The SEC schedule looks a little thin with only three conference games and five non-conference games that probably won’t be competitive. Still, some big things could happen:
1) Can Missouri win its 10th consecutive game on the road? Missouri (8-2, 5-1 SEC) needed 589 total yards and a goal line stand on its 1-yard line to beat Texas A&M 34-27 at College Station. If the Tigers win at Tennessee (5-5, 2-4) Saturday night and at home against Arkansas (5-5, 1-5) on Nov. 28, they will go to the SEC Championship game for the second year in a row. Georgia, which plays Charleston Southern earlier in the day, will be at home watching Missouri (at 7:30 p.m.) try to win its 10th road game a row. A Missouri loss puts Georgia into the SEC title game for the third time in four seasons.
2) Can Arkansas win its second SEC game in a row and end the dreams of Ole Miss? Arkansas halted its 17-game SEC game losing streak last week with a 17-0 shutout of LSU. Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2) can still get to the SEC Championship game by winning its last two while Alabama loses to Auburn on Nov. 29. Arkansas could put an end to those Ole Miss dreams with a win at Fayetteville. Ole Miss is pretty rested, having played Presbyterian on Nov. 8 and taking last week off.
3) Will Mississippi State win impressively against Vanderbilt or come out flat? Mississippi State (9-1, 5-1) only dropped to No. 4 in the CFP poll after losing to Alabama. If the Bulldogs want to stay there they must win their final two regular-season games against Vanderbilt (3-7, 0-6) at home and Ole Miss on the road. TCU (9-1), Ohio State (9-1) and Baylor (8-1) are waiting for Mississippi State to stumble. The Bulldogs can't afford to have an Alabama hangover against the Commodores.
4) How long will QB Blake Sims, RB T.J. Yeldon and WR Amari Cooper play against Western Carolina? Alabama coach Nick Saban did not want to hear any nonsense about resting his starters in Saturday's game against the Catamounts of the Southern Conference. But the reality is that part of this week is dedicated to getting ready for Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Yeldon may not get on the field because of a bad ankle. If any of those guys are still playing in the third quarter it will be a surprise.
5) What will be the mood for Will Muschamp's last home game at Florida? Here's a guess that there are going to be a lot of empty seats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday when the Gators (5-4, 4-4) host Eastern Kentucky. But the fact is that a win makes Florida bowl eligible after a 4-8 season in 2013. If Florida's opening game with Idaho had been played (cancelled due to storms), the Gators would be going for their seventh win. Muschamp, in his fourth season at Florida, resigned under pressure last Sunday. The Gators travel to Florida State on Nov. 29 to close out the regular season.
This is not a question. But it is worth noting: If South Carolina (5-5, 3-5) beats South Alabama (7-4) on Saturday, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier will have a team qualify for a bowl for the 24th consecutive season. The only team Spurrier has coached that did not win six games was his first team at Duke (5-6) in 1987.
