SEC Week Three Preview
National championship implications are on the line as No. 1 Alabama (1-0) heads to College Station to face No. 6 Texas A&M (2-0). The Aggies’ 117 points rank third nationally, while Alabama has allowed 14 points or fewer in 12 of its last 15 games. Texas A&M upset Alabama 29-24 in Tuscaloosa last season.
Vanderbilt (1-1, 0-1 SEC) and No. 14 South Carolina (1-1, 0-1 SEC) go for their first SEC wins as the teams face off in Columbia. The Commodores, coming off a home win versus Austin Peay, are led offensively by WR Jordan Matthews, who leads the SEC with 289 receiving yards. The Gamecocks counter with big-play threat RB Mike Davis, the only player in the nation with two plays of 70+ yards.
Auburn (2-0) welcomes SEC West rival Mississippi State (1-1) to Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game serves as an early-season measuring stick for both squads as each of the past five seasons, the winner of the game has gone on to have the better overall record. Auburn likes to run the ball, averaging nearly 300 yards-per-game on the ground, while Mississippi State has surrendered only 157 rushing yards-per-game.
Kentucky (1-1) plays host to No. 7 Louisville (2-0) in the first of four-straight games versus ranked opponents. The Wildcats passed for 413 yards in week two against Miami (Ohio), while allowing just 23 yards through the air. Louisville offers up a much more potent offensive attack behind star QB Teddy Bridgewater. Kentucky features DE Za’Darius Smith, the nation’s leader in sacks (4.0).
Tennessee (2-0) travels across the country to face No. 2 Oregon (2-0) in Eugene. The Vols and Ducks have blown by their competition in their first two games, with each ranking in the top-15 in points for and against. The teams last met in 2010 with Oregon winning 48-13.
No. 25 Ole Miss (2-0, 1-0 SEC) visits Texas (1-1) as a nationally-ranked team after claiming the final spot in the poll. Ole Miss rushed for 272 yards in week two, while Texas allowed a school-worst 550 yards on the ground.
No. 8 LSU (2-0) gets one last tune-up before SEC play, hosting Kent State (1-1, 0-1 MAC). The Tigers rolled past UAB, 56-17, behind three receiving touchdowns from junior Odell Beckham.
Arkansas (2-0) hosts Southern Miss (0-2) for the first time in history. The Razorbacks scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to sneak past Samford 31-21, while Southern Miss fell 56-13 at Nebraska.