Tide host unbeaten Mississippi State; Florida-Georgia highlights SEC action

A strong slate of college football action is accompanied by the biggest week yet in the SEC. With a National Championship firmly in the mind of Alabama and Florida, both will be looking to continue their unbeaten ways or potentially face elimination from the title conversation altogether. It’s do-or-die time down south.

No. 11 Mississippi State at No. 1 Alabama

Nick Saban has led Alabama to an impressive 7-0 start, an unbeaten record that the Tide will be looking to keep this weekend against fellow unbeaten side, Mississippi State.

Almost unanimously as the best team in the country since Week 1, No. 1 Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC) will look to continue its juggernaut run to the BCS National Championship Game with a win over No. 11 Mississippi State (7-0, 3-0 SEC) this Saturday.

Mississippi State enters the games as one of only three unbeaten teams in the SEC. The Bulldogs have already knocked off Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee within the conference, but the Crimson Tide represents a challenge on a whole other level.

Like Mississippi State, Alabama has yet to face any premium opposition – that comes with next week’s trip to LSU. As such, it’s hard to gage just how good this side is. Still, during the college football season it’s not just about who you play but how you play, and there’s little to criticism to be thrown at the Crimson Tide.

Alabama enters this week’s game as 23-point favorites. Some feel that such a high figure is somewhat insulting to Mississippi State, who is unbeaten after all. But with an average point differential of 32.7 PPG, it’s expected that Alabama will have these high numbers. As for the Bulldogs, nobody expects them to win, so beating the spread would be considered a victory of sorts. The Bulldogs have fared well against the spread this season, compiling a 5-2 ATS record, compared to Alabama’s 4-3 ATS.

The over/under is 46. The total has gone under five times in Mississippi State games and three times in Alabama games this season, making the under at least statistically the more likely result.

No. 2 Florida Vs. No. 10 Georgia (at Everbank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.)

Having run over South Carolina last weekend, a win for Florida this weekend over Georgia all but puts the Gators in the SEC Title game.

No. 2 Florida (7-0, 6-0 SEC) has what all teams want at this time of year: its future in its own hands. A win in Jacksonville on Saturday over No. 10 Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC) should solidify the Gators’ place in the SEC Title game in Atlanta on December 1.

Just two weeks ago Georgia was considered one of the favorites to be headed to the title game, but a loss to South Carolina has put such hopes on hold, at least for the time being. A win over Florida could propel the Bulldogs onto that game still.

Georgia won last season’s fixture 24-20, snapping a three-game Florida winning streak. The Gators have owned the Bulldogs in recent history though, recording an 18-4 record since 1990.

3½-point favorites at opening, Florida is now 7-point favorites over the Bulldogs. Florida’s good run of form has seen the side record a 6-1 record against the spread, while Georgia has stumbled to a 2-5 ATS record.

The over/under is 46, having fallen from 48 at opening. Bettors looking for an edge on the total will come up against concrete. The total has gone over in five Georgia games and three Florida games, and under in four Florida games and two Georgia games.

Around the Conference

After disappointing back-to-back losses to LSU and Florida, No. 13 South Carolina (6-2, 4-2 SEC) will look to close out the season in as positive a manner as possible. This weekend’s clash with Tennessee (3-4, 0-4 SEC) shouldn’t prove too much of an issue. The Volunteers have lost three straight and four of five, all against ranked opposition. The Gamecocks are favorites (-14) with the over/under at 55.

The SEC’s other ranked side, No. 20 Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2 SEC), looks to rebound from a 24-19 loss to LSU last week with a trip to lowly Auburn (1-6, 0-5 SEC). Auburn head coach Gene Chizik looks to be on the chopping block as the Tigers have faced their worst start for 60 years. The Aggies opened as 8½-point favorites, a number that has soared to 14½. The over/under is 53.

Arkansas (3-4, 2-2 SEC) has won two on the bounce after a debilitating four-game losing streak. The underachieving Razorbacks host an Ole Miss (4-3, 1-2 SEC) side coming off of a win over Auburn. Arkansas is favorites (-6) with the over/under at 60.

To say Missouri (3-4, 0-4 SEC) has struggled within its new conference is an understatement. The Tigers have yet to record a win against conference opposition. That should change this weekend as the team hosts perennial doormats, Kentucky (1-7, 0-5 SEC). The Tigers are favored by two touchdowns with the over/under at 49.

Finally, taking the award for least attractive SEC fixture of the week/year, Vanderbilt (3-4, 2-3 SEC) hosts the winless Massachusetts (0-7, 0-4 MAC). This late in the season, nobody wants to watch a trivial intra-conference game like this. For the record, the Commodores are 33-point favorites. With the over/under at just 48, nobody’s expecting the Minutemen – averaging just 11.9 points per game – to put much up on the scoreboard.

Week 9 SEC Schedule (in full)

Kentucky (1-7, 0-5 SEC) at Missouri (3-4, 0-4 SEC)

Tennessee (3-4, 0-4 SEC) at No. 13 South Carolina (6-2, 4-2 SEC)

Ole Miss (4-3, 1-2 SEC) at Arkansas (3-4, 2-2 SEC)

No. 2 Florida (7-0, 6-0 SEC) at No. 10 Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC)

Massachusetts (0-7, 0-4 MAC) at Vanderbilt (3-4, 2-3 SEC)

No. 20 Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2 SEC) at Auburn (1-6, 0-5 SEC)

No. 11 Mississippi State (7-0, 3-0 SEC) at No. 1 Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC)

LSU (7-1, 3-1 SEC) (Bye)