B&S week 7 game by game recaps
LSU wounds Mullen and the Gators while Auburn gets a big win over Arkansas.
By: Bossman Slim, The Hammer, The Waco Kid
Tyrion Davis Price gashed the Florida defense all day long. (Photo: via The Athletic)
Another awesome weekend of football in the SEC and beyond. The year of chaos reigns on, as #2 Iowa was upset by giant slayer Jeff Brohm and Purdue, while Auburn upset Arkansas and LSU came out of nowhere for the second year in a row to take down Florida.
Let’s see how the crew fared this week:
The Hammer: 4-3; 54-14 overall
The Waco Kid: 4-3; 54-14 overall
Bossman Slim: 6-1; 53-15 overall
Bossman Slim picked up some steam in Week 7 with his Auburn pick, while The Waco Kid and The Hammer dropped a few with their upset picks. Bossman is right back in the thick of it.
Let’s get to the recaps.
Early Games
Auburn 38 - #17 Arkansas 23
Bossman Slim: I told y’all! The Tigers are starting to take on the personality of their head coach - tough, hard-nosed, never out of the game. Arkansas came into this one as a 4.5 point favorite, but Auburn did what was necessary to win, pulling away for good in the 4th quarter. Arkansas has been exposed. They caught Texas A&M at the right time and now have lost 3 straight SEC games and are sitting at the bottom of the pack in the West. Is Arkansas a bad team? Certainly not, but such is life in the SEC West. You can be a good team, but someone has to lose and bring up the rear. With Mississippi State, a revived LSU, and Alabama still left on the schedule, the wins won’t come easy. This is a nice win for Auburn behind the increasingly steady play of Bo Nix, who was 21/26 for 292 yards, 2 TDs and an INT. Auburn is now 5-2 and should find themselves back in the top 25. The Tigers get Ole Miss next week in what should be a great game.
The Hammer: Awesome road win for the Auburn Tigers. It would appear the Razorbacks defense was a little bit fraudulent and Texas A&M and Texas made them look much better than they are. I understand losing Catalon really hurts that unit, but it’s clear they just don’t have the talent of an elite defense. The Hogs held Auburn’s run game relative in check, but Bo Nix made things happen through the air going 21/26 for 292 yards, two TDs and one interception. Nix has been really solid this year outside of the Georgia State game. He’s not going to win a Heisman, but he’s been a very good SEC quarterback in 2021. KJ Jefferson was pretty good today in his own right, and Arkansas actually outgained Auburn slightly but they couldn’t finish enough drives and went 0-3 on 4th down attempts. Zakoby McClain deserves a shout out here as well for playing like an All American on Saturday. The Tiger linebacker recorded 15 tackles, and was credited .5 tackles for loss and two pass deflections.
The Waco Kid: Well it seems that Auburn has finally hit their stride. While I still think Bo Nix will be the ultimate downfall of this team, he performed admirably for the Tigers against an Arkansas team that has held their own against some of the best in the West. Nix had 292 yards passing and 42 yards rushing while totaling 3 touchdowns combined. For a quarterback in the SEC, that is by no means an average day. Still one has to wonder when War Eagle will make a crucial mistake and lose a big game. Under Bryan Harsin, they have been able to keep it together, but the road only gets rockier from here. They head into the weekend against an Ole Miss offense that is firing on all cylinders and follow it with a matchup against a Texas A&M team that has finally come into their own behind backup quarterback Zach Calzada. AU will get a chance to become bowl eligible due to two games that they should win handily against Mississippi State and South Carolina, but outside of those, they may not win another contest. Arkansas has 4 out of 5 games left that they should be able to win, with the exception being Alabama. For Pittman to turn this program into an 8 win team in just two years will be an accomplishment most cannot fathom but they are teetering on the brink of impossibility and it seems to be shifting in the Hogs’ direction. Both squads should be fun to watch going forward but I am still optimistically hesitant about the Blue and Orange as long as Nix leads the charge. For this week I offer my apologies, next week may be a different story. Woo Pig.
