B&S Week 11 game by game recaps
Mizzou-Arkansas was the game of the weekend in the SEC, plus games with big implications.
By: The Hammer, Bossman Slim, The Waco Kid
Holy smokes - did y’all see that Missouri-Arkansas game? That was well worth the watch. Alabama-LSU? Not so much, unless you were a Tide fan or just wanted to watch DeVonta Smith play the part of Superman. #5 Texas A&M withstood early Auburn magic to get their 6th straight win, and Florida took care of Tennessee to keep pace in the playoff race and clinch the SEC East. Kentucky and South Carolina also played a game.
Let’s dig into the recaps.
Early Games
#5 Texas A&M 31 - Auburn 20
Photo: Butch Dill, AP
This game went just as we thought. Auburn kept it close and played inspired at home. Bo Nix didn’t throw the ball all that well but made plays with his feet and protected the football. Yet, Texas A&M won the game and won it pretty comfortably. Sure they had to come back in the 4th quarter to win the game but they scored 17 unanswered and put the game away. The Aggie defense woke up in the 4th quarter and pulled a Joe Exotic by putting the Tigers to sleep.
A&M racked up over 500 yards of total offense, including 313 yards rushing. Kellen Mond looked sharp going 18/23 for 196 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target Jalen Wydermyer had a huge day as well grabbing eight catches for 89 yards and both touchdowns. The Auburn defense had no chance to stop the Aggies and got pushed around all day by the A&M offensive line, also known as the Maroon Goons. Again, an 11 point win when there’s a 4th quarter comeback doesn't scream “comfortable win” but go back and watch the game and it’s hard to think there was a way for Auburn to win. Texas A&M was able to control the game and the Auburn defense was outmatched all afternoon. The Tigers were living off of Bo Nix scrambles while the Aggies were running down Auburn’s throat.
Jimbo and the Aggies continue to roll. That is six straight wins for A&M and five straight by double digits. This has not happened in a long, long time in College Station so Aggie fans rejoice, it looks like the Jimbo hire is paying off. On the other side, Gus Malzahn did not help his case. I can’t imagine he gets fired after this season but it looks like he will start next season with a pretty darn hot seat.
Texas A&M-Ole Miss was set for next weekend, but due to COVID issues in Oxford this one has been postponed and is unlikely to be made up. Auburn meanwhile will go to Starkville to take on the inconsistent Bulldogs at 7:30 ET on ESPN.
The Hammer
Missouri 50 - Arkansas 48
If it wasn’t for Coastal Carolina’s goal-line stand on the last play of the game against BYU, this would have been the game of the day.
Missouri put together a 14-point 4th quarter comeback after it looked like Arkansas would pull off a win. With 13 minutes left in the 4th, ESPN’s win probability predictor gave the Hogs a 93.8% chance to win. After that, the wheels started coming off for Sam Pittman and the Razorbacks. Missouri scored 21 unanswered points to take the lead with 4:47 to go, 47-40. But that wasn’t the end. The Hogs then marched 75-yards on 13 plays for a touchdown that put them within one. One the road in a dogfight, Sam Pittman showed the balls he has shown all year and went for two for the win. On a wild play that should have resulted in a Missouri pick, Arkansas somehow caught the ball for the 2-point conversion and what seemed like the game-winner. But it was not to be. With just 43-seconds left, Mizzou QB Connor Bazelak calmly led the Tigers on a 7-play 60-yard drive capped off by a 32-yard Harrison Mevis Field Goal to win the game.
It was a heck of a game from start to finish. One of the games of the year in the SEC. Both running backs went off. For Mizzou, Larry Rountree III capped off his senior day with a 185 yard 3 TD performance. On the other side, Trelon Smith ran for 172 yards and added 3 TDs. The quarterbacks were not to be outdone, as KJ Jefferson threw for 274 yards and 3 TDs in relief of injured Feleipe Franks. For Mizzou, Connor Bazelak hung 380 yards on the Hogs through the air.
These are two teams on the rise with head coaches who have their players believing. The future is bright in Columbia and Fayetteville. With Feleipe Franks graduating, Arkansas fans can be excited about KJ Jefferson taking the reins next. For Missouri, Connor Bazelak is the dude. The freshman carved up the Hogs through the air, a unit that had self proclaimed a “No Fly Zone.” Mmm ok. Bazelak also did a great job protecting the ball on Saturday, continuing his good decision making as he’s only thrown two picks all season. He projects to be their starter for the next two years until he joins fellow Mizzou gunslinger Drew Lock in the NFL.
Some of the best of this game came after the final bell, when Mizzou’s social media team got to work. They trolled Arkansas hard, and man was it fun to follow. Just check out a few of the tweets below:
Just a good ol’ bit of fun, that. The Tigers get a big test next week against Georgia at 12:00 ET on SEC Network. Arkansas is headed to Tuscaloosa, as it's their turn for an ass whippin’. Have fun behind the woodshed at noon ET on ESPN, Hogs.
