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Thursday, May 22, 2008
Five games that will decide the SEC championship
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Spring practice is over. Summer is on its way. And if you haven’t made your travel plans for the 2008 season yet, you probably should. We are here to help. Here, gentle readers, are the five games that will determine the 2008 SEC championship.
1. Georgia vs. Florida in Jacksonville, Nov. 1: If last season’s end zone dance by Georgia had never happened, this would still be one of the biggest games between the Dawgs and the Gators in recent memory. First place in the SEC East will probably be on the line, as well as the inside track to a spot in the BCS title game. I know we’re not supposed to call it the “Cocktail Party” any more. But with a Heisman Trophy winner (Florida’s Tim Tebow) on one side and a potential Heisman winner (Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno) on the other, this has a chance to be one for the ages.
2. LSU at Auburn, Sept. 20: Auburn had LSU beat in Baton Rouge last season before Matt Flynn threw a Hail Mary touchdown pass with only one second left. The winner becomes the team to beat in the SEC West. Something wild always seems to happen in this game. This is where the defending national champs could suffer their first loss of 2008.
3. LSU at Florida, Oct. 11: If the Gators win at Tennessee on Sept. 20, they should be 5-0 when LSU comes to Gainesville. LSU is off the week before while Florida will have to play at Arkansas. That makes it a dangerous game for the Gators.
4. Georgia at LSU, Oct. 25: Here is why this game is so huge. If Georgia is undefeated, a win probably puts the Bulldogs at no worse than No. 2 (to the Southern Cal-Ohio State winner on Sept. 13) going into the following week’s game with Florida. If Georgia already has a conference loss, getting beat in Baton Rouge could knock the Bulldogs out of the SEC East race. It could also be the second loss for LSU if the Tigers stumble at Auburn or at Florida.
5. Georgia at Auburn, Nov. 15: How many times has Georgia needed a win at Auburn to clinch a championship? This year will be no different. Auburn will, no doubt, remember the beat down it got from the Bulldogs after Mark Richt pulled out the black jerseys last season in Athens. This could also be a preview of the SEC championship game on Dec. 6.
HONORABLE MENTION Of course, I could be totally wrong about all of this. So here are five more games that could also be a factor in the SEC race.
Florida at Tennessee, Sept. 20: People are telling me that I’m not giving Tennessee enough love. If the Vols can knock off the Gators in their first SEC game of the season, they will turn the SEC race upside down.
South Carolina at Florida, Nov. 15: Florida’s national championship team of 2006 had to block a field goal on the last play of the game to beat Steve Spurrier in Gainesville. Why do I get the feeling that the Head Ball Coach will keep the Gamecocks close in this one?
Alabama at LSU, Nov. 8: Nick Saban returns to LSU after losing a heartbreaker to the Tigers (41-34) last season in Tuscaloosa. By the time this game rolls around all those talented freshmen at Alabama won’t be freshmen any more. This game will be closer than the experts think.
Tennessee at Auburn, Sept. 27: Either team could win this game because both will be beat up. Tennessee plays Florida the week before while Auburn plays LSU.
Auburn at Alabama Nov. 29: Regardless of how Auburn fares against Georgia on Nov. 15, chances are the Tigers will have to beat Alabama to earn a trip to Atlanta. Auburn has beaten Alabama a record six straight seasons and coach Nick Saban knows that his efforts in Tuscaloosa won’t be fully validated until that string is broken. I think the folks at Bryant-Denny will be a little geeked up for this one.
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