The SEC in 2015 is like trying to put a puzzle together — except the SEC’s puzzle pieces all look exactly the same, and there are about 1,000 of them.
The conference has been unpredictable, to say the least, as it crosses the halfway mark of the college football season. Besides No. 9 Texas A&M hosting No. 10 Alabama Saturday, there are many other important showdowns happening in the wild, wild SEC this weekend.
This is the other top-10 SEC showdown that will have its implications on a national level. After its 21-3 win over Missouri last weekend, Florida enters after losing its starting quarterback Will Grier to suspension. Florida will have to go with the experienced, but also inconsistent, Treon Harris in Death Valley Saturday night. Meanwhile, LSU comes rolling in with a 5-0 record and most recently, a 45-24 win over South Carolina.
As with any LSU game this year, the main storyline will surround Leonard Fournette. He has been nothing short of dominate this year, having already rushed for over 1,000 yards on the year — in just five games. He will take on possibly the toughest defense he has faced all season in Florida, which is No. 14 in the nation against the run, allowing just 100 yards on the ground per contest.
The Florida defensive line is the key to the game. If they can get enough of a push, fill their gaps, not let Fournette run wild and force LSU quarterback Brandon Harris to make plays through the air — LSU is ranked 121st nationally when passing — then this could be Florida’s game for the taking. However, the Death Valley crowd and speedy LSU defense will give Treon Harris and the Gator offense some issues. The game will be close, but Fournette and the Tigers do not lose very often in Tiger Stadium, especially at night. LSU will win a tight one.
Separated by only 85 miles, these two get together in one of the more underrated games of the week. Ole Miss won a 52-3 blowout against New Mexico State last week. Memphis comes in having won 12 straight dating back to last year, and has loads of motivation to take down an SEC team, which is also a regional rival.
Before the year began, this game was seen as merely a cupcake win for Ole Miss. Now, with a Memphis Tiger offense thriving under quarterback Paxton Lynch, this is a trap game for the Rebels. And with A&M coming to Oxford next week, Memphis has a chance to catch Ole Miss looking ahead. The Memphis defense will have to try and contain the Ole Miss offense, which is never an easy task. But if they can get pressure on Chad Kelly and shut down the receiving corps, watch out for the Tigers.
Overall, this is predicted to be a high scoring game. Ole Miss is on upset alert this week, but the Rebels should ultimately have enough talent and speed on their depth chart to wear down Memphis. The Tigers will keep it close at home for a while. If it is close in the fourth quarter, Ole Miss might stumble, but the Rebels should head back home with a win.
