Drama, drama, drama. It seems like every weekend in this season’s SEC play has produced more drama than the previous weeks. Early season surprises, the rise of the Mississippi teams, and the schizophrenic SEC East. It’s like a weekly football soap opera. This weekend was no different. An Auburn-Ole Miss game that could easily end up as a 30-for-30 segment in a few years, Mississippi State and Arkansas continuing the drama around those programs, and an overtime thriller in Columbia that left one coach with tears of joy and one coach (the OBC) unwilling to take questions in the post-game presser. As always, let’s take a closer look at all the drama and separate the reaction from the reality of this weekend’s SEC action.
The Days of Our Lives: SEC Week 10 Analysis
Game of the Week:
Auburn 35, Mississippi 31
Reaction: Auburn wins in dramatic fashion yet again to stay alive for the CFB Playoffs.
Reality: Gus Malzahn is the new “Mad Visor”
A few years ago, it was LSU head coach Les Miles that couldn’t make a mistake even if he tried. Gus Malzahn is the new “Mad Visor” in the SEC. The “tipped pass touchdown” and “Kick 6” from last season and then an injury/fumble on the goal line last night in addition to another Bad Bo moment for Mississippi. Malzahn is the college football version of Ned Yost; he gets in an elevator, punches all of the buttons, and the elevator amazingly stops on the right floor. For Ole Miss, this was a crushing defeat. Not only did Bo Wallace make more mental mistakes this week, the vaunted “Land Shark” defense gave up 35 points, and Ole Miss lost the game and their best player on the gut punch Laquon Treadwell injury/fumble with 1:30 remaining in the game. Ole Miss is effectively out of playoff contention after being on top of the college football world just two weeks ago. Can they handle this emotional roller coaster with a trip to tough Arkansas and the Egg Bowl remaining on their schedule? Unfortunately for Auburn, they do not control their destiny either. Mississippi State is still in control of the West and Auburn still has Georgia and Alabama remaining. Even if both teams win out, the growing anti-SEC narrative around the nation might prevent a one-loss Auburn from an invitation to the play-offs. Let’s see if Malzahn still has a few more tricks up his sleeve.
Florida 38, Georgia 20
Reaction: Muschamp finally gets a victory in the Cocktail Party as Florida’s offense wakes up.
Reality: Hutson Mason is exposed, plain and simple.
In the most improbable of wins from this weekend, Florida coach Will Muschamp channeled some of that famous Miles/Malzahn magic and pulled out a dominant performance for his embattled team. Behind Treon Harris’ first start and a gutsy fake field goal call, Florida wrestled momentum away from Georgia after the first quarter. Florida was two blown delay-of-game calls away from entering this game 1-5 and Muschamp likely being fired. Now Florida leaves this game virtually assured with a bowl berth with a record of 4-3 and games against Vanderbilt and Eastern Kentucky still on the schedule. Georgia, on the hand, was starting to think about national title aspirations. Winning out and then winning the SEC Championship in Atlanta would have certainly put them as the best one-loss team in the nation. The loss to Florida has put Georgia out of the driver’s seat in the East and has caused Georgia fans to again think about “what if” for yet another season.
Tennessee 45, South Carolina 42 (OT)
Reaction: South Carolina losses another two possession fourth quarter lead
Reality: A game that represents two programs going in opposite directions
For the third time this season, South Carolina lost a 13-point or more lead in the fourth quarter. Not to be boring, the Gamecocks actually did it twice against the Volunteers. South Carolina entered the season, like many of the previous seasons, with aspirations of playing for championships. Now they sit at under .500 and are left wondering – like Georgia – “what if” they were able to hold on to those leads. Coach Steve Spurrier was clearly agitated after the game and questions and discussions about a possible retirement will be floating around Columbia this week. Additionally, how much longer can Lorenzo Ward, the USC defensive coordinator, keep his job? For Tennessee, it’s quite the opposite. A program that has been building momentum since head coach Butch Jones took over two years ago kept bowl hopes alive. Tennessee needs to win one of two against Missouri or Kentucky and take care of business against Vanderbilt to earn a bowl berth. The addition of Sophomore Josh Dobbs (23/40/301/2/1 passing and 24/166/3/0 rushing), at quarterback has the Vol fan base confident that Tennessee can finish with six or more wins. This game is an example of these two programs moving in different directions.
