Barnhart’s 5 Burning Questions for Week 7

Of this, pricey readers, we will be certain: Relating to the enjoyable and pure leisure of SEC soccer, it will be arduous to beat final Saturday.

Ole Miss and Arkansas performed in one of many SEC’s greatest shootouts ever, with the Rebels profitable 52-51.

No. 2 Georgia marched into Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium and marched out with a 34-10 victory. Now the Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 within the nation.

Kentucky dominated LSU with 330 yards dashing to win 42-21 at Kroger Area. Now the Wildcats are 6-0 for the primary time since 1950, when a gentleman named Paul “Bear” Bryant was the top coach.

Tennessee received its second straight convention recreation by beating South Carolina, 45-20.

And within the nightcap we are going to always remember, Texas A&M shocked the world by beating then-No. 1 Alabama, 41-38, at Kyle Area. The scholars stormed the sector as Jimbo Fisher turned the primary Nick Saban pupil to beat the trainer.

This Saturday marks the primary time this season that each one 14 SEC groups play a convention recreation. Will it high final Saturday? Perhaps not, however listed here are 5 Burning Questions that we hope to get answered earlier than the shut of enterprise:

1. Is that this the largest Georgia-Kentucky recreation ever?

Effectively, let’s have a look at.

Each groups are 6-0. It’s the first time the 2 groups have met when each had been undefeated.

Georgia is ranked No. 1 and Kentucky is ranked No. 11. Each groups are 4-0 within the SEC and the winner will maintain sole possession of first place within the Jap Division. ESPN’s School Sport Day and the SEC Community’s SEC Nation shall be there to set the scene.

So yeah. That is the largest Georgia-Kentucky recreation ever.

2. Does Bama bounce again robust in opposition to Mississippi State?

Alabama hasn’t had an entire lot of expertise at studying how you can deal with losses underneath Nick Saban. However preserve a few issues in thoughts: Saban has received seven nationwide championships in his storied profession.

Solely twice have these championship groups gone undefeated (2009, 2020). So each purpose that Alabama set within the preseason remains to be attainable. If Alabama (5-1) runs the desk, beginning Saturday evening at Mississippi State (3-2), after which wins the SEC championship recreation in Atlanta, Alabama will return to the School Soccer Playoff.

Do not forget that in 2017 Alabama didn’t win its division however nonetheless made the CFP because the No. 4 seed. The Crimson Tide received the nationwide championship, beating Georgia.

“Like I instructed them yesterday, you have to reply from the sting of the cliff,” Saban instructed the media earlier this week. “You do not have lots of room for error.”

Truly, coach, Alabama has no room for error. Mississippi State had final week off.

3. What shall be this Saturday’s most entertaining recreation?

That is simple. Ole Miss (4-1) at Tennessee (4-2) taking part in in what is certain to be a packed home at Neyland Stadium.

Ole Miss, which received that nice shootout in opposition to Arkansas final week, leads the SEC in scoring with 46.2 factors per recreation. Tennessee is third at 41.5 ppg. After beating Missouri 62-24 and South Carolina 45-20, the Volunteers have scored 107 factors of their final two video games.

I used to be in Knoxville on Monday and I am going to let you know this: The Huge Orange Nation is happy.

4. Can Arkansas QB Okay.J. Jefferson preserve a sizzling hand in opposition to Auburn?

Just a few days earlier than Arkansas performed Texas A&M on Sept. 25, Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman was requested about his beginning quarterback Okay.J. Jefferson. “I like what is going on on with our quarterback,” he stated.

You’ll be able to say that Pittman is de facto pleased now after an enormous recreation from Jefferson within the slender loss to Ole Miss final week.

On the season Jefferson has thrown for 1,235 yards and 9 touchdowns. He has additionally run for 320 yards with 5 extra touchdowns. He’s the one quarterback within the SEC and certainly one of six within the FBS who has thrown for over 1,200 yards and rushed for over 300 yards this season.

5. Can LSU survive going through a tricky second-half schedule?

The Tigers (3-3) misplaced to Kentucky final week 42-21 in a recreation, fairly frankly, that actually wasn’t that shut.

With six video games left, the accidents are kicking in massive time for Ed Orgeron’s staff. The Tigers misplaced their most explosive receiver, Kayshon Boutte, within the Kentucky recreation. Two All-America corners, Eli Ricks and Derek Stingley, Jr., are additionally accomplished for the 12 months. And the listing goes on.

The ultimate six video games on the schedule contains 5 groups at the moment ranked within the AP High 25: Florida (20), Ole Miss (13), Alabama (5), Arkansas (17), and Texas A&M (21). Getting his staff up for an Midday ET begin (11 a.m. CT) in opposition to 4-2 Florida is not going to be simple for Orgeron.