B&S week 4 game by game recaps
Arkansas is back, Florida puts Tennessee to sleep, and Auburn avoids disaster.
By: Bossman Slim, The Hammer, The Waco Kid
Treylon Burks helped Arkansas put down Texas A&M. (Tony Gutierrez, AP)
What a weekend of football. You looked at the slate at the beginning of the week and it was a bit of a sleeper. A few good games, but it wasn’t a weekend chock full of marquee matchups. Well excuse us, this weekend was total chaos, inside and outside the SEC. Notre Dame was on the ropes and then exploded late in the 4th to keep pace. Auburn pulled Bo Nix and needed a favorable call and a prayer TD pass from TJ Finley to beat GEORGIA STATE. Clemson’s unbeaten streak vs. unranked teams went up in flames against NC State. A&M got whipped by Arkansas. North Carolina got hit in the mouth by the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech. Oklahoma should have lost to West Virginia. It was a weekend full of nail biters and giants getting taken to the wire or getting taken down. How much fun was that?
Let’s check in on how the crew fared:
Bossman Slim: 7-1; 38-8 overall
The Hammer: 6-2; 39-7 overall
The Waco Kid: 6-2; 39-7 overall
Bossman Slim gains a game by picking BC (rookie move not to). The whole squad had A&M over Arkansas for reasons unknown.
Recaps. Now.
Early Games
#2 Georgia 62 - Vanderbilt 0
Bossman Slim: This was probably the most predictable outcome that we’ll have all year. Vanderbilt is just really, really bad, and Georgia is really, really good. It easily could have been 150-0. The spread on this game was 36.5. Georgia almost covered that in the first quarter. Check out this stat from ESPN: “the Bulldogs scored twice as many touchdowns (eight) than the Commodores had first downs (four).” It was total domination. As Shane Beamer said: “they have like 100 5-stars on their defense!” Vanderbilt has one more chance for a win against UConn next week before they fold faster than an accordion with a full SEC schedule left to play. Georgia gets an upstart Arkansas squad next week in what will be an interesting matchup.
The Hammer: The Georgia offense has awoken. The Bulldogs ran the ball well and JT Daniels and Stetson Bennett were efficient through the air. Georgia looks like the best team in the country. Thanks for trying, Vandy.
The Waco Kid: This was never going to be a contest. The Dawgs got to enjoy a nice Nashville weekend but still woke up, hungover and got after it. Tight end Brock Bowers decided he was the new #1 pass catcher and took over. This guy was third on the depth chart to start the year. Which is insane but going forward a duo of Bowers and Washington could be just as dangerous as if Arik Gilbert had made it in Athens. The dawg quarterbacks could have won this game half asleep with a broken leg. UGA rolls into next week against a red hot Sarkansas (just because the Razorbacks own Sarkisian). It will be a fun one but I would be surprised if anyone can slow down Kirby Smart and that offense.
LSU 28 - Mississippi State 25
Bossman Slim: This one was 21-3 late in the 3rd and it looked like LSU would put away the Bulldogs. But the Pirate had other ideas, dialing up 15 points in the 4th to make this one a game late. Will Rogers had a great game, throwing for 371 yards 3 TDs and one INT. Max Johnson outdueled him with 4 TDs and an INT, but one of his TDs could have been picked off but was instead caught by Kole Taylor for a 41-yard TD. This is a good win for LSU, but they’ve got to figure out a way to put teams away. Mississippi State might be the worst team in the SEC West - but that does not mean they are an easy out. Will Rogers can play, they’ve got talent, and you can never count out Mike Leach. Mississippi State gets A&M next week in College Station, while LSU takes on Auburn in Death Valley.
The Hammer: Coach O and the Tigers escape Starkvegas with an important victory. After what happened in this game last year, Coach O could not afford to lose. Max Johnson played well tossing 4 touchdowns and 280 yards. LSU still can’t run the ball well as the offensive line has issues, but they found a way to put up some points. Mississippi State’s offense looked about the same as it has all year. A lot of short and intermediate passes and they struggle to put together and sustain drives. It’s just not very efficient right now and they always find themselves trying to make a late-game comeback. Lots of work to be done for both of these teams but a solid road victory for LSU.
The Waco Kid: Bossman Slim didn’t catch that I actually had State in this one, bringing my record down to 5-3 but if he doesn’t proofread I don’t plan on saying anything. We will know for sure if anything I do is read over after this one. This game was interesting, neither team is consistent and both are not overly good. The difference proved that. It was a good game don’t get me wrong but not a positive for two squads fighting to be in the middle of the SEC pack. The QBs on both teams killed it in this one, LSU’s Max Johnson went 17/27 for 280 and 4 touchdowns, while Rogers threw a whopping 62 times and completed over 75% for 371 and 3 scores. Fortunately, those are stat lines that can be built upon. The dawgs play a wounded A&M next week and we all know what happens when you try to corner a hurt beast. While the Tigers face Auburn in what I can only imagine will be a great contest. This could have gone either way so Coach O can thank his lucky stars the W fell to him.
