SEC Football Four Downs: Wrapping Up Week 5

Some SEC football quick hitters as we look back on week five of the season:

More from SEC News

First Down: Texas A&M certainly dodged a bullet, didn’t they? Credit to

Kenny Hill

(Kenny Trill?) and the Aggies for getting it done when it mattered and holding off an upset-minded Arkansas. I don’t think that A&M will be able to run down the big guns in the SEC West like Auburn and Alabama, but as the old saying goes, good teams find ways to win. (Looks like the same couldn’t be said for the team in garnet and white this past weekend.)

Second Down: After putting up 34 a week ago against South Carolina at home, Vanderbilt managed just seven in a loss to Kentucky. What does that say about Kentucky’s defense? (What does that say about South Carolina’s defense?) Vandy’s just not a very good team and a group that the Gamecocks should have had no trouble with whatsoever. Nonetheless, the game against the Wildcats should be a win—I think…

Third Down: Looks like Tennessee might be a lot closer than we all think after taking Georgia down to the wire. Could The Vols be the spoiler to some teams’ SEC East hopes down the stretch? (Looking Missouri’s way, which can take one division loss and still make it to Atlanta.)

Fourth Down: SEC game of the week next week–Alabama at Ole Miss. has only allowed 8.5 points a game (3rd in FBS)…against Boise State, Vandy, Louisiana-Lafayette and Memphis. Their first true test of the season comes against Alabama at home, who’s putting up 42 a game. (Again, mostly against lesser opponents in Florida Atlantic, Southern Miss and Florida, but Saturday’s result will tell us a lot about both teams).

Extra Point: Remember that 18-game winning streak the Gamecocks had at Williams-Brice before A&M beat them? They’ve now lost two games at home this season. The last time that happened: 2008 (24-7 to Vandy on September 4 and by the same score to LSU on October 18).

Home/SEC News