Last year's SEC football matchup between South Carolina and LSU had to be moved from Columbia, S.C., to Baton Rouge, La., because of flooding in the Palmetto State. Then-South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, left, shakes hands with then-LSU coach Les Miles after the Tigers won 45-24.OTHER PICKS
Memphis 34, Temple 28Clemson 31, Boston College 10Boise State 42, New Mexico 22Oklahoma 27, Texas 25Notre Dame 38, N.C. State 31Houston 27, Navy 20Ohio State 50, Indiana 13UNC 27, Virginia Tech 19Michigan 32, Rutgers 13Washington 29, Oregon 24Miami 34, Florida State 27Duke 26, Army 14USC 27, Colorado 26Wake Forest 28, Syracuse 21Utah 30, Arizona 25Stanford 43, Wash. State 28Okla. State 45, Iowa State 16
The Southeastern Conference has a lengthy history of national champions, Heisman Trophy winners and All-Americans.
Its list of weather-related alterations could be growing as well.
On the heels of last October's LSU-South Carolina game being moved from Columbia to Baton Rouge due to flooding in the Palmetto State, the league has two matchups this weekend that may change locations or dates due to Hurricane Matthew. LSU's game at Florida is scheduled for noon Saturday, while Georgia's contest at South Carolina is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
South Carolina announced Wednesday night that its East Division matchup would remain at Williams-Brice Stadium, so the Gamecocks will not have to lose another home game.
"We went through that last year," South Carolina associate athletic director Charles Bloom told a Columbia radio station Wednesday. "We don't want to do it again this year."
South Carolina will announce today when the game will be played, while Florida will announce details for its game with LSU as well.
No SEC program faced more weather-related adjustments than LSU in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina ravaged Louisiana and Mississippi before the start of that season. The Tigers had their Sept. 3 opener against North Texas pushed back into late October, their Sept. 10 game against Arizona State moved from Baton Rouge to Tempe, then had their Sept. 24 home game against Tennessee moved back two days because of Hurricane Rita.
Katrina damaged the Louisiana Superdome as well, so the Sugar Bowl after the 2005 season between Georgia and West Virginia was switched to the Georgia Dome. First-year Georgia coach Kirby Smart was an assistant on that Bulldogs team and is not focusing on any change in logistics should this weekend's game at Columbia take place on Sunday afternoon or even Monday evening.
"The logistical concerns would be for both teams," Smart said. "Obviously we both have good, quality staffs of people and a support system that would handle most of that. It's not my concern, and my focus is on South Carolina and preparing for the game."
South Carolina governor Nikki Haley said Wednesday that the university would not get law enforcement assistance should the game go on as scheduled Saturday night. Law enforcement would be provided by the Columbia Police Department and departments from Richland County and Lexington County, according to The State newspaper.
Pasquali's Pix (provided they play edition):
LSU at Florida: Who knew that removing Les Miles and having Leonard Fournette injured was all the Tigers needed to erupt? Tigers 27, Gators 20.
Auburn at Mississippi State: When these two teams last met in Starkville, the Tigers were No. 2 in the country and the Bulldogs were No. 3. Tigers 24, Bullies 19.
Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh: Some of these Atlantic Coast Conference defenses this season are making Tech's triple-option offense seem better suited for a museum. Panthers 34, Yellow Jackets 23.
Mercer at UTC: It's a SoCon revenge game for the Mocs, and SoCon revenge games have become quite rare under Russ Huesman. Mocs 30, Bears 17.
Tennessee at Texas A&M: The Volunteers must reverse their early game struggles or else endure a 12th straight loss against the SEC West. Aggies 35, Volunteers 23.
Vanderbilt at Kentucky: One would think that in one of these centuries, the SEC East would be on the line in this one. Wildcats 29, Commodores 20.
Alabama at Arkansas: Nick Saban has a chance to improve to 10-0 with the Crimson Tide against the Razorbacks and Tennessee these next two weeks. Crimson Tide 33, Razorbacks 16.
Georgia at South Carolina: For the first time since 2004, this is not Mark Richt vs. Steve Spurrier. Bulldogs 24, Gamecocks 12.
Last week:
Winners21
Hurd coastings4
Pasquali is 103-22 overall (82.4 percent) this season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.