SHANE SHACKLEFORD: My Top 10 Takes in SEC
The week that was in SEC football was interesting on so many levels. From a Top 5 team having their game canceled against a fun offensive juggernaut, an epic collapse of a traditional SEC blueblood, total destruction of an SEC up and comer at the hands of the Death Star, and everything in between, the conference and its fans have a lot to talk about around the virtual Thanksgiving table this year.
So let’s dig in, shall we?
The Texas A&M and Ole Miss game this past weekend was canceled due to Covid-19 issues. The Aggies are rolling under Jimbo Fisher with their only loss to top-ranked Alabama. The Rebels are the most fun offensive team in the SEC, but that defense, man.
Times are hard on Rocky Top after the collapse (again) at Auburn. After starting the season 2-0, the Vols are now 2-5 and have lost all five games by 10 points or more. The first time in program history, which goes back to 1891.
I had thought Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason would be the next SEC head coach to be let go behind South Carolina’s Will Muschamp, but now I’m leaning to UT coach Jeremy Pruitt. If the Vols lose to 0-7 Vandy Saturday (which is entirely possible), I don’t see how Pruitt survives in Knoxville.
Speaking of trouble in paradise, there was none in Tuscaloosa as the Alabama Crimson Tide gutted Kentucky 63-3. The loss is the third worse in UK history. The Cats missing 10 players didn’t help the cause, but the inability of the Cats passing the ball made the game almost too easy for Bama to dominate. The Tide defense played most of the game without a deep safety on the field.
It’s apparent to everyone that the Cats have to have some type of passing game that does more than screens, slants, and out patterns. You would be hard-pressed to remember the last throw a Wildcat quarterback made down the middle of the field deeper than 15 yards. Without the threat of passing, the running game and the offensive line will continue to face 7-9 defenders in the box to shut the run down.
After a 17-10 loss to Missouri, interim coach Mike Bobo effectively took himself out of the running for the Carolina job. Some top names for the position include Liberty coach Hugh Freeze, Oklahoma assistant head coach Shane Beamer, and Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell among others.
Mississippi State almost pulled off the shocker against Georgia in Athens before finally succumbing 31-24. However, the story of the game was the debut of JT Daniels of Georgia.. All the Southern Cal transfer did was go 28-38 for 401 yards and four touchdowns. Where has this guy been? If he plays from the beginning, the Dawgs could legitimately be undefeated and in the BCS hunt. MSU quarterback Will Rogers was also very good against a tough UGA defense going 41-52 for 336 yards and a touchdown.
LSU survived at Arkansas, scoring the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter to defeat the Razorbacks 27-24. The Tigers had 419 yards of total offense; the Hogs had 443. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman is the SEC Coach of the Year. The work he has done turning the program around in Fayetteville is almost hard to believe.
Florida overcame a sluggish start to defeat Vandy 38-17. Heisman candidate Kyle Trask threw for 383 yards and three scores, while true freshman Ken Sears came up with 319 yards passing of his own. Folks, Vanderbilt is improving, especially on offense. Their first win could be coming soon.
There are some awfully good matchups in the conference this Saturday. Let’s hope all the teams get to play.
Shane Shackleford is a regional sports columnist from Speedwell, Tenn. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter as well as the local media outlets The Corbin Times-Tribune, London Sentinel-Echo, A Sea of Blue, KySportsStyle.com Magazine, HarlanCountySports.com, and Wildcat Sports Talk.