Mississippi State 17, Arkansas 10
Reaction: Mississippi State survives Arkansas’ upset bid
Reality: Arkansas continues to be oh-so-close to breaking through
Arkansas continues to get close to the big upset. After close losses to Texas A&M and Alabama, Arkansas came into this game with hopes of upsetting the top team in the nation. Arkansas’ defense played well, containing Heisman hopeful Dax Prescott to just 61 yards on 13 carries. This forced Prescott to rely on his passing game more and while he did throw for over 300 yards he also threw two interceptions. Unfortunately for Arkansas, their tough running game couldn’t take advantage of three Mississippi State turnovers. In the end, Mississippi State survives another test as the top team in the nation. Mississippi State, unlike their in-state counterparts, have shown pose after experiencing unprecedented success and now controls their own destiny on their way to the college football playoffs.
Missouri 20, Kentucky 10
Reaction: Missouri regains control of the SEC East.
Reality: Missouri reluctantly regains control of the SEC East.
The schizophrenic SEC East continues to confound and befuddle people. Missouri has had four straight games where they have not looked good and have won all four of those games. Missouri has reclaimed the lead in the SEC East in spite of their poor play. Missouri has three games against unranked opponents; can their lackluster winning streak continue all the way to Atlanta? Kentucky, like all the other East teams, continues to be up-and-down every weekend. More importantly for Kentucky, they are still looking for their identity. The Wildcats have had some good performances this year and have clearly improved, but they haven’t had a signature moment and still have yet to find their team identity. If they want to continue to improve and become competitive in the SEC, they have to figure out who they are first.
Texas A&M 21, Louisiana-Monroe 16
Reaction: Texas A&M escapes UL-M upset bid.
Reality: Texas A&M is in a spiral.
The Aggies opening night demolition of South Carolina now seems years ago. First, Kenny Hill breaks Johnny Manziel’s single game passing record. Next, he losses his starting job. Then he was suspended for two games for unspecified team rules violations. And now A&M barely escapes a game against Louisiana-Monroe. Kevin Sumlin’s program is becoming something of an SEC soap opera – drama of different kinds year after year. Can Sumlin right the ship and finish the season strong? And will the quarterback controversy and drama surrounding Kenny Hill continue through the off-season? Texas A&M is now clearly playing to set the conditions for next season.
Vanderbilt 42, Old Dominion 28
Reaction: Vanderbilt starts to show some pulse in big win against Old Dominion.
Reality: Old Dominion has a football team?
I honestly didn’t know Old Dominion had a football team. Luckily for Vanderbilt fans, the athletic director at Vandy did. For the first time all season, Vanderbilt’s offense was able to put together a complete game. Vanderbilt’s fourth starting quarterback of the year, freshman Johnny McCrary, had five passing touchdowns and 281 yards with no interceptions. Has head coach Derek Mason found his quarterback? Vanderbilt has had a tough season so far and it will be hard for them to build momentum going into the offseason as they have games against Florida, Misssissippi State and Tennessee remaining. Vanderbilt is looking at a 3-win season (Massachusetts, Charleston Southern, and Old Dominion) after back-to-back bowl seasons. Can Coach Mason get the program pointed back in the right direction during the offseason or is Vanderbilt headed back to their pre-James Franklin status?
One thing is for sure: the soap opera will continue. The SEC West will continue to be the focus of the college football world as Mississippi State tries to go undefeated and Auburn and Alabama try to get back into the playoff mix. The SEC East continues to play hot potato with the Division lead. Most of the out-of-conference schedule is complete, so the last four weeks of the season are setting up as a fantastic and dramatic finish to another great SEC campaign. How will it all shake out? As always, we will have to wait to find out.
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