College Sports

SEC: Border rivals Alabama, Mississippi meet in West matchup

Posted November 10, 2022 6:00 am

By GARY B. GRAVES

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (9) calls a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman) The Associated Press

A look at Week 11 in the Southeastern Conference:

GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 10 Alabama (7-2, 4-2, No. 9 CFP) at No. 11 Mississippi (8-1, 4-1, No. 11 CFP).

Now in third place and likely out of contention in the West Division, Alabama is a half-game behind the Rebels and favored in this one. The Tide has won six straight against its border rival and the past five by an average margin of 58-22. Alabama's two losses have come by a total of four points, including last week's 32-31 overtime loss at No. 6 LSU. They still feature a formidable duo in Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young (2,234 yards passing, 19 touchdowns) and linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (seven sacks). Ole Miss have the SEC's No. 3 offense at nearly 495 yards per contest and its No. 4 scoring outfit at 37.4 points. QB Jaxson Dart (1,911 yards, 14 TDs) and freshman back Quinshon Judkins (664 yards, four TDs) are the main weapons. The Rebels allow 378 yards and 21 points per game but must step up their game against a Crimson Tide unit that can score and is hungry to bounce back from losing to the Tigers.

BEST MATCHUP

No. 1 Georgia (9-0, 6-0) at Mississippi State (6-3, 3-3)

Georgia cooled off then-No. 2 Tennessee in last week's 27-13 showdown and must slow another high-octane scheme in MSU's pass-oriented Air Raid. Record-setting MSU junior Will Rogers (323.6 yards per game ) leads the SEC in passing but faces the SEC's stingiest defense in yardage allowed (256.6 yards) and scoring (10.78 points). Georgia QB Stetson Bennett (289.6) is next and looks to follow up an all-around performance against the Volunteers featuring 247 yards and two TDs passing along with a 13-yard scoring run.

IMPACT PLAYER

Georgia senior kicker Jack Podlesny shares the SEC scoring lead with 92 points and ranks sixth nationally. He has made all 44 extra point attempts and 16 of 18 field goals. That included three PATs and both field goal tries against Tennessee, including 38-yarder. Podlesny has converted 51 of 61 FGs in his career and ranks sixth all-time at Georgia with 306 points.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Florida rushed 50 times for 291 yards against Texas A&M, both season highs. ... Georgia racked up six sacks against Tennessee after totaling just 10 in the previous eight games. The Volunteers had allowed just 13 coming in. ... Auburn freshman quarterback Robby Ashford rushed for season highs of 108 yards and two touchdowns in the 39-33 overtime loss at Mississippi State. ... LSU's OT win over then-No. 6 Alabama provided consecutive home victories over ranked opponents for the first time in Tigers history.

UPSET ALERT

No. 7 LSU (7-2, 5-1, No. 7 CFP) must avoid a trap to stay on the playoff radar when it visits Arkansas (5-4, 2-3) on Saturday in the Battle for the Golden Boot. The host Razorbacks seek consecutive wins over the Tigers for the first time since 2014-15 and look to become bowl eligible for the third year in a row. LSU is favored by 3 according to FanDuel.com Sportsbook.

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25.

Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) avoids a tackle attempt by Texas A&M defensive lineman Fadil Diggs (10) and lineman Walter Nolen (88) for a first down scramble during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft) The Associated Press

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, center, looks to throw the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman) The Associated Press

Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford (9) carries for an 18-yard touchdown against Mississippi State during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. Mississippi State won 39-33 in overtime. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press

Mississippi State wide receiver Rara Thomas (0) smiles next to Auburn linebacker Derick Hall (29) on the way to a touchdown after a reception during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. Mississippi State won 39-33 in overtime. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) celebrates with offensive lineman Charles Turner (69) after scoring a 2-point conversion during overtime of the team's NCAA college football game against Alabama in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. LSU won 32-31. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman) The Associated Press

Georgia defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (93) reacts after recovering a fumble during the second half of an NCAA college football game as Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) looks on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022 in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) The Associated Press

Arkansas wide receiver Matt Landers (3) runs for a big gain against Liberty during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods) The Associated Press

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