SEC Football: Bold Predictions for 10 Biggest Remaining Games

Half of the 2011 college football season is officially in the books.  So far, the season has had its share of pleasant surprises (Clemson, Kansas State, Illinois), disappointments (Missouri, Mississippi State, all teams in Florida) and beacons of downright dominance (LSU, Alabama, all teams Oklahoma).

Despite all the unexpected developments this year, the road to the national championship still goes through the Southeastern Conference.  With the likes of Stanford, Wisconsin and Boise State watching on with great interest, here are bold predictions for the 10 biggest remaining SEC games for 2011.

10. Mississippi State at Ole Miss (11/26)

Okay, so the Egg Bowl hasn’t meant much in the SEC West race since a Manning commanded the offense in Oxford, but it’s still a storied rivalry in the Deep South played on Thanksgiving weekend.

What Will Happen 

Look for both teams to start slowly, with Chris Relf and Vick Ballard getting Mississippi State's running game going in the third quarter and pulling away late. 

Prediction 

Mississippi State 24 Ole Miss 16

9. Florida at South Carolina (11/26)

This may be South Carolina’s chance to wrap up its second consecutive SEC East title.  Florida started the season on a positive note, easily handling SEC opponents Kentucky and Tennessee, but fell dramatically to superior opponents LSU and Alabama after losing QB John Brantley to injury.

What Will Happen 

Look for tailbacks Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps to be effective against a solid, but not elite, South Carolina defensive front.  However, it won’t be enough as USC QB Conner Shaw controls the clock in the second half and throws a late TD to put the game out of reach.       

Prediction

South Carolina 24 Florida 13

8. LSU at Ole Miss (11/5)

On paper, the Magnolia Bowl shouldn’t even be close this year.  LSU is one of the top two teams in the country, while Ole Miss is sitting at 0-3 in the SEC West cellar.  However, Ole Miss has won two of the last three contests and always plays the Tigers tough.   

What Will Happen 

Won’t be close this year.  Although Coach Miles will be fighting to keep his team from looking ahead to Arkansas the following week, the Tigers will have too much talent on both sides of the ball.    

Prediction

LSU 38 Ole Miss 6

7. South Carolina at Tennessee (11/25)

Not a big game on the national radar, but South Carolina will be hoping for a road victory here in order to firmly put itself in the driver’s seat for the SEC East title.  This has the potential to become a “must win” road game for the Gamecocks, with contests at Arkansas and Florida looming on the remaining schedule.  

What Will Happen 

Three of the past six contests have been decided by a touchdown or less, and Tennessee always welcomes the opportunity to stick it to coach Spurrier.  However, UT hasn’t beaten anyone of note and USC is starting to gel with Conner Shaw at QB.  UT will keep it close until the fourth quarter, when USC RB Marcus Lattimore wears down the Vol defense for two late scores.    

Prediction

South Carolina 23 UT 13

6. Tennessee at Alabama (10/22)

This rivalry, known simply as The Third Saturday in October, is one of the most heated in SEC history, with both teams establishing periods of dominance over one another.

We are smack dab in the middle of one of those periods, with Alabama winning the past four contests.  Compound that with the fact that this game is in Tuscaloosa and Tennessee is in a period of rebuilding, not to mention they lost their two best players to injury (QB Tyler Bray, WR Justin Hunter), and things don’t look too promising for the Vols.

What Will Happen 

The last time these two teams met in Tuscaloosa, the Vols proved to be the biggest obstacle for the Crimson Tide en route to the 2009 National Championship.  With seconds left, Alabama’s NT Terrence Cody blocked a 44-yard field goal to secure a 12-10 victory for the home team.  Don’t look for this to happen again.  The Tide will roll early and often.  Look for at least two scores from the Bama defense.    

Prediction 

Alabama 49 UT 9

5. South Carolina at Arkansas (11/5)

On November 5, the Alabama versus LSU game will get all the national hype and attention, but SEC fans shouldn’t forget about this game in Fayetteville. 

Depending on how the other schedules unfold, South Carolina could be looking to wrap up the SEC East with an upset road win over the Hogs, while Arkansas may be looking to improve on a 7-1 record and an outside chance of competing for the West crown. 

