November 19, 2004

SEC Week 12 Preview

If you're a college football fan, this is the one of those weekends you look forward to all year--rivallry weekend. It's a time when boys become men, teams put it all on the line for bragging rights within their state and dreams are made and some are shattered.

Here's a look at the games taking place in and around the SEC this weekend.

South Carolina at Clemson (Noon EST, JP Regional Coverage, ESPN Gameplan)
Did you hear that Steve Spurrier was headed to South Carolina to take over for Lou Holtz? I tell you, that wacky Internet with all those rumors. Oh yeah, by the way, South Carolina still has a game left in their season--against in-state hated rival Clemson. The Gamecocks are bowl eligible despite being blown out by Florida last weekend. Lou Holtz refuses to call this his last game as South Carolina coach because he's lost all his "last games" at other universities.

Tennessee at Vanderbilt (12:30 p.m. EST, JP Regional Coverage, ESPN Gameplan)
I suppose this might be a rivallry is Vanderbilt had done something silly like win one of the last 22 games against the Volunteers. And you could almost give them some sense of hope to win, except for that whole blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter to Kentucky debacle last weekend. The real question--will Vandy crack the scoreboard for the first time in three years against the Vols? Tennessee, on the other hand, has a lot to play for--a win here and they earn a rematch with Auburn in the SEC Championship Game.

Arkansas at Mississippi State (2:30 p.m EST)
Arkansas can still get bowl eligible with a win here over the Bulldogs. Mississippi State helped finish ruining Florida's season a few weeks ago and would love to break a five game losing streak to the Razorbacks.

Auburn at Alabama (3:30 p.m. EST, CBS)
For those of you who might have missed the news ,there's a little game being played this weekend in Tuscaoloosa. A little game called the Iron Bowl. Auburn has a lot to play for--a win here keeps them in the running for a national title. But Alabama would love nothing more than to ruin Auburn's perfect record with a win. The Tide have a strong defense that could give Auburn fits, but will it be enough to hang with the Tigers and possibly pull the upset?

Florida at Florida State (7:45 p.m. EST, ESPN)
Finally, we have Ron Zook's final regular season game as the Florida head coach, taking on in-state rival (not only on the field but off for recruting) Florida State. Florida has lost a lot of games in the final two minutes under Zook and the question is--will they win one for the Zooker in his final game? Bobby Bowden and his staff probably have other ideas about that.

Posted by Michael Hickerson

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Comments & Trackbacks

1. Chris Lawrence says:

   posted on November 19, 2004 02:18 PM — link

   You missed one: Ole Miss-LSU in Red Stick. It's on PPV in Louisiana/Game Plan elsewhere.

   Though, personally, I'd rather forget that it's taking place. :-)

2. dave frey says:

   posted on November 19, 2004 03:21 PM — link

   LSU and Ole Miss used to be a rivalry when I was a kid. It really isn't any more. Ole Miss has Mississippi State as a rival now and they play for a trophy or something right? LSU doesn't really have a rival right now. They're trying to create a rivalry out of the LSU-Arkansas game by playing it the Friday after Thanksgiving every year and by awarding that butt-ugly trophy (they ought to give that gawd-forsaken thing to the LOSER and make them keep it for a year). Too early to tell if a real rivalry will develop there.

   But LSU fans aren't passionate about Ole Miss like they used to be. We get far more worked up about Auburn.

3. Jeff Quinton says:

   posted on November 19, 2004 03:27 PM — link

   Ole Miss-MSU play in the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving Night. LSU-Ark. was the fallback plan when Clemson-SC fell through on that day a few years ago.

   Clemson-SC may wind up on Thanksgiving Day now.

4. Brian says:

   posted on November 19, 2004 03:31 PM — link

   ... boys become men?

5. dave frey says:

   posted on November 19, 2004 03:57 PM — link

   I think only that guy who narrated the NFL documentaries could use that "boys become men" line and be taken seriously. Or maybe the guy who does the Miller High Life commercials. :)

   2 sec games on that friday would rule. I hope they do it.

6. Jeff Quinton says:

   posted on November 19, 2004 04:23 PM — link

   Dave,
   Clemson-SC may be Thursday afternoon that week if the current thinking goes through and not on Friday.

   Clemson's current AD is more amenable to moving it than the last one was.

7. Michael Hickerson says:

   posted on November 20, 2004 06:24 PM — link

   Cliches are fun kids, mmkay...LOL