SEC: Asked and answered

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

1. Alabama (10-1, 6-1; vs. Auburn, 7:45 p.m.): How long have the Crimson Tide spent on special teams this week, and how often has the end to last year's Iron Bowl been mentioned in practice? We think some extra focus is being spent on all areas as the top-ranked Tide prepare for Auburn. We also believe that if there was a random drill not performed to Nick Saban's satisfaction, we believe the phrase "That's how you lose a shot at the national title in one second" may have been used. We also believe Saban's tone likely was less than cordial.

2. Mississippi State (10-1, 6-1; at Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m.): Can Mississippi State finish the drill and stay within the Playoff Four even if they do not win their division? Well, the Bulldogs handled their BID-ness last week against Vandy in impressive fashion. Now they have to handle their emotions and go on the road to the "School up North," as Dan Mullen likes to refer to Ole Miss. If you are a cowbell toter, you have to love the experience and relative steadiness of your quarterback in an atmosphere with this much at stake.

3. Georgia (9-2, 6-2; vs. Georgia Tech, noon): Is Georgia ready for the ground-and-pound Yellow Jackets? Growing up in Smyrna right outside of Atlanta, we realize this rivalry is sneaky intense. That said, true rivalries can't be as one-sided as this one has been since Mark Richt has been in Athens. He's 12-1 against the Jackets. Tech has enjoyed a rebound season and starts 10 seniors who never have beaten the Bulldogs, so the motivation is there. This one will be fun, and it will be interesting to see how the outcome of the Missouri-Arkansas game will affect Georgia's motivation.

4. Auburn (8-3, 4-3; at Alabama, 7:45 p.m.): Can the Tigers save their season against impossible odds Saturday? The chance at a return trip to the national championship zoomed from Auburn's grasp early in its nightmare at Sanford Stadium 10 days ago. Now the only meaningful championship left for these Tigers is a possible state title against the Tide. We're not sure a team as prone to self-inflicted wounds as this Auburn team is can win at Alabama at night, but if receiver Duke Williams comes back, that would be hugely beneficial. Still, it's a long challenge.

5. Missouri (9-2, 6-1; vs. Arkansas, 2:30 p.m. Friday): Will we keep undervaluing Gary Pinkel and the Tigers? Missouri is 13-2 in SEC games the last two years -- that's tied for the best record in that time with Alabama. And if we asked what are the two most successful programs in the SEC since the start of last season, are you ready to say Alabama and Missouri? Now the Tigers are a win away from a return trip to the SEC title game.

6. Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3; vs. Mississippi State, 3:30 p.m.): Can a battered bunch of Rebels mount much of a defense against an invading force? Well, that's what they said about Luke Skywalker and Co., too, and we saw how that turned out. In truth, the Rebels without arguably their most important player on each side of the ball with Laquon Treadwell and Denzel Nkemdiche nursing injuries are going to a gunfight with a switchblade. But with emotions as high as these -- especially after last year's Egg Bowl scrambling Ole Miss endured -- maybe that switchblade could be a light saber. And maybe Good Bo Wallace will be wielding it. But if Wallace starts fading toward the Dark Side, well, you know how that will end.

7. Arkansas (6-5, 2-5; at Missouri, 2:30 p.m. Friday): Who knew that Arkansas coach Bret Bielema had a stand-up comic side? After extending his SEC winning streak to two after starting 0-11 with a second consecutive SEC blanking with a 30-0 win over Ole Miss, Bielema took to social media and became Uncle Miltie with a photo that said: "I don't always snap SEC losing streaks but when I do I shut out 2 ranked SEC opponents back-to-back." Stay thirsty, my friends.

8. LSU (7-4, 3-4; at Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m. Thursday): Could LSU be the best last-place team in college football history? You bet. A loss on Thanksgiving and an Arkansas win on Friday could mean the Tigers are in the basement in the SEC West. Crazy, right?

9. Texas A&M (7-4, 3-4; vs. LSU, 7:30 p.m. Thursday): Is this too low for an Aggies bunch that could win eight games? Here's saying the Aggies are a collection of smoke and mirrors. Here's saying that Texas A&M's nonconference schedule is a joke and two of its three SEC wins were a miracle rally in overtime against an Arkansas team that would be at least a seven-point favorite over it today and a miracle win when Auburn imploded.

10. Florida (6-4, 4-4; at Florida State, 3:30 p.m.): Are Will Muschamp and the Gators America's team this week? You better believe it, considering Florida has a chance to derail the Death Star known as FSU and Darth Jimbo.

11. Tennessee (5-6, 2-5; at Vanderbilt, 4 p.m.): Would a loss Saturday to Vandy be worse than the loss UT suffered to Kentucky a few years ago? Absolutely. That Kentucky team used a wide receiver at quarterback and ran five plays to sneak by the brain trust that was Dooley and Sunseri -- SAAALLLLL!!! -- and it wasn't pretty. This UT-Vandy matchup is so one-sided on the field it's staggering, no matter what Butch Jones says in his news conferences. UT should cruise by 28.

12. South Carolina (6-5, 3-5; at Clemson, noon): Is Will Muschamp a potential candidate for the Gamecocks defensive coordinator spot? Steve Spurrier and Muschamp are tight, but Spurrier also knows that the biggest trouble on the South Carolina defense this year was a lack of talent on the field rather than the decisions made coordinating. Certainly Muschamp would be an upgrade over Lorenzo Booker, but Spurrier's a pretty loyal cat.

13. Kentucky (5-6, 2-6; at Louisville, noon): Is this arguably the biggest nonconference game on the schedule this week? No, but you could make an argument that the meaning for Mark Stoops and the Wildcats is off the charts, considering this game will determine postseason eligibility.

14. Vanderbilt (3-8, 0-7; vs. Tennessee 4 p.m.): Does Vandy have any shot to pull the upset? We heard UT's Coach Jones praise the Commodores for their talent and physicality and all the other things coaches are supposed to say when they face a 17-point road underdog. Still, it's hard to see a single area in which Vandy has an edge.

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