B&S week 2 game by game recaps
Week 2 down, how did the B&S crew fare? Arkansas and Kentucky notch huge wins while A&M survives.
By: Bossman Slim, The Hammer, The Waco Kid
It was a perfect fall night in Fayetteville for the Hogs to get that dub. (Photo: Arkansas Football)
WOOOOOOO PIG SOOIE! What a game in Fayetteville. Huge win for Sam Pittman and the Hogs. The rest of the SEC had a pretty good week too, getting W’s almost across the board against out-of-conference opponents (even Vandy! Sorry Vols). We also got to witness a great knock-out drag-out fight between Kentucky and Mizzou.
Let’s check in on how the crew fared this week:
Bossman Slim: 10-3; 21-5 overall
The Hammer: 11-2; 22-4 overall
The Waco Kid: 12-1; 22-4 overall
Bossman took a hit this week, falling to 3rd in the standings because he underestimated Mike Leach, doesn’t believe in Vandy, and believed too much in the Vols. The Waco Kid was scorching hot, running up the score and only losing one.
Let’s hit the recaps.
Early Games
#25 Auburn 62 - Alabama State 0
Bossman Slim: This one wasn’t worth much - Auburn got off to a slow start but rolled as expected. Bo Nix didn’t light up the stat sheet but did have two passing TDs. The Tigers have some dang speed on offense. True freshman running back Jarquez Hunter broke off a 94-yard TD run late in the game while senior wide receiver Demetris Robertson (who transferred from Georgia) shined with a rushing and receiving TD. He’s straight out of a Nike Speed commercial. Auburn also got some valuable PT for their second team, including for backup QB TJ Finley, who hit on a 49-yard bomb to Malcolm Johnson Jr. Auburn heads to Happy Valley next week to take on top-10 Penn State. That one should be fun. White Out game!
The Hammer: For the second week in a row, Auburn has overshot my expectations on the scoreboard. Bo Nix wasn’t asked to do much as he went just 9/17 for 108 yards and two touchdowns. The story of this game was the Tigers run game. They bullied Alabama State, as they should have, totaling 364 yards rushing on 39 carries. Great start for Hardass Harsin on the Plains but the first real test comes this weekend as Auburn travels to Happy Valley to take on Penn State. Bo Nix will need to do more than throw 17 passes if the Tigers want to escape the White Out with a victory.
The Waco Kid: Not a shocking revelation. I thought Alabama State may score and add in a couple of field goals but the Tiger defense made sure they did not even get that. Bo Nix was Bo Nix - he wasn’t overly impressive and he lacks “pizzaz” as they say. He can get it done against the likes of Alabama State and Akron but we will not really know how good this team is until maybe next week or at the latest October 2nd. War Eagle did create some waves this week. Senior WR, Demetris Robertson, had a coming-out party with 3 total touchdowns. This Auburn offense looks to travel to State College next Saturday and try to best the Penn State Nittany Lions. The game should be a good one but again I need to see something different from Bo to get on board with the Auburn train.
South Carolina 20 - ECU 17
Bossman Slim: I expected this one to be close. ECU has been a thorn in the side of East Coast P5 teams for a long time, and Shane Beamer’s squad is still trying to get their feet under them. And close it was. The Gamecocks needed a big man pick-six and a walk-off field goal to bury the Pirates, who went toe to toe with Carolina all day. Granted, Carolina shot themselves in the foot multiple times with turnovers and sloppy play. Zeb Noland had a dismal QBR but made just enough plays needed in order to win, including a beautiful TD pass to Dakereon Joyner late in the 3rd to tie it up. Freshman RB Juju McDowell also had a coming-out party, racking up 134 all-purpose yards. Enjoy 2-0 Carolina, Goliath awaits in Athens.
The Hammer: Solid win for the Gamecocks and coach Shane Beamer. They need all the wins they can get this year. ECU is not a very good team, but the Gamecocks went on the road and pulled out a gutsy 14-point comeback win with Zeb Noland under center. South Carolina turned it over three times and only scored one offensive touchdown but found a way to win, in part thanks to a pick-six from linebacker Demani Staley. This game did not instill much confidence in them moving forward but again, any win in Columbia this year is a big one.
