The SEC is hot. With five out of the top 10 teams in the rankings representing the SEC, how could they not be? As a whole, the SEC is 7-2 in its last nine BCS games. According to Sporting News, “It’s the SEC’s world, and we’re all just living in it.”
This Saturday, four of the most dominating teams will occupy the TV spotlight in a SEC double-header. No. 4 Florida at Tennessee will kick off and No. 6 LSU at No. 9 Auburn.
Before Florida can worry about another BCS trophy and more dominating teams like LSU and Georgia, they have to turn back to Tennessee again. Although the Gators are predicted to finish at the top of the SEC, their mettle will be tested on this road trip. Road games in the SEC are not easy. However, it seems that Florida has all of the advantages coming into this game.
For starters, the Gator offense is stacked. Leading the pack is last year’s Heisman winner, junior quarterback Tim Tebow. In his supporting cast, there is wideout/tailback Percy Harvin, the team’s leading rusher, receiver and most valuable player. Then there’s wideout Louis Murphy, who has proven to be this season’s major threat and No. 1 receiver. Redshirt freshman receiver Deonte Thompson, who according to Sporting News is “the fastest player on the nation’s fastest team,” will also be thrown into the mix.
These three players are only the beginning. The line deepens with experience and athleticism, more so than any other Gator team head coach Urban Meyer has had at Florida.
“We’ve got a lot of weapons,” Tebow said. “You can’t focus on any one guy.”
However, this is not just a throwaway game for Florida. The Vols return 15 of 22 position starters and have a star-studded secondary that will allow them to play aggressively in the front seven with pressure. This season, tailback Arian Foster will probably become the school’s all-time leading rusher behind an experienced offensive line. They are currently ranked No. 3 in the SEC East, right behind No. 2 Florida, and are said to have the talent to be a major competitor in their conference.
The Vols and Gators have faced off many times before, but because Florida is coming off a bye week, they have had extra time to conjure up some new plays for Tennessee.
“We always see something from Florida that we’ve never seen before,” Tennessee defensive line coach Dan Brooks said. “I’ve been here 15 years, and that’s the way it always is.”
The double-header continues as Auburn hosts LSU in a battle of SEC Tigers. In the last four years, the difference between the two teams has only been 14 points total, with the home team winning each time and taking the SEC West six of the last eight seasons. This game will be a huge test for LSU’s two new quarterbacks Andrew Hatch and Jarrett Lee. After Ryan Perrilloux’s dismissal from the team this past spring, many feel LSU would have problems this season at quarterback.
So far this season, both quarterbacks have shared time successfully, with both completing over 16 passes for over 200 yards. The first three weeks has LSU head coach Les Miles’ preseason prediction seeming prophetic.
“I can assure you,” Miles said, “this team won’t be defined by one player.”
LSU has enough talented and skillful players to take the SEC title for the second straight season. Unfortunately, the Tigers have to deal with an injury early on. Starting linebacker Darrell Bekwith is out with a knee injury and, according to Miles, won’t be suiting up for Auburn.
Auburn is ranked No. 2 in the SEC West, right behind LSU. According to national polls, Auburn could possibly make it back to the SEC Championship game for the first time since their undefeated season in 2004 because of robust and powerful interior lines. New offensive coordinator Tony Franklin believes in having a quick offense, which resulted in the Tiger’s O-line losing weight in the transition. On the defensive side, Auburn has two of the SEC’s best players in tackle Sen’Derrick Marks and rush end Antonio Coleman.
Last season’s LSU-Auburn matchup was decided by a single touchdown — in the final second.
“It will be a hard-fought game between two teams that understand each other, and two teams that have been some of the better ones in this conference for a while,” Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville said.
Tuberville’s comment could probably be said for just about any two SEC teams in any week.
With five teams in top 10, SEC holds title as best conference
Saturday’s action features two tough SEC matchups
Published: Monday, September 22, 2008
Updated: Monday, September 22, 2008
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