Stories to watch in SEC football Week 3
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Week 3 of SEC football features Lane Kiffin's much-discussed return to Oxford. There are other stories to monitor as well. Let's look at the coming football Saturday in the SEC:
* Mississippi State vs South Carolina is a measuring-stick game
The Bulldogs looked great against Minnesota, a mediocre Big Ten team. Does that mean State is better than South Carolina on the road? We're about to find out. If Shane Beamer loses this game, his seat in Columbia will be flaming hot. It's a game South Carolina simply cannot afford to lose, even if Mississippi State is a legitimately decent team. South Carolina has invested too much in its football program to be worse than MSU.
* Alabama can't play with its food in the first half
Alabama ran away with the win against Kentucky due to a strong finishing kick late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, but the Crimson Tide have played sloppy first halves in each of their first two games. Kalen DeBoer needs to get his team to come roaring out of the gate with precision and efficiency. A not-good Florida State team, with Mike Norvell on the hot seat, should give Alabama the chance to get hold of a game early and not play around for once.
* Florida and Auburn will learn a lot about themselves
Florida and Auburn both have first-year coaches who are adjusting to the SEC. Jon Sumrall and Alex Golesh will gain a lot of information about their teams and what they have on their rosters. Florida has shown more potential on offense while Auburn's defense has been the better side of the ball so far this season. How Florida's defense fares against Auburn's offense figures to decide the outcome.
* Kentucky versus A&M: Who steps forward?
Kentucky and Texas A&M were inconsistent last week. Will they get sharper when they meet, or will they remain volatile and generally hard to figure out?
* What does Arkansas have to offer?
Arkansas is in bad shape going into the Georgia game. The Hogs are underdogs of more than three touchdowns. Will they be able to put up any kind of fight? There isn't much more to say at this point. Arkansas has to show some pride and backbone. Not much else matters.
* Lane versus Pete with a side of quarterbacks
Sam Leavitt versus Trinidad Chambliss would be a headline-creating SEC matchup in most cases, but that won't be the main story of LSU-Ole Miss. It's Lane Kiffin versus Pete Golding, two high-profile coaches with everything to prove in the face of withering scrutiny. The quarterbacks will need to make it happen on the field, but the coaches need to have the plan and the structure to make everything work.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos