2023 SEC Football: Week 7 Preview
Week 7 in the SEC is already here, you better enjoy it before it is gone. The Magnolia State is taking the week off on bye to rest up, but besides Zach Arnett’s Mississippi State Bulldogs and Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels, everyone in the conference will be battling head-to-head. Does Vanderbilt stand any chance against the Dawgs? Can Sam Pittman pull off a much-needed SEC upset? Are the Vols pretenders or contenders? Is Shane Beamer about to get a 4th loss hung on him? Who is on Upset Alert?
Let’s dive into this Week 7 SEC slate!
No. 1 Georgia (6-0, 3-0 SEC) vs. Vanderbilt (2-5, 0-3 SEC)
This is going to be a slaughter. End of preview. All joking aside, this is the kind of SEC matchup to get excited about viewing some depth development for the Dawgs. Get Carson Beck and his 314 passing yards per game out early and let’s see Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton get SEC reps for down the stretch and beyond.
You can find a backup at every level to be excited about seeing some SEC minutes from on Saturday. Give us that young interior defensive line like Jordan Hall and Christen Miller. Hall, in particular, has difference-maker potential for next season. Freshman A.J. Harris has star potential as the likely CB2 next year, however, sophomore Julian Humphrey would like that job for himself.
For perspective of how close those two are, through the first two games Harris saw 73 defensive snaps compared to Humphrey’s 70. Freshman Joenel Aguero will be the starting STAR next year and could use the minutes backing up senior Tykee Smith. Young freshmen pass rushers Damon Wilson, Gabe Harris and Sam M’Pemba are three more.
The list of stacked talent goes on and on for Saturday but I’ll wrap up. This will get very ugly early for the Commodores and they know it.
Arkansas (2-4, 0-3 SEC) vs. No. 11 Alabama (5-1, 3-0 SEC)
Sam Pittman has to pull something out of his backside after four straight losses, three coming from within the conference. The problem is the Crimson Tide aren’t typically good for a team needing a “get right” week. What Alabama team comes into this week after last week’s six-point win against Texas A&M being too sweaty and too close for comfort?
K.J. Jefferson is averaging two touchdowns and one interception per game this year at the helm of this Razorbacks team. That won’t cut it this week (not that it has been all year, but you get the point). Arkansas is allowing a solid 111.5 rushing yards per game this year. They have to try and make Bama more one-dimensional and make Jalen Milroe beat them. Easier said than done.
The Tide can’t look ahead to the next month after Arkansas which features SEC matchups against Tennessee, LSU and Kentucky. Arkansas needs to just try and go bowling at this point. A game against FIU Nov. 18 sets up for a win, but beyond that, Mississippi State, Florida, Auburn and Missouri are going to be tough to find three wins.
Again, Coach Pittman has to pull something out of his backside soon or it could be Game Over. Tide rolls.
Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1) vs. No. 19 Tennessee (4-1,1-1)
Which of these two is due? Someone is due here. The same A&M team that beat Hugh Freeze’s Auburn Tigers by 17 nearly walked out with an upset last week against the Tide. They weren’t due. Are they this week?
The Vols smoked the Gamecocks like chicken two weeks ago, but that nearly two-touchdown Florida loss still smells. Does the week off give Tennessee an advantage here? Is A&M tired or have some momentum from last week coming in? This is the most interesting SEC game of the week to me. Here’s a finishing stat for you: Aggies are allowing just 84 rushing yards per game to opponents.
Tennessee has relied on 231 rushing yards per game thus far this year. Who wins that battle? Taking the Vols in a tight one at home but this is definitely an upset alert.
Florida (4-2, 2-1) vs. South Carolina (2-3, 1-2)
Here are two differences in these SEC teams thus far this year that jump off the page: 1) The Gators are averaging 153 rushing yards per game versus the Gamecocks’ 87 and 2) The Gators’ 166 passing yards allowed per game versus the Gamecocks 301.4.
Make adjustments Coach Beamer or that will be the tale of the game. Spencer Rattler and Carolina have to have this one at home with Missouri and A&M on the road the next two weeks. The Gators’ next matchup is Georgia. Get a W this week. Both coaches feel hot on the collar for this one this weekend. They have to have it.
Auburn (3-2, 0-2) vs. No. 22 LSU (4-2, 3-1)
Jayden Daniels is currently walking laps around Payton Thorne.
- Jayden Daniels: 132/181 (72.9%), 1969 yards, 19 touchdowns, two interceptions
- Payton Thorne: 59/94 (62.7%), 643 yards, four touchdowns, four interceptions
On the flip side, Auburn’s defense is playing vastly superior to LSU’s; 322.8 yards per game allowed for Auburn is a clear advantage versus LSU’s 445.7. LSU is averaging 49 points per game, compared to Auburn’s 29.6.
Can Auburn hang on the road and get that first Freeze SEC W? Night game in Death Valley will be an ultimate test for Auburn. Brian Kelly cannot lose this one.
Missouri (5-1, 1-1) vs. No. 24 Kentucky (5-1, 2-1)
Undefeated no more. How does Mizzou respond to a close LSU loss last week? How does Kentucky respond to a butt-whipping in Athens? Very similar in terms of defensive production, does the difference maker in this game make the difference?
Luther Burden III has 54 catches, 793 yards and five touchdowns. That is absolutely absurd in this conference. UK’s Ray Davis and his seven-plus yard-per-carry average versus Mizzou’s Cody Schrader and his six-plus yard average is classic SEC football. This is one of the better games of the week. This can go either way.
How do you think this Week 7 slate unfolds? Let us know in the comments!
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