B&S Week 12 game-by-game recaps 2023
On paper, this was not the best week as far as big time matchups go. This is generally known around the SEC as cupcake week, given all the weak opponents on the schedule. Despite that, we still got some really good games between Florida and Mizzou, South Carolina and Kentucky. And at least the atmosphere was great in Knoxville for a couple of quarters before Georgia beat Tennessee into submission. Oh, and Auburn lost to New Mexico State by three touchdowns!
Let’s check in on how the crew fared through Week 12:
With one final regular season week remaining, not much can change in our season long pick contest. The Waco Kid is all but solidified in last for both categories. Bossman will take the crown for best against the spread, barring a complete disaster. Hammer and Bossman are still both vying for the straight up crown so bragging rights are on the line for that next week.
Let’s hit the recaps.
Bossman Slim: Tennessee shot out of the gate when Jaylin Wright took the first play from scrimmage 75-yards to the house. It was fun while it lasted, as the Vols would score three points the rest of the game and go scoreless in the second half. It was 24-10 at halftime and basically over. Carson Beck played at an elite level once again, posting nearly 300 yards passing and three TDs, while the Georgia rushing attack went for 150+ and a TD from Kendall Milton. And credit to the Georgia defense as well, who is as suffocating as any unit the Dawgs have had. After the 75-yard opening TD, the Dawgs would only give up 55 yards rushing the rest of the game. An absolutely dominating effort from the Georgia Bulldogs who are just surgically and methodically dismantling teams on their march to another playoff berth. They can’t overlook a pesky Georgia Tech team, but the real test comes on December 2nd against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Game.
Hammer: Poor Dolly Parton! She came to town to sing Rocky Top and had to witness this beat down. Given the direction both of these teams seemed to be trending, the result wasn't surprising but I know this won’t sit well with Vols fans, especially at home. Outside of the 75-yard TD run by Jaylen Wright on the first play of the game, Tennessee’s offense did absolutely nothing. They only had 277 total yards and just over 200 outside of that first play. Tough day for the Heupel offense as the Dawgs were ready and didn’t give them any room to operate. On the other side, Georgia’s offense continues to roll. Carson Beck is nails, man. He just delivers each week and he did so again this past Saturday to the tune of 24/30, 298 yards, and three touchdowns. Another clinical performance. His numbers are not good enough to be in the Heisman conversation, but Beck is playing really, really good football and this Georgia offense is humming under Mike Bobo. The clash between Georgia and Alabama in Atlanta should be phenomenal.
Next up for Georgia: @ Georgia Tech
Next up for Tennessee: vs. Vanderbilt
Bossman Slim: I thought this one would be close, but it was even closer than I expected! Missouri just keeps winning, but they had to have multiple things go their way and multiple heroes in this one to keep their hopes of a 10-2 season alive. Florida went up 31-30 with 1:36 to go in the 4th, putting Mizzou on the ropes. On the ensuing drive, Missouri faced 4th & 17 from their own 33 with 38 seconds to go. It looked like Florida would finish off the Tigers and lock up a huge upset, but Luther Burden had other ideas. Brady Cook connected with Burden for a 27-yard gain to move the chains and push into Florida territory. Five plays later, the Thicker Kicker, Harrison Mevis, kicked another game-winner with :09 left on the clock. Cody Schrader was a menace yet again, posting over 140 yards and a TD, while Brady Cook threw for over 300 yards for the fifth time this season. Florida found a way to lose yet again, and Billy Napier’s clock management is coming into question yet again. Other than losing, the worst part of this for Florida was losing Graham Mertz for the season with a broken collarbone.
Hammer: The Mizzou magic continues with another game-winning field goal with just seconds left from the “Thicker Kicker” aka Harrison Mevis. This was a valiant effort from Florida, who went into a tough road environment and pushed a good Mizzou team to the brink. Billy Napier’s team put up 500 yards of offense on the Tigers just a week after Tennessee only managed 350. The Gators gave Mizzou their best shot but came up just short. Tough season in Gainesville but perhaps the Gators can salvage it with a win this coming week over in-state rival Florida State. For Missouri, the offense played excellent yet again. Cody Schrader ran for 148 yards and a TD in another great game. Brady Cook threw for 331 yards and a touchdown, and Luther Burden was back in a big way, hauling in 9 catches for 158 yards. What Eli Drinkwitz and his new offensive coordinator Kirby Moore have done this season is nothing short of spectacular. With a New Year’s Six bowl possibly in the cards, Mizzou just needs to take care of business next weekend at Arkansas and they will finish at 10-2. Remarkable season in Columbia.
