When the calendar turns to October during a college football season, it’s like a car trip vacation. You’re excited in the beginning and it gets trilling the closer you get to the end, but a lot of your enjoyment is based on how well you handle the grind in the middle.
Certainly, it is that way in the SEC where there are games during October that feel ginormous but all they really do is set up the next big game.
October is also where 11 of the 14 teams take a week off to catch their collective breath. But there are still plenty of big games. Here are the five best of Rocktober:
- Florida-Georgia, Oct. 27.
It’s always big and there is no way of knowing how big because we don’t know what the SEC East race is going to look like. This game can get coaches fired. Just ask Jim McElwain, Mark Richt, Ray Goff and Doug Dickey.
- Texas A&M at South Carolina, Oct. 13.
There is no consensus on how relevant either of these teams will be, but there is a good chance we’re going to make this can’t-miss TV at this point of the season.
3 and 4. The LSU double-dipper, Oct. 6 and Oct. 13.
The Tigers pulled tough duty in having to play Florida and Georgia from the East and to make things worse they get them in back-to-back weeks. LSU stunned Florida last year and plays for the second time in a row in Gainesville before hosting the Dawgs.
- Auburn at Miss. State, Oct. 6.
The cowbells will be clanging and if the Tigers are going to defend their division championship, this is a legitimate hurdle.
“trilling?”
I’m not sure how a program like south Carolina deserves mention, but I guess there was a need for filler. go gators.
Normally I’d agree with you, mveal…..but I just have this sneaky feeling about South Carolina this year. On the other hand, could just be gas.
Was it the same feeling you had coming off an 11-2 season in 2012 before you watched Muschamp go 4-8 in 2013 and had all the air come out of your sails? Don’t worry, he’s the same Muschamp and will lay an egg like he usually does when there’s high expectations.
Yeah, that’s the one! Thanks, Joe….I needed that.
it’s not too inconceivable that SC is 5-1 going into Texas A&M – this assumes they win one of two games, home vs UGA and road vs UK, and the other four which should have SC favored. Muschamp is growing as a coach, and even though he’s recruiting against Clemson, he’s not doing a bad job considering the challenges he faces. Muschamp vs Fisher is an interesting comparison now that they’re at different schools. i’m not sure how big a game it is, but it’s definitely an interesting game.
Hey, Pat. Tell Gatorsports to hire Zack back. Gatorsports needs him.
Couple of good Mississippi State games too, at LSU (LSU’s third tough one in a row) and TAMU in Starkville. MSU could be pretty good, Mullen left the cupboard pretty stocked.
You’re right he left them in good shape. Tell you what, I would not want to be Ed Ogeron this fall. If he gets through this, it will be a miracle. Expect LSU’s dipstick of an AD to drop him like a cheap cigar if he doesn’t, which will be too bad for LSU again.
yeah, they kind of pulled a Tennessee once already…