By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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Matt Smith previews week seven in the SEC.

SEC Week 7 Primer
Its November. Its hard to believe were already in the home stretch of this disjointed 2020 season, but here we are, with all teams but Florida and Vanderbilt having completed at least half of their schedule.

Six teams have their scheduled idle week this Saturday. Only one division game will be played, but its the most important one of the season. The Florida-Georgia game will have a different feel this season, but its importance is just as great as 2018 and 2019 with the two teams again meeting with just a single loss each. The winner is all but assured of a trip to the SEC Championship Game.

The three crossover games this week have varying levels of intrigue, with one being very evenly matched, one featuring a playoff contender on a long road trip, and the other a complete eyesore.

Lets get November rolling with a deep dive into Week 7 in the SEC.

Southern Storylines
Damaged ‘Dawgs
Georgias dominant defense heads into its biggest game of the season with some health concerns. Defensive linemen Julian Rochester and Jordan Davis are both likely to miss the Florida game with injuries suffered in last weeks win over Kentucky. In a flukier injury, star safety Richard LeCounte was hospitalized after a motorcycle accident on Saturday night in Athens. He was released on Wednesday, but having him available to play this week seems like a stretch. The Bulldogs linebacking corps is the nations best, and it will have to show it on Saturday to slow down the Gators given the missing pieces both in front of and behind them.

Now or Never
Despite COVID issues in October, Florida heads to Jacksonville the healthier team. The Gators may not have their full roster available yet, and will be without defensive lineman Zachary Carter for the first half while serving a suspension for fighting, but they should have most of their secondary back after that unit was perilously thin for last weeks win over Missouri. Florida also has a huge advantage at quarterback with Kyle Trask, and the offensive line looks up for the task of dealing with this Georgia front seven. The Bulldogs still have more talent now and for the next few years thanks to some monster recruiting classes, so this might be Floridas best shot to steal the division title.

“Border” Battle
Despite their campuses being close to 700 miles apart, Arkansas and Tennessee are technically border rivals. They were annual opponents from 1992-2002, but have met just once since the SECs 2012 expansion. Both teams are 2-3 and seem fairly evenly matched. The winner still has a realistic path to a .500 season. Both head coaches have been in this league for a long time and know each other well from being on opposite sides of the ball as assistants. For a game with both teams under .500, this is actually a pretty fascinating matchup.

Road Trippin
Theres talk of Texas A&M going 9-1 and perhaps sneaking into the College Football Playoff, but does anyone really believe the Aggies can win their final five games? Theyve played just two road games and were blitzed in one of those at Alabama, but now must head out on the road in back-to-back weeks to South Carolina and Tennessee. The Aggies have won all six meetings with South Carolina since joining the SEC, but the Gamecocks play well at home and should have a good atmosphere for a night game, even with a limited crowd.

Someone Has To Win
I wont blame you if you ignore Saturdays battle for the cellar between 0-4 Vanderbilt and 1-4 Mississippi State. The one positive is either the Commodores will snap an eight-game conference losing streak, or Mike Leach will get his first win at Davis Wade Stadium as Bulldogs head coach. Mississippi State is a heavy favorite, but Vanderbilt players have to know, if theyre being honest, that this is the one game on their schedule that they may actually have a chance to win.

Trivia Time (answers below):
1. How many SEC titles did Jimbo Fisher and Will Muschamp win as assistants together at LSU?
2. What Tennessee legend won a national championship as an assistant coach at Arkansas?
3. After Lindsay Scotts memorable touchdown to defeat Florida in 1980, what team did Georgia defeat in the Sugar Bowl to win the national championship?

Previews and Predictions
(8) Florida vs. (5) Georgia (-3), 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Announcers: Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson
As discussed three weeks ago when Georgia and Alabama faced off, there has been a shift in what side has the advantage when a great offense faces a great defense. The Crimson Tide had their way with the Bulldogs defense, and Georgias offense couldnt keep up in the second half. The question this week is whether or not Floridas offense can have that same success after managing just 31 points in the last two meetings in this storied rivalry. Ther was little proof of concept for Dan Mullens offense succeeding against a Kirby Smart defense throughout the 2010s, which should give pause to anyone leaning with the Gators. The difference this year is Mullen has two huge difference-makers in the passing game in wideout Kadarius Toney and tight end Kyle Pitts. The third time will be the charm for Mullens Gators. Prediction: Florida 29, Georgia 24

Vanderbilt at Mississippi State (-18.5), 3:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network)
Announcers: Taylor Zarzour and Matt Stinchcomb
The Commodores offense scored 35 points in the month of October. The Bulldogs offense scored just 21 points in October. Thats the story heading into this game 3 which of the SECs two worst offenses has a better chance to find its way? Both units have been awful in the red zone, combining to score just seven touchdowns in 22 trips inside the 20-yard line. With Kylin Hill leaving the team, Mississippi States running game is a complete mess, currently averaging a nation-worst 1.7 yards per carry. Vanderbilt is only slightly better at 2.95. The Mississippi State defense has been respectable, which should swing this game pretty comfortably in their favor. Even for Vanderbilt, this line feels a tad too high though, so Ill begrudgingly take the points. Prediction: Mississippi State 30, Vanderbilt 13

(7) Texas A&M (-7.5) at South Carolina, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Announcers: Mark Jones and Dusty Dvoracek
Auburn beat LSU by 37 points a week ago. South Carolinas opinions of the two SEC West Tigers may not align with the 48-11 score from last Saturday. The Gamecocks were pummeled by LSU, 52-24, the prior week, just seven days after a 30-22 upset of Auburn. South Carolina has been a hard team to peg this season. If they are forced to play a game that doesnt jibe with Will Muschamps preferred style, the Gamecocks are likely to get blown out. If they can ugly a game up, they can take down a more talented opponent. Im inclined to give Kellen Mond and the Texas A&M offense the benefit of the doubt right now and call for the Aggies to go on the road and play a clean game. If they do that, theres just nothing about South Carolina that suggests it can engineer a big upset. Prediction: Texas A&M 38, South Carolina 23

Tennessee (-2) at Arkansas, 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network)
Announcers; Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic
The Vols looked broken after consecutive blowout losses to Kentucky and Alabama, but theyve had a week off to heal and try to figure some things out offensively. That will be imperative against an Arkansas defense that is going to make quarterback Jarrett Guarantano beat them methodically this week. The up-and-down Guarantano will have to show patience against a bend-but-dont-break Razorbacks defense, but thats been a challenge for him throughout his career. Feleipe Franks continues to play steady football under center for Arkansas, having thrown just one interception in the past four games while completing 70 percent of his passes in three of those four games. This game feels like it will come down to the two fifth-year senior quarterbacks, and my confidence level is slightly higher with Franks. A nailbiter will get Arkansas back to .500. Prediction: Arkansas 24, Tennessee 23

Best Bets
Last Week: 3-2, +5 Musburgers
Season: 13-14-1, +1 Musburgers
Michigan State +7 at Iowa 3 5 Musburgers
Arizona State +11 at USC 3 4 Musburgers
Iowa State -14 vs. Baylor 3 3 Musburgers
Florida State -2 vs. Pittsburgh 3 2 Musburgers
Boston College -14 at Syracuse 3 1 Musburger

Trivia Answers
1. Two (2001 and 2003)
2. Johnny Majors (1964)
3. Notre Dame (17-10)