Last week, I ranked the top five SEC out-of-conference games of 2011. This week, I take a look at the top five games within the conference. With three teams – Arkansas, Alabama and LSU – as legitimate national championship contenders, it’s shaping up to be another monster year in the SEC West. But the SEC East will be just as intriguing, but for vastly different reasons. Here are the top five games of the season in the SEC. 5. Alabama at Auburn - November 26 Auburn’s 24-point comeback in last season’s version of the Iron Bowl not only protected its national title hopes, but ratcheted up this rivalry to a level it has never seen before (see: Harvey Updyke). This season, the Tide will roll on to the Plains to close out the regular season with payback, and possibly a national title on their minds. Meanwhile, Auburn will have had plenty of time to break all of those new players into the starting lineup, and probably will be playing its best football of the season. Yet again, this game probably won’t decide the SEC West – something that we’ve been waiting on since the divisional split in 1992 – but with so much on the line for both teams, expect this one to be a classic. Prediction: Alabama 21, Auburn 17. 4. South Carolina at Georgia – September 10 This is routinely one of the most underrated games in the SEC, and almost always leaves you biting your fingernails in the fourth quarter. This season, South Carolina enters as “the hunted” – a position that it has never been in since joining the SEC. How will they handle it? Georgia certainly will stack up against Marcus Lattimore in the hopes of preventing him from matching or exceeding his 182-yard, two touchdown performance from last year’s matchup. Will that open the door for Stephen Garcia and Alshon Jeffery? For Georgia, this could be the most important game of the season, and possibly Mark Richt’s career. A win here, and Georgia vaults from SEC East also-ran, to SEC East favorite in a matter of just three or four hours. The Bulldogs miss Arkansas, Alabama and LSU this year; and get Auburn and Mississippi State between the hedges. The toughest road game? At Tennessee. In the past, that’s been a problem, but I don’t see it being one this year. A win over the Gamecocks almost certainly makes it “Atlanta or bust” for the fan base, and for Mark Richt’s job. Prediction: Georgia 20, South Carolina 13. 3. Arkansas at Alabama - September 24 Arkansas nearly pulled off an upset over the Tide in Fayetteville last fall, but still managed to make a BCS bowl for the first time in school history. Despite the loss of quarterback Ryan Mallett, the Hogs enter 2011 as a legitimate SEC and national title contender, thanks to the running ability of Knile Davis and one of the best wide receiving corps in the country. Aside from junior running back Trent Richardson, Alabama will be replacing virtually every playmaker on offense. So the fact that this game takes place in September is certainly an advantage for Arkansas. Just like last season, this one will go down to the wire; but the talent of Alabama’s defense will win out in the end. Prediction: Alabama 28, Arkansas 27. 2. Arkansas at LSU - November 25 The Battle for the Golden Boot routinely provides an exciting game, but rarely does it carry meaning for both teams. That changes this season. There’s a pretty good chance that both of these teams will still carry SEC West title hopes into this day-after-Thanksgiving tilt, which will put all eyes on Baton Rouge before the attention of the college football world shifts to the Iron Bowl the next day. Even without Ryan Mallett, the Arkansas offense should be one of the best in college football, and it will be going up against the always tough LSU D. Sign me up. Prediction: Arkansas 30, LSU 27. 1. LSU at Alabama - November 5 Two years ago in Tuscaloosa, this game was the slugfest of all slugfests, as the Tide outlasted the Tigers 24-15 in a game that was marred by a missed interception call late in the fourth quarter, when LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson clearly had possession in bounds. Last year, Les Miles got tricky, calling a reverse on a critical 4th and 1, which lead to the go-ahead touchdown. This season, these two teams will square off in early November with everything – and I mean EVERYTHING – on the line. This game will be old-school, smash mouth SEC football, featuring two elite defenses and coaches with championship pedigree. Can’t wait ($1 to Bart Scott). Prediction: LSU 17, Alabama 16. Barrett Sallee covers the SEC for www.CollegeFootballNews.com. He can be reached at barrettsallee@gmail.com, or on Twitter at @BarrettSallee
