There isn’t a ton of drama remaining in the regular season. Assuming Alabama beats Auburn — and Nick Saban’s team is favored by over four touchdowns — the SEC Championship Game is set: Georgia vs. Bama. Two teams are fighting for bowl-eligibility; Ole Miss must defeat Mississippi State and Missouri needs a win at Texas A&M to reach the six-win mark.
There were no changes in the power rankings, but it was still a huge weekend for the SEC. Thanks to losses by both Kansas State and Oregon, the winner of the SEC title game between Alabama and Georgia will be in position to play for the national championship. Also of note, Vanderbilt beat Tennessee in Nashville for the first time in 30 years.
LSU and Ole Miss will meet for the 102nd time on Saturday, when the Tigers hosts the Rebels in Baton Rouge. Les Miles’ crew bounced back from the heartbreaking loss to Alabama and defeated Mississippi State last week, 37-17. Ole Miss has dropped two in a row but could make the postseason for the first time since 2009 with a victory over the Tigers.
All 14 SEC teams are in action this weekend, but there are only three games involving two league teams. And all three feature at least one team that needs to win to keep its bowl hopes alive. Tennessee is 4–6 and needs to beat Vanderbilt this week and Kentucky next week to get to the six-win mark. Arkansas, also 4–6, has a tougher road.
LSU and Mississippi State will clash Saturday in Baton Rouge in a battle of 7-2 teams. The Tigers are coming off a heartbreaking loss to Alabama, while the Bulldogs have dropped two straight (Alabama and Texas A&M) after beginning the season 7-0. LSU has dominated this series lately, winning 19 of the last 20 games.