SEC Championship Implications of South Carolina vs Georgia

Sept 29, 2012; Lexington, KY, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. Credit: Mark Zerof-US PRESSWIRE

The South Carolina, Georgia match up this Saturday is not only the biggest football game played in Columbia maybe ever, it’s also one of the biggest games of the SEC East schedule.

The winner will be in the drivers seat the rest of the way, and the loser can’t afford to fall to another SEC opponent.

Since the Eastern Division looks rejuvenated, and both teams still have to play Florida, this game also matters a ton to the Gators.

Florida gets SC at home, and they play Georgia at a neutral site at the Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville.

The easiest scenarios for each team to get to Atlanta are pretty much the same.

South Carolina: Beat Georgia, beat Florida, and lose just one SEC game (LSU, UT, Arkansas).

Georgia: Beat SC, Beat Florida and lose just one SEC game (Kentucky, Ole Miss, Auburn)

Florda: Beat SC, beat Georgia and lose just one SEC game (LSU, Vanderbilt, Missouri).

Clearly, Georgia has the easiest road.

When it comes to tie breakers, the situation gets confusing. With the interest of time and keeping this a Gamecock-centric post, here’s what South Carolina would need to do to get to Atlanta if they lost to Georgia or Florida and one of their other remaining SEC opponents

If South Carolina beats Georgia, but loses to two SEC teams including Florida, Carolina would need the Gators to knock off the Bulldogs, but lose to LSU, Vandy or Missouri.

If they beat Georgia, but lost to Florida and another SEC team, they’d need Georgia to beat Florida, but lose to Kentucky, Ole Miss, or Auburn.

The beauty of this all is that right now, SC is undefeated. And if they’re undefeated at the end of the year, there’s nothing that can stop them from playing in the SEC Championship Game.