What Will Happen 

The Razorbacks haven’t lost a home game in over a year and don’t expect it to happen against the Gamecocks, who Arkansas beat by three touchdowns last year in Columbia.  While RB Marcus Lattimore will try to play keep away and control the clock, Tyler Wilson and the Razorbacks will have too much firepower for USC to handle.  

Prediction 

Arkansas 27 South Carolina 17

4. Georgia vs. Florida (10/29)

Despite a disastrous 0-2 start to its season, Georgia has rebounded by winning four straight and finds itself right in the thick of the SEC East race.  Also, with a promising young Florida team losing QB John Brantley for the foreseeable future, the door is open for the Bulldogs to make some noise.

Depending how South Carolina performs in the coming weeks, the game known as The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party may be pivotal in determining who takes control in the East.

What Will Happen 

UGA has won only three of the last 21 contests against the Gators.  Look for this trend to be disrupted, as Florida struggles with the passing game and freshman Bulldog RB Isaiah Crowell continues to establish himself as the next great SEC tailback.      

Prediction 

Georgia 22 FLA 17

3. Alabama at Auburn (11/26)

Remember the 2009 Iron Bowl?  The Alabama Crimson Tide arrived on the Auburn campus with an unblemished record and a No. 2-ranking in the polls.  Auburn was an unranked 7-4 team with an offense that had just started to click under first-year offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.  On paper, the Tide should have disposed of the Tigers as quickly and methodically as they did the previous year in Tuscaloosa.

However, that's not what happened.  Auburn relied on trickery and misdirection to jump to an early 14-0 lead.  Although Alabama came back and won the game (26-21) on a brilliant drive led by QB Greg McElroy, the score was far closer than it should have been.

2011 feels a lot like 2009.  Alabama is a Top-two team with a stifling defense and strong running game.  Auburn is a team with young talent, preparing itself for future glory and trying to find its identity on the way to a 7-5 season.  Plus, the game is back on the Auburn Plains this year.     

What Will Happen 

Relying on emotions, Auburn will come out strong but begin to fade late into the second quarter.  Alabama RB Trent Richardson will finally have his big day against the in-state rival, catching the ball out of the backfield for a couple of key scores. 

Prediction 

Alabama 38 Auburn 10

2. Arkansas at LSU (11/25)

The 2011 version of the Battle for the Golden Boot should again be a clash of top teams aspiring for conference titles and BCS bowl invitations.  The last four contests have been decided by an average of 3.5 points, with two of them going to overtime.  Last year, No. 12 Arkansas upset No. 5 LSU by running up 464 yards of total offense against the SEC’s top-rated defense.

This year, the Hogs will bring the SEC’s best passing offense, along with a sturdy and improving running game, to Baton Rouge to battle Tyrann “The Honey Badger” Mathieu and one of the nation’s toughest defenses.  

What Will Happen 

Look for the fireworks to continue in Red Stick.  LSU will take an early 14-0 lead, but Wilson will bring the Hogs back to tie the game in the fourth quarter.  However, LSU Senior QB Jarrett Lee will throw a deep strike to WR Reuben Randle to win another close game in the final minutes.   

Prediction 

LSU 31 Arkansas 24

1. LSU at Alabama (11/5)

It all comes down to this.  The real National Championship.  The clash between the two best teams in college football.  This game will determine who will represent the SEC in the inevitable national title contest, and who will have to settle for torching an inferior team in one of the other BCS bowls.  

On its surface, this has the looks of a game that should be won by a score of 3-2.  Both squads have no real discernible weaknesses.  Both rely on fast, suffocating defenses with future NFL players.  LSU employs a solid mix of run and pass, led by senior QB Jarrett Lee, who appears to have found his accuracy this year.  Alabama leans on a strong running game led by Heisman candidate Trent Richardson and underrated backup Eddie Lacy.

However, as experts and fans know, these tend not to be the games that wind up with a 3-2 score.  Last year in Baton Rouge, LSU’s anemic offense came to life in the fourth quarter against a usually stout Alabama secondary, en route to a 24-21 Tiger victory.     

What Will Happen 

Expect the unexpected.  Look for the offenses, who will be tired of hearing about the great defenses, to come out with a bang.  Both teams will settle in by the middle of the second quarter, turning the match into a game of field position.  Look for a punt return TD by Marquis Maze to give the Tide the advantage.  

Prediction 

Alabama 28 LSU 24