The other three SEC games to watch in Alabama-Auburn cupcake week

In what has become a yearly tradition usually the week before the Iron Bowl but now two weeks before with SEC expansion, both Alabama and Auburn are facing off this week against Group of 5 opponents that they are huge favorites against.

Alabama will host Mercer while Auburn hosts Louisiana-Monroe, two games that on paper should be easy wins. But just because football in the Yellowhammer State will be for the most part a wash, that doesn’t mean there won’t be some great SEC football. Here are the three games you need to have your eye on this week:

11:00 a.m. CST: No. 3 Texas @ Arkansas:

At first glance, this shouldn’t be a matchup for the Longhorns that is tough, but it’s the resurrection of a hate-filled rivalry and the fans will be on fire in Fayetteville. This will probably be the toughest SEC environment Texas faces in their first season in the conference. The Longhorns should take care of business, but don’t dismiss this game.

2:30 p.m. CST: No. 22 LSU @ Florida

Believe it or not, there’s still a tie breaker scenario that exists where the Tigers can make the SEC Championship. A loss in Gainesville would end that possibility, not to mention the tension rising for Brian Kelly even further after the Alabama beatdown last week. The Gators have given their head coach Billy Napier a vote of confidence, so seeing how the perform with their season already over will be interesting as well.

6:30 p.m. CST: No. 7 Tennessee @ No. 12 Georgia:

You wouldn’t know it if you just looked at the team’s rankings, but the Bulldogs are the heavy favorite here in Athens. After suffering a second loss on the season last week in Oxford, this has all of the sudden become an absolute must-win for a Georgia team that is on the brink of elimination. For Tennessee, a victory on the road against a team they have not beaten since 2016 would effectively lock up a spot in the College Football Playoff.