The Waco Kid: Well I thought this one would be a blowout and I was wrong. East Carolina showed up and played the Gamecocks a close game. My boy Zeb Noland had another decent game and is looking like he should have been a player all along. Of course, he cannot take these stats into the Georgia game and expect to win but he has stepped up when needed. Kevin Harris wasn’t spectacular in his return but will look to help build the ground game in the coming weeks along with Juju McDowell who had himself a game. With a 20-17 win over ECU, South Carolina will not be able to put up much of a fight against the Dawgs next weekend.
Pittsburg 41 - Tennessee 34
Bossman Slim: My gut told me Pitt, my heart told me Vols. I was feeling pretty good about my pick early, as Rocky Top was rocking and UT went up 10-0 in the first quarter. Yet I was still worried because Joe Milton was leaving points on the board. It should have been 21-0 or more after one, but instead, it was 10-0. Milton was overthrowing receivers left and right, and couldn’t get it under control. Eventually, he gave way to Hendon Hooker due to injury, and Hooker finished out the game under center for the Orange. Pitt QB Kenny Pickett calmed down and did what a 5th year senior does...be cool under pressure and get the job done. Tennessee showed heart though and hung in it all the way to the end. Encouraging signs for the Vols.
The Hammer: This game played out about how I thought it would, just with more scoring. Tennessee got off to a fast start with a blocked punt and quick touchdown but just didn't have the horses to hang for a full 60 minutes. Pittsburg was led by senior QB Kenny Pickett and the Panthers exploded in the second quarter for 27 points, never relinquishing the lead after that. Joe Milton was still very inaccurate and missed a couple of throws that should have been touchdowns early in the game. Milton went down with an injury and Virginia Tech transfer Hendon Hooker came in and played decently. The Vols fought hard but Pittsburg is a better team right now. Looking at the remaining Tennessee schedule and it’s going to be hard to make a bowl game after this tough loss.
The Waco Kid: I really want to like Tennessee but they’ve made it hard through two weeks. I said the only way they had a chance of winning was if Hendon Hooker came into the game in relief of an underwhelming Joe Milton. That was exactly what happened and he led the Vols to within 7 of Pittsburgh. Heupel has finally made the right choice at QB and should feel comfortable going forward with his personnel. Hooker finished with 188 yards through the air for two touchdowns and an interception. Not overly spectacular numbers but better than Milton. If Jabari Small can open up the run game this season, Rocky Top may have a chance to get into that elusive bowl game.
Midday Games
#13 Florida 42 - USF 20
Bossman Slim: Florida rolled the Bulls as expected, though I was a little surprised to see USF put up 20 points. There’s really only one story to come out of this game. The week one question of “who is Florida’s QB?” was only amplified after this game. Emory Jones struggled again, while Richardson was doing flips pregame looking like a Cirque du Soleil performer, and then went out and dominated the game and made it look easy. Thanks to PrizePicks (use code “Biscuits”), I’m now a betting man, which means I’ll take Richardson to walk out as the starter next week against Alabama. I do not think Emory Jones is a bad QB - but Richardson gives the Gators the best chance to defend The Swamp and stem the Tide.
The Hammer: Another relatively sloppy but easy win for the Florida Gators. USF is a terrible football team. Florida’s offense was heavily reliant on the quarterback run game. Emory Jones struggled again throwing the ball downfield and threw two interceptions. He ran well finishing with 81 yards and a TD on 13 carries. The real story here though is Anthony Richardson and the QB competition. Dan Mullen seems to be sticking by Emory Jones, but Richardson keeps making huge plays. Richardson carried the ball just 4 times for 115 yards and a touchdown AND went 3/3 for 152 yards and two touchdowns passing. Ridiculous. Small sample size but the kid has just been making game-changing plays while Emory Jones has been average at best. The Gators need to find their guy ASAP because Alabama comes to The Swamp this coming weekend.
The Waco Kid: USF is just as bad as we thought and Florida seems to have a bit of a situation at QB1. Emory Jones was the guy coming in but Anthony Richardson is the one that consistently delivers. Richardson will most likely not get the starting nod but he had an impressive day passing and rushing, ending up with 267 total yards and 3 scores. The free ride is over for Florida, they host Alabama next weekend and the Tide are no FAU or USF. Dan Mullen has no shot in this game and the best he can hope for is a healthy team after this contest. Enjoy the cupcake wins because going forward you enter the boss stage.
