COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A look at Week 13 in the Southeastern Conference:
GAME OF THE WEEKNo. 8 Alabama (10-1, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) at Auburn (6-5, 3-4), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
In the final week of the regular season filled with traditional rivalries, it's hard to top the Iron Bowl, no matter how much of mismatch the game appears. The Crimson Tide are 14 1/2-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, to win their fourth straight game in a series that was first played in 1893.
Alabama can't get caught looking ahead to its SEC title game match up with top-ranked, two-time defending national champion Georgia next week. Who could forget coach Nick Saban's disbelieving look at Auburn's famed “Kick Six” touchdown to steal the victory at the end of a tie game 10 years ago.
Alabama is rolling behind quarterback Jalen Milroe with nine straight victories including over ranked SEC opponents in Tennessee and LSU to win the SEC West Division.
Auburn is in its first year under coach Hugh Freeze and may have had one of the program's most disappointing defeats in a 31-10 loss to New Mexico State last week. The school paid the Aggies $1.8 million for an expected easy victory that never materialized.
THE ACC-SEC UNDERCARDThere are several ACC-SEC contests in the final week including undefeated No. 1 Georgia (11-0, 8-0) facing revived rival Georgia Tech (6-5), which has qualified for a bowl game in coach Brent Key's second season.
The Bulldogs have won their past five games with the Yellow Jackets. Georgia is going for its 29th straight win overall.
The other cross-league, in-state matchups include No. 5 Florida State at Florida, No. 9 Louisville at Kentucky and Clemson at South Carolina.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Georgia tight end Brock Bowers continued his remarkable return from surgery for a high-ankle sprain with seven catches for 60 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs' 38-10 win over No. 25 Tennessee. ... Missouri's Cody Schrader continues to lead the SEC in rushing with 1,272 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had 148 yards and a touchdown as No. 10 Missouri defeated Florida 33-31 last week. ... Kentucky tailback Ray Davis is 10 yards shy of 1,000. If he gets it against rival Louisville on Saturday, he'll have reached that milestone at his third school after doing it previously with Vanderbilt and Temple. ... Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is looking to become just the second Rebels coach (John Vaught is the other) to have multiple 10-win seasons. ... Tennessee has posted 34 sacks this season, second in the SEC and eighth nationally.
IMPACT PLAYER
South Carolina receiver Xavier Legette has 72 catches for 1,265 yards and nine touchdowns. He's second behind LSU's Mike Nabers with 109 yards in pass receptions per game. A week ago when trailing Kentucky 14-10 in the fourth quarter, Legette had a 17-yard catch for a first down to get inside the red zone and followed with a 17-yard TD reception from quarterback Spencer Rattler for the winning score.
LONG SHOT?
Is anyone really a longshot after New Mexico State's takedown of Auburn last week? Well, yes.
Vanderbilt (2-9) will be hard pressed to avoid its second winless SEC season in three years under coach Clark Lea when it heads East to face state opponent in No. 25 Tennessee (7-4, 3-4). The Vols are 25 1/2-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Tennessee is hoping to avoid its first losing SEC season in coach Josh Heupel's three seasons. The Commodores last beat the Vols in 2018, 38-13.
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