SEC Week Three Preview
Florida (2-0, 1-0 SEC) travels to Knoxville to take on the surging Tennessee Volunteers (2-0, 0-0 SEC). This week marks consecutive weeks that the Gators will be featured on College GameDay (both on the road). The Vols are 0-3 all time when College GameDay is in town.
Arkansas (1-1, 0-0 SEC) welcomes defending national champion Alabama (2-0, 0-0 SEC) to open conference play for both programs. The Crimson Tide are looking to continue their spotless streak of September wins since 2008 (19-0). The Razorbacks fell from the top 25 after a 34-31 overtime loss to Louisiana-Monroe last week.
Ole Miss (2-0, 0-0 SEC) and Texas (2-0, 0-0 Big 12) meet for the seventh time Saturday (UT leads series, 5-1). The Rebels lead the conference in five statistical categories, including total offense, rushing, first downs, third-down conversions and fourth-down conversions.
Missouri (1-1, 0-1 SEC) tries to get back in the win column after falling to Georgia in their inaugural SEC game, 41-20. Last time Missouri and Arizona State met (2011) the Sun Devils came away with a 38-31 overtime victory.
Auburn (0-2, 0-1 SEC) looks for their first win over the season and is facing a proven giant-killer, Louisiana-Monroe(1-0), who is coming off an overtime victory over No. 8 Arkansas, 34-31. In 119 years of football, the Tigers have lost just 15 home openers.
Vanderbilt (0-2, 0-1 SEC) is also searching for win number one, and will try to do so against the Presbyterian Blue Hose. A win would be the Commodores’ 10th straight over FCS opponents.
Texas A&M (0-1, 0-1 SEC) heads to Dallas to take on SMU in their first nonconference matchup of the year. The Aggies opened the season last week, falling to Florida at Kyle Field, 20-17.
South Carolina (2-0, 1-0 SEC) looks to extend their winning streak to seven games (dating back to last season) when they host UAB (0-1). Two All-American candidate defensive ends lead a Gamecocks defense that is allowing just 11.5 PPG.
Mississippi State (2-0, 1-0 SEC) takes its cowbells on the road to meet Troy in a nonconference battle. The Bulldogs have won 12-straight nonconference matchups and 13 of 15 in the Dan Mullen era.
Joker Phillips and Kentucky (1-1, 0-0 SEC) look to stay undefeated all-time against the WKU Hilltoppers. Quarterback Maxwell Smith is coming off a career performance, passing for 354 yards and four touchdowns.
Georgia (2-0, 1-0 SEC) returns to Athens to host Florida Atlantic after kicking off conference play with a 41-20 victory over newcomer Missouri. Mark Richt is 30-1 all time in nonconference games “Between the Hedges”.
LSU (2-0, 0-0 SEC) welcomes the Idaho Vandals (0-2, 0-0 WAC) to Death Valley. The Tigers are one win shy of breaking the all-time nonconference regular season winning streak, currently set at 39 games (Kansas State).