Barnhart’s 5 Burning Questions for Week 6

All summer season lengthy we discuss SEC soccer and surprise if the season will ever, ever get right here.

Then as soon as it begins, it appears to go by in a flash. How do we all know this?

Learn this sentence rigorously: After Saturday’s video games, 12 of the SEC’s 14 groups could have accomplished HALF of their regulation-season schedule. Of us, once we go to mattress Saturday evening/Sunday morning the faculty soccer season will likely be half over.

And whereas Alabama and Georgia look so dominant within the convention, there are such a lot of nice story traces forward of us to take pleasure in. So, in that vein let’s take a look at 5 Burning Questions for Saturday, Oct. 9:

1. Can Auburn pull off a stunning upset of Georgia?

After beating No. 8 Arkansas 37-0 final week in Athens, Georgia (5-0 and ranked No. 2 within the nation) merely appeared invincible can be trying like a positive guess for the School Soccer Playoff. The Bulldogs are a stable favourite as they go to Auburn (4-1), which had a really good 24-19 win of its personal at LSU final week.However historical past reveals us that when Auburn and Georgia meet on the soccer area, sudden issues can occur.

However main upsets have occurred within the oldest steady rivalry within the Deep South, which began at Piedmont Park in Atlanta in 1892.

In 1942 Georgia was ranked No. 1 and was set for a battle with No. 2 Georgia Tech the place the winner would go to the Rose Bowl. However first Georgia needed to face Auburn, which was struggling at 4-4-1 and given no shot to beat Georgia. Georgia acquired caught trying forward and misplaced to Auburn 27-13. The historical past books about this sport are filled with tales concerning the favored staff, searching for an SEC championship or extra, stubbing their toe and shedding their goals. So watch this one intently.

2. Can the Aggies summon up some magic in opposition to the Crimson Tide?

This isn’t what the Alabama-Texas A&M sport was speculated to appear to be.

Again in the summertime many people thought that Alabama’s journey to Texas A&M could be the sport of the yr of the SEC. Alabama (5-0) remains to be No. 1 and driving a 19-game successful streak, which is the place we thought the Crimson Tide could be at this level. However Texas A&M is NOT the place we thought they might be.

The Aggies are final within the SEC West (3-2, 0-2). There is no such thing as a thriller why. They rank eleventh within the convention in whole offense (376.4 ypg) and twelfth in scoring offense (23.4 ppg). Texas A&M has not jelled on the offensive line and has struggled with out beginning quarterback Haynes King, who suffered a damaged ankle within the second sport of the season in opposition to Colorado.

Keep in mind that Alabama Coach Nick Saban is 24-0 in opposition to his former assistants, a gaggle that features Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher.

3. Will Kentucky be caught trying forward vs. LSU?

Final week’s 20-13 win over Florida was a landmark win for Kentucky (5-0), which beat the Gators in Lexington for the primary time since 1986. Subsequent week’s sport with No. 2 Georgia in Athens will likely be for first place within the SEC East and maybe the most important Georgia-Kentucky sport in historical past.

However first Kentucky should beat an LSU staff (3-2, 1-1) that’s feeling a way of urgency after a 24-19 loss at dwelling to Auburn final Saturday evening. The final time LSU performed at Kentucky was in 2007 when the No. 18 Wildcats shocked No. 1 LSU 43-38 in triple time beyond regulation. LSU went on to win the BCS nationwide championship anyway.

4. Why is Arkansas at Ole Miss an enormous sport for each groups?

Why? One of the well-known phases in Coach Converse is: “Do not let the identical staff beat you twice.” Merely put: Do not let the hangover from a loss be so extreme that you simply’re not able to play the next week.

That is what Arkansas and Ole Miss face once they meet on Saturday in Oxford, Miss. Arkansas, which was undefeated and ranked No. 8, was taken to the woodshed by No. 2 Georgia 37-0. “We do not prefer it (shedding to Georgia) and we’re not accepting it however I will be damned if Georgia makes us lose this Ole Miss sport,” mentioned Sam Pittman, the Razorbacks coach.

Ole Miss misplaced to No. 1 Alabama 42-21 in a sport that wasn’t that shut. “That is the SEC. Final week you performed the No. 1 staff and now it’s a must to prepare for a Prime 15 staff,” mentioned Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin.

5. Can Tennessee construct on the momentum of an enormous win over Missouri?

Tennessee gave their long-suffering followers motive to hope after an enormous 62-24 win at Missouri final Saturday. It was Tennessee’s highest-scoring sport since 2016.

An enormous a part of that offensive explosion got here from Virginia Tech switch quarterback Hendon Hooker, who accomplished 15 of 19 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Tennessee (3-2) will attempt to win its fourth sport in opposition to a South Carolina staff that’s nonetheless searching for its first convention win.

“I like what our guys are doing as we proceed to evolve right here,” mentioned Josh Heupel, Tennessee’s first-year head coach. After Saturday’s sport, Tennessee then faces Ole Miss, Alabama, Kentucky, and Georgia over the subsequent 5 weeks.