SEC Week 11 Preview
In the biggest game of the weekend, No. 15 Texas A&M (7-2, 4-2 SEC) travels to Tuscaloosa to meet No. 1 Alabama (9-0, 6-0 SEC). The Crimson Tide escaped Death Valley with an emotional victory over No. 7 LSU last weekend, only their third win in Baton Rouge since 2000. The Aggies and the Tide have met four times, most recently in 1988, and Alabama holds a 3-1 series advantage.
Meanwhile, LSU (7-2, 3-2 SEC) will try to recover from the crushing loss to Alabama when they host No. 21 Mississippi State (7-2, 3-2 SEC). The Bulldogs have lost two straight (to Alabama and Texas A&M, coincidentally) since starting the season 7-0. They gave up 38 points in each loss while being held to 20 points combined across both games. Prior to the losing streak they had not scored less than 27 in any single game. LSU has held all opponents, including Alabama, under 22 points.
No. 5 Georgia (8-1, 6-1 SEC) has an opportunity to clinch the SEC East when they meet Auburn (2-7, 0-6) on the Plains. The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry is nearly even, with Auburn holding a 54-53-8 series advantage. Georgia’s last regular-season loss to a West team was against Auburn in 2010.
No. 8 South Carolina (7-2, 5-2 SEC) will also close out league play this week when they host Arkansas (4-5, 2-3 SEC). The Gamecocks had a week to regroup from losing running back Marcus Lattimore for the second consecutive year. Despite an early skid, Arkansas has won three of its last four. The Hogs have to win two of their final three (at South Carolina, at Mississippi State, vs. LSU) to go bowling.
Missouri (4-5, 1-5 SEC) and Tennessee (4-5, 0-5 SEC) will each try to keep postseason hopes alive in a difficult SEC East season. In addition to facing the trio of Top-10 SEC East contenders (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina), both teams drew home games against Alabama. The first-ever meeting between the two programs will come in league play with the winner keeping hopes for a winning season alive.
Vanderbilt (5-4, 3-3 SEC) and Ole Miss (5-4, 2-3 SEC) meet in Oxford in a matchup with bowl eligibility on the line. The Rebels have a tougher closing schedule (at LSU, vs. Mississippi State) than the Commodores (vs Tennessee, at Wake Forest ) but a victory this weekend will give either team peace of mind and late December plans.
In nonconference action, No. 6 Florida (8-1, 7-1 SEC) hosts Louisiana-Lafayette at the Swamp, where they have not lost this season.