LSU 49 - #20 Florida 42
Bossman Slim: I wanted to believe in Coach O, and I should have! The Tigers ran it down the throat of this Florida defense, which makes absolutely no sense because they haven’t been able to establish the run all season. Add it as another data point to the narrative of “2021 is the total opposite of what you think.” Add LSU RB Tyrion Davis-Price to the Tiger record books, because he stacked up 287 yards and 3 TDs on 36 carries against the Gators, an LSU single-game rushing record. This win came without 20 scholarship players for Coach O. When O’s back is against the wall...don’t bet against him. Dan Mullen and the Gators are still trying to figure out who their quarterback is 7 games into the year, a troubling sign. Gainesville is starting to turn up the heat on Mullen, and Todd Grantham is back in the headlines after a dismal and inexplicable defensive performance. Coach O’s seat cools a notch for one week, while Mullen’s seat is getting uncomfortably warm.
The Hammer: This was the most shocking result from the weekend. Oh and Coach O still got fired. Not that it was a surprise, but the timing coming off a big win was a little odd to me. Back to the game though, what is Florida doing? The Gators allowed LSU, who has not been able to run the ball at all this season, to rush for 321 yards. Kayhson Boutte went down with an injury and the LSU offense went back to its 2011 form. Tyrion Davis-Price put the team on his back running for 287 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries. I didn't think this LSU team could run on anyone, but somehow they gashed Florida all day. The Florida offense put up plenty of points but went through some issues of their own at QB. Emory Jones was not getting it done and Anthony Richardson came in and made some plays. He didn’t play perfectly, but you have to believe he is the guy moving forward. I’m not sure what is going on in Gainesville but Dan Mullen, and more importantly Todd Grantham, need to figure some things out quickly.
The Waco Kid: Is it irony at its finest that Coach O should be “fired” on the eve of one of the best LSU wins of the season or is it just the writing on the wall that has finally decided to reveal itself? We may never know but for one night, The Cajun Conductor was able to pull off a feat many thought may be borderline impossible. Florida came into Death Valley with a real predicament at the quarterback position which is always a bad place to start. However the Gators have been able to create wins using a two QB system throughout the year, so what was different about this game down in the bayou? The answer is simple, Tyrion Davis-Price. A name that all those in Westeros may recognize, TDP brought a cunning elusiveness to a Tiger ground game that quite honestly had seemed a little stagnant week to week. The numbers he put up were insane, we are talking almost 300 yards rushing for three touchdowns. Max Johnson was no slouch either through the air, throwing for 3 more TDs. But his stat line was not nearly as impressive. The team reminded me of a Les Miles coached team that dared you to stop the run and when you tried torched your secondary. It was a true pound and ground Bayou Bengal offense. This one was fun to watch but now you are looking at Kentucky and Georgia in the East and after their matchup last weekend, honestly you are looking at UGA and everyone else.
#21 Texas A&M 35 - Missouri 14
Bossman Slim: As most of the B&S crew expected, A&M took care of business. This team looks like a confident bunch, and they put away Missouri like a team of their caliber should. The defense was stout all day and the offense did what was necessary to win. The Aggies left points on the field which needs to be rectified, as this one should have been 52-14 if A&M had capitalized on all their opportunities. Jimbo will surely be preaching that all week ahead of A&M’s bout with South Carolina next weekend. As for Mizzou, this defense is pitiful and the season is spiraling for Eli Drinkwitz and co. Steve Wilks is in his first year as defensive coordinator in Columbia, but I can’t imagine he’ll be back for another go in 2022. Drinkwitz seemed to have this team going in the right direction, and this could be a speed bump in an otherwise successful tenure at Missouri - but 2021 is going to be one to forget. The Tigers have two more winnable games against Vandy and South Carolina. A&M seems to have found a groove and seem on track for a 9 or 10 win season, a good turnaround for Jimbo and the Aggies.
The Hammer: There was no Alabama hangover or letdown for the Aggies this past weekend. It wasn’t a perfect game for A&M, but given the circumstances, it was an excellent performance. Texas A&M jumped out to an early 21-0 first-quarter lead and really put the game away at that point. Zach Calzada played decently but the magic he found against Alabama seemed to be gone. Luckily, he did not need to be spectacular because the Aggie ran the ball at will. Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane combined for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Mizzou looked like they had no interest in stopping the Aggie ground game. The most impressive part of this game was the A&M defense, though. We knew the Tigers run defense was porous, but offensively Mizzou has been pretty good. Tyler Badie is the second leading rusher in the SEC, and the Aggies held him to just 68 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Meanwhile, Connor Bazelak never looked comfortable and threw two interceptions. Very solid road victory for A&M.