Boston College 41 - Missouri 34
Bossman Slim: I told y’all! The balanced offense of BC was too much for Mizzou to handle, who has some obvious issues on defense. The Golden Eagles were able to rush for 275 yards on the day and gained 175 yards through the air, racking up 450 total yards. Mizzou rocked BC for 391, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Golden Eagles in Chestnut Hill. Connor Bazelak, usually steady with the ball, had two picks on the day. One turned into a field goal for BC and another ended the game in OT. Mizzou needs to get better, fast. They get Tennessee next week, which should be a good game and a measuring stick for both programs.
The Hammer: Great win for Boston College here in overtime. Connor Bazelak threw two uncharacteristic interceptions, and the Tigers never got much going on the ground. I thought with BC’s starting quarterback Phil Jurkovic out, the Golden Eagles offense would struggle. I was wrong. Backup QB Dennis Grosel played decently and running back Pat Garwo gashed the Mizzou defense for 175 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. The Tigers fought hard, but that is a tough loss out of conference.
The Waco Kid: I was puzzled by this game. I thought the Eagles had a shot if starting QB Jurkovic was playing, but he wasn’t so I am not sure what the Mizzou D was doing. If the defense wasn’t a big enough problem the turnovers definitely were. No matter the offensive production, if you cannot protect the ball on important drives, a win is highly unlikely. Bazelek still ripped it but will have to make smarter decisions to get through the SEC with a couple of wins and a bowl berth. The Tigers have an easier schedule the next two weeks but will look at a November that is filled with talented teams. They need to win the next two to even have a shot at a bowl.
Midday Games
#16 Arkansas 20 - #7 Texas A&M 10
Bossman Slim: In the preview, I said this one would be “trench warfare.” That’s exactly what it was. Arkansas whipped A&M on both sides of the ball in the trenches, especially in the first half. I also thought both teams would load the box to stop the run and make the QBs beat them with their arms. Instead, Barry Odom dialed up a 3-5-3 “umbrella” defense and relied on his 3 man rush to create pressure and blanket A&M wide receivers. Damn, that was some good stuff. It worked. Aggie receivers could hardly get open, Zach Calzada was confused all day, and the 3 man rush manhandled the Aggie O-line. I’ve said it since the start of the season: Barry Odom...pay that man. A&M dared KJ Jefferson to beat them through the air. He did, hitting on an 85-yard bomb to Treylon Burks in the 1st quarter and finishing the day with 212 yards and 2 TDs. Arkansas dominated the first half, but the Aggie defense found some footing in the second half, and the Aggies had a chance to tie the game in the 4th, but a bad Calzada INT sealed it for the Hogs. Arkansas is the real deal - Sam Pittman is a helluva coach. The questions in the preseason for A&M were at QB and offensive line. Through 4 games, those questions have not been answered, and the Aggies could go into a free fall if that doesn’t get corrected like, yesterday. We’ll see how good the Hogs are next week when they take on Georgia, while A&M has another tough test in Mississippi State.
The Hammer: Sam Pittman and the Arkansas Razorbacks are the real deal. I did not doubt that going into the game, but I also thought A&M was the real deal and could pull out a close, hard-fought win. I was wrong. The Aggies are completely lost on offense, and it isn’t just due to a backup QB. Zach Calzada played very badly, but the problems on the offense are much deeper than QB play. The offensive line is in shambles (injuries are a big issue there, yes, but they’ve got to make some adjustments), receivers are not getting consistent separation, and the play calling/overarching scheme has been questionable at best the entire season. Credit Barry Odom and the Hogs defense for making Calzada’s life hell all game, and not giving A&M’s offense any room to operate. They had a great plan and executed very well. The Arkansas offense wasn’t spectacular but made enough plays, namely two long touchdowns, to win the game. KJ Jefferson still looks relatively limited throwing the ball but the Hogs know who they are offensively. They have an identity, something A&M is missing. Kendall Briles had a good game plan and he played to his player’s strengths. Massive win for the Arkansas program. Good times in Fayetteville.
