This Week in the SEC (Week 5)
In Week 4, when you thought there was no possible way Tennessee would choke again...they choked again. Syracuse surprisingly played LSU tough, and Arkansas blew it against A&M. William Scott discusses that and previews what should be a very exciting Week 5 in this Week in the SEC!
Power Rankings:
1) Ole Miss (2-0, 4-0)
Last week: W 27-16 vs Vanderbilt
This week: at #25 Florida
Ole Miss doesn’t deserve to be #1 after last week’s performance…but neither does LSU.
2) LSU (2-0, 3-0)
Last week: W 34-24 at Syracuse
This week: vs Eastern Michigan
LSU let a 5th string QB from Syracuse put up 24 on them.
3) Georgia (2-0, 4-0)
Last week: W 48-6 vs Southern
This week: vs #13 Alabama
Could Alabama actually lose two games so early into the season? Considering how good UGA is, expect them to.
4) Texas A&M (1-0, 4-0)
Last week: W 28-21 vs Arkansas (OT)
This week: vs #21 Mississippi State
A&M was lucky to beat a team that lost to Toledo.
5) Florida (2-0, 4-0)
Last week: W 28-27 vs Tennessee
This week: vs #3 Ole Miss
If you said you predicted Florida to be 4-0, you’re lying.
6) Alabama (0-1, 3-1)
Last week: W 34-0 vs UL-Monroe
This week: at #8 Georgia
The Paul Finebaum show on Monday will be worth watching.
7) Mississippi State (1-1, 3-1)
Last week: W 17-9 at Auburn
This week: at #14 Texas A&M
I’m sorry MSU, but you shouldn’t be back in the top 25 after beating Auburn…
8) Kentucky (1-1, 3-1)
Last week: W 21-13 vs #25 Missouri
This week: vs Eastern Kentucky
Gotta give the Cats some love, they are surprising me. Might even be good enough to get 3rd in the East, which would be equivalent to winning the National Championship in basketball.
9) Missouri (0-1, 3-1)
Last week: L 21-13 at Kentucky
This week: vs South Carolina
I didn’t expect Mizzou to lose to Kentucky, and neither did they.
10) South Carolina (0-2, 2-2)
Last week: W 31-14 vs UCF
This week: at Missouri
Thanks to choke jobs from Tennessee and Arkansas and the fact that they were playing a winless UCF, the Gamecocks move up!
11) Tennessee (0-1, 2-2)
Last week: L 28-27 vs Florida
This week: vs Arkansas
When Tennessee was up by 13 with five to play against Florida, I said “Wouldn’t it be hilarious if they choked again!?” I was kidding.
12) Auburn (0-2, 2-2)
Last week: L 17-9 vs Mississippi State
This week: vs San Jose State
Auburn thought they might have had some hope with a new QB. They didn’t.
13) Vanderbilt (0-2, 1-3)
Last week: L 27-16 at #3 Ole Miss
This week: at Middle Tennessee
Vandy put up a valiant effort against the #3 team in the nation while Arkansas lost their 3rd in a row. The ‘Doors deserve the 13th spot more.
14) Arkansas (0-1, 1-3)
Last week: L 28-21 (OT) vs #14 Texas A&M
This week: at Tennessee
Poor, poor Arkansas. I never thought they would fall all the way down here. I know that Kliff Kingsbury is happy though.
Game of the Week
#8 Georgia vs #13 Alabama
Saturday at 2:30, CBS
Alabama has been the favorite in 72 consecutive football games, dating back all the way to 2010. That streak will come to an end this weekend. Georgia comes in hot as the 1-point favorite and the combination of Grayson Lambert and Nick Chubb have the Dawgs at 4-0. With QB’s problems and a loss already, Alabama is not in a good place heading into Athens. I break down this matchup for Game of the Week.
The Breakdown:
Jake Coker did play better than starter Cooper Bateman in the Ole Miss game, but his performance still wasn’t very good. He only completed 46% of his passes against the Rebels, and didn’t look so great against UL-Monroe either, only completing 54%. Now he’s going up against a stifling Georgia defense that has only allowed 13.5 points per game this year. If Bama wants to have any chance whatsoever, they need production from a QB. Coker or Bateman, just one of them.
Georgia’s QB situation is mightily better, as Grayson Lambert has proven he’s the man for the job in Athens. The UVA transfer has put up some terrific numbers thus far, throwing for a 76.5% completion percentage with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s also gotten some help from Nick Chubb, who has already rushed for 599 yards and 6 TD’s. They will present big problems for the Tide, who’s usually stellar defense played horrendous against Ole Miss, giving up 433 total yards and 43 points. Kirby Smart needs to do one heck of a coaching job if he wants to have his guys ready.
Prediction:
When you just compare both of these teams, there is no question who the better one is. And to be honest, it’s really not even close. Georgia has a way better QB, one of the best running backs in the country, and a better defense too. Oh, and they are playing at home. Mark Richt will get one of the biggest wins of his career on Saturday, and his team will prove they are national title contenders. Start panicking Alabama fans, because your team is about to be 0-2 in conference play.
Score: Georgia 34, Alabama 17
Other Games to Watch:
South Carolina at Missouri (11:00 CT, SECN)
Arkansas at Tennessee (6:00 CT, ESPN2)
Leonard Fournette vs Eastern Michigan (6:00 CT, ESPNU)
#3 Ole Miss at #25 Florida (7:00 ET, ESPN)
#21 Mississippi State at #14 Texas A&M (6:30 CT, SECN)
Upset Alert:
#25 Florida over #3 Ole Miss
Alabama fans
#21 Mississippi State over #14 Texas A&M
