SEC Week Nine Preview
No. 21 South Carolina (5-2, 3-2 SEC) travels to No. 5 Missouri (7-0, 3-0 SEC) for a pivotal SEC East showdown. The Tigers own a two-game lead on the rest of the division after wins over Georgia and Florida and a win over South Carolina would put them in excellent position to win a division championship in just their second season in the SEC. Missouri rolled past Florida 36-17 in quarterback Maty Mauk’s first start replacing injured QB James Franklin. The Gamecocks suffered a last-second defeat at Tennessee, despite another 100-yard rushing effort from running back Mike Davis. South Carolina returns home for the final four games of the season following the road trip to Missouri.
No. 1 Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC) welcomes rival Tennessee (4-3, 1-2 SEC) into town. The Volunteers are riding high following an upset win over South Carolina, but face an Alabama squad that has won its last two SEC games by a combined score of 110-7. The Crimson Tide easily dispatched Arkansas, 52-0, behind 352 rushing yards and three forced turnovers. Alabama has won six-straight in the series, including three-straight wins by at least 29 points.
Vanderbilt (4-3, 1-3 SEC) makes its first trip to College Station to face No. 16 Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2 SEC). The Commodores upset Georgia at home in week eight, while the Aggies fell victim to an upset bid by Auburn. Texas A&M scored 41 points in the loss, marking the 10th-consecutive game in which the team has scored 40+ points dating back to last season.
Kentucky (1-5, 0-3 SEC) and Mississippi State (3-3, 0-2 SEC) search for their first conference win of the season. The Bulldogs are the first non-ranked team that Kentucky has faced since defeating Miami (Ohio) on September 7, while Mississippi State’s three losses have come to No. 19 Oklahoma State, No. 11 Auburn and No. 13 LSU. Kentucky has lost four-straight in the series for the first time ever.
Ole Miss (4-3, 2-3 SEC) steps out of conference play to host Idaho (1-6). The Rebels earned a signature victory in week eight, upsetting LSU, 27-24. Quarterback Bo Wallace passed for 346 yards, the defense forced three turnovers and kicker Andrew Ritter nailed a game-winning field goal in the final seconds of the thrilling victory. Idaho’s only win came in late September at home against Temple.
No. 11 Auburn (6-1, 3-1 SEC) completes its non-conference slate, hosting Florida Atlantic (2-5, 1-4 C-USA). The Tigers skyrocketed in the polls following a 45-41 upset win at Texas A&M. Junior running back Tre Mason carried the ball 27 times for 178 yards and a touchdown to lift Auburn to the win. Auburn last met the Owls in 2011, defeating FAU, 30-14.
No. 13 LSU (6-2, 3-2 SEC) returns home to face FCS foe, Furman (3-4, 2-2 Southern). The Tigers dropped their second game of the season in week eight, falling 27-14 at Ole Miss.