There’s only one must-watch game this Saturday, and it’s not in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Alabama, king of the Southeastern Conference for so long, takes on Mississippi State, a team with fewer SEC titles than Tulane or Georgia Tech. It’s one of MSU’s final tests to prove itself to the country, and it may decide who wins the Western division.
As usual, the SEC is full of games that will entertain, but Alabama-MSU is the one everyone needs to see.
1. Mississippi State, Prev. 1 (9-0, 5-0 SEC)
The Bulldogs walloped UT-Martin, 45-16, on Saturday in a tune-up game for Alabama. The game also could be seen as stat-padding for junior quarterback Dak Prescott’s Heisman campaign.
Prescott combined for 260 yards and three scores, including a 48-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. His first touchdown of the game broke the MSU school record for touchdowns in a season with three games left on the Bulldogs’ schedule.
No matter what Prescott does in his final three games, this is still the best single-season performance in Bulldogs history. Now his concentration is on the Heisman and getting MSU to Atlanta for the first time in 16 years.
2. Alabama, Prev. 3 (8-1, 5-1 SEC)
The Crimson Tide escaped Tiger Stadium with a late-rally victory Saturday night, but there are many things it needs to fix as the team finishes its season.
The game-tying drive was tremendous, but the Alabama offense before then was inefficient, especially in the second half. Junior receiver Amari Cooper seemed to be the only offensive player who showed up, and once he was shut down in the third quarter, the Tide couldn’t do anything.
Meanwhile, the defense couldn’t keep LSU’s offense off the field and was lucky the Tigers didn’t put up more points. Prescott and MSU won’t be as lenient in scoring, so Alabama will have to control time of possession to defeat the No. 1 team in the nation.
3. Auburn, Prev. 2 (7-2, 4-2 SEC)
After squeaking out a close win after close win, Auburn finally got to be on the other side of those losses.
Auburn erased an 18-point deficit at halftime against Texas A&M to cut the lead to three in the final quarter. But two fumbles on its final two drives, including one at the A&M two-yard line, ended the game. For the first time, Gus Malzahn’s team shot itself in the foot.
The game really didn’t require late-game heroics, but Auburn’s defense turned in another horrid performance. The defense has gotten worse as the season has progressed, and it needs to make changes if the team wants to stay relevant.
The loss hurts. But in the SEC, two losses can still get you into the College Football Playoff, especially with Auburn’s quality wins. It can still make the SEC Championship, but it will need wins at Georgia and at Alabama to end the season.
4. Ole Miss, Prev. 4 (8-2, 4-2 SEC)
The Rebels recovered from two devastating losses with a demolition of Presbyterian on Saturday, winning 48-0 and scoring 35 before halftime. They follow the win with a bye week, which should be ample time for the team to get ready for the final two games of the season.
Ole Miss probably doesn’t have a shot at the National Championship anymore, but it can salvage a 10-win season, including an upset in the Egg Bowl on Nov. 29.
5. LSU, Prev. 5 (7-3, 3-3 SEC)
LSU shouldn’t be penalized in the rankings for its overtime loss to Alabama on Saturday night. The Tigers may have choked, but they were the underdogs for a reason. There still aren’t five teams in the conference better than LSU, and it should finish the season strong against Arkansas and A&M.
6. Georgia, Prev. 7 (7-2, 5-2 SEC)
The Bulldogs remembered to show up this week, and destroying Kentucky in Lexington 63-31. Freshman running back Nick Chubb rushed for 170 yards on only 13 carries, and UGA was up 21 by the end of the first quarter.
UGA plays Auburn at home this week, and it can win if it brings a similar performance to Saturday’s win. The addition of suspended running back Todd Gurley will also help immensely.
7. Texas A&M, Prev. 9 (7-3, 3-3 SEC)
A week after defeating the University of Louisiana at Monroe by five points at home, the Aggies won at Auburn by three points because logic is dumb and nothing makes sense. A&M has potential in freshman quarterback Kyle Allen, who threw four touchdowns in Saturday’s victory.
8. Missouri, Prev. 6 (7-2, 4-1 SEC)
The next three weeks will show how good Missouri is, with two road games and a rivalry game against Arkansas on Black Friday. Mizzou could win the SEC East with three wins, but it will require a consistency it hasn’t had all season.
9. Arkansas, Prev. 8 (0-5, 4-5 SEC)
Coming off a bye week, this weekend’s game against LSU may be the Razorbacks’ best chance at getting their first SEC win. If it snows at the game, it will favor the Hogs’ Big 10-style run game.
10. Florida, Prev. 10 (5-3, 4-3 SEC)
The Gators beat Vanderbilt, 34-10, on Saturday, putting them one win away from bowl eligibility. With a game against Eastern Kentucky still on the schedule, fans may have to watch this terrible team all the way into December.
11. Tennessee, Prev. 11 (4-5, 1-4 SEC)
The Volunteers have a home game against Kentucky this week, which almost serves as a play-in game for bowl eligibility. Tennessee should be favored in the contest, considering its coming off a bye week after playing for six consecutive weeks. This team is finally coming together and should make a late push to end the season.
12. Kentucky, Prev. 12 (5-5, 2-5 SEC)
Coach Mark Stoops has made a lot of changes with the Wildcats, but this is still Kentucky. When you get 63 points hung on you at home, it’s a sign you haven’t made the jump yet.
13. South Carolina, Prev. 13 (4-5, 2-5 SEC)
The Gamecocks are having their worst season in five years, and their coach listens to Taylor Swift to feel better. These are dark times in Columbia.
14. Vanderbilt, Prev. 14 (3-7, 0-6, SEC)
“I think our opportunity to compete for an SEC East title is now. We want to make sure that we work extremely hard day in and day out to be men of character, men of integrity. We’re going to play extremely hard.”
This is an actual quote from coach Derek Mason at SEC Media Days. Things don’t get much more depressing than that.
Tommy Romanach is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Dallas, Texas. You can reach him on Twitter @troman_92.