Blake Sims is hoping to lead Alabama to a big win over Auburn. (Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)
Rivalry week in the Southeastern Conference is usually exciting but perhaps none have been more exciting than this week.
Major questions to be answered this weekend include: can Arkansas continue is amazing turnaround and knock Missouri out of the SEC East championship and put the Georgia Bulldogs into the SEC Championship Game? Can Florida give Will Muschamp a going away present with a win over Florida, which would end the Seminoles’ perfect season? Can Mississippi State hang in the College Football Playoff picture by winning the Egg Bowl? Which of the struggling teams — LSU or Texas A&M —will end the season with a win? Can Alabama solidify its position in the playoff rankings with a win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl? And the presiding question over all this is can Florida find a coach?
That’s all that is on the line this week.
Arkansas has not been scored on since November 1st and now the suddenly awesome Razorbacks defense will set its sights on keeping Missouri from its second consecutive SEC East championship.
“The thing I like about our defensive players is that they just shake things off,” says Arkansas coach Bret Bielema. “They make a mistake, and they’ll lineup and play again.”
Consecutive shutouts against LSU and Ole Miss have given the Razorback defensive players confidence going up against Missouri.
“It’s big time for us defensive players,” said defensive end Trey Flowers. “To put up those type of numbers and stop some pretty good teams from getting in the end zone, its big time.”
Very few people give Florida much of a chance against FSU despite the Seminoles’ habit of falling behind and rallying late. The Gators best hope is that the players can rally behind Muschamp and give him a going away present. But don’t count on it. The one thing you have to admit about Florida State is that Jimbo Fisher’s team knows how to win. And regardless of the score, they never believe they are out of any game.
The Egg Bowl between Mississippi State and Ole Miss looked a lot more important before Ole Miss dropped three of their last four games.
“Obviously we are not playing with the same confidence we were a few weeks ago,” said Rebels coach Hugh Freeze.
Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott talked about how important it was for the Bulldogs to dominate Vanderbilt in preparation for the Egg Bowl.
“It was very important,” Prescott said. “I think we got back to that team we were earlier in the year.”
The LSU-Texas A&M game will wind up the year for two teams that have suffered disappointing seasons. Both teams started out with high expectations but go into the final game with identical 7-4 overall records and 3-4 SEC marks. Both teams will play in bowl games, but neither will be in the College Football Playoff, which was the objective in September.
“I don’t know what’s going on there,” said LSU coach Les Miles of the Tigers’ offensive struggles. “You can’t turn the ball over at the quarterback spot. We had a big run then on the next play we turn it over. I think the story is that we need to make some adjustments and fix us to finish the season strong.”
For Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin, it has been a trying season, one which may bring changes at the end of the year.
“At the end of the year I’ll sit down and evaluate where we are and make decisions on what’s best for our program and for moving forward,” he said. “Right now our focus, my focus, and the whole team’s focus is on LSU Thanksgiving night.”
Finally, the Iron Bowl will determine if Alabama can hold on to its No. 1 ranking in the College Football Poll. It will also be a chance for Auburn to salvage some pride and possibly knock its most hated rival out of the SEC West championship and the playoff.
“Everybody takes it up a notch when it’s Bama week,” Auburn linebacker Kris Frost said. “We’re going to be ready when it comes time. Our attitudes are already right about it and everybody’s focused about beating Bama.”
“I feel good about where we’re at going into the Iron Bowl. I know our guys will be ready,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said.
For Alabama, everything is on the line—the SEC West championship, a potential berth in the College Football Playoff and, of course, bragging rights for the next year in the state
“It’s no secret how big of a game this is for us—the tradition, the whole community,” said Crimson Tide defensive back Cyrus Jones. “It’s just big for us to come in and prepare like we are supposed to, to come out and put a good effort on the field.”
There is no doubt, the final weekend of the regular season promises to be filled with plenty of drama and excitement.
