Four SEC showdowns carry major CFP stakes

Four games between ranked SEC teams on Saturday could reshape the conference race and the 12-team College Football Playoff field. Georgia visits Ole Miss, Alabama travels to LSU, Kentucky faces Tennessee and Texas plays at Missouri during a seven-game national slate of Top 25 matchups.

No. 3 Georgia is a 3.5-point favorite at No. 10 Ole Miss for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on ABC. Georgia could be playing for the No. 1 ranking while protecting its SEC three-peat hopes. An Ole Miss win would strengthen the Rebels’ position for the SEC title game and CFP, with a trip to Oklahoma followed by home games against Wofford and Mississippi State remaining.

No. 5 Alabama visits No. 14 LSU at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, with LSU favored by 5.5 points. DawgNation’s Mike Griffith called it the weekend’s most pressure-packed matchup, citing expectations surrounding third-year Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer and first-year LSU coach Lane Kiffin. Griffith picked Alabama to win 41-38.

No. 6 Kentucky plays at No. 13 Tennessee at 6:15 p.m. on ESPN, with the Volunteers favored by 6.5 points. Kentucky has a chance to answer skepticism reflected in the betting line, while Tennessee needs a win to remain in contention for the SEC title and CFP. Griffith picked Tennessee 20-17.

No. 7 Texas is a 2.5-point favorite at No. 18 Missouri in a noon ESPN game. Both teams need a win to remain in the SEC title race and, most likely, the CFP chase. Missouri’s home form includes a 45-17 victory over then-No. 8 Florida last month, while Griffith picked Texas 24-21.

The CFP field will be released at noon Dec. 6. CFP chairman Hunter Yurachek said the rankings could change significantly over the next few weeks. Only three undefeated teams entered November, the fewest at that point since the CFP era began in 2014.

Why it matters

Each matchup carries SEC title and CFP consequences. With only three undefeated teams entering November, Saturday’s results could produce major movement before the 12-team field is released Dec. 6.

What to watch next

The four ranked SEC matchups will be played Saturday, beginning with Texas at Missouri at noon. The CFP field will be released at noon Dec. 6.