A November to Remember? Nah.
The SEC division races will not provide a November to remember.
Alabama, the nation's top-ranked team, holds a commanding two-game lead over LSU in the West division and can wrap up the race with a victory against those Bengal Tigers in Baton Rouge this weekend.
Even if the Tide loses to the Tigers, wins in remaining home games with Mississippi State and Auburn would clinch the crown.
Florida, fresh from a pasting of rival Georgia in the annual Jacksonville cocktail party, is a heavy favorite in the East, but surprisingly both the Gators and the Vanderbilt Commodores control their own destinies.
Those two meet in Nashville this weekend.
Florida clinches the division with a victory; should Vanderbilt win, the Commodores would still need to beat Kentucky (on the road) and Tennessee (at home) to win the East.
Tide fans and Gator followers should go ahead and book the hotel reservations for Atlanta.
On the subject of the postseason, let’s look at some ridiculously early bowl projections for SEC teams.
The best chance for an SEC team to win a third consecutive national title (something no conference has done) consists of Alabama and Florida winning out, and the winner of the SEC title game reaching the BCS championship.
Below, we’ve given a best case scenario of SEC teams qualifying for all conference affiliated bowls.
BCS Title: Alabama-Florida Winner
Sugar: Alabama-Florida Loser
Capital One: Georgia vs. Big Ten
Cotton: LSU vs. Big 12
Outback: South Carolina vs. Big Ten
Chick-fil-A: Kentucky vs. ACC
Liberty: Ole Miss vs. C-USA
Music City: Vandy (if eligible) vs. ACC
Independence: Tennessee (if eligible) vs. Big 12
Papa John’s: Auburn or Arkansas (if eligible) vs. Big East
Enjoy the games!
Game Day Weekly SEC Ratings
1. Alabama: Tide faces biggest remaining test of regular season on the Bayou.
2. Florida: Gators continue to dominate and impress.
3. No Pick … the first two deserve to stand alone.
4. LSU … Bengal Tigers can regain pride at home against Bama this week.
5. South Carolina … Gamecocks again solid as head ball coach gets ready to go bowling.
6. Ole Miss … workmanlike win over Auburn for improving Rebels.
7. Georgia … Dogs played like pups in two biggest games of the year.
8. Kentucky … Wildcats going to three straight bowls for first time since Bear Bryant coached them.
9. Vanderbilt … Commodores desperately need to find a win to get to a bowl.
10. Arkansas … Hogs knocked off undefeated Tulsa … need two wins to go bowling with Bobby.
11 A-B. Auburn/Tennessee … Whose fans are more dissatisfied? Give it to UT since they just canned the coach … barely.
12. Miss State … a blocked extra point costs the anemic Bullies against Kentucky.
Professor's Picks
Last Week’s Record 4-3
2008 Record 53-19
* all times Eastern
Alabama at LSU (3:30 CBS)
See SEC Game of the Week
Game Ball: LSU
Arkansas at South Carolina (1:00)
What once looked to be a snoozer has suddenly become a pretty interesting matchup. Bobby Petrino has his Hogs playing hard, while Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks have won five of six. Go with the head ball coach.
Game Ball: South Carolina
Tennessee-Martin at Auburn (2:30)
Tigers never crossed midfield in the first half against Ole Miss last week, but a nice cupcake is always good for what ails you. Skyhawks are in first place in Ohio Valley Conference at 7-2 and just beat an Alabama team (Jax State), so they may not go down easy. Tigers move within one game of bowl eligibility.
Game Ball: Auburn
Florida at Vanderbilt (8:00 ESPN)
The only flaw in Florida’s great performance against Georgia was Urban Meyer’s response to last year’s Bulldog celebration. It took a year to come up with calling timeouts after the game was decided? Wow, must have watched the local junior high rivals play. We wanted something more dramatic. Gators should clinch the East this week, but Vandy controls own destiny too and had a week to prepare. No matter.
Game Ball: Florida
Georgia at Kentucky (12:30 Raycom)
A tough call here because Kentucky won on the road while Georgia got humiliated at Florida. Dogs may take a while to recover from that beating, but their record in opposing stadiums is stellar.
Game Ball: Georgia
Wyoming at Tennessee (1:00)
Phillip Fulmer got the news on Monday ... Joe Glenn of the Cowboys may not be far behind. Fulmer farewell tour off to a good start.
Game Ball: Tennessee
Open: Ole Miss, Miss State
