🏈 Brent Baird: SEC Storylines.

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SEC STORYLINES WEEK TWO
BY BRENT BEAIRD

The second week of SEC action features South Carolina at Georgia, Vanderbilt at LSU and Mississippi State at Auburn among others. Rece Davis, the host of ESPN’s College GameDay Final, offers his insights into those games and more in this week’s edition of SEC Storylines.

SOUTH CAROLINA AT GEORGIA: The stakes are high in this SEC opener for both teams.

“It’s a very important game for both teams particularly for Georgia because that trip to Arkansas next week doesn’t look like a lot of fun coming up for them either. This is a hugely important game for their momentum. Georgia, by the end of September if it doesn’t win this game, could be out of the SEC East race. I know that most people believe that the SEC East race is over already just because Florida is in the division, but I’m sure Georgia feels it can compete with that veteran defense. But to lose offensive lineman Trinton Sturdivant again for the second straight year with an ACL and to have that great start in Stillwater (Oklahoma State) and then fizzle out last week makes this is an important bounce back game for Georgia,” Davis said.

This game for the last several years has been decided by defense.

“It’s really funny that the two head coaches (Georgia’s Mark Richt and South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier) made their name by being offensive gurus and they both come into this game with only one touchdown each in the opening game. South Carolina’s touchdown came after being set up by a turnover deep into N. C. State territory,” Davis said.

What kind of game will it be?

“I expect a tough, low scoring game that both these teams need. Looking at Georgia’s schedule with games against Arkansas and LSU coming up, if Georgia loses this game, they could be looking at a 1-4 start,” Davis said.

VANDERBILT AT LSU: The Commodores have not won at LSU since 1951.

“Vanderbilt’s a little bit sneaky. They were impressive against lesser competition (Western Carolina), but they aren’t gong to do that against LSU. Vandy has Larry Smith at quarterback and they are capable of making another run at making a bowl game,” Davis said.

Davis said LSU is still being an undervalued team in terms of the national landscape.

“I know they gave up a lot of yards passing against Washington, but I think they’ll continue to improve under (defensive coordinator) John Chavis during the course of the year. There’s just too much talent for them not to be an excellent defense. This is an explosive team with a lot of offensive weapons. I think at some point we’ll see the (freshman Russell) Shepard kid being added to the mix, but it’s not like they’re lacking weapons without him. (Receiver Terrance) Toliver was outstanding the other night. (Quarterback Jordan) Jefferson was solid. They’re a team that can win the SEC West. I don’t see this as a game that Vandy has a great shot at winning. Yet, we’ve learned that in dealing with (Vandy coach) Bobby Johnson’s teams over the year that you had better not take them lightly and you had better prepare for them just like one of the heavyweights in the league,” Davis said.

TROY AT FLORIDA: Will the Trojans be able to compete with the Gators?

“It’s a tune- up for Tennessee. It’s certainly a step up from Charleston Southern which the Gators would have gotten the same challenge from the Alpha Kai Omega powder puff team. It’s not that Charleston Southern is not good, but speaking comparatively, there is no competition either way. Troy was very disappointing in its opener after getting hammered by Bowling Green. This is another scrimmage to make sure that No. 15 (Tim Tebow) doesn’t get a bruise and a chance to get a lot of guys in there. Get (quarterback John) Brantley lathered up for next year a little bit. This is another mismatch. Troy is far more capable than Charleston Southern was last week. (Troy Coach) Larry (Blakeney) has done a great job with them, but they are not in the same league as Florida. (Gator coach) Urban (Meyer) is going through that slow burn period which is gathering momentum for the meat of the schedule which is coming up next week starting against Tennessee,” Davis said.

FIU AT ALABAMA: The Tide has a lot to build on from its first performance against Virginia Tech.

“They were dominating statistically against Virginia Tech. They were the far superior football team. There’s a lot to be taken from that because Virginia Tech is very good. The plays that Alabama made that allowed Virginia Tech to stay close are correctable. Alabama has some things to work on. They need to make sure that they are comfortable with the offensive line. They’ve got to continue to let (quarterback Greg) McElroy mature as a quarterback. Their defense was awfully good. It was hard to find areas where they could find room for improvement, but I’m sure Coach Nick Saban and (defensive coordinator) Kirby Smart would be able to find a few. They have a warrior in (running back Mark) Ingram at running back and I think by the end of the year he is going to be one of the best running backs in the country. Alabama has a lot to build on. They have to avoid the letdowns,” Davis said.

FIU is an improving program.

“They were one of the worst programs in the country a few years ago, but last year they finished 5-7. Head coach Mario Christobal has done a nice job with them. They shouldn’t be a major threat with Alabama if the Tide comes to play, but they’re a talented and a quickly improving program. Over the next few years, they might give the big boys fits similar to growing programs like Central Florida, South Florida and Florida Atlantic. They have a fine receiver in T.Y. Hilton. It should be a tune-up, recovery game for Alabama. They would be well- served not to take foes like FIU lightly,” Davis said.

UCLA AT TENNESSEE: What did we learn from Tennessee beating Western Kentucky?

“You can say that the competition wasn’t there and you would be right, but it says something if you go ahead and take care of business and look good doing it. Both tailbacks Montario Hardesty and Bryce Brown looked great. I thought quarterback Jonathan Crompton played very efficiently,” Davis said.

This will be a much different situation for Tennessee.

“It’ll be a pretty stern test. It’s a team that beat them last year. UCLA plays a young quarterback in Kevin Prince. They are a growing team also. They got off to a bit of a slow start against San Diego State, but they won emphatically. It should be an entertaining game with the subplot between Lane Kiffin and (UCLA offensive coordinator) Norm Chow and (Vol assistant) Ed Oregon and UCLA will make for a degree of interest in the game. Tennessee got the season off to a miserable start last year by losing that game in the Rose Bowl in (UCLA Coach) Rick Neuheisel’s debut and this is a bit of an opportunity to atone for that,” Davis said.

MISSISSIPPI STATE AT AUBURN: This is a battle of two of the new coaches in the SEC.

“New coach Dan Mullen has injected some energy into the Mississippi State program. Auburn did a good job finishing the game after being challenged for awhile by Louisiana Tech and turning the game around after that long touchdown pass from Chris Todd to Terrell Zachery. They ran the ball well. Freshman Onterio McCalebb looked good running the ball. It provided a spark that had been lacking from that offense in the last year or so,” Davis said.

Davis said this will be a more entertaining game than last year’s 3-2 score.

“I think you’ll see more offense. The most exciting play in this game last year was an attempt at a sacrifice bunt. It will be a far more aesthetically pleasing game for an offensive connoisseur with (offensive coordinator Gus) Malzahn and Mullen going head- to- head with their perspective offenses,” Davis said.