Veteran college football fans have seen too many upsets to consider any favorite a lock. One of the most popular instances of top teams suffering letdowns in favorable situations is in the week before an important game or the week after an important game. These instances are referred to as trap games and while there is no shortage of past examples of these we will keep our focus on the coming season by circling some possible future examples. Here is a look at one potential trap game for the top teams from the SEC West.
Alabama: @ Arkansas, 10/8
The defending national champion Crimson Tide will have a difficult road back to the College Football Playoff and with their margin for error so slim, they certainly can’t afford a letdown at any point. Alabama’s most likely potential trap game could come in early October when they travel to face Arkansas at the start of their toughest stretch of their schedule. The Tide will visit the Razorbacks one week before visiting Tennessee and then playing Texas A&M, LSU and Mississippi State. It will be important for them to not get caught looking too far ahead.
The Tennessee game is one that many have circled on their calendar because the Vols are supposed to be one of the top teams in the conference this season. However, the Tide are going to be the team everyone wants to knock off, including Arkansas. Coach Bret Bielema would love nothing more than to get a signature win and if Alabama doesn’t take this game seriously, they could take the L.
Alabama has survived a couple of close calls against relatively mediocre teams in past years and we can circle their date with Arkansas as another potential trap game.
Ole Miss: vs. Georgia Southern, 11/5
Ole Miss is coming off a tremendous 2015 season in which they won 10 games including a Sugar Bowl blowout of Oklahoma State, but they return just 10 starters and will face a tough schedule out of the SEC West. Florida State, Alabama, Georgia and LSU will be among the toughest tests for the Rebels but they certainly can’t afford to overlook a potential trap game against Georgia Southern in early November. The Eagles are coming off a 9-4 season in which they led the FBS in rushing yards and they will be looking to throw everything they have at Ole Miss when they clash. The Rebels will have their game against Georgia Southern sandwiched between tough tests versus Auburn and then on the road at Texas A&M so their date with the Eagles has all of the makings of a potential trap game.
LSU: vs. Jacksonville State, 9/10
Following another disappointing season, Les Miles was fortunate to escape with his job as the head coach at LSU. The expectation is that the Tigers will need to contend for an SEC West title this season in order for him to keep his job. LSU will face a tough test out of the gate against Wisconsin but they have to be careful not to overlook Jacksonville State the following week. The Gamecocks were the national runner-up at the FCS level a year ago and standout quarterback Eli Jenkins is back to lead their offense. LSU will be coming off an emotional opener with a pair of tough tests against Mississippi State and Auburn to follow but they simply can’t afford to overlook a potential trap game against Jacksonville State in week two.
Arkansas: vs. Louisiana Tech, 9/3
Arkansas is looking to build on back-to-back bowl games in each of the last two seasons under head coach Bret Bielema. While they have key September games circled against TCU and Texas A&M, they clearly can’t afford to overlook their home opener against Louisiana Tech. The Razorbacks will be breaking in a new starting quarterback and they have to be cautious against the Bulldogs and their fast-paced offense. Louisiana Tech can score points in bunches so Arkansas has to be on upset alert for week one of the college football season. Arkansas has been a disappointment in the SEC West in recent years because they have lost games like this. If they want to take the next step, they can’t afford to fall asleep here.
