By Cole Mantell (@LightningDragon)
Welcome back to the SEC Blog! Rivalry Week is just around the corner, and I’m back in action to recap another great week of SEC action. The whole season has led up to this. Teams fighting for what remaining spots are available for the SEC in the playoffs, giving their best efforts to secure more games after next week. Let’s dive in.
One Spot Up Left For Grabs
So after seven weeks of action, we have some clarity in the SEC Playoff Race. Auburn, to no one’s surprise, has won their second straight SEC conference title. It’s their third conference title overall, winning previously in Seasons 7 and 20. Congratulations to the Tigers.
Kentucky has also secured the 2nd spot in the conference, despite the close loss to Auburn on Monday night. No matter what, Kentucky is a part of the all-important Top 8 in the revised playoff system this season, and will continue to be a threat to whomever they choose to play in the first round.
That leaves Florida, Alabama, and Georgia competing for the last automatic spot in the conference. Ryan Moreland had a great article earlier this weekend explaining what needs to happen, found here. Florida is in the driver’s seat and will get that third spot so long as they beat Georgia in their rivalry week matchup in Jacksonville. If Florida loses, depending on what happens, Georgia or Alabama could get that spot. That makes the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party even more important this season.
The SEC might be less dramatic than other conferences around the league, but that doesn’t mean the conference doesn’t have drama left to give. Besides, Florida-Georgia, the Iron Bowl will be the marquee event of the regular season, as usual. Auburn might have everything locked up, but Alabama could be playing with their season on the line. While the Crimson Tide might be voted in anyhow, this game goes well beyond any playoff implications. Speaking from personal experience. Expect fireworks Tuesday no matter the score.
Who Do the Tigers and Wildcats Choose?
As we discussed, Auburn and Kentucky are locked in at #1 and #2 in the SEC, respectively. So, under the new playoff system, both teams now will need to choose one of eight teams available for the first round of the playoffs. Let’s take a look at who they could choose, and who I think they will choose.
Starting with Auburn, assuming they win as favorites over Alabama, the Tigers will be the #1 seed in the country. Thus, they will get to pick any of the eight teams available. This then becomes an exercise in which eight teams will be available to choose from. For this exercise, and based on Ryan’s aforementioned great playoff articles this weekend, I came up with these eight teams as the teams available to be chosen as first-round matchups, in no particular order:
- Florida
- Alabama
- North Carolina
- Virginia Tech
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Penn State
- USC
That’s two teams per conference, and for Auburn, one name jumps out immediately. Does Auburn choose USC first, and look for revenge for last season’s National Championship in Round 1? Do the Tigers take USC, in this scenario a 6-2 3rd place team, over perceived weaker opponents? It would be within character for Auburn AD Justin Duke to do such a thing. As a resident fan of chaos, I say they should. But in terms of the best first-round matchup on paper, that would not be the correct choice.
I think both teams don’t give their conference opponents another chance at them, so that eliminates Auburn and Florida. In this scenario, the correct choice for a #1 Auburn seems clear. I think they take Virginia Tech, who in this case is the last vote in the team at 3-5 after a win over rival Clemson this week. Virginia Tech likely would be the #16 seed in last season’s format, and while they’ve had a great expansion season, Auburn does outclass the Hokies in almost every facet. Which is exactly why I think Auburn chooses chaos and takes Alabama or USC. For fun.
Kentucky is a bit harder to predict because they’ll be the top #2 team in the CFSL for this exercise. At the fifth seed, I therefore need to predict who Auburn, Ohio State, Texas, and Florida State take, in that order. For this exercise, I chose Virginia Tech, Florida, Alabama, and North Carolina, in that order. That leaves, in no particular order:
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Penn State
- USC
Who does Kentucky take then? My mind goes toward the two remaining Big XII teams. It’s a weaker conference, but both Texas A&M and Oklahoma are feisty opponents. I think asking for a first-round matchup against Oklahoma AD Dustin Hall is the worst idea imaginable, so my guess is in this scenario Kentucky chooses Texas A&M. Here are the full matchups from my guesswork:
#1 Auburn vs #16 Virginia Tech
#2 Ohio State vs #15 Florida
#3 Texas vs #14 Alabama
#4 Florida State vs #13 North Carolina
#5 Kentucky vs #12 Texas A&M
#6 Miami vs #11 Penn State
#7 Michigan State vs #10 USC
#8 Colorado vs #9 Oklahoma
Players Who Stood Out This Week
From Monday night’s showdown, Auburn CB Chuy Baca was once again an all-around star, nagging two interceptions and returning kicks in a key 40-35 win for the Tigers. On offense, junior WR Lance Lyde nagged his 10th touchdown of the season so far with 124 receiving yards on just 4 catches.
For Kentucky, despite the loss, I have to shout out CB Davius Greene. He’s just had three interceptions in his career, and none since transferring to Kentucky from Boise State last season. His first interception in a Kentucky uniform was an 83-yard pick-six, the single-longest interception return in Kentucky team history.
On Tuesday, Florida’s upset win over Alabama was led by a stellar effort on defense from OLB Darren Robinson. Robinson had 10 tackles, 4 TFLs, and a sack in the win. For Alabama, despite the loss, what a game for TE Connor Keane. Keane had 187 receiving yards on 10 catches and somehow had zero touchdowns. What a weird and exciting night for the junior.
Georgia did end up beating Tennessee on Thursday, 70-17. That led to some great stat lines for the Bulldogs, especially on offense. Specifically, HB Jett O’Riley ran for 4 touchdowns and over 100 rushing yards. WR Jason Dodd had over 100 receiving yards and another touchdown. And QB Brandon Petty threw for over 300 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. That’s the 10th time the junior QB has reached those two stats in the same game.
SEC Results Week 7
Auburn beats Kentucky, 40-35
Florida beats Alabama, 43-40
Georgia beats Tennessee, 70-17
SEC Schedule Rivalry Week
Tuesday
Auburn vs Alabama (6:30 PM, Twitch)
Wednesday
Georgia vs Florida (6:30 PM, Twitch)
Thursday
Kentucky vs Tennessee (8:30 PM, YouTube)
Potential SEC Game of the Week
All of them. Rivalry Week is the best week of the CFSL season for a reason. No matter your record or playoff standing, anything can happen. Predictions go out the window when hate is on the line. Enjoy this once-in-a-season experience, and get ready for chaos and fun.