#2 Georgia 56 - UAB 7
He’s Back.
Bossman Slim: Everyone calls him “The Mailman,” but I’ve always called him “Tombstone Bennett” because he puts opponents in the grave. And HE’S BACK, BABY! JT Daniels sat out with a core injury, so it was Bennett’s turn to take the reins again. He did a masterful job, going 10/12 for 288 yards and 5 TDs. That’s my guy! He got the UGA offense rolling this week and the defense was stellar yet again. Is there a QB competition brewing in Athens? No, but I am willing it to happen. Circle candles tweet. I like JT Daniels, but I’m trying to make “Tombstone” Bennett happen. It’s for the blog. Dawgs get their first SEC game of the year at home next week against South Carolina - should be an easy win.
The Hammer: Quarterback competition in Athens? Kidding, but Stetson Bennett played well. This one was over before it started. Stetson “Mailman” Bennett got the start for Georgia and he let it fly, completing 10/12 passes for 288 yards and 5 touchdowns. UAB’s offense has no chance against this Georgia defense. Not much to take away from this game as it was a total mismatch. If you are a Dawgs fan, be happy with how the wide receivers looked in the passing game but Stetson isn't the guy. JT needs to get healthy and find his own rhythm moving forward.
The Waco Kid: Frat star dropout Stetson Bennett IV started the game in lieu of JT Daniels, due to a sidelining injury, and wow did he show up. He went 10/12 for 288 yards and five scores. 5 TDs on 10 completions is a crazy stat line if you think about it. That means 50% of completed passes were recorded as points. The Dawgs defense didn’t miss a beat and while I had them giving up no points, only allowing 7 points to any college team is a feat in and of itself. UGA jumps back into the SEC next week against a subpar South Carolina team and will not be challenged until maybe October 9th against Auburn but more likely in the SEC championship against Bama. This is Georgia’s year to make a run, the only thing standing between them and greatness is Nick Saban and themselves. If they can somehow slay those two beasts, expect to see them in the national championship alongside anyone but Ohio State, Clemson, or Oklahoma (OSU and Clemson have notched one loss each and are still in the top 10, what are we doing here ESPN?).
#5 Texas A&M 10 - Colorado 7
Bossman Slim: Exhale, Aggie fans. At least for now. You got a win in Denver, but now you have a lot more to worry about as the schedule only gets tougher from here. The Aggie defense is elite, and Jimbo Fisher should slide some of that new $90 million under the table to ol’ Mike Elko who is pulling more than his weight in gold. Aggie starting QB Haynes King went down early with an injury which meant it was time for Zach “Calzone” Calzada. He looked like a deer in the headlights for the first few series but did just enough to eek out a win. The kid was taking punches all day, yet somehow willed the team to a W. He did it with the help of Isaiah Spiller, who played out of his damn mind and caught the winning TD. Aggies have to get better - fast - if they have any chance at achieving their high aspirations this year. It’s one more cupcake before SEC play starts.
The Hammer: Yikes, I was way wrong on this one. Granted I wasn’t expecting Haynes King to get injured, but regardless, give a ton of credit to Colorado. They played extremely well on defense, especially up front, and hung tough all game. The Buff’s offense is pretty limited with their freshman QB, especially in the passing game, and A&M exploited that. After a solid first half from Colorado, the Aggie defense made some adjustments and just buried the Buffs in the second half, only allowing 52 total yards in the second half. A&M’s offense was way out of sync all day and could not establish the run game, which is concerning. No word yet on the severity of King’s injury but Calzada and the Aggie offense will need to step up if they want to beat Arkansas in two weeks.
