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SEC Football: Nine early games to regain edge over Power Five leagues

By Ronald Evans

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 24: A general view of Bryant-Denny Stadium during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at on October 24, 2009 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 24: A general view of Bryant-Denny Stadium during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at on October 24, 2009 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Despite Alabama football’s national championship dominance, SEC football has lost stature in competition against other Power Five leagues. SEC football has nine early season games to regain the reputation as college football’s top conference.

In September 2017 games against Power Five teams, SEC football had a record of 6-6. In September 2018, SEC football has nine games against Power Five teams. A strong September performance is needed to restore the somewhat tarnished reputation of SEC football.

In the 2017 season, SEC football was 10-12 against over Power Five teams. The 2016 record was worse at 11-14. From 2011-2015 the SEC football record against Power Fives was 66-39. Based on 2016 and 2017, most of the college football world claims SEC football dominance is over and will never return.

Let’s review what happened last September.

September 2017 vs Power Five Teams

  • Alabama vs Florida State – The Crimson Tide won 24-7
  • Florida vs Michigan – The Wolverines beat Florida 33-17
  • LSU vs BYU – LSU won 27-0
  • South Carolina vs North Carolina State – The Gamecocks won 35-28
  • Tennessee vs Georgia Tech – The Vols beat the Yellow Jackets 42-41
  • Texas A&M vs UCLA – The Bruins beat the Aggies 45-44
  • Auburn vs Clemson – Clemson won 14-6
  • Arkansas vs TCU – The Horned Frogs won 28-7
  • Georgia vs Notre Dame – The Bulldogs beat the Irish 20-19
  • Vandy vs Kansas State – The Dores won 14-7
  • Missouri vs Purdue – The Boilermakers won 35-3
  • Ole Miss vs California – The Bears won 27-16

Let’s take a look at the September 2018 games

Week One

  • Alabama vs Louisville
  • Ole Miss vs Texas Tech
  • Tennessee vs West Virginia
  • LSU vs Miami
  • Auburn vs Washington

Week Two and Three

  • Texas A&M vs Clemson
  • Mississippi State vs Kansas State
  • Vanderbilt vs Notre Dame
  • Missouri vs Purdue

Alabama football is heavily favored against Louisville. The other SEC football schools will be in either tight or tough contests. Based on SBRodds.com, in the week one games, the Crimson Tide is favored by 27 points. Auburn is a 3.5-point favorite and Ole Miss is favored by 1.5 points. Tennessee is a 9-point underdog and LSU is a 3-point underdog.

Clemson and Notre Dame will be solid favorites in weeks two and three. Mississippi State should be favored against Kansas State. Missouri and Purdue is best considered as a tossup.

Next: Proof Alabama Football plays the toughest schedules

Alabama football fans are sometimes content with the Tide’s success no matter how well or how poorly other SEC football teams perform. Even so, the Crimson Tide needs its conference mates to be strong outside of league play. A future CFB Playoff berth might depend on it.

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