Across the SEC: Breaking down scenarios in the West

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November 1, 2023

Every Wednesday we present “Across the SEC,” where we break down the biggest matchups of the previous week, preview the coming week’s slate, and talk about where things stand in the best conference in the land!

In this week’s edition, while much of the talk has been on the Alabama-LSU matchup (understandably so), the Ole Miss Rebels have a huge matchup themselves, taking on Texas A&M at home in Oxford with only a 3-point spread.

If Alabama were to defeat LSU on Saturday, the chances that Ole Miss could win the SEC West decrease dramatically, given that the Rebels already lost the head-to-head matchup in Tuscaloosa. However, if LSU wins against Alabama, things get extremely interesting at the top of the West.

Given that LSU also has a conference loss and it was head-to-head against Ole Miss, LSU would still need Ole Miss to drop a game in order to win the West, even if it defeats Alabama.

While Ole Miss has a difficult matchup themselves this week, an LSU win over Alabama would put the Rebels in control of their own destiny. That being said, Ole Miss heads to Athens next week, likely placing LSU in a position to win the West assuming Georgia were to handle the Rebels.

Alabama can clinch the West this weekend with a win and an Ole Miss loss to Texas A&M, or a win and one more Ole Miss loss over the next three weeks. Alabama also wins the West if it defeats LSU and goes to Lexington and defeats Kentucky next week.

Needless to say, things are heating up as we head down the home stretch of the college football season. It won’t be long before we know who is representing each division in Atlanta.

Follow Michael Brauner on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP

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