SEC NOTEBOOK: Aggies, Tide control path to Atlanta for SEC title game

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Heading into the final week of the regular season, a lot is still to be determined across the Southeastern Conference, including who will play in the SEC title game in two Saturdays and how many teams can position themselves for the College Football Playoff.

Following last week's lackluster lineup of punching bags, the SEC closes with a bang on Friday and Saturday.

Three games with playoff implications are set for Friday — Georgia-Georgia Tech, Ole Miss-Mississippi State and Texas-Texas A&M — with Vanderbilt's visit to in-state rival Tennessee on Saturday perhaps a window into the 12-team playoff for the Commodores.

Here are things to watch during the final week of the regular season across the SEC:

Game of the Week

No. 14 Vanderbilt (9-2, 5-2 SEC) at No. 19 Tennessee (8-3, 4-3 SEC), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 CT, ESPN

Coach Clark Lea has his alma mater on the bubble for a potential playoff berth and a win in Knoxville could slide the Commodores into the top 12 and a possible playoff slot.

Vanderbilt heads east this week looking for its first 10-win season in program history and its first win in Knoxville since 2017.

The Commodores are second in the SEC and ninth in the country in scoring average, posting 38.9 points per game against a schedule that has featured five teams in the top 26 in scoring defense nationally.

The Vols will look to build off a dominant showing at the Swamp last week. For the first time since 2003, Tennessee was victorious in Gainesville, blasting Florida 31-11. The Vols pitched a 31-0 shutout in the first half.

The Undercard

No. 10 Alabama (9-2, 6-1 SEC) at Auburn (5-6, 1-6 SEC), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 CT, ABC

A win in the Iron Bowl likely secures Alabama a spot in the College Football Playoff and keeps it in the running for a spot in the SEC title game.

Even with two losses, 'Bama has built up quite a resumé since its season-opening loss to Florida State, which does rank among the worst losses by a ranked team considering FSU's struggles. The Tide are the only team in the country with five wins over Power Four teams with a winning record.

The Tide also can't afford to sneak by in what has traditionally been a close game. Sitting at No. 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings, and a top 11 slot is needed to comfortably secure a CFP with a bid going to a Group of Five team likely ranked outside the top 12, Alabama can't afford to tight-rope this week and style points might matter as well.

Good news: 'Bama coach Kalen DeBoer is 37-4 in November as a head coach.

Heisman push

Vanderbilt senior quarterback Diego Pavia continued his push to be considered as a Heisman finalist with a huge performance in last week's romp of Kentucky.

On Senior Day in Nashville, Pavia racked up 532 total yards and accounted for 6 TDs in a 45-17 victory. He hit 33-of-39 passes for a school record 484 yards and 5 TDs, and also led Vandy with 48 yards and a score on 15 carries.

He equalled the school record for passing TDs in a game for the second time this season.

Title game participants

The SEC has a 22-page tiebreaker explainer to determine which teams will be in Atlanta next weekend. Fortunately, it's not all that complicated.

Texas A&M, No. 3 in this week's CFP rankings, wins and it is in at 12-0 overall. A loss to rival Texas means the Aggies need underdogs to beat Ole Miss and Alabama to get in.

Same scenario for Alabama. A win over Auburn and it is in, owning all the tiebreakers over other one-loss teams, thanks to opponents' winning percentage.

Georgia, already done with SEC play and meeting Georgia Tech this week, is in with a loss by either A&M or Alabama.

Ole Miss needs chaos with the Aggies and Tide both losing rivalry games, not unthinkable in this iteration of college football.

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