2011 SEC College Football Preview - In-Conference Games

SEC In-Conference Race Changers

When the SEC reformed their conference in 1992 by adding Arkansas and South Carolina, the powerhouse teams were in the SEC East division for the first 11 years. The East won 8 of the first 11 SEC Title Games, five of those games won by Florida in seven appearances. Since 2003, the West has taken 5 out of 8 titles in the SEC. The importance of the SEC Title Game on a national level usually has National Championship implications. Since 1992 the SEC has won or split nine NCAA or BCS National Championships. The SEC has won five straight BCS Titles; Florida, LSU, Florida, Alabama, and Auburn.

This year appears to be another win for a SEC West team in the SEC Title Game but which team? Some of these games will give bragging rights and decide recruiting battles while others will map out a team of destiny or just another top tier bowl game. The rest will heat up a coach’s hot seat or cool it off.

Teams/Date/Site (off-campus location)

South Carolina at Georgia, September 10

LSU at Mississippi State, September 15

Ole Miss at Vanderbilt, September 17

Arkansas at Alabama, September 24

Florida at Kentucky, September 24

Mississippi State at Auburn, September 10

Alabama at Florida, October 1

Florida at LSU, October 8

Georgia vs. Florida, October 24, in Jacksonville, Florida

LSU at Alabama, November 5

South Carolina at Arkansas, November 5

Florida at South Carolina, November 12

Arkansas at LSU, November 25

Either South Carolina or Georgia will be playing following the leader in the SEC East after this week two showdown.

MSU is either lucky or unlucky that Northwestern State plays LSU in week two after LSU plays Oregon in week one; this depends if LSU wins or loses. If LSU can’t find their offense in week one, LSU could be in trouble by week three in Starkville. A MSU upset could shake up the SEC West race.

Puzzling to have Ole Miss and Vanderbilt amongst the most important games in the SEC this year but this game means a lot to both schools. If Vanderbilt wins, Franklin’s hire looks good for now. On the flip side, an Ole Miss loss could mean the end of the line for Houston Nutt in Oxford. If Nutt loses to Vanderbilt and then to MSU in the Egg Bowl (November 26), you can bet the rumblings for Nutt to get his walking papers will become chants before the Rebels, General Ackbars, or Rebel Black Bears are done showering.

Arkansas, Alabama, and LSU are the cream of the crop SEC teams this season. When any of those three teams play each other everything in the SEC West is on the line. South Carolina deserves to be mentioned but they are not scheduled to play LSU or Alabama during the regular season.

Mississippi State will get a chance in week two to show how far along they have come under Dan Mullen or to show how far Auburn has fallen with the loss of all their talent from last years BCS Championship team. Wherever your team loyalty lies will influence your take on the outcome of this one.

Florida gets back to back shots at Alabama and LSU to shake up the West. If Florida can split those games that could make for an interesting break for the winning SEC West team, Arkansas, and possibly MSU. Georgia and South Carolina will be watching the scoreboard to see who wins those games.

How many big games does Florida have this year… five; Bama, LSU, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida State. The outcome of those games will have an impact on who will play in the SEC Title Game, BCS Bowl berths, and who could play in the BCS Championship Game.

Arkansas vs. LSU has quietly become one of the best SEC rivalry games and one of the best throughout college football. Since 2005 Arkansas and LSU have split their series 3-3. 21 total points separates the winning team from the losing team with Arkansas having the largest winning margin, winning by 8 points in 2010 in Little Rock, Arkansas. That’s a 3.5 average margin of victory between the two schools. This year’s winner not only receives the Golden Boot Trophy but should end up in the SEC Title Game. Thankfully CBS put this game back on the schedule the Friday after Thanksgiving before a college football hungry crowd. 

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