Monday, October 8
As UGA heads into its bye week, look back the weekend that was around the SEC and ahead to what's next.
The week that was
Florida 14, LSU 6 (at Gainesville)
Arkansas 24, Auburn 7 (at Auburn)
Mississippi State 27, Kentucky 14 (at Lexington)
Vanderbilt 19, Missouri 15 (at Columbia, Mo.)
South Carolina 35, Georgia 7 (at Columbia, S.C.)
Texas A&M 30, Ole Miss 27 (at Oxford, Miss.)
The big result
South Carolina established its own legitimacy in the national title picture with an emphatic victory over Georgia in a battle of two top 10 teams.
The big story
Florida scored a big victory for its own hopes this season and for the SEC East in general, knocking off LSU to improve to 5-0. There are only four unbeatens left in the SEC now, and the East has two of them.
The heartstopper
Missouri is still looking for its first SEC victory after falling to Vanderbilt in what was a big bounceback road victory for the Commodores, who allowed the Tigers to reach their 24 in the final minutes before forcing an incompletion on fourth down. Even worse for Mizzou: QB James Franklin hurt his knee and will miss next week's game against top-ranked Alabama.
Offensive standouts
RUSHING
-146 yards (34 carries, 2 TDs) – Mike Gillislee, Florida vs. LSU
-142 yards (18 carries, 1 TD) – Ben Malena, Texas A&M vs. Ole Miss
-129 yards (20 carries, 1 TD) – Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M vs. Ole Miss
PASSING
-305 yards (20-of-34, 1 TD, 2 INT) – Bo Wallace, Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M
-269 yards (23-of-39, 2 TD, 0 INT) – Tyler Russell, Mississippi State vs. Kentucky
RECEIVING
-10 catches (118 yards, 1 TD) – Emory Blake, Auburn vs. Arkansas
-9 catches (104 yards, 1 TD) – Chad Bumphis, Mississippi State vs. Kentucky
-9 catches (91 yards) – Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt vs. Missouri
Defensive standouts
-20 tackles (2 Sacks – 16; 1 TFL – 1; 1 FF) – Kevin Minter, LSU vs. Florida
-13 tackles (1 FR, 1 QBH) – Avery Williamson, Kentucky vs. Mississippi State
-12 tackles (1 Sack – 8; ½ TFL – 2) – Terrell Williams, Arkansas vs. Auburn
-12 tackles (1 TFL – 3; 2 PBU) – Bernardrick McKinney, Mississippi State vs. Kentucky
Statistics courtesy of SEC Media Relations
Trending up
FLORIDA
Another big win for the Gators, who defended their home turf to knock off punchless LSU and remain tied atop the SEC East. They'll be on upset alert next week at Vandy.
SOUTH CAROLINA
The Gamecocks jumped to No. 3 in the polls on Sunday after a resounding victory that went down as one of the biggest in school history. They'll need another next week on the Bayou.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Don't sleep on the Bulldogs, who're now 5-0 after a win at Kentucky. If they get past Tennessee in a big home game this week, they should be 7-0 when they head to Alabama on Oct. 27.
Trending down
AUBURN
Things are getting ugly on The Plains after a rough home loss to a reeling Arkansas team. The Tigers' offense is struggling to find a QB and protect him.
GEORGIA
The South Carolina loss stings, but Georgia has a bye week to regroup before trying to win-out and somehow make it back to Atlanta.
MISSOURI
Gary Pinkel's team is looking a losing season square in the face after failing to win one they were supposed to against Vanderbilt.
In the polls
ASSOCIATED PRESS
1. Alabama
3. South Carolina
4. Florida
9. LSU
14. Georgia
19. Mississippi State
22. Texas A&M
USA TODAY
1. Alabama
3. South Carolina
6. Florida
8. LSU
12. Georgia
18. Mississippi State
21. Texas A&M
The week ahead
12:21 pm: Auburn at Ole Miss (SEC Network)
3:30 pm: Alabama at Missouri (CBS)
6 pm: Florida at Vanderbilt (ESPNU)
7 pm: Kentucky at Arkansas (FSN)
8 pm: South Carolina at LSU (ESPN)
9 pm: Tennessee at Mississippi State (ESPN2)
THE ONE TO WATCH: LSU opened as a 4-point favorite at home to South Carolina in what looms as a classic letdown game for the Gamecocks and another key showdown in the SEC East race.
OPEN DATE: Georgia
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ON THE AGENDA
Georgia's football team has reached its open date. The Bulldogs are scheduled to practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before breaking for the weekend.
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TWEET(S) OF THE DAY
Hate this feeling but I know this team will bounce back !
RB Keith Marshall
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13-1 isn't 14-0 but like it or not that's where we will be come january. Thanks for the support #DawgNation #keepthefaith #lovemyteam
TE Arthur Lynch
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I don't understand people they be tripping over the smallest things acting like the world coming to a end. Better be thankful to be living
DL Garrison Smith
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Unless you have been a division one athlete in the past two or three years you really have no idea what it's like.
OL Watts Dantzler
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Came to a house that was egged and rolled. Seems that people turn on you when you're not perfect. Thought we were in this together.
Still get to be a hero this morning to little kids at Athens Church. There are more important things in life than wins and loses. #Heaven
LB Christian Robinson
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Sufficient reward for any information about the cowards who rolled and egged our house last night.
FB Dustin Royston
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yep what a great thing to come home to for us
QB Aaron Murray
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Glad the boys are safe pray they find the people who did that!!! Crazy thing being a college athlete loved one moment egged the nxt smh
QB Christian LeMay
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Promise to keep it positive
RB Ken Malcome
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I actually like eating lunch alone on Sundays..... Win or lose.
LB Mike Gilliard
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Need to clear my head so looks like ima hit the practice gym today an just shoot till I feel better
TE Jay Rome
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Heading back to Athens with @BIGP67 (Preston Mobley) from Columbia. Can't wait to get back to athens and see my brothers... Miss u guys #keepyourheadsup
OL Greg Pyke
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@FatonBauta is the hardest working guy I've ever met. #handsdown
P Collin Barber
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I see you falcons!
WR Tavarres King
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3rd time crossing the mason Dixon line. In a year I'm becoming a northerner lol
Former UGA OL Ben Jones
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I love this show.#TheSimpsons
RB Todd Gurley
- Gentry Estes
- Georgia Insider - Dawgs247