Adams: Off week helps SEC teams get on track

A friend and I were debating the likely outcome of the Georgia-Auburn football game last week.

I took Auburn. He took Georgia.

I favored Auburn for multiple reasons. The game was in Athens, and the series' recent history favored the road team. Also, Auburn's defense seemed capable of stopping Georgia's running attack. And finally, Auburn had the motivation to avenge last year's embarrassing loss to the Bulldogs.

"Check the schedule," my friend said. "Auburn hasn't had an open date."

That was the extent of his argument, which I didn't fully appreciate until I watched the Bulldogs wear out Auburn 45-20 last Saturday.

Since college football went to a 12-game schedule two years ago, open dates have become more important than ever. They're especially important in a conference as balanced as the SEC.

Auburn vs. Georgia is just one example. Only two SEC teams, Arkansas and Alabama, have lost the week after an open date this season. Alabama's loss was against LSU, which also had an open date the previous Saturday.

Some of the SEC's biggest victories this season have come after open dates.

With two weeks to prepare for Georgia, UT routed the Bulldogs 35-14.

Georgia, which had an open date before Florida, responded with its best game of the season in upsetting the Gators. On Georgia's open-date week, Florida extended itself in defeating Kentucky.

The Gators had their open date a week before Kentucky. On Florida's day off, Kentucky maxed out in upsetting No. 1-ranked LSU.

Mississippi State continued the trend Saturday. The Bulldogs followed up their open-date weekend with an upset of Alabama, which had suffered a last-minute loss to LSU the week before.

South Carolina can't vouch for the value of an open date. It hasn't had one.

The Gamecocks must be questioning the merits of scheduling an open date as late as Nov. 17. Although that gives them two weeks to prepare for in-state rival Clemson, it forced them to play 11 consecutive Saturdays without an open date.

You can't blame South Carolina's collapse solely on its schedule. But you can't ignore wear and tear, either. After winning five of its first six games, South Carolina has lost four consecutive games.

Next season will be easier for everybody. Teams will begin the regular season the last Saturday in August, and the SEC championship game won't be played until Dec. 6, so teams will have two open dates.

The timing of those open dates could be significant.

UT will have two weeks to get ready for Florida on Sept. 20. Its other open date will come two months later, before the Vanderbilt game.

But for the most part, open dates won't favor UT in 2008.

Like the Vols, Florida will have the previous Saturday off when they play in September. Georgia also will have two weeks to get ready for the Vols. So will South Carolina and Kentucky.

That will leave Vanderbilt as the only SEC East team that won't have an open date the week before it plays UT.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.