There are a plenty of high grades, but what else would you expect after a weekend in which Alabama, Mississippi State and Florida remained undefeated and LSU and South Carolina played perhaps the SEC’s top game so far this year.
Those strong efforts were rewarded when the first BCS poll was released.
Alabama was No. 1, followed by Florida at No. 2, LSU at sixth, South Carolina at seventh, Georgia at 11th and Mississippi State at 12th.
Here is this week’s report card:
Alabama – Grade: A. Alabama didn’t play its best game of the season in weather more fitting for aquatic mammals, but still had a season-high 533 yards. The Tide also held Missouri to 3 yards rushing and both Eddie Lacy (177) and T.J. Yeldon (144) rushed for more than 100 yards. “That is maybe the best team I have ever seen,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said.
Arkansas – Grade: A-. The Razorbacks might have played their best all-around game of the season, but then again, the opponent was Kentucky, which is 0-4 in the SEC. Arkansas scored on its first play and rolled up 533 yards even though the game ended with 5:08 left in the third quarter. “It was good to see us get back on track,” RB Knile Davis said.
Auburn – Grade: D-. Two stats stand out: Auburn (1-5, 0-4) has lost six consecutive SEC games; the Tigers have been outscored 62-3 in the fourth quarter during that stretch. Auburn has problems at QB, where Clint Moseley and Kiehl Frazier have both struggled. Time could be running out on coach Gene Chizik, who is 7-13 in SEC without Cam Newton, 8-0 with him.
Florida – Grade: B. The Gators looked like they might leave the Music City on a down note, but QB Jeff Driskel proved he’s faster than most of Vanderbilt’s defense on a 70-yard TD run. The win wasn’t impressive, but Florida’s season made an impression on the BCS computers. They are No. 2 behind Alabama in the initial rankings. That could change when the Gators host South Carolina on Saturday.
Georgia – Did not play.
Kentucky – Grade: F. The lightning bolts that flashed above Fayetteville, Ark., might have been the best thing to happen to Kentucky this season. The foul weather stopped the game with 5:08 left in the third quarter, saving the Wildcats the indignity of watching Arkansas run up the score. At least the basketball team had its annual Midnight Madness.
LSU – Grade: B+. LSU bounced back huge by knocking off South Carolina in Death Valley. It wasn’t a perfect game for the Tigers, but they went returned to their running ways and bludgeoned the Gamecocks with their running backs in the fourth quarter to enter this week’s game against Texas A&M on a high. “Tonight, I realized why LSU was preseason No. 1,” South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said.
Mississippi – Grade: A. Most of the grade was earned because the Rebels snapped a 16-game SEC losing streak that extended back to October 2010. They beat Auburn for the first time in three years and have a winnable game at Arkansas on Oct. 27. Jeff Scott is becoming one of the top backs on the SEC.
Mississippi State – Grade: A-. With eight consecutive wins – the third-longest streak behind Alabama (10) and Oregon (nine) and at 6-0 for the fourth time in the history of the program, the Bulldogs need to beat Middle Tennessee to stay undefeated heading into the Crimson Tide game on Oct. 27. Tyler Russell is gaining confidence weekly and has 12 TDs and only one interception.
Missouri – Grade: D. Rain and lightning was Missouri’s best friends on Saturday, with a 38-minute delay slowing Alabama’s momentum after jumping out to a 27-0 lead. The Tigers offered little resistance and little offensive life behind backup QB Corbin Berkstresser. Welcome to the SEC. The Tigers (3-4) dropped to 0-4 in the league.
South Carolina – Grade: B. The Gamecocks couldn’t stop LSU’s running game and then couldn’t rally in time to stay undefeated. South Carolina will need to get Marcus Lattimore untracked against Florida on Saturday after he had just 35 yards on 13 carries. QB Connor Shaw needs his help to win games, especially against the Gators.
Tennessee – Grade: C-. It’s not looking any prettier for Derek Dooley at Tennessee, which is 1-10 in its past 11 SEC games. Tyler Bray threw two TD passes at Mississippi State, but wasn’t efficient, and the defense still can’t stop anybody. Eight of Mississippi State’s first 19 plays went for 10 or more yards. Don’t look, but Alabama and South Carolina are next on the menu.
Texas A&M – Grade: B. Texas A&M’s Big 12 mentality -- we’re going to outscore you – is working for the time being, but the Aggies will host LSU on Saturday and still have to play at Alabama on Nov. 10, so Johnny Manziel’s numbers might suffer the second half of the season. Then again, maybe not.
Vanderbilt – Grade: C+. Vanderbilt was poised for the upset, but then Florida QB Jeff Driskell took over the game. Jordan Rodgers played his best game of the year with 276 yards and a score and Vanderbilt dominated third downs, but didn’t have an answer for Driskell, who ruined the Commodores’ first sell out since 2008.
