SEC Weekly Recap: Tide And Everyone Else

by Chris Paschal

This was a big weekend in SEC Football. Let’s give a closer look at a few teams around the SEC

South Carolina 

Result: Won 48-44 at Ole Miss

I swear, Gamecock Football makes zero sense to me. After giving up 600 YARDS of offense in the first three quarters of the game, the Gamecocks record three sacks and hold the Rebels to 16 total yards in the fourth quarter. It’s like they have to be up against the wall to play well. Think about it, the Gamecocks held Kentucky and Benny Snell to zero second half points after getting torched in the first half. They then played their best football on the season in the second half of the Texas A&M game as the offense found a way to tie things up. They gave up zero points in the fourth quarter against Tennessee. For whatever reason, the Gamecocks are unable to put together four quarters of solid football.

That being said, Jake Bentley had a helluva game throwing for over 360 yards and two touchdowns, and most  importantly, aware enough and tough enough to run into the endzone for the game-deciding score. Everyone talks about Ole Miss’s wide receivers, as they should, but South Carolina showed the type of talent they have on the outside. Have they performed consistently? No. But are they talented? You bet.

Bryan Edwards finished the day with 109 yards receiving, which included a 75 yard touchdown snag in which he absolutely manhandled Jalen Julius, the Ole Miss defensive back in coverage.

Shi Smith, South Carolina’s most dependable receiver, in my opinion, finished with 82 yards receiving. True freshman Josh Vann finished with a couple of catches including his first touchdown catch as a Gamecock. K.C. Crosby had a couple of nice catches to help underneath. Finally, Deebo Samuel had two stellar kickoff returns including the opening kickoff which he returned 90 yards for a touchdown.

South Carolina’s running backs also performed well, despite being hampered by injuries (both Rico Dowdle and Ty’son Williams suffered injuries that ended their days early in Oxford). Before being injured, Ty’son accumulated 30 yards on the ground, including a rushing touchdown, but more impressively had 105 yards receiving. AJ Turner had a solid outing snagging a pass for over 20 yards and then later running hard towards the corner of the endzone for a late Gamecock touchdown. The star of the running backs though, was Mon Denson, who busted a massive and manly run late in the second half and finishing the game with 100 yards rushing.

Ole Miss

Result: Lost 48-44 vs. South Carolina

The toughest thing for Ole Miss is that there are parts of this roster that are SEC-Title worthy. Jordan Ta’amu is a stud. This offensive line (particularly in run blocking) is impressive. These wide receivers are some of the best in the country. Scottie Phillips is a really solid option in the backfield. That being said, this defense is atrocious. And the scholarship reductions have hurt the overall depth of this roster. The good news is that the NCAA just recently announced that the scholarship reduction portion of the NCAA sanctions have been lifted. There are some talented kids on this roster, and in the state of Mississippi for the coming years. I think Matt Luke is weathering the storm nicely. The light is at the end of the tunnel. Stay patient.

Oxford #SEC RT @realwillp: @[me] Ole Miss Student section at the #ARKvsMISS game. pic.twitter.com/4q9wdqPnNO

— Empty Seats Galore (@EmptySeatsPics) October 28, 2017

Also, one other point. Ole Miss fans need to show up to games. I have been told by multiple people at the game this past Saturday that there was a pretty pathetic showing by the Rebel faithful. In fact, one South Carolina fan made it sound like there were more Gamecock fans, which I don’t believe, but I get his point. Talking to one of my buddies who graduated from Ole Miss a few years ago, he said that the kiss of death was moving the student section from the shady portion of the stadium to the sun-kissed portion of the stadium. He said students don’t want to die of heatstroke to watch a bad football game, and while part of me says toughen up (I have stood in Williams-Brice and seen kids carted out due to the heat in September), part of me also says, if the issue is getting students to the game, then put their butts in the shade.

Florida

Result: Lost 38-17 vs. Missouri

That game was indicative of one of three things. First, Florida is a bad football team. I don’t think that’s it. I think the quarterback position is not where it needs to be, and Franks is about out of chances to prove his mental game is just as strong as his talent, but I think this is still a solid football team. Second, Florida has give up on the season. I really doubt that is the case. Third, Florida was hungover from the theatrics and passion and physicality of the Georgia game. And I think this was what we saw on Saturday. Yes, there are questions that need answering, but after Dan Mullen basically called out the leadership and integrity of this football team, I, as a Gamecock fan, am really worried about what is about to go down in Gainesville.

