SEC Wrap-Up: How Southeastern Conference teams fared in Week Three

OXFORD, Miss. —  For a few SEC teams, this weekend seemed a little bit like the movie The Hangover.  But after some big wins a week ago, no one could blame those conference teams if they had celebrated a bit once those victories were in the books.

Instead, most of the league found their versions of the hair of the dog to right themselves, but a couple of teams looked a little punch drunk. 

NO. 1 ALABAMA 31, NO. 11 FLORIDA 29 

Yes, Gators, extra points count. Yes, Bama, after going up by 18 points, the other team can keep playing.

This was a game that showed Alabama’s Bryce Young is a freshman and Florida’s Emory Jones has not played much up to this point. The two quarterbacks did combine for 435 yards passing, three touchdowns and only one interception, but these two did not look like they were the quarterbacks of the top-ranked and the 11^th-ranked teams. The Tide gets to handle its hangover by welcoming Southern Miss, while UF gets Tennessee at home. Have a cold one Bama, you got away with one. 

NO. 7 TEXAS A&M 34, NEW MEXICO 0 

Speaking of hangovers, Texas A&M was able to get rid of the memory of last week’s near loss to Colorado by having its way with the Lobos.

In his first start at quarterback, Zach Calzada threw for 275 yards, Isaiah Spiller ran for 117 and Demond Demas’ two catches went for 100 yards. So, it is safe to say the Aggies will be clear-headed heading into next week’s game against Arkansas. 

NO. 20 ARKANSAS 45, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 10

Speaking of Arkansas, the celebration after last week’s win over Texas must have ended in time for the Hogs to get ready for Georgia Southern’s run-heavy offense. The Razorbacks outgained GSU by over 100 yards on the ground and added another 366 in the air from quarterback K.J. Jefferson. Four Razorbacks had at least six tackles in the win. 

KENTUCKY 28, CHATTANOOGA 23 

Kentucky must’ve misplaced its hangover cure as the Wildcats had to white-knuckle it in a close win over Chattanooga. Will Levis was able to regain his wits enough to throw for 252 yards and a pair of touchdowns. WanDale Robinson caught eight of those passes for 111 yards. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, Chris Rodriguez, Jr., staggered for only 46 yards for UK. 

MISSOURI 59, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE 28 

After Mizzou fell to Kentucky last week, the Tigers seemed to find their supply of Pepto to show no ill-effects in an easy win over its Show-Me-State brothers.

Conner Bazelak threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns while seven Tigers combined for 235 on the ground. SEMO was held scoreless in the first half but scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to make the score more respectable. 

MEMPHIS 31, MISSISSIPPI STATE 29 

After wins over Louisiana Tech and North Carolina State to start the year, Mississippi State found itself waking up on its back porch wondering what happened.

The flashback was not a good memory as Memphis outlasted the Bulldogs in the Liberty Bowl. At the end of the third quarter, State held a 17-14 lead but surrendered 17 points in the fourth quarter to drop its first game of the year.  

TENNESSEE 56, TENNESSEE TECH 0 

Tennessee got the healthiest this week with a huge win over their FCS little brothers from Tennessee Tech. Most of the Volunteers got in on this after party as 11 guys in orange caught passes in the game.

Herndon Hooker had himself a double shot as he led the Vols with 199 yards passing and another 64 to pace UT. The Golden Eagles were limited to just 35 yards rushing. 

NO. 2 GEORGIA 40, SOUTH CAROLINA 13 

Carolina coach Shane Beamer had his two-drink minimum in his first two victories, but Saturday he had too much of Mr. Daniels. Georgia quarterback J.T. Daniels came back from an injury and threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns.

The Gamecocks were shut out in the second and third quarters as UGA was able to put 26 points on the board during that time to ice the game. 

LSU 49, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 21 

Whatever the beverage of choice was on the bayou, it hit the spot. This game is what LSU needed before bellying up to the SEC bar. The Tigers are about to get seven straight conference games, so a few shots on the tab of a bunch of Yankees was on tap Saturday.

Max Johnson threw for 372 yards and five touchdowns in the last Happy Hour before Louisiana-Monroe visits Baton Rouge in late November 

STANFORD 41, VANDERBILT 23 

At the beginning of their night together in downtown Nashville, Stanford and Vandy took turns buying the shots until it was 14-14. After that, the Cardinal went for the top-shelf stuff while the Commodores had that cheap stuff we all had to settle for in high school.

Now Vanderbilt gets a taste of what the SEC is serving. 

NO. 10 PENN STATE 28, NO. 22 AUBURN 20 

It was a “White Our” in Happy Valley, but a black-out drunk play cost the Tigers a chance to win. Opening the third quarter, Auburn reached into its bag of tricks, but instead of a treat, the Tigers fumbled the ball away deep in their own territory. The Nittany Lions took over and quickly scored what would be the eventual game-winner.

Former Vanderbilt coach finally found out what it is like to play an SEC team with a roster of players of equal ability. 

NO. 17 OLE MISS 61, TULANE 21

In the SEC nightcap, Ole Miss got drunk on stats. The Rebels racked up 707 yards and set a school record by gaining 41 first downs. Matt Corral tied a school record by being responsible for seven touchdowns (four rushing, three passing.) And the Rebels did not do this against a no-name team. In week one, Tulane took Oklahoma down to the final possession in a 40-35 loss to the Sooners. Cheers!