Alabama is rightly projected to finish the regular season at 10-2. Vanderbilt is well coached, and the Dores could put up a pesky battle on Saturday. But it is not a trap game for the Crimson Tide. The Auburn Tigers will do plenty of 'woofing' before the Iron Bowl, but this season's Aubies are not built to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Other SEC teams face one or more 'make or break' games over the next three weeks. In this nut-cutting period for at least five SEC teams, one thing is certain. 'There will be blood', as Daniel Day-Lewis' character, Daniel Plainview, said.
While Alabama glides, bumps ahead for other SEC teams
Now that reality has pierced fantasy in Baton Rouge, LSU could crash and burn. LSU wins would help the Crimson Tide's Playoff seeding, but Lane Kiffin's team may limp to a 7-5 finish. On Saturday, LSU hosts Texas, followed by Tennessee in Knoxville a week later. Kiffin isn't a good locker room builder, so if LSU loses to Texas and Tennessee, some of his highly paid guys might not care about the outcome of LSU's closing game at Arkansas.
Texas finishes the regular season with a road trip to Baton Rouge and College Station, with Arkansas as a sacrificial lamb in Austin. The Longhorns might make the Playoff at 9-3, but would likely open on the road as a lower seed.
The Vols will be in College Station on Saturday. Tennessee should win, but if the Aggies get their backs up and play for pride, the Vols could be upset. The following Saturday, Tennessee hosts LSU in Knoxville. It will be a must-win for the Bengal Tigers.
In another game, the favorite should win; Ole Miss will be in Norman on Saturday. Jeff Sagarin's computer model predicts the Rebels squeaking by with a two-point margin. The Rebels mostly have next week off, with a game against Wofford, followed by the sometimes unpredictable Egg Bowl.
Compared to LSU, Texas, and Tennessee, Kentucky has an easier finishing schedule. But the Cat's remaining SOS is No. 23 among all FBS teams. Alabama would benefit if the Wildcats can beat Florida, Missouri, and Louisville. They are likely to drop at least one of the three games.
The next two weeks provide some challenge for college football's best team. Alabama needs Georgia to beat Missouri and Georgia Tech. A South Carolina home upset of Georgia would likely help Alabama more than it would hurt.
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