The Waco Kid: Geez, what a horribly boring game and unexpected outcome. Yes, the Aggies still walked away with a win but at what cost? Haynes King seems to have suffered an ankle injury that could cost him the season. Zach Calzada had a cannon in the spring game that seems to have regressed to a water gun. The three-headed monsters that control the running back room never seemed to find their groove throughout the game. The highlight of the backs was a receiving touchdown from Isaiah Spiller. Ainias Smith and Devon Achane were held to virtually no productive yardage. A&M has a real issue in the backfield if the best of the West cannot get it going and if the quarterback position drops in production. Expect to see Eli Stowers in the mix if King is out. If Eli comes in it could bring a whole new dynamic to a stalled offense. He may be the next Kellen Mond.
#1 Alabama 48 - Mercer 14
Bossman Slim: NEXT. Roll Tide, no surprise. The clash with the Gators next week in Gainesville is the first massive in-conference game of the year. The Tide will be favored, but weird things can happen in The Swamp...
The Hammer: This game started a bit slow for the Tide before they blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown. Not much else to see here other than perfect fodder for Nick Saban to ride this team hard in practice all week ahead of Florida. I guarantee you he was not happy with the way this team started and will use it against his players all week to push them to their best.
The Waco Kid: Quoting Nick Saban: “Rat Poison.”
Late Games
Arkansas 40 - #15 Texas 21
Arkansas was high on the Hogs after their huge win over Texas. (Photo: Arkansas Football)
Bossman Slim: This was Arkansas’s night. Just look at that title picture above...what a scene. It hasn’t looked like that at Razorback Stadium for some time, with the tense excitement about to burst into the fall air. The B&S crew was all over this one. All three of us picked the Hogs to take down the Horns. I just expected it to be a lot closer. Instead, the Hogs smoked Bevo brisket all night and smacked Texas right in the damn mouth. It was awesome to see, and a long time coming for Arkansas fans who have long suffered. The Razorbacks came out of the gate hot and never looked back - this one was never really close. KJ Jefferson can play, and he put it together on Saturday after a shaky week one. Credit to Kendall Briles and Barry Odom on solid game plans. The big question out of this one: Is Texas bad or is Arkansas good? I think it’s a bit of both - Texas has a ways to go, and Arkansas is taking big strides. This was a massive win for Sam Pittman to take into recruits living rooms.
The Hammer: What a beatdown in Fayetteville. Massive win for Sam Pittman and the Razorbacks, who have been starved of any meaningful success on the gridiron since Bobby Petrino wrecked his motorcycle. These are the kind of wins you can build a program on. The Hogs dominated Texas on both lines of scrimmage, rushing for 333 yards on offense, and holding the Horns to just 138 yards and 3.8 yards per carry defensively. In fact, Texas only had 256 yards of total offense. I guess it’s a little harder to look like an offensive genius without 1st round picks at nearly every offensive position, huh Sark? Barry Odom had the perfect game plan and they steamrolled Texas from wire to wire. We tried to warn Texas that they weren’t ready for the SEC, but they refused to listen. Well, consider this your wake-up call. The folks in Austin better hope their move to SEC doesn't happen for a few more years because that team ain’t ready, and it ain’t going to be ready by 2022. Again, cannot understate how big of a win this was for Arkansas, so enjoy it Hog fans. The entire SEC salutes you for beating the arrogant, overrated Longhorns.
The Waco Kid: Welcome to the bottom tier of the SEC baby!!!!! I am so confused why ESPN analysts get paid. Every single member of the B&S squad had Arkansas in this game while the gameday crew all took Texas (I mean I had the biggest point spread and still did not come close). How does it feel to be the bitch of an overrated, under-delivering school? Anyone with half a mind knows UT is a yesteryear program. But money talks and because of the deals that were made, the Longhorns agenda must be pushed on a year-to-year basis. Stop it. If it looks like a skunk, smells like a skunk, and behaves like a skunk, it is a skunk. Texas is not back, they are not good, and there is no place for them in the SEC. If you can’t win in Fayettechill how do you think it's going to go in Baton Rouge or Tuscaloosa or Oxford? The worst part is the Horns didn’t just lose to the Hogs, they lost their lunch money and got sent back home to mommy crying. Bijan Robinson got his first taste of some SEC defense and he averaged 3.6 yards per carry. UT’s Hudson Card pretty much gave up his starting position with a pitiful performance and Casey Thompson should be the starter going forward. As far as the Razorbacks go, this was a defining win for Sam Pittman and he will continue to build this program back to national relevance. HORNS F’ING DOWN!
