Starting Five: Top four teams hit the road

By Chris Marler

It’s the start of a historic week in the SEC. Four teams rank in the top five and all four of them are on the road Tuesday night. Thirteen SEC teams are projected to make the NCAA Tournament, with Arkansas currently listed as the first team out. There are a ton of storylines to get to, but here is what to watch for during the midweek action. 

1. The 1 vs 2 matchup we never thought would happen is here 

Regardless of Tuesday night’s results, Alabama and Auburn will face off Saturday as the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country—a remarkable achievement for several reasons. It’s not just because the state of Alabama has long been known as a football first state, that much is obvious. It’s also a huge deal because it’s the first time in the history of the conference that two teams in the SEC have occupied the top two spots of the top 25. 

2. Surviving the road 

Auburn heads to Nashville to face a Vanderbilt team who has $300,000 in court-storming fines already this season. What’s another $100,000 to Commodore fans and students? 

Florida and Tennessee both hit the road to take on ranked opponents in Starkville and Lexington. Both are favored by less than three points. Alabama is the final team on the road, as they head to Austin to play a Texas team who has already knocked off No. 8 Texas A&M at home this year. 

Home teams are 169-37 this season in the SEC for a winning percentage of .820.

3. Must win Wednesday 

Missouri and Arkansas both get home games against unranked, inferior opponents on Wednesday night. Arkansas is currently on the outside looking in for the NCAA tournament. However, going on a run to close out the season and getting one to two wins in the SEC tournament would do wonders for getting the Razorbacks in. That starts with winning the games they’re supposed to win like Wednesday night against LSU. 

And 1 (4) . Who’s on upset alert? 

Ole Miss is the answer. It would be easy to say it’s Tennessee or Florida given their small point spread that they’re favored by. Where’s the fun in that? Ole Miss heads to Columbia to take on a Gamecocks team that is winless in conference play. However, they have played Auburn and Florida down to the wire in Colonial Life Arena. Expect a battle between two strong defensive teams, including Ole Miss, which is coming off an emotionally charged, come-from-behind win.