SEC Weekly Report: Florida Vs. Georgia Puts SEC East In Focus
In the SEC all eyes appear to be on next week's matchup in the SEC West between undefeated LSU and one-loss Alabama. While those two programs are on bye weeks this week, the focus instead shifts over to the SEC East, where first place in the division will be on the line between Georgia and Florida. Can either team take a hold of the division and give the SEC West champion a threat in Atlanta at the end of the season?
The Georgia Bulldogs were expected by many to have a relatively easy walk through the SEC East this season, but Georgia has already taken two losses on the chin with a blowout home loss to Alabama and a gut-wrenching road loss at Tennessee the following week. The two-game skid took some of the momentum out of the season, but there is still a chance to regain a footing atop the SEC East. Playing the Gators tends to bring the best out of both teams, and Georgia is going to need to have its offense ready to go from the jump after scoring just nine points in their last game (a 9-6 win over Missouri).
The rise of Florida has been a surprising one under new head coach Jim McElwain. The Gators may have taken a hit at LSU, and the year-long suspension of starting quarterback Will Grier may end up having a huge impact on the fate of the season; but if the Gators continue to play solid defense then Florida will remain a strong contender in the SEC East. A win by Florida would probably be enough to wrap up the SEC East with a month to play. The Gators still have games against Vanderbilt and South Carolina, but those games do not appear to be brick walls in front of Florida's SEC East hopes.
If Florida wins, the Gators should start booking hotel rooms in Atlanta. If Georgia wins, the Bulldogs will just have to avoid getting in their own way against Kentucky or Auburn.
SEC Game of the Week: No. 11 Florida (6-1, 4-1 SEC) vs. Georgia (5-2, 3-2 SEC)
One of the best rivalries in the SEC will once again return to Jacksonville this weekend, and the top spot in the SEC East is on the line. Georgia leads the all-time series with a 50-41-2 edge. Florida scored the upset win last season but Georgia has won the three meetings prior to that. Georgia was the preseason favorite in the SEC East but now needs to win to knock the Gators out of the top spot. Florida hopes a week off helps get quarterback Treon Harris prepared for the big game.
SEC Upset Alert of the Week: Auburn (4-3, 1-3 SEC) vs. No. 19 Ole Miss (6-2, 3-1 SEC)
Everybody seems to be kicking Auburn down this season, but can they still be a dangerous team at home this weekend against Ole Miss? The Rebels are coming off a solid 23-3 victory over Texas A&M last week while the Tigers are looking to rebound from a four-overtime loss at Arkansas. Auburn may need this game in their win column as bowl eligibility is starting to slip away with time running out.
Quick SEC Picks
Auburn 30, Ole Miss 28
Texas A&M 27, South Carolina 13
Florida 24, Georgia 23
Arkansas 45, Tennessee-Martin 13
Houston 38, Vanderbilt 20
Tennessee 42, Kentucky 38
Kevin McGuire is a Philadelphia area sports writer covering the Philadelphia Eagles and college football. McGuire is a member of the FWAA and National Football Foundation. Follow McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