Mississippi State 24 - NC State 10
Bossman Slim: Woahhhh Nelly! I did not see this one coming. The Pirate always has a trick up his sleeve and steals one when you least expect it. Darn it...he got me again. NC State was getting some hype this year as a solid team, and Mississippi State looked pedestrian against LA Tech in week one. The defense woke up this week in a big way, holding the Wolfpack to just 10 points and padding the stat sheet with 4 sacks, 9 TFLs, 5 QB hurries and 3 turnovers. If the defense can keep it up, this team will be a difficult out for anyone. The offense also seems to be finding its stride as weapons are emerging on the outside. My man Jayden Walley tallied another TD, as did Malik Heath. In all, nine different players caught a pass for the Bulldogs on the night. Will Rogers looked the part at QB, going 33/49 for 294 yards and 2 TDs and did not have a turnover. Leach and the Bulldogs get Memphis next week.
The Hammer: At some point, I’ll quit doubting Mike Leach. Everyone was talking up the Wolfpack heading into this game and my idiot brain went along with it. I should have known this is the exact time that Leach and his band of merry men would rise up. The Bulldogs returned the opening kick for a touchdown and didn't really look back. It would be a stretch to say Mississippi State looked great, but they shut down NC State’s run game and made enough plays offensively to seal the win. Plenty to work on for Mississippi State but a very solid win against a bowl team in NC State. Good momentum in Starkville.
The Waco Kid: Called it. -14, check me. Leach is on the up and up. Before long, he will start competing as he has in every program he has coached over the past decade. This year the Bulldogs will be, at best, bowl game contenders but look out after that because going forward the Pirate will be on his way to steal and plunder as many wins as possible.
#20 Ole Miss 54 - Austin Peay 17
Bossman Slim: Ole Miss took care of business. A scrappy Tulane team comes to town next week before the Rebels bye week...then they head to Tuscaloosa to take on the mighty Tide in what should be an awesome rematch from last year’s thriller.
The Hammer: Not much to see here. Matt Corral looked good again and Rebs rolled to an easy win. Dontario Drummond hauled in 6 catches for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns. He is looking like a true number one wide receiver on the outside and should be a huge weapon all season. Ole Miss ran wild in the rushing attack as well going for 336 yards on 43 carries. ELEVEN Rebels got carries on Saturday (including QBs) and they made the most of them. I have nothing to say about Austin Peay but thanks for coming out 🤝.
The Waco Kid: Ole Miss rolled as anticipated. Matt Corral was sensational with 281 yards passing and 5 touchdowns. We continue to see the expected: a dynamic offense and questions on the defense. In two weeks we will really see just how good the Rebs are when they travel to Tuscaloosa to face Kiffin’s former employer. I think if anyone can top the Tide it will be a high-powered offense such as Mississippi’s. However, before getting to Alabama, the Lane Train will need to hold down the fort with a surprisingly good Tulane team next week. If that is a close game, the Crimson Tide can sleep comfortably knowing that only A&M might challenge them in the West.
Kentucky 35 - Mizzou 28
Chris Rodriguez had a career night with over 200 yards rushing (Photo: Kentucky Football)
Bossman Slim: What an awesome game. Wan’Dale Robinson is that dude, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. got going for the ‘Cats despite a fumble that cost Kentucky a TD. Will Levis’ stats don’t jump off the page, but he took some shots downfield, was efficient, and averaged 9.9 yards a completion. Mark Stoops will take that any day, especially with a W. Mizzou got in a hole early, but they didn’t flinch, methodically chipping away at the UK lead. The Tigers trailed all game until early in the 4th when they tied the ballgame up at 28-28. Mizzou really needed that blocked FG attempt with 2:00 minutes left in the 4th to be a scoop-n-score. Connor Bazelak can play some football, posting a 34/51 for 294 and 4 TDs. He’ll need to work on his efficiency, and Mizzou will need to work on getting Tyler Badie going on the ground, though he had a great all-around game. This was a great game as we expected.
