cats Georgia and Alabama have both guaranteed their spot in what will likely be a de-facto playoff game in the SEC Championship Game. Pour one out for Arkansas who was the only SEC eliminated from bowl contention this past weekend. We also have boosters taking control in College Station and a sad sitaution in Starkville. Unfortunatley the conference has decided to take a dump on fans with half the conference playing G5 or FCS opponents this week. Lets get into it.
1. Georgia 10-0 (7-0)
Georgia completely manhandled 10th ranked Ole Miss 52-17. The Bulldogs rushed for 300 yards as a team and Carson Beck added another 300 yards through the air. Georgia sent a message this weekend and they seem to be peaking at almost the perfect time.
Georgia has another top 25 matchup (that is three in a row) as they travel to Knoxville to take on 21st ranked Tennessee. The game is the 3:30pm ET CBS game.
2. Alabama 9-1 (7-0)
8th ranked Alabama jumped out early and beat Kentucky on the road 49-21. Jalen Milroe accounted for 6 TD and the Tide cruised after jumping out to a 21-0 1st quarter lead. I have no idea how Alabama will match-up with the Bulldongs in the SEC Championship Game but I wouldn’t bet against them.
Alabama now steps out of SEC play to take on FCS program Chattanooga (embarrassing scheduling). It’s a noon kick off on SECN+.
3. Missouri 8-2 (4-2)
The 11th ranked Tigers dominated 21st ranked Tennessee 36-7. RB Cody Schrader accounted for 321 total yards and rushed for 1 TD. The Tiger defense also held Tennessee to under 100 yards on the day. I have to admit I kind of assumed Missouri was a fraud but they keep winning games. Two winnable SEC games remain and Missouri could still be in a NY6 Bowl if things break their way.
Missouri will now welcome a struggling Florida team to Columbia. The game kicks off at 7:30pm ET on ESPN.
4. LSU 7-3 (5-2)
LSU rebounded from their loss to Alabama with a 52-35 win over Florida. Jayden Daniels is the best player in CFB as he accounted for 606 total yards and 5 TD by himself. Unfortunately, that LSU defense is still atrocious and not only cost the program a chance at a special season, but it will likely end up costing Jayden Daniels the Heisman.
LSU will now play Georgia State out of the Sun Belt. The game kicks off at 8pm ET on ESPN2.
5. Ole Miss 8-2 (5-2)
Lane Kiffin once again lost a big SEC game but this one in embarrassing fashion as the Rebels were dominated 52-17 by Georgia. Ole Miss was competitive most of the first half and even tied the score at 14 on a 4-yard run by Judkins. The Rebels’ next score came from a pity FG when they were already down 45-14.
The Rebels will take on UL Monroe this weekend. It’s a noon ET kickoff on the SECN.
6. Tennessee 7-3 (3-3)
Tennessee laid an egg this past weekend, losing 36-7 to Missouri. The Vols’ vaunted rushing attack was stifled, and Joe Milton could not carry an offense by himself. The Tennessee defense allowing 200+ rushing yards also deserves plenty of criticism as Missouri completely controlled the game.
Tennessee will now have to find a way to survive Georgia coming to town.
7. Texas A&M 6-4 (4-3)
It’s not often that a team wins by 41 points and then fires their coach but the Aggies are anything but conventional. Texas A&M manhandled Mississippi State 51-10 in probably their best performance of the season so of course a few hours later they lit $77m on fire and told Jimbo Fisher to go away. The oil boosters are of course doing everything they can to spin this as a rational decision, but it is a total circus. For some reasons A&M fans and boosters believe they are a premier SEC program despite 100 years of being a 2nd tier program. Proof for some that culture and pedigree matter, you can’t just throw money at a problem and call yourself elite.
Texas A&M will host FCS opponent Abilene Christian this weekend. It’s a noon kickoff on SECN+.
8. Auburn 6-4 (3-4)
best performance of the season as they crushed Arkansas 48-10. I do not think this Auburn team is very good but the schedule has been incredibly kind to them but they have found a way to survive. The Tigers rushed for 354 yards as a team and just bullied the Razorbacks on both sides of the ball.
Auburn will now host a frisky New Mexico State team this weekend. It’s a 4pm ET kickoff on the SECN.
9. Kentucky 6-4 (3-4)
Kentucky was completely overmatched against Alabama this past weekend as they lost 49-21. The Wildcats seemed completely unprepared to start the game as they fell into a 21-0 hole. Running game was non-existent and Leary could get nothing going through the air.
Kentucky will now head down to South Carolina to take on the desperate Gamecocks. Game kicks off 7:30pm ET on the SECN.
1o. South Carolina 4-6 (2-5)
South Carolina’s schedule opened up for them at the perfect time as they’ve now won 2 in a row after pounding Vandy 47-6. Spencer Rattler continues to be one of the biggest front-runners in the sport as he only plays well at home against bad teams but 4 straight home games against meh teams is the perfect recipe.
South Carolina will host Kentucky this weekend who has struggled on the road and against the pass.
11. Florida 5-5 (2-4)
Florida continued their horrible run by giving up 52 points to LSU on the road. That is now three straight losses for Billy Napier (who someone has conned his way into a top 5 recruiting class). The Gators will now have to head to a top 15 Missouri still needing at least one win for bowl eligibility.
12. Arkansas 3-7 (1-6)
Arkansas’ bad season got even worse with a blowout loss to an average (at best) Auburn team at home. KJ Jefferson was kept in check and Arkansas just doesn’t have enough weapons to make up for it. The Hogs giving up 350+ yards on the ground is the total opposite identity of what Pittman has worked to build and now his future is in question. I’ve been higher on this Arkansas team than most and I still believe that early season schedule set them up for failure, but it’s been a disaster in Fayetteville this season. I still wouldn’t fire Pittman but I don’t think he can complain if boosters get antsy.
Arkansas will take on FIU this weekend in Fayetteville. It’s a 7:30pm ET kickoff on ESPNU.
13. Mississippi State 4-6 (1-6)
The wheels have completely come off in Starkville and now there is a coaching vacancy. After losing 51-10 the Bulldogs relieved Zach Arnett. I mostly just feel bad for Arnett who was a highly thought of DC whose scheme worked perfectly with Leach’s Air Raid Leach’s untimely passing left State scrambling and Arnett took the job probably knowing he wasn’t ready. Arnett will be fine as he’ll be one of the best DC candidates in the country and Mississippi State can do a real coaching search.
The Bulldogs will host Southern Miss this weekend. The game kicks off at noon ET on SECN+.
14. Vanderbilt 2-9 (0-7)
Vanderbilt had been competitive most of the season, but lack of talent has finally taken its toll the last two weeks. The Commodores gave up 47 points and seem to be ready for the season to mercifully end. It is a real shame that this football program is held hostage and forced to be sacrificial lambs for money but here we are. Thankfully they don’t play football this week so we’re all spared of having to think about them for a week.
