SEC CRYSTAL BALL

SEC Crystal Ball: LSU, Alabama get key league wins

Ben Cook

September 20, 2014 at 12:10 am.

Blake Sims (6) will be starting his first SEC contest. (John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)

The Southeastern Conference Crystal Ball had a good week last week with a 7-1 record, missing only South Carolina’s win over Georgia.

The week got off to a good start with Auburn’s Thursday night 20-14 win at Kansas State. So here’s how the rest of the weekend might go:

South Carolina will be at Vanderbilt with both teams coming off close, but huge wins.

Vanderbilt trailed UMass by 11 points in the fourth quarter before rallying for a huge win, Derek Mason’s first at Vanderbilt.

“We are fairly healthy coming out of the game and we feel good about what we need to do in terms of game plans and formulating plans of a attack versus South Carolina, who is a pretty good team to say the least,” said Mason. “Coach (Steve) Spurrier is one of the most seasoned coordinators in the country with a football team that is 2-1 at the moment and understand where they are at.”

South Carolina has to guard against a letdown after the emotional win over Georgia.

“Watching them on tape, their players play smart, aggressive and hopefully we can go to Nashville and play like a good team,” said Spurrier. “Hopefully we can play better as we go through the season. We’re looking forward to the challenge. It’ll be a different environment.”

South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson had a big game against Georgia and The Crystal Ball believes he will do it against Vanderbilt as well. The Gamecocks roll.

Mississippi State is playing good football after its win over South Alabama, and the Bulldogs will need to be at the top of their game against LSU. The Tigers have won 14 in a row in the series but they will have their hands full with Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott, who leads all current SEC quarterbacks in career rushing yardage and rushing touchdowns.

LSU is No. 3 nationally in total defense, allowing 205.7 yards per game. The Tigers are holding opponents to only 3.53 yards a play – No. 3 in the nation. LSU is third in the nation in pass defense, allowing 94.3 yards a game. LSU is one of just eight schools nationally that have yet to allow a passing touchdown. LSU leads the SEC in four defensive categories – total defense, pass defense, scoring defense and pass efficiency defense.

State coach Dan Mullen knows that his team played LSU tough last year in Starkville up until the fourth quarter.

“Last year late in the third quarter we were driving and missed a field goal, and then they responded with a touchdown. We have a turnover deep in our own territory and they scored again. They scored 14 points in a minute and a half, and things never go well for you when that happens,” said Mullen. “We have to execute for 60 minutes and maybe beyond that if we have to. We have to execute every snap of the game to go win.”

Mullen knows that every Saturday is a challenge in the SEC West.

“There is nowhere in the country like the SEC West. I don’t think there is a division in football at any level that is like the SEC West is right now,” he said. “When you look at the percentage of the quality teams that are here, I don’t know if you can find anywhere that is like that. That is what we love. That is why all these great players come and play for us. Half of the top 10 in the nation is in the SEC West. There is great competition in the league and that is why this league has won so many national championships and is what makes it the best football in the country.”

The Crystal Ball says this one could be closer than most expect, but in the end look for LSU to beat Mississippi State.

Florida will go to Bryant-Denny Stadium to face the Crimson Tide, and the Gators biggest hopes ride on the passing arm of Jeff Driskel. Alabama’s vulnerability — if you can call it that — has been against the pass.

“I think that, in games like this, players really get excited. If they don’t, they don’t understand Alabama football and they don’t understand playing in the Southeastern Conference,” said Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban.

“I think we have enough guys on our team that really understand that, so I don’t think that should be an issue. I also think that fans get excited and it’s important that they create an atmosphere that’s going to help our team have the best chance to be successful in this game. Noise, energy and enthusiasm — all those things carry over in how we play.”

Florida is coming off a grueling three overtime win over Kentucky. But Gators coach Will Muschamp is looking forward to the challenge.

“They’ve got really good players. That’s where most of it starts and ends,” said Muschamp. “They’re very physical on both lines of scrimmage. They’re going to be balanced offensively, however they get to it. Right now, the three games they are 50-50 run/pass to give you an idea of what I’m talking about in terms of balance given the situation. Defensively, they are going to be strong in the front seven. They are going to be able to play man-to-man and deny the ball down in situations and they’re going to be solid in special teams.”

The Gators will be a good test for the Crimson Tide, but the Crystal Ball believes Alabama will beat Florida.

Now, in non-conference action among the rest of the SEC teams, this should be another sweep for the SEC.  The Crystal Ball says Georgia will bounce back and beat Troy. Texas A&M will continue to roll with a win over SMU. Missouri should have no trouble with Indiana. Finally, Arkansas will put on another exhibition of ground-eating rushing attack and beat Northern Illinois.