The Waco Kid: Turnt up. That is what Arkansas and Sam Pittman were after the game on Saturday. Not only did they break a 9 game losing streak but they jumped into the top 10 and just like that are being talked about as a top contender in the West. A&M did not look like the #7 team in the nation. Zach Calzada is an issue, he has the talent but not the confidence. Getting benched for a younger guy is always a blow to the ol ego but this was a different scene. He looked like an armadillo in headlights; he saw it coming and just decided not to move. The Ags have a real issue going forward and will have to address the position before becoming comfortable in the top 25. WPS will look to impress but run into the brick wall that is the Georgia defense next week. Both teams will be in big bowl games by the end of the year, this past game will determine which.
#23 Auburn 34 - Georgia State 24
Bossman Slim: Here we go again. The questions on the Plains about Bo Nix have now reached a fever pitch. It seems that no amount of Milo’s Sweet Tea will be able to save him now. This should have been a blowout, but Georgia State came out hungry and was the better team all day. The Panthers (?) should have won this game. This one was 24-12 at half and if not for a blocked punt TD, a questionable call that went the Tigers way, and a prayer TD from TJ Finley, this one would have been a catastrophic loss. Instead, Auburn lives to fight another day, but with renewed questions at quarterback. Bo Nix was pulled in the 2nd half for TJ Finley, who led a 98-yard game-winning drive. Fan sentiment is with Finley, and tired of waiting on Nix to take the next step. Harsin was non-committal and talked in circles in his post-game press conference, but the writing is on the wall. Auburn escapes, but this is not a good football team at the moment. The Tigers head to LSU next week, which would be full-circle if LSU transfer TJ Finley gets the start in Death Valley for Auburn.
The Hammer: What the heck is going on out on the Plains all of the sudden? Coming off a tough loss at Penn State, Auburn should have lost to Georgia State, Bo Nix was benched and Harsin fired the wide receivers coach. I think I got all of the mayhem but holler if I missed something. If you just look at the end score, you miss how lucky Auburn was to win this one (they returned an interception in the final seconds on a desperation heave from Georgia State). Auburn needed a herculean effort by backup TJ Finley on a 4th a nine play with under a minute remaining to win this game. Yes, the Auburn Tigers were losing with less than a minute to go in the 4th quarter against GEORGIA STATE! Madness. It seems like Bo ix is likely to start against LSU this weekend but I’m not sure how you go back to him after that game. If Finley doesn't come in and save the Tigers, we are having a much different conversation today. Even though Gus Malzahn is gone, the Tigers still find ways to pull wins out of their ass with the help of the officials.
The Waco Kid: Bo Nix getting benched was probably the least surprising move that I have ever seen in college football. I have hated on Nix week in and week out because I think he has all of the talent in the world but lets it go to waste because he is selfish and cares more about himself than the Tigers. There should have been no question TJ Finley would get the nod at some point during the season. He started for LSU last year and was a monster, not statistically, but physically he is a Cam Newton-sized QB. It will be interesting to see where the head coach goes with this, Malzahn was a Nix guy, while Harsin has no ties to Bo. A new coach may look in a different direction for help and we could see a fall for the 3-year starter. Auburn plays LSU next week and I would be surprised if Finley does not get the start, especially because he’s playing a former team that he is very well acquainted with and Bo Nix couldn’t put up enough to beat Georgia State. Yikes.
Late Games
#11 Florida 38 vs. Tennessee 14
Bossman Slim: Tennessee came out hot, and it looked like they might hang with the Gators early. Then Florida turned on the jets as expected and took it to the Vols, pulling away in the 3rd quarter thanks to two 70+ yard drives, one being capped off by a perfectly executed double pass. Heupel is an offensive coach, and scoring 14 in any game won’t cut it. Tennessee has to get it figured out on offense if they want to notch a few more wins this year. For the Vols, they really just need to get some recruits and fast forward to next year. The Gators have a tough matchup in Lexington next week against Kentucky, while the Vols travel to Mizzou for a winnable game.
The Hammer: This game played out pretty much exactly how I expected. Tennessee scored some points early and actually held a 14-10 lead midway through the second quarter. But, Florida pulled away from there. Tennessee just doesn’t have the talent or level of execution to match up with Florida right now, especially in the Swamp. Anthony Richardson did not play for the second week in a row, and Emory Jones looked really good in this one. Jone finished 21/27 for 209 yards and two touchdowns, plus he added 144 yards on the ground. Tennessee’s defense is not great, but this Gator run game is for real. The offensive line moves people, Florida has a stable of running backs who run angry, and Emory Jones (or Richardson) makes it a nightmare for opposing defenses. Florida looks really good right now.
