Five Key Questions Facing the SEC in Week Three
5. Can UAB defeat No. 8 South Carolina?
Before you laugh, take a look at the first two weeks and previous eighth ranked team's Michigan and Arkansas. Both were knocked off of their lofty pedestal, and it wasn't pretty, to say the least. In week one, No. 8 Michigan was rudely dismissed by No.1 Alabama. In week two, No. 8 Arkansas was defeated by Louisiana-Monroe. Both losses have helped the Gamecocks ascend to the No. 8-ranking.
Adding to UAB's chances is the fact that 1st-year head coach Garrick McGee was the offensive coordinator for Arkansas last season. He knows how to beat the Gamecocks, evident by the Razorbacks 44-28 beat down of South Carolina in 2011.
It is also a game time decision on whether starting junior quarterback Connor Shaw will be able to play due to a shoulder injury suffered in week one against Vanderbilt. If Shaw can't go, backup sophomore Dylan Thompson will take over. Thompson played well last week, but with inexperience comes struggles.
4. Can Ole Miss rush for 100 yards for the third straight week?
Ole Miss has exploded on offense in the first two weeks, putting up 500+ yards against both Central Arkansas and UTEP. In fact, Ole Miss has gained more than 200 yards on the ground in both games. However, Ole Miss is facing a big step up in competition this weekend. The Rebels take on No. 14 Texas and a great defensive line.
The Ole Miss rushing attack centers around three players: starting sophomore quarterback Bo Wallace leads the team in rushing with 135 yards, senior athlete Randall Mackey is second with 116 yards and rounding out the 100-yard club is junior halfback Jeff Scott with 113 yards. Combined, the three form the No.9-ranked rushing attack in the country.
Standing in the Rebels way is perhaps the best defensive lineman in the country: Jackson Jeffcoat. Jeffcoat, a junior for the 'Horns, has 14 tackles, one forced fumble and one sack on the season. He is the kind of defensive end that gives offensive linemen nightmares.
3. Can 'Bama cover the spread against Arkansas?
The conventional questions would be: can Arkansas recover and pull off the upset? However, if a top ten-worthy Michigan team can't contend with the Crimson Tide, then an Arkansas team without its senior starting quarterback has no chance of beating Saban.
The current spread is 20 points, and it seems difficult to imagine a horrible Arkansas defense keeping the Razorbacks in the game against a polished Alabama offense. Junior quarterback AJ McCarron has led the way with 418 yards passing and six touchdowns to no interceptions. Alabama's defense has played well behind junior linebacker C.J. Mosley, who leads the team in tackles with 18 total.
Get ready for a long season Arkansas fans.
2. Can the Warhawks make it two in a row over SEC teams?
Last week, Louisiana-Monroe upset No.8 Arkansas, 34-31, in overtime. However, that win was against an Arkansas team that lost its star senior quarterback, Tyler Wilson, to a head injury. The Warhawks were also forced to come back from a 28-7 deficit and had to convert six 4th-down conversions in order to complete "The Shock."
Auburn is not as good as Arkansas on offense. At this point in the season, the Razorbacks' back-up QB's are as reliable as Auburn starter Keihl Frazier, who has only one touchdown and three interceptions in two games. On the other side of the ball, Auburn's defense is as bad, or worse, than Arkansas.
If the Warhawks are two win two straight over SEC teams, Louisiana-Monroe junior quarterback Kolton Browning will have to put up another career performance. Last week he had 412 yards passing and 69 yards on the ground. He will need a similar effort stats-wise this week.
1. Can the Gators defense stop Bray and the Vols offense?
Through the first two weeks of the season, the Gators defense has struggled during the first half, before regrouping and dominating the second half of both games. With that being said, Florida cannot afford to start slow against Tennessee and gun-slinging QB Tyler Bray.
Through two games, Bray has thrown for 643 yards and six touchdowns on the back of a 194.8 passer rating; Bray is currently the fifth most efficient passer in the country. Aiding Bray in the Vols offensive attack is junior wide receiver Justin Hunter, who has 17 receptions for 219 yards on the season.
If the Gators are going to defeat the Vols in Knoxville, Florida's front has to put pressure on Bray, while the secondary tandem of junior Jaylen Watkins and sophomore Marcus Roberson have to continue their stellar play of the first two weeks.
What are you most interested to see play out in Week 3? Let us know in the comments below!
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