No. 18 Oklahoma @ No. 14 Tennessee – Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on ABC
In a top-20 matchup, No. 18 Oklahoma will travel to Knoxville to take on No. 14 Tennessee. Both teams have dropped two games in conference play, making the rest of the season must-win games if they want to give themselves the best shot at making the College Football Playoff.
The game itself could prove to be one of the best of the season as a star-studded Volunteer offense takes on a highly-ranked Sooner defense. Tennessee ranks third in the Football Bowl Subdivision for yards per game with 510.1 and will face off against an Oklahoma defense that only allows an average of 240.2 yards per game.
“Defensively, one of the top teams in the country in every statistical category,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said in his weekly Monday press conference. “Their front is big, strong, physical (and) relentless. Tackles for loss, sacks, not giving up a bunch of big plays, it’s a huge test.”
No. 5 Georgia @ Florida – Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on ABC
Fans across Georgia and Florida will travel to Jacksonville for the neutral-site matchup between the No. 5 Bulldogs and Gators. The tradition started in 1933 as an economic move for the city of Jacksonville, Florida, and eventually became an easier way for both fan bases to see their team play, according to the University of Georgia.
“Excited again to go to Jacksonville and play in an awesome venue,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said in his weekly Monday press conference. “It’s very unique to have the neutral sight and have (the) split crowd. Every year we go and play in it, it’s very different … it can be loud both ways, and it’s kind of a momentum game.”
To keep their respective fans cheering, Florida will hope to get into the red zone with an offense that scores on 95.7% of their trips to that part of the field.
However, Georgia can neutralize the Florida fans with an offense that holds onto the ball for an average of 33:08 minutes, the ninth-best in the FBS.
South Carolina @ No. 7 Ole Miss – Saturday at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN
After almost pulling off an away upset against No. 4 Alabama, South Carolina will have another top-10 matchup this weekend.
Losing by one possession to the Tide last week, the 39th-ranked Gamecock defense will have to try and stop a top-10 Rebel offense.
The Gamecocks are efficient at stopping the passing game, only allowing 194.5 yards per game, while the Rebels’ offense is the eighth-best in the nation, producing 305.5 yards per game.
“(Ole Miss senior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss) is playing at a really, really, really high level,” South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer said in his weekly Tuesday press conference. “The running back is a weapon (and) hardly ever comes off the field … (the) receiving core is dynamic.”
