South Carolina QB Connor Shaw could be without some injured teammates when the Gamecocks play Florida on Saturday. (US Presswire) |
A look at the five questions we'll be looking for answers from in Week 8 of SEC action.
1. How will injuries affect South Carolina at Florida?
What looked to be an even matchup has shifted more in favor of the Gators with several key Gamecocks ailing. RB Marcus Lattimore's (hip) status is still to-be-determined, but coach Steve Spurrier didn't sound optimistic on Wednesday. Starting DT Kelcy Quarles (shoulder) might not play. DE Jadeveon Clowney (foot) will likely go, but he could be less than 100 percent. On top of those key injuries, a flu bug is going around the team that has limited several players in practice this week.
2. Can the Gators keep getting the job done?
Florida has passed every test put in front of it this year. It's the only team with five SEC wins, and that includes one against LSU and one at Texas A&M. Even a less-than-healthy South Carolina team will be a huge challenge on Saturday. The Gators have responded every week, but you have to wonder if there will be a letdown at some point for a team that is still relatively young at several key positions.
3. Can LSU survive its first trip to College Station?
The Tigers go into Saturday's game against Texas A&M as a 3.5-point favorite. This one could go either way, though. LSU has more talent, but the Aggies, and QB Johnny Manziel, find ways to win games. Manziel is coming off a game in which he accounted for 576 total offensive yards in a 59-57 win over Louisiana Tech. He won't have near that many on Saturday, but how effective he is will determine if the Aggies can win this one.
4. Can Auburn get an SEC win?
Saturday's game against Vanderbilt could be its last chance to get an SEC win this season. It's hard to envision the Tigers, who are a seven-point underdog on Saturday, beating Texas A&M, Georgia or Alabama, especially if they fall to the Commodores this week. The Commodores need a win as well. They have two wins on the season, but a win Saturday, combined with wins over UMass and Kentucky the following weeks would keep the Commodores' bowl hopes alive.
5. Will Tennessee be competitive against Alabama?
The Vols lost their first three SEC contests to Florida, Georgia and Mississippi State, but they've been in each game going into the fourth quarter. Can they hang around with Alabama too? That'll be the Vols toughest task yet. It didn't get any easier this week with the news that starting RB Rajion Neal (ankle) and LB Curt Maggitt (stinger) are both banged up. Few expect the Vols to win on Saturday, but coach Derek Dooley, who is squarely on the hot seat, needs to keep this one respectable.
For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.