Upsets were rampant in college football this weekend. That Oklahoma job probably looked better to Brent Venables before Lincoln Riley took all his horses to USC with him. I think the Horn Frogs just scored again. There weren’t any major upsets in the SEC, but there were several close calls.
It was a reality check weekend for several SEC teams. Georgia’s Dawgs are starting to realize that their QB is average, while Starkville’s Dogs are one bad half from being a top 15 team. Bama has reclaimed the Joyless Murder Ball attitude and now they get a 5-star, $30 million (plus) group of limping Aggies. The Ole Miss and Kentucky matchup lived up to the hype, while Auburn and LSU wish they still had hype. There’s so much to analyze and so little time… let’s ponder.
Oregon of the South
The Rebels knocked off a good Kentucky bunch in cardiac fashion last Saturday. The Rebel’s defense was physical and proved to be the difference in the game when they created a late-game turnover to seal the victory. To be honest, it’s the type of play we usually see from the Bama’s and Georgia’s of the world. Gut-check moments like that are a must on the road to a special season and this was assuredly one. The victory catapulted the Rebels to 5-0 and a top 10 ranking. They now are looking at a monster two months of SEC matchups. Buckle up Rebels. I doubt that will be the last time you need your antacid this season.
However, the 5th victory wasn’t the only 5 that stuck out to me this weekend. Thru five games the Rebels have donned five different helmets. You may not have noticed, because it’s not as flamboyant as Oregon’s ‘tour of the highlighter section’ uniform combinations. It’s the same logo and stripes, but with a different mix of the colors and a guest brand appearance from RealTree®. I’m a tad biased, but it’s the best color scheme in football – and currently the Rebels are dominating the uniform game.
He is Who We Thought
Stetson Bennett did his best impression of a good QB during the first few weeks of the season. This threw some off the trail. Also, Georgia winning a title apparently gave us temporary amnesia to the fact Kirby Smart is a horrible picker of starting QB’s – do we need to bring up Justin Fields?
Alas, here we are – back to the reality that Bennett is an average QB and the weak link that will cost Georgia at some point this season. Fortunately for Aunt Kirby, the rest of his team has the talent to mask the weakness at QB for most games and only so many hurdles to get to Atlanta. But boy do those hurdles in Knoxville and Lexington look larger than they did a few weeks ago. They were fortunate that happened in a place like Missouri and not Baton Rouge or Starkville where the crowds can take over those type games.
Look, I’m not writing off the Dawgs after one rough outing in an SEC road game. Odds are they still meet the Tide in Atlanta. I’m just saying that road doesn’t look so easy.
You Pay for What You Get…
…unless of course you are Texas A&M. Their return on investment is currently one of the worst in history. The Aggies are a botched FG – that might have been good on a college sized FG post – from being 2-3 on the season – and they just got embarrassed in Starkville. Mississippi State played the game I expected they’d play at LSU – a game that may haunt them all season. They were clean on offense and their defense swarmed the hapless A&M offense.
Aggies, you’ve got to stop with this yell practice stuff. Everyone has seen it now and clips are popping out each week from it and the cringe never lessens. I did chuckle at the State fans drowning it out this week with cowbells. State isn’t going to be a fun out for anyone and if Georgia would have played in that venue on Saturday night the headlines would be insanely different this week.
Moreover, on A&M, this is shaping up to be fantastic theatre. The boosters can’t be happy that their $30 million recruiting class and $100 million coach are getting worked by not just Mississippi State, but the Appalachian States of the world. Now they get to play the game we have all been waiting for…
Rat Poison
Nick Saban is already talking about rat poison in relation to the Tides loss to A&M last year. The Fisher / Saban feud this offseason gave us our best SEC coach drama since the days of Spurrier and Fulmer. I was already high on the Tide – for the above facts alone – but when you add in the Aggies suck, I like Bama to win by eleventy billion. Well maybe only half that since Bryce is going to be out. Yet, I expect the Tide to do all they can to embarrass A&M. I’m actually very interested to see what type of gameplan Bill O’Brien has for the athletic Jalen Milroe in this matchup. Shockingly, I think this may be one of the rare occasions when the rest of the SEC will take enjoyment if the Evil Empire that is the Crimson Tide sends Aggie nation into deeper turmoil.
Scattering Thoughts from the Rest of the League and Beyond
Tiger Bowl – This game featured the worst QB match up in the league and lived up to every bit of that billing. Daniels for LSU was a magical completing 8 of 20 passes for 80 yards. Robby Ashford had decent stats, but it wasn’t enough to score more than 17. LSU gets a shot at red hot Tennessee at home in a rare SEC day game in Death Valley. The Vols should thank the schedule gods for that one. But not so fast! Word is the beer will be flowing like wine in Tiger Stadium by 9 am.
Auburn gets to lose – again – this time on the road to Georgia.
Missouri – I make fun of this team regularly – they deserve it. However, not today. After a heartbreaking loss at Auburn, a bludgeoning at the hands of Georgia was expected. Instead, they flirted with the biggest upset of the season. They deserve serious props for that fight – a moral victory if you will. However, that doesn’t change the fact they don’t belong.
Oklahoma – Are you sure about this SEC thing?
Clemson – Dabo, keep playing Ukulele buddy. That fire is eventually going to burn you. Fortunately for Clemson, there isn’t much fire in the ACC.
Pettey’s Super Scientific SEC Thunder Rankings
- Alabama – I’m not as dumb as the polls. Bama’s backup QB is better than Georgia’s starter.
- Georgia – That showing at Missouri made a few other teams salivate.
- Tennessee – Salivating team exhibit a. The Vols had better watch out for the trap in Death Valley.
- Ole Miss – Probably #3, but I’m trying not to be a homer.
- Kentucky – Cats could have easily been in the spot above but just came up short.
- LSU – They get this spot on the merit of the win, but I think State is better.
- Mississippi State – Oh the what if in Death Valley.
- Florida – Scrapy Gators get scrapy Mizzou.
- Arkansas – wheels are starting to come off this season for the hogs. Can they redeem in Starkville?
- Texas A&M – LOL
- South Carolina – Still cream of the crap.
- Auburn – They think they have a shot at Kiffin – LOL – you may get a former Rebel coach though. Get your jackets ready for the Freeze.
- Missouri – Nice fight Tigers. You still suck.
- Vanderbilt – Just hanging out in the basement – Mom where’s the meatloaf?
Enjoy the Show
No, not our show. Enjoy the show that is college football. We only get for a few weeks of this madness each year, so enjoy it while you can.
However, I do want you to tune in to our show, Saturday Morning Cocktail Kickoff, this weekend. We have a great lineup with former Ole Miss QB – Stewart Patridge and Sports Illustrated beat writer for Texas A&M, Tim Hamm – you know we have some questions for him! Stewart led the Rebs in one of the craziest Egg Bowl endings ever and should have some great stories. So don’t miss us Saturday morning at 9:30c / 10:30e. Subscribe to our channel here so you can get the alert when the show starts!
Also, check out our podcast. The Week Zero Sports & Other Stuff team has been on fire picking against the spread and bringing you the edge in the big games. You don’t want to miss the show.
As always thanks for reading and see you next week!