The Hammer: Just an awesome game and atmosphere in Lexington. Big Blue Nation showed out and was rocking all night. I can’t say enough about the coaching job that Mark Stoops has done at Kentucky, year in and year out. Will Levis and the Wildcat’s passing game were all the talk coming into the weekend, but Kentucky harkened back to their roots against Mizzou and ran the damn football. Stud tailback Chris Rodriguez Jr carried the ball 27 times for 207 yards and three touchdowns (nearly 4 but he fumbled). Levis only threw the ball 18 times all game and looked much shakier than he did in week one, but he got the job done. Wan’Dale Robinson is a MAN on the outside and Liam Coen did a good job of finding creative ways to get the ball in his hands. Missouri looked very good in their own right. Give super-nerd Eli Drinkwitz and Connor Bazelak credit for battling it out. Missouri was prepared and played a very good game, coming up just short. Tigers running back Tyler Badie was doing it all on offense and played a great game. I think both teams can be happy with how they played. If Missouri wants to take the next step, they will need to find Bazelak another weapon. I’d be optimistic if I was a fan of either program.
The Waco Kid: Mizzou’s Bazelak dazzled the audience with almost 300 yards through the air and 4 scores. Unfortunately, C-Rod decided that he was going to show up and take the game into his own hands. Rodriguez rushed for 206 yards and three TDs for the Cats and left the Tiger defense wondering what went wrong in life. Will Levis was a placeholder but still had a decent night throwing for 179 and a score. This team will live and die by the backfield and if Chris Rodriguez continues to perform, they will find themselves competing with Georgia for the East title.
LSU 34 - McNeese State 7
Bossman Slim: I didn’t watch this game. I don’t care who knows. This was a snoozer. LSU Twitter was about ready to burn down Death Valley for the Tigers’ lackluster performance. This one should have been 52-7, but the Bayou Bengals slept walked through it. The rumblings are growing in Baton Rouge.
The Hammer: LSU has problems. A lot of them. Their offensive line got no push on freakin’ McNeese and the Tigers averaged an abysmal 3.5 yards per carry. Max Johnson played solid and took care of the football, but that offense is in a bad way. A better team could have made life a lot more difficult for the LSU offense. Defensively, LSU played as expected. Even though it’s McNeese, only allowing 142 yards of total offense is a good defensive day. I just don’t trust this offensive line or running game at all right now and if they can't figure something out there, Ed O is in trouble. Central Michigan comes to town this weekend and that could be a real dog fight on the Bayou.
The Waco Kid: LSU is not rebuilding, they are deviating from the Tiger norm. They beat McNeese handily but after an embarrassing loss against UCLA this game should have been a blowout win in dominant fashion. Instead, it was an “oh we showed up and won, who cares” kind of game. Baton Rouge should be worried because this is the second week in a row that their team did not live up to expectations. Coach O has to turn this season around or there may be a vacancy at the coaching position soon.
Colorado State 21 - Vanderbilt 24
Bossman Slim: To Anchor Down nation, I humbly apologize. Vandy is back, baby!! Vandy showed a little fight on Saturday by coming back from a 14-0 deficit on the road in thin air and fought the demons of jet lag. Hats off to the Commodores, enjoy this win. The road only gets tougher from here...
The Hammer: I called this game a total sinker in my preview, but it was actually a pretty fun watch. Vanderbilt fell down 14-0 early on and I was thinking “oh no here we go again.” But give credit to the ‘Dores for settling in and storming back for the win. Ken Seals looked better throwing the ball than he did in week one. Colorado State is a terrible team in their own right, so I don’t see this being a springboard for much success in Nashville, but Vandy fans can be proud of how this team competed and sleep well knowing they will not go winless in 2021.
The Waco Kid: I was the only one to pick Vandy in this game. It was a hard choice but at the end of the day with two teams that lost to FCS competition, I had to pick the better conference. Also taken into consideration was the fact the Rams played a great game in week one and still lost. That does not look good for any competition. I don’t even know what CSU plays in, maybe the Mountain West? Ken Seals can show up at any time and this week he decided to make an appearance. Throwing for 238 yards and 2 tuddies, he did not disappoint. The ‘Dores are still at the bottom of the conference but out of conference they could be college heroes (erase ETSU from memory).