Oklahoma (at Georgia) – Keep it close
This was supposed to be one of the biggest games of the year in the SEC, but after three weeks it’s apparent that only one of these teams is for real.
Ole Miss (at Florida) – Prove the doubters wrong…again
Ole Miss was a home underdog to their ex-coach and had to listen to all the naysayers all offseason tell them they weren’t good enough and were going to lose. How’d they respond? By opening a 24-7 lead and ripping LSU’s heart out in the fourth quarter, 32-24. They were rewarded by immediately being a three point underdog once again, this time on the road at Florida.
South Carolina (at Alabama) – LaNorris Sellers to be 2024 Sellers again
It’s in there somewhere. Right? This Alabama team isn’t like the ones of old. They’ve drubbed some bad defenses so far, but South Carolina should be able to hang with them if they can just make a few more plays than they did a week ago. That starts with Sellers. Keep in mind South Carolina could have won this matchup in each of the last three years.
Tennessee (vs Texas) – A fieldstorm at Neyland Stadium in broad daylight
Tennessee is beating Texas on Saturday. You heard it here first. Texas doesn’t get to the quarterback nearly enough, and they have just nine plays over 20+ yards on offense all season long. That’s not a recipe for success in Neyland.
Texas (at Tennessee) – Explosive plays
See above.
Texas A&M (at LSU) – Get to the quarterback
Texas A&M had the SEC’s second leading pass rusher a season ago. Cassius Howell led most of the league with 11.5 sacks on the year. This year the Aggies have four total as a team through three games.
Vanderbilt (at Auburn) – Jared Curtis’ first big SEC win
Auburn’s pass defense ranks dead last in the SEC. They can get close against a true freshman quarterback.