The Waco Kid: Jimbo has these kids on the brink of greatness, without injuries and mistakes this team could be sitting with one loss to Arkansas and still in the conversation for the West. Hell, they may still be competing for the West when all is said and done. All it would take is a win over Ole Miss and the Ags are right back in the conversation. I suppose an Alabama loss would also have to occur which is highly unlikely but if the Maroon and White can win out they may be looking at a New Year’s Eve Sugar Bowl berth. Granted Bama and UGA would have to make the playoffs but is that really out of the question at this point? Oklahoma will lose at least one game, and Cincinnati, well they have no more competition on the schedule so they will win out. A one-loss OU team will be booted over a 1 loss Tide team just because of the level of competition and the close calls the Sooners have endured throughout the season. The run game has the fans in College Station excited because with an attack led by Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane, is there any team that can slow them down? Mississippi can’t and if you throw in Ainias Smith, there aren’t a lot of outcomes where another team outscores Jimbo Fisher. For now, we wait, but if I know one thing, LSU has no shot at luring one of the best head coaches in the West to another program and that can make all fans sleep easy.
Midday Games
#1 Georgia 30 - #11 Kentucky 13
Bossman Slim: Boa Constrictor. Python. Whatever massive snake that slowly suffocates its prey, that is the Dawgs this season. The defense is unrelenting. Chris Rodriguez, the leading rusher in the SEC going into Saturday, rushed for 7 yards. SEVEN. This completely ruined my PrizePicks “CRod over 59.5 rushing yards.” What was I thinking? I knew that Tombstone Bennett was going to put another headstone in the yard in preparation for Halloween, but I did not foresee the Georgia defense being as dominant as they were. I know they are the best defense in the nation and historically good - but this is crazy. Kentucky is a good football team, and Georgia is a light-year ahead of them, and this is with their backup QB and multiple injuries to some of their top talent. The word “loaded” is an understatement for this behemoth that Kirby has built. With their remaining schedule and the fall of Florida, Georgia should cruise to Atlanta no matter who is under center. Kentucky has a few tough but very winnable games left and should finish out with a banner year for the program if they stay the course.
The Hammer: This game played out exactly as expected, and if you have watched any Georgia football this season, you knew exactly what was going to happen. This defense continues to punish opponents and make it nearly impossible to move the ball. The Dawgs had three sacks, eight tackles for loss and only let Kentucky rush for 51 yards on 27 carries. Pure dominance. Will Levis actually played quite well in this game too, but there was no room on the outside either. The Georgia secondary was all over the Wildcats receivers and Levis only threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns on 32/42 attempts. Until a team can find a way to move the ball on Georgia, this kind of game will continue to happen. Georgia’s defense will suffocate you and the Dawgs offense will lean on the run game and wear you down until you break.
The Waco Kid: Georgia gonna do what Georgia gonna do.
South Carolina 21 - Vanderbilt 20
Bossman Slim: USC: 18.5 point favorite. HAHAHA. The Waco Kid almost called this Vandy upset, but South Carolina would not be denied their first SEC win under Shane Beamer. And it was all thanks to Colonel Zebuliah Noland, who rallied the troops in a courageous last-minute drive to vanquish the Commodores from Nashville. A nice with for Carolina...but it spells more trouble than optimism, Gamecocks would have liked to see the Garnet and Black run away with this one.
The Hammer: Sheesh. This was actually a fun game… but these teams stink. Credit Colonel Zeb Noland for coming in to lead the Gamecocks on a winning drive, but if you need a late TD in the 4th quarter to beat Vandy, you are in trouble, especially considering Ken Seals didn’t play. South Carolina is now 4-3 overall, and you take the wins however they come right now, but that game does not inspire much confidence moving forward. Getting to a bowl game would be a massive accomplishment from Shane Beamer in year one, but with the schedule they have remaining, I don’t see that happening.
The Waco Kid: Balls. I was so close with this pick that it is infuriating. The only thing I did not take into consideration is my boy Zeb Noland. And how could I leave him out of the equation, all I have talked about since the beginning of the season is how USC’s only shot was to leave the Colonel in and let him march his troops to victory. Dumb mistake on my part, but numbers can only be crunched so far, at some point it becomes about “the guy.” And Noland is the guy. Maybe not statistic wise but to quote a great film, which foreshadowed the rise of Noland, “He was the hero the Gamecocks deserved but not the one they needed in the past few weeks”. Or something like that it’s a little fuzzy.