The Waco Kid: Tennessee kept it close early but a Florida win was inevitable. You cannot compete with a Dan Mullen-coached offense that has more talent than any of the other teams in the sunshine state combined. Hendon Hooker showed up for the Vols but if there are no legitimate outside weapons, who really cares how much the QB throws for? The Gators are the team we thought they were, one loss to Bama (close at that) and rolling over other competition like it’s nothing. The night before Halloween will determine their fate as they meet up with Georgia for the clash of the East in Gainesville. Dawgs drown in the swamp but I expect to see UGA drop one in the marsh and walk away.
Kentucky 16 - South Carolina 10
Will Levis has come back to earth since his blistering start (Photo: Hakim Wright Sr., AP)
Bossman Slim: It was a great atmosphere at Williams-Brice on Saturday night. The big question out of this one: what happened to that high-powered offense for Kentucky? Paging Liam Coen. South Carolina is not that good - and scoring 16 on the Gamecocks is worrisome. Will Levis has come back to earth since his sizzling start, only mustering 102 yards through the air and no TDs - but did have an INT. Maybe Kentucky hasn’t figured out the forward pass after all. Thankfully, they still have Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Kavosiey Smoke lean on, who combined for 194 yards and a TD. South Carolina is just bad. Like Heupel at Tennessee, Beamer needs a year or two to get his guys in the program. The way Kentucky looks right now, they don’t have a shot at challenging Florida or Georiga in the East. It looks like the Gators and Dawgs are still kings on this side of the conference. We’ll find out for sure next week when Kentucky takes on Florida at the Big Grocery Store, Kroger Field. South Carolina gets a gimme next week against Troy.
The Hammer: After a hot start in Lexington, the Kentucky offense looks much more like the offense of old. Will Levis struggled in his first SEC road game, throwing for just 102 yards with an interception on 15/22 attempts. Chris Rodriguez once again put the Wildcats on his back carrying the rock 26 times for 144 yards. Backup running back Kavosiey Smoke also added 50 yards on the ground and scored the lone touchdown. The Kentucky passing attack has been struggling of late and I’m not sure if Levis is the guy to turn it around. He will need to against Florida. As far as South Carolina is concerned, this is what they are. They can’t run the ball and Luke Doty is decent, but not talented enough to put this team on his back. And he doesn’t have any big weapons on the outside and the presence of Shy Smith is missed dearly. Beamer has a long rebuild ahead.
The Waco Kid: You take out Zeb Noland and look what happens. Nothing good. Since Noland has not been the starter SC has gone 0-2. Is the competition the issue? Probably but the grad assistant made moves and was winning for the Gamecocks. Luke Doty may have great games but he isn’t winning so you make the call. The Cats were underwhelming in this contest but put up enough yards to hold off Shane Beamer’s boys. Both teams are not SEC-relevant but if I were to bet on one it would definitely be Kentucky. Let’s forget this one because it has no relevance in the conference.
#1 Alabama 63 vs. Southern Miss 14
Bossman Slim: Most people didn’t think Alabama would cover the 45 point spread after their performances against Mercer and Florida. THINK AGAIN. I picked them to cover, and sure enough, that’s exactly what they did. Saban was all over these boys all week, and they lived up to the challenge. Ohio State transfer Jameson Williams is an absolute dog, housing two kickoffs (100-yarder and an 83-yarder) and hauling in an 81-yard TD from Bryce Young to put the cherry on top. Look for him to be an even bigger factor in an offense that is flush with riches moving forward. The real work begins next week, as the Tide host Joey Freshwater and the Ole Miss Rebels, who are flying high and looking for their first win over Alabama since 2015.
The Hammer: Although Bama looked vulnerable against Florida, if you didn't see this beatdown coming you haven't been following Nick Saban and the Tide for the last decade. Of course, they were going to come out firing and steamroll Southern Miss. It’s what Alabama does. This game was 42-7 at half as the Tide’s offense did whatever they wanted. Bryce Young was incredibly efficient going 20/22 for 313 yards, 5 touchdowns and one interception. Any doubt that Alabama might not be ready for the Ole Miss game can be put to rest. They’ll be ready.
The Waco Kid: Nick Saban was super joyous after this one…said no one ever. It does not matter how bad the Tide blows out opponents, the GOAT only wants everything perfect. 20/22 was not good enough for Bryce Young because one of those was a pick. Those numbers do not warrant 6 figure salaries for college kids. He better go 23/22 with an extra touchdown rushing. In all seriousness, Bama took care of business and left no doubt they are the #1 team in the nation. Until you beat the best, they are the best. The crimson and white will look to run the tables again but this year has already proved to be good for multiple surprises so let’s see what they can get going down in Tuscaloosa to fend off any negative vibes. Southern Miss wasn’t the team so on to the next one.
** = Neutral site game