SEC Round-Up: Cats, Ags have the chance to end a decade of dominance
Two Southeastern Conference football games this weekend could signal an end to a decade of dominance.
Ten years have passed since two teams other than Alabama and Georgia have played in the SEC Championship Game.
Since 2013 when Auburn defeated Missouri en route to the national championship, either Alabama or Georgia have reached the SEC title game. Three of the last five SEC championship games matched the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs.
But upstarts Kentucky and Texas A&M could get the inside track of winning their respective divisions with victories on Saturday.
Of course, nobody says winning is easy. Indeed, No. 20 Kentucky (5-0, 2-0) must overcome history as well as top-ranked Georgia (5-0, 2-0).
The Bulldogs have won a record 13 straight over Kentucky. The Wildcats’ last win over Georgia came
in 2009 in Athens.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops is focused on making history rather than reliving it.
“What we are this year is what we are,” Stoops said this week. “That’s all that matters. You always want to learn and grow from every opportunity, but we have to take advantage of this opportunity we have right now.”
Seldom will the Wildcats have a better opportunity to beat Georgia.
The two-time defending national champion Bulldogs appear more vulnerable than at any time in recent years. They had to rally for wins over South Carolina, 24-14, and Auburn, 27-20.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats are riding high after a 33-14 thrashing of Florida last week.
"We should have some confidence because we did execute and do some really good things for long stretches during this last game,” Stoops said. “That's something to build on. We certainly need that this week.”
A&M (4-1, 2-0) can glean encouragement from a three-game winning streak that includes decisive victories over Auburn and Arkansas.
The Aggies can also look to their last two clashes with No. 11 Alabama (4-1, 2-0). Those games came down to the final play, with A&M prevailing in 2021 and Alabama escaping last year.
A&M has also gained confidence from an emerging defense that has produced 14 sacks and 30 tackles for loss in the last two games.
However, Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher warned the Aggies cannot squander scoring opportunities or make opportunities easier for Alabama.
“They (Alabama) don’t give you things,” Fisher said. “If you give them opportunities, they capitalize on them. Most big games are lost, not won.”
Wise words for the Aggies and Wildcats to heed. If they can avoid losing on Saturday, they could eventually meet in Atlanta with an opportunity to win the SEC title.
Around the SEC
This week’s games: No. 11 Alabama at Texas A&M; No. 23 LSU at No. 21 Missouri; Vanderbilt at Florida; No. 20 Kentucky at No. 1 Georgia; Arkansas at No. 16 Ole Miss; Western Michigan at Mississippi State
Who’s hot: Texas A&M’s pass rush has amassed 14 sacks in the last two games. The Aggies hit seven against Auburn and then seven against Arkansas. If they hit a third consecutive seven against Alabama, they just may hit the jackpot and win the SEC West. Edgerrin Cooper has led the way with four sacks in the last two games. Walter Nolen isn’t far behind, with 2.5 in that span. That surge gives A&M 20 sacks overall, which is tied with No. 6 Penn State for the third-highest total in the nation.
Who’s not: It’s a good thing that Kentucky’s running game has been wildly productive of late because the passing game is rather mundane. Quarterback Devin Leary, who threw for 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns at NC State in 2021, hasn’t been nearly as effective in the SEC. In conference games against Vanderbilt and Florida, Leary has completed just 24 of his 49 passes (48.9 percent). He has passed for 274 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
Keep an eye on: Missouri sophomore receiver Luther Burden III leads the nation with 644 receiving yards on 43 catches (the nation’s second-highest total). He has had at least seven catches and no fewer than 96 yards in each of the Tigers’ six games. He has also caught five touchdown passes. Those numbers figure to increase significantly when Missouri faces LSU on Saturday. LSU has allowed at least 289 passing yards in three of its five games. Last week, LSU’s secondary was torched for 389 yards and four touchdowns by Ole Miss, which doesn’t have any receivers nearly as productive as Burden.
The pressure is on: See above as an explanation for the heat that is on LSU defensive coordinator Matt House. LSU is 3-2 despite allowing an average of 44 points per game. The Tigers gave up 494 yards in a 45-24 loss to Florida State. They allowed a whopping 706 yards in a 55-49 loss to Ole Miss. The 706 yards is the most surrendered in LSU history. The 49 points is the most LSU ever scored in a loss in regulation. The only time LSU scored more points in a loss was in a 74-72 seven overtime loss to Texas A&M in 2018. Angry LSU fans have called for House’s dismissal.
Best matchup: Kentucky’s offensive line — The Big Blue Wall — opened gaping holes to spring running back Ray Davis for 280 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 33-14 victory over Florida last week. That’s one more rushing yard than Florida had allowed in its previous four games combined. The holes probably won’t be as huge against Georgia's defensive front. The Bulldogs allow an average of just 113.4 rushing yards per game. However, they were gashed for 219 rushing yards in a 27-20 win over Auburn last week. That was the highest rushing total Georgia has allowed since giving up 275 to LSU on Oct. 13, 2018.
