LSU is off this week but there’s still plenty of football in the SEC. Several games have conference title race and even playoff implications. A few of the contests should be of interest to LSU fans with the Tigers’ SEC schedule heating up when they return from the open week.
Here, we’ll take a look at four SEC games LSU fans should have their eye on this weekend. A few of these feature teams LSU is getting ready to play while some just feature an LSU rival in an interesting spot.
Saturdays are better when LSU plays, but at least Tiger fans can have an anxiety-free Saturday. Take in the action and let the other fans do the stressing. LSU fans will have plenty of that next week when Ole Miss comes to town.
Here are four games LSU fans can use to get them through the bye week, starting with a top-25 showdown in College Station.
Missouri at Texas A&M
This is Saturday’s lone ranked contest in the SEC. Both Missouri and Texas A&M could use a resume-building win and there’s an opportunity here.
A&M is rolling after bouncing back from the season-opening loss to Notre Dame. The Aggies have won four straight and are 2-0 in conference play. Connor Weigman was expected to have a big year as a quarterback in College Station, but Marcel Reed is running the show.
Reed’s dual-threat capabilities fit in Collin Klein’s offense. His legs add another dimension that’s tough to defend.
The Aggies rank top 40 nationally in rushing success rate and total EPA on the ground, but Missouri thinks it has the defense to stop it. Despite losing DC Blake Baker to LSU, Missouri’s EPA/rush allowed is in the 85th percentile.
Missouri has a sturdy rotation on the interior defensive line, led by Kristian Williams and Chris McClellan. Those two can make it uncomfortable for the Aggie run game.
Missouri’s offense is a variable to watch in this game. It’s not running quite as smooth as it was last year, but the playmakers are there.
If Luther Burden makes a few plays and Missouri stops the run, the Tigers win. If not, A&M can knock off a top-10 team and jump right back into the playoff race.
Ole Miss at South Carolina
LSU’s next opponent, Ole Miss, travels to South Carolina this week. Ole Miss is looking to bounce back after being upset by Kentucky last week.
The Rebels outplayed Kentucky in some metrics, but Kentucky hit an explosive play when it mattered most to win it late. Still, Ole Miss was a heavy favorite and didn’t expect that one to be close.
The Ole Miss offense looked uncomfortable for the first time all year. South Carolina has the tools to do that too.
The Gamecock front is one of the best in the SEC and Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart can get after the quarterback.
As for South Carolina’s offense, it can hit explosive plays, but efficiency is a question. Ole Miss will be a lot for South Carolina’s offensive line to handle and the Gamecocks don’t have a chance if that unit doesn’t hold up.
Tennessee at Arkansas
Arkansas is off to a weird 3-2 start. The Razorbacks thought they had Oklahoma State beat but gave the game away and lost a 39-31 shootout. They struggled early against UAB before figuring out how to put the Blazers away. Then the last two weeks featured a win over Auburn and a loss to Texas A&M.
Arkansas has some fun elements. QB Taylen Green is a big play that is waiting to happen. His legs have helped Arkansas craft one of the top rushing attacks in the country.
On defense, Arkansas is staunch against the run but liable against the pass. That could be trouble against a Tennessee offense striving to create big plays.
Arkansas will need to execute the classic upset strategy to win this one. Create big plays of its own on offense and force turnovers on defense. Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava is playing mostly clean football, but he turned it over twice against NC State in Week 2.
If Arkansas can get aggressive and apply some pressure, the Razorbacks can make this a game.
UCF at Florida
This one doesn’t have SEC title implications and LSU won’t play Florida until later in the year, but it’s worth monitoring. The Gator fan base REALLY doesn’t want to lose to UCF.
If Florida drops this one, that could be it for Billy Napier. It’s already a matter of when, and not if, but a loss here accelerates the timeline.
It’s hard to believe the Gators are an underdog at home to an in-state team that’s still new to P4 football, but that’s where we are.
Florida has the talent to win this one and a victory would pick up the vibes, if only for a little bit.
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