State of the SEC – Week 11
Texas A&M made things even more confusing in the SEC on Saturday. But I’m sure they don’t mind one bit. PHOTO: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Everyone just needs to stop attempting to figure out the SEC this season, because it’s not going to happen. Another week has gone by, and nothing has really become clearer in either the East or West.
Quite a few teams had bye weeks, and the two Mississippi schools had games against inferior opponents, so that left fans with only four games pitting SEC teams against each other. But those four games had an impact on the postseason.
First of all, here are your updated SEC standings:
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The primetime match-up pitted No. 5 Alabama against No. 16 LSU, and it lived up to its billing. The two SEC West heavyweights went into overtime for the fourth time in the last 11 meetings. The Crimson Tide used impeccable play-calling in the extra period to score a touchdown to put them up 20-13.
LSU, on the other hand, made some questionable offensive calls and failed to even get a first down, falling to the Crimson Tide for the 4th straight season and the 6th time in the last 8 meetings.
Neither team looked particularly imposing on offense, as LSU mustered just 76 passing yards and Alabama only 106 yards rushing. Both defenses were strong throughout the game, but it was Alabama’s bold play-call to throw it to Brandon Greene in a trick formation that set them up with the ball at the one. After a personal foul penalty pushed them back to the 15, they rode Derrick Henry and eventually Blake Sims connected with DeAndrew White for the 6-yard TD.
The other SEC West game was the biggest head scratcher of the night in the SEC, as a reeling Texas A&M squad managed to hold off a late push by Auburn to defeat the No. 3 Tigers 41-38 in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Freshman quarterback Kyle Allen threw for 277 yards and 4 TD’s for the Aggies, and Auburn’s defense was gashed repeatedly by Texas A&M. Auburn was able to move the ball on the Aggies as well, as the teams combined to pile up 1,035 yards on offense.
Auburn shot itself in the foot late, however. The Tigers literally gave the game away, fumbling at the Aggies’ 2-yard line with 2:37 left and then fumbling the snap in Aggies’ territory with 54 seconds left. Cameron Artis-Payne racked up 221 rushing yards for the Tigers, but it was not enough to overcome the three Auburn fumbles in the game. The loss likely knocks Auburn out of contention for the inaugural College Football Playoff.
The SEC East’s two games weren’t as compelling, but they did say something about the teams playing.
Georgia took on Kentucky in Lexington, and the Bulldogs only led 35-24 at the half thanks to a 24-point Wildcat 2nd quarter. The Bulldogs pulled away in the second half, however, running away with a 63-31 victory.
The Bulldogs set the tone early, as Isaiah McKenzie returned the opening kickoff 90-yards for a touchdown. McKenzie also returned a punt for a 59-yard TD in the 3rd quarter. Georgia was a perfect 8-of-8 on third down conversions on the day, and freshman Nick Chubb continued his impressive campaign with 170 yards rushing.
The Wildcats ran the ball effectively, but they couldn’t get the passing game going, as Patrick Towles finished with just 139 yards passing and 199 total yards. Kentucky was shut down in the second half, mustering only 110 yards of offense and only scoring on their last possession of the game.
The other SEC East game pitted the Florida Gators against the Vanderbilt Commodores, and it was an ugly one. The Gators only led 17-7 by the end of the 3rd quarter, and they used a 17-point fourth quarter to earn the 34-10 victory, keeping their slim SEC East title hopes alive.
Florida held Vanderbilt to just 83 yards rushing and forced 4 turnovers. The Gators were remarkably balanced on offense, throwing for 215 yards and rushing for 214, and freshman QB Treon Harris ran for 49 yards and two scores, including a 33-yard burst for a score in the 4th quarter.
The loss pushed Vanderbilt to 3-7 and eliminated them from bowl contention. They sit squarely in the basement of the SEC at 0-6 and have largely been the most disappointing team in the SEC this season.
Both Mississippi State and Ole Miss faced FCS opponents Saturday and dispatched them with ease. The Bulldogs defeated UT-Martin 45-16 and Ole Miss annihilated Presbyterian 48-0.
Arkansas, Missouri, South Carolina, and Tennessee all had open dates this weekend.
Analysis
This college football weekend was full of big games, and there will be a shakeup in the College Football Playoff Top 25. There already has been in the AP Poll.
Overall, there are six SEC teams in the top 25, just like last week. Here are those six teams:
1. Mississippi State
4. Alabama
9. Auburn
10. Ole Miss
16. Georgia
20. LSU
Once again, only one of the six ranked SEC teams is from the East, but Missouri is making a push. Both Texas A&M and Missouri received votes, and the winner of this upcoming weekend’s match-up will likely crack the top 25.
As far as the College Football Playoff Top 25 goes, the top 4 will likely only have one SEC team come Tuesday unless Alabama is able to sneak in. With Auburn losing in disappointing fashion to Texas A&M, they will likely drop several spots and be all but eliminated from contention. That leaves Mississippi State and Alabama as your prime contenders in the SEC, and those two face off Saturday.
With all SEC teams only having 1-3 conference games remaining, the division races are tightening up. Missouri, Georgia, and even Florida are all still fighting for the East crown, while Mississippi State, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Auburn are all still in the mix in the West. Missouri is somehow the favorite for the East, despite a putrid offense and very spastic play. Mississippi State has the lead in the West, but they still have dates with Alabama and Ole Miss looming.
So, in short, nothing is close to being decided in either division, and it will likely come down to the last two weeks of the season before any clarity can be gained. Even then, who knows? This season has been as unpredictable as it has been exciting, and it likely will be so till the last game.