Next up for Missouri: @ Arkansas
Next up for Florida: vs. #4 Florida State
Bossman Slim: Another nail biter! First of all, what an atmosphere in Columbia. Even though the Gamecocks were 4-6 heading into this game, Cocks Nation still showed up, packed the place, and showed why Williams-Brice is revered as one of the best in-stadium experiences in the SEC. The place was rocking all night and included a live performance from the creator of Sandstorm himself, Darude. As for the game, Spencer Rattler-to-Xavier Legette remains one of the most lethal combinations in the conference. Rattler found Legette six times for 94 yards and two critical TDs. Credit to the Gamecocks defense as well, who have really tightened the screws since they gave up 28 to Jacksonville State two weeks ago. Devin Leary looked pedestrian once again and Ray Davis was only able to muster 61 yards on 12 carries and a TD, 31 of which came from one run. Really disappointing year in Lexington and it has Mark Stoops searching for answers. Good win for the Gamecocks who get a shot at a surging Clemson team next week at home. Barring a big surprise, Kentucky is likely to finish 6-6 with a loss next week to arch-rival Louisville, who is undefeated and in the top 10.
Hammer: Forget, “Cocktober” these Gamecocks didn't wake up until November. Don’t look now, but South Carolina has won three games in a row and they are 3-2 since Shane Beamer broke his foot kicking a Gatorade cooler after losing to Florida. With this game being at Williams-Brice, I picked South Carolina to win but did not expect the defensive struggle that we saw. I thought both teams would move the ball better than they did. I typically don’t do this in our recaps and question play calling, but I did find it odd that in a close game like this Ray Davis only got 12 carries, especially when the passing game was as ineffective as it was. South Carolina has one of the worst secondaries in the country statistically, but Devin Leary only managed 171 yards passing on 17/34 attempts with one TD and one pick. That flat-out isn't good enough to win ball games on the road in this conference and Kentucky found that out. Simply put, South Carolina had the better QB and they won the game because of that. Rattler didn't light the world on fire, but he went 19/27 for 207 yards and two touchdowns. And perhaps most importantly, no turnovers. Rattler’s performance is even more impressive when you look at the Gamecocks run game, which only managed 50 yards on 33 attempts. The entire offense was on Rattler’s arm, and they didn't light up the scoreboard but he did enough. Good win for South Carolina who needs to beat Clemson this weekend to get to six wins and make a bowl. Would be a strong finish to the season if they can pull it off. Meanwhile, Kentucky can play spoiler against in-state rival Louisville to close the season.
Next up for South Carolina: vs. Clemson
Next up for Kentucky: @ #10 Louisville
Bossman Slim: We didn’t pick this game, but we have to talk about it. What on earth? One week after going sicko mode on Arkansas, the Auburn Tigers got caught looking ahead to Alabama and forgot they had to play a home game against the Jerry Killers. The Tigers got outworked in every phase of the game. They only scored three points in the second half! NMSU nearly doubled Auburn’s time of possession! It’s an inexcusable loss that comes at the worst time for a team with Alabama next on the schedule. Can crazy things happen in the Iron Bowl? Yes. But that was just unbelievable to watch and see how listless Auburn looked before a huge showdown with their archrival. Have some pride!
Hammer: This is one of the wildest results I can remember. Not simply that New Mexico State won as a 25-point underdog, but that they won by three touchdowns!! Simply stunning, especially after Auburn looked like they had kind of figured a few things out? Clearly, they have not but man oh man, this was unexpected and very bad. Like very, very bad for Auburn. Yes, New Mexico State is a solid team and Jerry Kill has done a spectacular job there. But this is Auburn at Jordan-Hare. Losing by three touchdowns to the Aggies from Las Cruces, NM is flat-out embarrassing. Lots of soul-searching must be done on The Plains after that nonsense.
Next up for Auburn: @ Arkansas
Next up for Vanderbilt: @ South Carolina