By: Amber Pennycuff
Ole Miss (3-1, 1-1) vs. Auburn (3-1, 1-1)
The equally matched-up SEC teams will face off over in Tiger country on Saturday. Both coming off of a loss, this game will be an essential “W” to each team.
A loss from LSU and a bye- week, new head coach Gus Malzahn says they did “expand some things” on offense and defense over the week. Ole Miss took a 25-0 loss from the Crimson Tide last weekend and Malzahn says the Rebels defense really stood out in that game.
Ole Miss has stayed nationally ranked for the fourth straight week and took a win from the Tigers last year, 41-20 in Oxford. However, Auburn has a 27-10 advantage over the Rebels in the legendary match-up.
Interestingly enough, Ole Miss Head coach Hugh Freeze and Malzahn both served as Arkansas State head coach 2011 and 2012. Freeze told the press on Monday that “it’s difficult playing your friends.” The two date all the way back to their college assistant days and coach high school football in Arkansas.
The Rebels will kick-off in Auburn at 6:00 p.m. on ESPNU.
Tennessee (3-2, 0-1) vs. Georgia (3-1, 2-0)
The Volunteers will have a tough game ahead at home this weekend. Tennessee will take on the Georgia Bulldogs after a 31-24 win at home against South Alabama (2-2) last Saturday.
Georgia is no stranger to winning. Just last week, they took on the undefeated LSU (4-1) giving the Tigers their first loss of the season.
Defensive Coordinator John Jancek says the Vols know they have their hands full with Georgia’s talent. .“Guys go out there and make mistakes…we are looking for a level of consistency.”
Georgia has three straight wins over Tennessee and four out of the last five times. However, the Vols have a 21-19-2 lead in the long match-up.
The Bulldogs have taken victories over two top 10 ranked teams, no. 6 South Carolina and no. 6 LSU, just this season.
No. six nationally ranked team in total offense (554.0 ypg), Jancek says that Tennessee will have to keep its eyes on Georgia’s Quarterback.
Tennessee will kick-off at 2:30 p.m. against Georgia at Neyland Stadium on CBS.
Arkansas (3-2, 0-1) vs. Florida (3-1, 2-0)
After a win in Lexington last week, the Gators will be crawling back to the swamp to take on the Razorbacks. This will be the tenth time that the two will face each other, and Florida has an 8-1 advantage against Arkansas.
Ironically enough, the Razorbacks have five members of the football team that are from Florida. Those players, Alex Collins, Javontee Herndon, De’Andre Coley, Denver Kirkland, and Ke’Tyrus Marks, will be bringing in the fan base for Arkansas to the swamp.
Arkansas’ seven 100-yard rushing performances are the most in the SEC this season as no other conference team has more than three. However, the Gators have rushed for 461 yards in its last two match-ups.
The Razorbacks will kick-off at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 6:00 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
The rest of your SEC match-ups:
-After a 25-0 win against SEC rival Ole miss last week, Alabama will be taking Georgia State (0-4) at home this Saturday. The game will be featured on SEC TV with an 11:21 a.m. kick-off.
-LSU (4-1, 1-1) will travel over to Mississippi State (2-2, 0-1) Saturday night to kick-off on ESPN at 6:00 p.m.
-CSS will be airing live from Nashville at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday as Vanderbilt (3-2, 0-2) takes on the Missouri (4-0, 0-0) Tigers on home turf.
– The Kentucky (1-3, 0-1) Wildcats will head south to Columbia to take on South Carolina (3-1, 1-1) at 6:30 p.m. on FSN.
-Texas A&M will be taking a bye-week after a 45-33 win at Arkansas last Saturday. Next week, they will head over to The Grove to take on Ole Miss.
