In the SEC, every weekend has at least one matchup with some title implications. And so it is Saturday, when No. 3 LSU travels to Gainesville, Fla., and a key game with the No. 10 Florida Gators. (Game time — 3:30 p.m., CBS).
This one is particularly intriguing because the Tigers (5-0, 1-0) nearly have slipped up in an SEC road game already this season, escaping Auburn 12-10. And "the Swamp" is just as unfriendly. By contrast, Florida already has won in hostile territory, taking a 37-20 victory at Tennessee.
Look for a low-scoring, defensive struggle. Both teams are in the top 5 in the SEC in scoring defense, yielding an average of 12 points per game.
LSU QB Zach Mettenberger is No. 8 in the SEC in passing (203 yards a game). However, the Gators' Mike Gillislee is the No. 2 SEC rusher (105 ppg.).
“It's gonna be pretty tough,” Florida nose tackle Omar Hunter told the Gainesville Sun. “(LSU is) a physical team. That's all they do — run the ball downhill. They want to get their fullback one-on-one with a linebacker and let their tailback make plays off of that."
GEORGIA (5-0, 3-0) at SOUTH CAROLINA: It's always fun when the Bulldogs (No. 5) face Steve Spurrier. But remember it works both ways -- UGA coach Mark Richt knows Spurrier from Richt's days as a Florida State assistant, when the Seminoles used to face Florida annually. Another top 10 matchup -- Carolina is No. 6. Game time — 7 p.m., ESPN.
The remaining SEC schedule for Oct. 6 (all times Eastern):
- Arkansas (1-4, 0-2) at Auburn (1-3, 0-2), noon, ESPN2
- Mississippi State (4-0, 1-0 SEC) at Kentucky (1-4, 0-2), 12:21 p.m.
- Vanderbilt (1-3, 0-2) at Missouri (3-2, 0-2), 7 p.m., FSN
- Texas A&M (3-1, 1-1) at Ole Miss (3-2, 0-1) 7 p.m., ESPNU
Idle: Alabama, Tennessee
How do you pick UGA-Carolina? LSU-Florida? Tell us in comments below.
Material from the SEC home office was used in this report.
