SEC Football: So Who Wants to Win the SEC East?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Nov 12, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Josh Smith (25) celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas A&M football team hosted the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday night, but there was plenty of SEC football action elsewhere too.

12:00 ET

Mississippi State 3 – Alabama 51

If the Bulldogs were ever going to have a chance to upset the Crimson Tide on the road they were going to have to come out swinging. Mississippi State was able to drive the ball into Alabama territory twice in the first quarter, but the results were less than ideal: a missed field goal and a turnover on downs.

Ardarious Stewart busted a sweep past the front seven for a 67 yard touchdown to put Alabama up 17-0. Mississippi State’s answering drive ended in yet another incomplete pass on fourth down. Any momentum that the Bulldogs were carrying from last week came to a swift end in Tuscaloosa.

Mississippi State drops to 4-6 (2-4 SEC) and will hosts Arkansas next weekend while Alabama stays perfect at 10-0 (7-0 SEC) and will invite Chattanooga to Tuscaloosa next Saturday.

South Carolina 7 – Florida 20

With Will Muschamp’s team still in the running for first place in the SEC East, the Gamecocks laid an egg against the Gators. The game was sloppy with the teams combining for five turnovers. South Carolina’s first half drives ended as follows: punt, punt, punt, punt, fumble, punt, end of half.

After making some noise with wins over Tennessee and Missouri to start the month the Gamecocks came out flat in the Swamp. Muschamp hasn’t turned the corner, but you can be certain he’s still yelling at somebody.

South Carolina falls to .500 at 5-5 (3-5 SEC) and will look to bounce back next weekend against Western Carolina. The Florida Gators improve their record to 7-2 (5-2 SEC) and will travel to LSU to make up the game delayed by Hurricane Matthew. Florida can lock up the SEC East with a victory.

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Kentucky 36 – Tennessee 49

The most exciting game on Saturday morning took place in Knoxville. For the better part of the game the two teams traded punches with neither team leading by more than one score through the end of the first half. Ultimately it would be the Wildcats’ inability to convert red zone opportunities into touchdown that would decide the game.

Josh Dobbs had a strong showing, tossing three touchdown passes and rushing for two more scores. Tennessee jumped out to its largest lead of the game after a flea-flicker fooled the Kentucky defense and resulted in a 51 yard touchdown pass. Alvin Kamara would add 14 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

After a 4-2 start in conference, Kentucky drops to 5-5 (4-4 SEC). The Wildcats host Austin Peay next weekend. Tennessee keeps their hopes alive in the SEC East race and improves to 7-3 (3-3 SEC). Next weekend they welcome the Missouri Tigers to Knoxville.

Nov 12, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Maurice Smith (2) runs past Auburn Tigers receiver Will Hastings (33) after intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Auburn 13-7. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

2:30 ET

No. 9 Auburn 7 – Georgia 13

The offense of the Auburn Tigers did not show up to Athens, Georgia. After the dust had settled, Auburn managed 164 total yards and was 2-12 on third down conversions. They did not converst a single third down in the second half. A first quarter touchdown from Kerryon Johnson started the game, but it would be all Georgia for the final three quarters.

Auburn, now 7-3 (5-2 SEC), shouldn’t have a problem with Alabama A&M next weekend, but their playoff hopes are likely done. Georgia goes to 6-4 (4-4 SEC) with the win and will stay at home next weekend to play Louisiana-Lafayette.

Vanderbilt 17 – Missouri 26

The Missouri Tigers picked up their first conference win of the season. Missouri jumped out to a 19 point lead after quarterback Drew Lock hit a wide open J’mon Moore for an 82 yard touchdown.

They were able to ride the legs of Damarea Crockett for the rest of the game. The freshman running back carried the ball 20 times for 154 yards and a touchdown. The Vanderbilt defense came to play, but it was the offense that killed them on Saturday. Quarterback Kyle Shurmur was 17 of 29 for 252 yards and two interceptions. He had a 14.1 QBR.

Vanderbilt falls to 5-5 (1-5 SEC) and has a home game against Ole Miss and Shea Patterson next weekend. Missouri 3-7 (1-5 SEC) will travel to Tennessee.

Nov 12, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; LSU Tigers guard Josh Boutte (76) and LSU Tigers linebacker Donnie Alexander (48) carry The Boot trophy after defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks 38-10 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. LSU won 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

6:00 ET

No. 24 LSU 38 – No. 25 Arkansas 10

Bret Bielema has had some slow starts at Arkansas but he always finds a way to finish strong. Coming into Saturday, Bilema’s Razorbacks were 6-3 in the month of November over their last 9 games. Five of those six wins came against top 25 teams.

That history didn’t seem to matter much to Derrius Guice and Leonard Fournette. Those two are arguably the best backfield duo in the SEC.

Guice had 21 carries for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 96 yard sprint to cap off the game in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Fournette ran the ball 17 times for 98 yards and 3 touchdowns.

On the other side of the ball Austin Allen posted a 6.4 QBR with less than 50 percent completions and two interceptions to just one touchdown.

LSU, 6-3 (4-2 SEC), will host Florida, rather than travel to the Swamp like the schedule dictated before Hurricane Matthew. Arkansas can’t keep the November magic going and their record slides to 6-4 (2-4 SEC) They will travel to Mississippi State next Saturday.

***Stats from ESPN, SECsports ***