Locker room issue. Where are the leaders???? pic.twitter.com/XbRkELh2w2

— Jerry Brown Jr. (@JBreezyII) November 4, 2018

Alabama

Result: Win 29-0 at LSU

This is the most complete football team in college football, and despite whatever Danny Kanell tells you (the dude might be on drugs), there is nobody in the country that can compete with them. They dismantled one of the most talented and fastest rosters in college football. Tua, Damien, this offensive line, these wide receivers, and defensive studs will dominate anyone that comes across their path. Also, shoutout to Cole Cubelic for calling this weeks ago. Williams might be the best defensive linemen in the entire country.

Went back to watch some Clemson, Houston & Ohio State after watching Alabama vs Tennessee.

I am confident there is not a defensive lineman in college football playing better than Alabama DT Quinnen Williams.

— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) October 22, 2018

LSU

Result: Lost 29-0 vs. Alabama

The difference was on the line of scrimmage and at quarterback. I wasn’t surprised about the difference in play at quarterback. While I love the spunk and heart of Joe Burrow, Tua is the greatest quarterback in Crimson Tide history. I was a bit surprised at how LSU’s offensive and defensive line got pushed around by their Alabama counterparts. This LSU team still has a lot to play for. I think if they find a way to finish 10-2, they will make a New Year’s Day Bowl. Ed Orgeron is recruiting hard, and he knows he needs to keep at it on the recruiting trail. I think the Tigers finish with a top-5 class with some studs signed to both the offensive and defensive line.

For LSU’s current rankings and commitments, as well as their current prospects, click here! 

That being said, LSU has studs now and they still lost. According to the USA Today, Ed Orgeron told his guys that “the table was set, the fans were great, the energy all day … there was want-to … but hey we got beat at the line of scrimmage. I gotta recruit better defensive linemen. Gotta recruit better offensive linemen. Same old thing. Gotta beat Alabama at the line of scrimmage… when you max protect you’re doing everything you can in protection and they’re beating you you have to look at personnel.” Tough love, and some have argued that Orgeron threw his players under the bus instead of criticize the uninspired play calling of offensive coordinator, Steve Ensminger, but he’s also right. Alabama’s four and five stars whipped LSU’s four and five stars.

Georgia

Result: Won 34-17 at Kentucky (Clinched the SEC East) 

The Dawgs have to handle business against Auburn and Georgia Tech, but it’s likely that Georgia will arrive in Atlanta with a shot at the playoff on the line against an undefeated Alabama. The only shot they have is if this offensive line plays like the powerful, big, monstrous studs that they are. Joe Burrow didn’t kill LSU’s offense, their inability to run the football killed them. Jake Fromm has already played against Alabama once before, and if the Dawgs find that they are up for the challenge, this will be an amazing SEC Title game.

Georgia will have to win out if they have any chance at making the playoff. They have the players, but do they have the intestinal fortitude that is needed to beat the Tide? That’s the question.

Auburn, Texas A&M, Kentucky

This is why the SEC is the best conference in college football, especially this season. All three of these teams would whip most of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and PAC-12, but instead they just beat each other up in the SEC. All three programs have at times this season had hopes to finish the season in a New Year’s Day 6 Bowl. That dream is probably dead for all three of these programs (Kentucky maybe less so), but if their minds are right, I think all three will whip whoever they face in the postseason.

By the way, hats off to Auburn not giving up on the season. They dug down deep against A&M and fought back to win. This season has not gone according to plan, but they showed that Gus hasn’t lost the locker room. Texas A&M is going to be a really good football program under Jimbo Fisher, I think, so this was a good win for Auburn.

Kentucky, the magical season has ended, but the Cats can still find a way to a respectable bowl. Let’s say Kentucky wins out (Tennessee is going to be tough, I think), and then wins their bowl game. 11-2 is a remarkable season. Even 10-3 would be remarkable. And that goes a long way to some of these recruits in Ohio that are wanting to play close to home, in a big-time conference, but are unsure about Ohio State.

Lynn Bowden Jr. is a future NFL Star. Image from Plainview Daily Herald.