SEC Round-Up: Lackluster slate highlights need for nine league games

In college football, November is supposed to be a time for games to remember.

In the Southeastern Conference — specifically the next to last weekend — November is a time to dismember.

This week’s schedule is ridiculous. Aside from four conference matchups, the other games match Austin Peay at Alabama, East Tennessee State at Mississippi State, UMass at Texas A&M, Western Kentucky at Auburn, New Mexico State at Missouri and UAB at LSU.

The Pac-12, Big Ten and Big 12 schedules have conference games with championship implications.

The SEC has a buffet of cupcakes.

Last year, the SEC was 6-0 in this non-conference window. Five of the wins were by 40 points or more. The only reasonably competitive game was LSU’s 27-13 victory over ULM.

There aren’t many reasons to welcome Texas and Oklahoma’s inevitable entry into the SEC. But there is one.

When Texas and Oklahoma enter the league, the SEC schedule is anticipated to be extended to nine conference games. That would eliminate the annual half-dozen November cakewalks on the SEC schedule.

Texas A&M, mired in a six-game losing streak, could use an easy victory.

But even coach Jimbo Fisher seems to acknowledge a nine-game conference schedule makes more sense than playing a cupcake in late November.

“That will be interesting with nine conference games,” Fisher said earlier this week. “That’s not a bad thing. Sometimes you get them (non-conference games) all over with.

“I’ve learned with schedules, whatever they are, they are. Go play the games, and don’t worry about it. It’s not that big a deal when you really get down to it.”

True. No matter the opponent, coaches are going to coach, and players are (probably) going to play.

Fans often must give sizable donations just for the opportunity to buy expensive season tickets. Should they be expected to pay for multiple non-competitive games?

Also, teams fighting to get into the College Football Playoff field theoretically could be penalized for a lame, late-season non-conference game.

That threat alone should be reason to end the November dismember games.

Around the SEC

This week’s games: Massachusetts at Texas A&M; Austin Peay at No. 8 Alabama; East Tennessee State at Mississippi State; Western Kentucky at Auburn; New Mexico State at Missouri; UAB at No. 6 LSU; Florida at Vanderbilt; No. 5 Tennessee at South Carolina; No. 14 Ole Miss at Arkansas; No. 1 Georgia at Kentucky

Who’s hot: LSU freshman linebacker Harold Perkins is already making a strong bid for All-American honors. Perkins has posted six sacks in the last three games. He had four sacks and forced two fumbles in a 13-10 victory over Arkansas last week. He’s now third in the SEC in sacks with 7.5. He’s also credited with 12 quarterback pressures. Overall, he has 53 tackles and eight tackles for loss.

Who’s not: Alabama coordinators Bill O’Brien (offense) and Pete Golding (defense) are under intense scrutiny despite the Tide’s 8-2 record. Alabama averages 40.6 points but “only” 30 points in the last three SEC games. Twice Alabama has been held to 24 points or less. That’s not acceptable to fans in Tuscaloosa. All the criticism directed at O’Brien pales in comparison to the vitriol aimed at Golding. Alabama gave up 52 points in a loss to Tennessee and 32 points in a loss to LSU. He may be on his way out. O’Brien, too.

Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Judkins has rushed for at least 110 yards in four consecutive games, including a 205-yard output vs. A&M three weeks ago.

Keep an eye on: Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins reached the 1,000-yard mark faster than any SEC freshman since Florida’s Emmitt Smith in 1987. Judkins leads the SEC with 1,171 rushing yards. He needs 142 more to surpass Kayo Dottley (1949) to set the school’s single-season rushing record. He would seemingly have a good chance to set the record this week against Arkansas. The Razorbacks are ranked seventh in the SEC in rush defense. They’ve allowed 159 rushing yards to Texas A&M’s Devon Achane and 206 rushing yards to Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs.

The pressure is on: The Arkansas Razorbacks still need a victory to reach the six wins required for bowl eligibility. Arkansas has sustained consecutive losses to Liberty and LSU and will be an underdog to Ole Miss. If they fall to Ole Miss, the Razorbacks’ final chance will be next week against Missouri, but that game will be in Columbia.

Best matchup: Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett has had an excellent season. He’s second in the SEC with 2,895 passing yards. He has thrown for more than 250 yards in nine of 10 games. However, Bennett figures to be tested by Kentucky. No opponent has passed for 250 yards against the Wildcats. Kentucky has allowed just eight touchdown passes while grabbing seven interceptions.