“He was the hero the Gamecocks deserved but not the one they needed in the past few weeks” -Alfred (Photo: Warner Bros)
Late Games
#5 Alabama 49 - Mississippi State 9
Bossman Slim: What did we say? “You don’t want to play Alabama after they lose.” No, you don’t. A massacre occurred in Starkville on Saturday night, as the Crimson Tide got their vengeance out on Mississippi State. Bama racked up 549 total yards, held State to 299, didn’t give up a single rushing yard (-1) and had 7 sacks and 9 TFLs. Utter domination. Alabama has tests the rest of the way, but it looks like they can steamroll their way to Atlanta and that the A&M loss was the wake-up call this team needed.
The Hammer: This final score makes no sense if you have been watching these teams over the last few weeks. But it makes perfect sense if you have watched Alabama for the last decade. They don’t lose two games in a row. It just doesn’t happen. So even though Mississippi State was feeling good after a road win against Texas A&M, the very team that just beat Alabama, I knew Alabama would come out firing and was not going to lose this game. I didn't think it would be this lopsided but Bama gonna Bama. Bryce Young was really sharp, throwing for 328 yards and four touchdowns on 20/28 attempts. On the other side, the Alabama defense rose to the occasion after being ridiculed all week for their performance against A&M. The Tide defense forced 3 three interceptions from Cowboy Will Rogers, in large part to how much pressure he was under, and Albama sacked him 7 times (4 by Will Anderson alone). The Bulldogs finished with -1 total rushing yards and Alabama steamrolled them and sucked the life out of David Wade and the cowbell brigade.
The Waco Kid: Well Alabama did what I expected. They came out with a vengeance and took it out on poor old Mike Leach in this West matchup. Bryce Young padded the stat sheet with 348 yards passing for 4 TDs and Brian Robinson added two more on the ground. This MSU defense was not going to stop the Tide. Their best chance was to keep pace with them offensively and it was clear that the competition was not up for the battle. Saban roared back after an unexpected loss and showed everyone that his squad was still in control of their destiny. They will continue that control until the SEC Championship where they are on a crash course to meet Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs. Could this be the season that Saban not only loses to one former assistant but possibly two? It is looking that way but the Crimson always have something up their sleeve to ensure they are in the game to the last second. I am looking forward to this matchup and hope it lives up to the hype that surrounds it.
#13 Ole Miss 31 - Tennessee 26
Bossman Slim: Matt Corral is that dude. He accounted for 426 total yards and 2 TDs and made plays when Ole Miss needed him most. Another big performance from the junior, who is squarely in the Heisman race. The Velus Jones muffed punt in the 1st quarter which turned into 7 for Ole Miss became a huge factor later in the game. Even with that costly mistake, the Vols still had a chance to win the game at the end, but Joe Milton decided to run the ball with 3 seconds left instead of launching the ball into orbit as normally happens when he throws the ball. Hendon Hooker played well but had to exit the game on the last play, paving the way for Milton’s boneheaded play. Vols fans throwing trash on the field was unfortunate, but Tennessee is making a comeback. Heupel has this program on the right track, as does the Lane Train in Oxford.
The Hammer: I took a chance here and bet on the Vols to pull off a huge upset, and they nearly did. It took a heroic effort by Matt Corral to secure a victory in an electric Neyland Stadium. Corral ran for 195 yards, threw for 231, and totaled two touchdowns. For whatever reason, the Ole Miss run game was getting nowhere unless it was with Corral. Hendon Hooker has himself a game as well. The Vol signal-caller threw for 233 yards, ran for 108, and also accounted for two touchdowns. This was an awesome game and Tennessee nearly came storming back to win this thing. If Hendon Hooker doesn’t get hurt, maybe they do pull it off. Heupel has this program going in the right direction. The Tennessee fans throwing crud onto the field, including a golf ball and a full bottle of mustard, after the referees did not give them the first down was downright embarrassing. I won’t harp on that because this was a great game and it was awesome seeing Neyland sold out for a night game again, but you can’t do that and it’s a shame that the actions of some fans are overshadowing what a great game we saw.
The Waco Kid: Eh, the Vols played a good game but it was never in the cards for Heupel. Kiffin came back to Neyland and wanted to put on a show and he did just that. UT could not stop Matt Corral in either the passing game or rushing. He ended up with 426 yards and two tuddies just by himself and there is no one on the Orange and White that can keep up with those numbers. While they tried their hardest, the Knoxville kids are still just kids playing in a grown man conference. Each week they make strides to better themselves but this will not be the year that Peyton’s alma mater regains glory. We all agreed on this one except the optimistic hammer who thought the past two games were indicative of a changing program. Can’t fault anyone for that thought.