SEC Football: The SEC road is filled with potholes
By Ronald Evans
Based on SEC football road records from the last five seasons, SEC teams have won 42.4% of their road games. Before explaining why that percentage is misleading, first a close look at the data points.
In this analysis, only SEC vs. SEC games are included. Also, neutral site SEC vs. SEC games are excluded. The percentages listed below were derived from a range of 18 -21 games played by teams during the five seasons. The total number of true SEC road games was 283 games, during which the road team won 120 times.
Why is the overall percentage misleading? Instead of 14 teams, removing the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide, moves the road, winning average, of 12 teams to just 35.4%. Take away the only two other SEC teams with a winning road record in the five-season period and the average, road success rate for the other 10 teams is only 31.2%.
SEC Football Road Warriors Have Nots
It will surprise no one that the SEC football team with the least road success in the period was the Vanderbilt Commodores. It is no wonder why such small numbers of Vanderbilt fans follow their team on the SEC road. Going back to the 2018 season, the Commodores have won only two SEC road games The two very embarrassed SEC programs having lost to Vandy at home are Kentucky and Arkansas.
The Arkansas Razorbacks have not done much better on the SEC road, with just three wins in the five seasons.
SEC Football 2018-2022 Road Game Winning Percentage
- Georgia Bulldogs – 89.5%
- Alabama Crimson Tide – 81%
- LSU Bengal Tigers – 59.1%
- Florida Gators – 52.6%
- Tennessee Volunteers – 42.9%
- Texas A&M Aggies – 42.1%
- Kentucky Wildcats – 38.1%
- Ole Miss Rebels – 35%
- Auburn Tigers – 33.3%
- Mississippi State Bulldogs – 33.3%
- Missouri Tigers – 30%
- South Carolina Gamecocks – 28.6%
- Arkansas Razorbacks – 16.7%
- Vanderbilt Commodores – 10%
After many long runs of road success in places like Starkville, Fayetteville, Knoxville and Baton Rouge, Alabama football fans were stunned by losses in two of those locations last season. Crimson Tide fans rightfully expect Alabama to win every game, but the 2022 reality check was a reminder to never take a win for granted on the SEC road.
Note: Team records in this post were provided by cfbstats.com
dark. Next. Some tougher Crimson Tide opponents in the 2023 season
In the 2023 season, the Alabama Crimson Tide travels to Starkville, College Station, Lexington and the hamlet in West Georgia. Crimson Tide fans ever ready to point out the typically easy schedules for the Georgia Bulldogs can do it again – with the Dawgs traveling to Auburn, Vandy and Tennessee.