Joshua Dobbs (11) has been electric as a runner and passer. (Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports)
The SEC race will take a week off for all but six conference teams that will play the three conference games. Kentucky has an official bye week and five teams will play teams that they should beat, although that doesn’t mean they will.
First, let’s take a look at the conference games.
Missouri at Tennessee is the biggest game in the conference as far as the battle for the SEC East title goes. Missouri has to win to keep its hold on the top spot while Tennessee can become bowl eligible with a victory. Since installing Joshua Dobbs at quarterback, the Vols have been one of the best offenses in the league.
Missouri has done a pretty good job with its offense and can remain in the SEC East title chase if it can down Butch Jones’ young Vols team.
“I think offensive coordinator Josh Henson and the entire offensive staff together has done a real good job,” said Missouri coach Gary Pinkel. “We’ve adjusted a little bit with a little more ball control. We’re protecting the football and playing good defense. Those things you have to do. I thought we got the ball down the field more last week. I think all those guys are doing a great job.”
Tennessee is coming off wins over South Carolina and Kentucky in which the Vols scored 95 points.
“Our goal is to be the best football team that we can possibly be,” Jones said. “But we have good competitive character in our program, our seniors, our veteran players have really held this football team together, and then the addition of this freshmen class, they are different, their mindset is different, their mentality is different. We have talked about a consistent approach each and every day, the power of one, and they have really lived that each and every day.”
Ole Miss will be at Arkansas in a game that could feature rain. Ole Miss can’t afford to look past the Razorbacks in preparation for the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State. Arkansas’ 17-0 win over LSU last week gave the Hogs two wins in their last three games, solid proof that the players have bought into Bret Bielema’s coaching style.
“Excited for where we are, but more importantly, excited for where we’re going,” Bielema said. “I can’t do things overnight. It’s a methodical process. Academically, we’ve pushed our GPA to an unprecedented level they’ve never had, and just our kids doing things right.”
Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze is also pleased with where the Rebels are under his tenure.
“I want us to stay focused on the journey we’re on, which to be sitting here ranked in the top 10 or so in the country, for being in year three, I couldn’t be much more pleased,” said Freeze. “Obviously, we lost two very close difficult games. They were quality opponents. Being competitive and relevant in the SEC West in year three is something that should motivate us, regardless of what happens with other teams.
“Our message will continue to be let’s focus on us and take care of us and see where it shakes out at the end.”
Vanderbilt will be looking for its first conference win of the season when the Commodores go to Starkville and play Mississippi State, a team coming off its first loss of the season.
State’s 25-20 loss to Alabama knocked the Bulldogs out of the No. 1 ranking in the latest College Football Playoff poll, but Dan Mullen’s team hung on to the No. 4 spot. Vanderbilt should not put that ranking in danger but don’t try to tell that to Mullen.
“Vanderbilt has some very young players that have improved throughout the season,” said Mullen. “They have won two of their last four games. They’re coming off a bye-week so they have had the extra week to get ready for us. They’re going to be healthier and fresher with more preparation time leading into this game. Our guys understand that stuff and understand what a hard challenge it’s going to be.”
Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason knows that State quarterback Dak Prescott will be the Commodores’ biggest problem.
“He has ice water in his veins and he doesn’t panic,” said Mason. “Prescott does a great job of sliding off the pressure and keeping his eyes down the field. He delivers the ball on the spot. When teams take away the down field option, he runs. He has run for as many first downs as he has thrown so when you look at it, again, you have to be always be careful of their balance.”
In the rest of the conference games, despite all the turmoil, Florida should beat Eastern Kentucky.
Charleston Southern will be at Georgia and the Bulldogs will get a big win to help ease the pain from losing Todd Gurley for the season. South Alabama should give South Carolina a tough battle but the Gamecocks should win. Pat Sullivan’s return to Auburn as head coach of the Samford Bulldogs will not be a good one as the Tigers will roll. Finally, Alabama should have no trouble beating the Western Carolina Catamounts.