2010/2011 Off-Season Column Archive: Top 5 SEC Games of 2011 - June 27, 2011 Point/Counterpoint: Richt & UGA Need To Part Ways? - June 26, 2011 CFN Analysis: The NCAA Letter to UNC - June 23, 2011 Five Thoughts on the SEC DL - June 21, 2011 Top 5 SEC Out-Of-Conference Games - June 18, 2011 Five Thoughts on the SEC OL - June 13, 2011 CFN Analysis: Pryor Done at OSU - June 7, 2011 Five Thoughts on the SEC WR’s - June 6, 2011 Ranking The SEC Head Coaches - June 6, 2011 Point/Counterpoint: Oversigning In The SEC II - June 4, 2011 Point/Counterpoint: Oversigning In The SEC - June 2, 2011 CFN Analysis: Tressel Resigns – May 30, 2011 Five Thoughts on SEC RB’s – May 29, 2011 Ohio State & Tressel: The Hits Keep Coming – May 29, 2011 Five Thoughts on the SEC QB’s – May 23, 2011 CFN Thoughts – The Extra Stipend Debate – May 22, 2011 Ealey’s Transfer Leaves UGA In A Bind – May 9, 2011 Russell Wilson to the SEC? – May 5, 2011 SEC Draft Review – May 4, 2011 Five Thoughts on Janoris Jenkins – April 27, 2011 Muschamp Sets New Tone For Florida – April 26, 2011 Spring Lessons Learned – SEC East – April 24, 2011 Spring Lessons Learned – SEC West – April 20, 2011 Five Thoughts On Kentucky’s Spring – April 14, 2011 Five Thoughts On Bama’s Calloway – April 13, 2011 Stephen Garcia, Winning! – April 6, 2011 Stephen Garcia Suspended Indefintely – April 6, 2011 Five Thoughts On Ole Miss’ Spring – April 6, 2011 Five Thoughts On Auburn’s Spring – April 4, 2011 Real Sports Much Ado About… – March 31, 2011 Ainge’s Addictions, And What It Means For UT – March 29, 2011 Five Thoughts On Tennessee’s Spring – March 29, 2011 Tressel-Gate Has Only One Conclusion – March 26, 2011 Five Thoughts on Bama’s Spring – March 25, 2011 Five Thoughts on Vandy’s Spring – March 24, 2011 Five Thoughts on Florida’s Spring – March 23, 2011 Bama Star Arrested – March 20, 2011 Five Thoughts on South Carolina’s Spring – March 16, 2011 Five Thoughts on Arkansas’ Spring – March 15, 2011 Auburn Players Arrested, Dismissed – March 12, 2011 Five Thoughts on LSU’s Spring – March 11, 2011 CFN Analysis – The Too Busy Offseason – March 11, 2011 Five Thoughts on Georgia’s Spring – March 9, 2011 CFN Analysis – Should Jim Tressel Have Been Fired – March 8, 2011 Five Thoughts on Mississippi State’s Spring – March 6, 2011 Wheels On Newton Saga Keep Spinning – February 28, 2011 Six SEC West Spring Storylines – February 24, 2011 Kiffin and the Tennessee Issue – February 23, 2011 Six SEC East Spring Storylines – February 17, 2011 CFN Analysis – The SEC Schedule – February 10, 2011 Ealey Suspension Leaves Georgia In A Bind – February 9, 2011 SEC Signing Day Review – February 3, 2011 CFN Analysis – Signing Day 2011 – February 2, 2011 Dream Team Won’t Save Richt – January 31, 2011 Five Thoughts On Kragthorpe – January 24, 2011 Ridiculously Early SEC West Rankings – January 23, 2011 LSU Hires OC Four Years Too Late – January 20, 2011 Ridiculously Early SEC East Rankings – January 19, 2011 CFN Analysis: Cam Turns Pro – January 14, 2011 BCS National Championship Review – January 11, 2011 CFN Analysis: Cotton Bowl – January 8, 2011 Five Thoughts On Why Auburn Wins – January 7, 2011 Five Thoughts On Dan Quinn – January 5, 2011 Tuesday Question: Should Rich Rod Be Fired – January 4, 2011 Five Thoughts on Charlie Weis – January 4, 2011 CFN Analysis: Charlie Weis as the Florida OC – January 3, 2011 CFN Analysis: Outback Bowl – January 1, 2011 CFN Analysis: Gator Bowl – January 1, 2011 CFN Analysis: Capital One Bowl – January 1, 2011 CFN Analysis: Liberty Bowl – December 31, 2010 CFN Analysis: Music City Bowl – December 30, 2010 End Of The Season Accountability – December 27, 2010 Pryor Can’t Be Compared To Newton – December 23, 2010 Ranking The SEC Bowl Games – December 19, 2010 Malzahn Makes The Right Move – December 14, 2010 Five Thoughts on Muschamp – December 12, 2010 CFN Analysis: Florida Hires Muschamp – December 12, 2010 CFN Analysis: Cam’s Heisman Landslide – December 11, 2010 Five Thoughts On Urban Meyer – December 9, 2010 Meyer Leaves Legacy, Question Marks – December 8, 2010 Click here for the 2010 regular season archive Click here for the 2010 Three & Out archive