Bossman Slim
Midday Games
#6 Florida 31 - Tennessee 19
I admit I may have underestimated the Vol defense in this one. While they did only give up 31 points, I was right about one thing: Trask had 4 touchdowns against Tennessee. This game ended up being closer than the blowout we had predicted. Florida started a lot slower than usual, only putting up 3 points in the first quarter, which is unprecedented for a team of this caliber. But as expected the Gators picked up the pace and put away the Vols in the third quarter. Kyle Trask came alive after the first quarter, tearing the Tennessee defense to shreds while smiling on the sideline. What’s crazy is that for any team to hold the Gators to 17 in the first half, in this economy, is an accomplishment. It’s what I would call a Christmas miracle. Florida continues their move towards playoff relevance no matter what us skeptics believe. Dan Mullen wants to embarrass SEC teams, and continues to do so. He is like a younger version of Nick Saban, let’s call him Dick Saban. He likes yelling at staff and players, but Mullen is going nowhere and as much as we hate him, we have to start respecting him.
Screencap: via GatorVision
This man deserves our respect.
An unexpected move was made by Jeremy Pruitt when he decided to bench Smokin J. Guarantano. Instead, Harrison Bailey got his first start and performed to the standard of any UT quarterback. By the end of the game he was splitting time with JT Shrout and posting no better numbers than the runner up. Tennessee has a real problem and it begins at the QB position. If they cannot find a Davy Crockett to lead the offense into battle, they will continue to be a Santa Anna type team, one that can win small battles but cannot finish the war. Florida ended up with the W as expected but Tennessee made it look close only losing 31-19.
It will be interesting to see where these two teams end up. Florida has a chance at the College Football Playoffs while Tennessee seems to be in a downward spiral. For two SEC East storied programs, this seems to be a Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
This upcoming week Florida faces an unproven LSU team at 7:00 ET on ESPN, while Tennessee plays an underwhelming Vanderbilt team at 4:00 ET on SEC Network. Expect the Gators to show out against the Tigers but keep a close eye on UT, Vanderbilt may have the recipe for an upset. A Knoxville vs. Nashville junior varsity showdown may be exactly what we all need to see.
The Waco Kid
Late Games
Kentucky 41 - South Carolina 18
Photo: Mark Cornelison
Okay? We predicted a Kentucky win, but a win by 23? Nope, didn’t see that coming. What’s crazier? Terry Wilson had a decent game through the air, breaking the 200 yard mark for only the second time this season. He also didn’t throw any INTs and added a rushing touchdown. His QBR was only 67 and he didn’t throw a TD, but let’s not get greedy. Something else crazy? Kentucky’s offensive coordinator and QB coach got fired after finally unlocking this offense. Actually - that isn’t that crazy at all. Kentucky’s offense has been atrocious all year, and being the latest in line to smoke the wingless chickens doesn’t change that.
This game was all ground and pound. You had two of the top rushers in the conference going blow for blow - it’s just that Kevin Harris has zero help, and Kentucky’s Chris Rodriguez Jr. got lucky and had his offense show up on Saturday. Harris was one of the only bright spots for South Carolina, adding 210 yards on 21 carries and a TD to his breakout season. Not to be outdone, the Wildcats Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Asim Rose rushed for a combined 240 yards and 4 touchdowns.
South Carolina is hapless right now. The roster is depleted, the players are uninspired, and Gamecock fans must be thankful that this 2-8 nightmare season is over. The Gamecocks have hired Shane Beamer to lead them onward and are pushing it hard with the marketing. Just see the “New Day” tweet below.
South Carolina’s season is mercifully over, as is Kentucky’s. Both teams limp into 2021, but hope springs eternal. South Carolina has a new coach. Kentucky still has a great coach in Mark Stoops, and will have a new offensive coordinator who can hopefully bring this offense into the 21st century. The development of Joey Gatewood or one of the other quarterbacks on the roster will be imperative to this team's success going forward as Terry Wilson graduates and rides off into the sunset.
#1 Alabama 55 - LSU 17
Dave in Tuscaloosa danced to the tune of the Tigers’ misery in his latest recap, which you can read here. We’ve got a teaser of the recap below:
“Overall, it was the most points scored by Alabama against LSU in series history (now led by Alabama 54-26-5), and it made a clear statement that LSU’s claim last year of becoming the dominant program in the SEC West was premature. The Tide utterly dominated the game from start to finish, as the final score, surprisingly, was not indicative of how dominant the victory was for those in the Crimson and White. The offense, behind quarterback Mac “Daddy” Jones, tailback Najee Harris, wideout, and (Louisiana native) DeVonta Smith, and a dominating offensive line, rolled on to the tune of 650 total yards and 32 first downs. Furthermore, Bama scored on each possession in the first half (minus Jones taking a knee on the final play of the first half) and simply scored at will. Outside of a fumble by receiver Slade Bolden and one punt from the nation’s top punter (in my opinion), senior Charlie Scott, #85 from Colorado, the Tide offense could not be stopped.
The star of the day was Smith, who has been a shining star his entire career and who has stepped up big time after the Tide lost stud Jaylen Waddle to injury in the Tennessee game. He finished the day with 8 catches for 231 yards and 3 touchdowns. Smith cannot be covered, not even by LSU’s standout sophomore Derrick Stingley Jr, regarded as the nation’s top corner, who covered Smith most of the night. In the first half, Smith found himself behind coverage for TD catches of 65 and 61 yards. The play of the day occurred right before halftime when Smith’s 20-yard insane touchdown grab in the back of the end zone while being draped by Stingley was heralded as ESPN College Football Final’s “Play of the Day.”
Parting Shot
It was another great weekend in the SEC. We’ve got two more weeks of this if we can *crosses fingers* keep the COVID under control. Two more full slates of football and the SEC Championship. Trask vs. Jones in Atlanta is likely to decide the Heisman and a trip to the College Football Playoffs. Strap in, it’s gonna be a fun ending.