The SEC season started off on the right note, save for a few minor (albeit expected) hiccups by Auburn and Kentucky. Overall, the conference went 9-2 against non-conference opponents, losing to last season’s ACC champion and No. 25 Louisville, which is expected to run away with the Big East title. Not bad.
No. 2 Alabama was the standard-bearer for the league, as it grounded and pounded and punched and dominated the No. 8 Michigan at Cowboys Stadium 41-14. South Carolina and Vanderbilt kicked off the conference – and college football – schedule with a grind-it-out affair that Fox on the Fifty witnessed firsthand and enjoyed, immensely. If a few plays broke the other way, we could have witnessed the first big upset of the season.
As it stands, all ranked SEC teams escaped the opening weekend intact.
That could change this week.
STATPACK
--Maybe next time. Alabama put up 41 points on the Wolverines in splendid fashion Saturday night, the second-most points the Crimson Tide has scored on a ranked opponent in the past 14 games. Nick Saban’s group put up 42 points on a terrible Auburn defense last season, one that finished 86th in scoring defense. Either Alabama’s offense is even more explosive (likely) or Michigan’s in for a long season on defense.
--You remember that Truman guy, right? Auburn lost to Clemson in back-to-back games for the first time since the 1950-51 seasons. New defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder has his hands full with that previously mentioned Tiger defense, one that gave up 528 total yards (320 rushing) to a No. 14 Clemson team that was missing its most explosive offensive player.
--Better than bottles. Tyler Bray got off to an even better start than most anticipated, lobbing up 333 passing yards on a hyped secondary. As I wrote last week, even without Da’Rick Rogers, I fully expect the Volunteers to post a top-20 passing offense this season. Right now, they are one of three SEC teams in that range, along with Arkansas (4th) and Ole Miss (14th).
--Bombs away. No. 3 LSU was not Mike Leach-esque in its opener, but new starting quarterback Zach Mettenberger did throw for 192 yards and a touchdown on 19-of-26 passing. The Tigers averaged just 155.1 yards through the air last season – good enough for just 11th-worst in the nation – which was the main impetus Les Miles’ squad was shutout in the BCS National Championship. After seeing Alabama, the Tigers might need to work on being as balanced as possible before Nov. 3.
-- Late night in the end zone. Ole Miss scored 21 fourth-quarter points to avoid an embarrassing debut for coach Hugh Freeze. The late scoring frenzy against Central Arkansas came just 20 points shy of the fourth-quarter points the Rebels scored the entire 2011 season.
GIVE THE MAN A HAND
Quarterbacks: Tyler Bray stood out among all SEC quarterbacks, picking N.C. State apart for two touchdowns and zero turnovers. Great start for the junior who has already garnered significant NFL interest. Golf claps: Tyler Wilson (Arkansas), Bo Wallace (Ole Miss), Aaron Murray (Georgia)
Running backs: Mike Gillislee might have been the only Florida player not to have pulled an all-nighter Friday night for all we know, but he certainly played the savior against Bowling Green. In what was a comically close game, Gillislee rushed for an SEC-leading 148 yards and two scores. Maybe the quarterback situation isn’t THAT important. Golf claps:Todd Gurley (Georgia), Marcus Lattimore (South Carolina)
Receivers/Tight ends: Tennessee’s Cordarrelle Patterson looked like the most explosive player in the conference Friday evening against the Wolfpack, and that might not be too far off-base. The junior college transfer posted 93 receiving yards and 72 rushing yards for two scores. Twice he left N.C. State All-American cornerback David Amerson grasping for air on his way to the end zone. Golf claps: Jordan Matthews (Vanderbilt), Jamal Mosley (Ole Miss), Emory Blake (Auburn)
Offensive line: Alabama. No other comment necessary. Get used to this. Golf claps: LSU, Mississippi State
Defenders: Corey Lemonier looked like an NFL defensive end in the Georgia Dome Saturday night, shedding Clemson’s offensive lineman to get after quarterback Tajh Boyd throughout the Chick-fil-A Kickoff. It is a credit to Boyd that Lemonier only sacked him twice in the game. The sophomores sack total lands him at 3rd on the national rankings through one game. Golf claps: Jarvis Jones, Eric Reid, Shaq Wilson, C.J. Mosley, Tennessee’s secondary, Jadeveon Clowney
PAYCHECK PROCURED
Nick Saban edges out Tennessee’s Derek Dooley for Coach of the Week honors, if only for the sheer nature of his team’s win. Neutral field. Top-10 opponent. Explosive playmaking quarterback (who Saban himself compared to Cam Newton). And still, Alabama walked away with a 27-point win, the worst loss in Michigan history for a season opener. When you give one of the country’s top coaching minds seven months to prepare, bad things happen.
ON TAP
Auburn at Mississippi State: This a huge opportunity for the Bulldogs, who looked strong in their season opener – even if it did come in a 56-9 win over Jackson State. Dan Mullen has a team he feels can challenge for a big-time bowl game and a win over the Tigers would put them a leg up in the SEC West and 2-0 to start the year. New Auburn starting quarterback Kiehl Frazier best beware, Mississippi State picked off and took two passes to the house in week one, so he won’t be able to lob passes up for grabs like he did on occasion against Clemson.
No. 23 Florida at Texas A&M: Kevin Sumlin and the Aggies actually opened as a 2.5-point favorite following the Gators Bowling Green/quarterback debacle this Saturday. The site of College Gameday, this is a pivotal conference opener for newcomer Texas A&M – beating a program with two national titles over the past seven seasons would be a statement.
Washington at No. 3 LSU: Danger, danger, danger. It would be simple to overlook the Huskies, after all, they did just squeak by San Diego State 21-12 in the conference opener. But Steve Sarkisian and his star quarterback Keith Price could easily have been looking ahead to the Tigers, no doubt wanting to avenge a 31-23 loss to LSU back in 2009. If Price gets on a roll (Eric Reid & Co., will have something to say about this, surely), renovated Tiger Stadium could be in for a close affair.
Vanderbilt at Northwestern: Here are two academic institutions that know how to play some football. The Commodores took No. 9 South Carolina to the wire in Nashville last week, while Northwestern should be riding a tsunami of positive emotion following its drama-filled win against Syracuse. A loss at this point could trigger doubts if Vanderbilt can, in fact, string together back-to-back bowl seasons.
No. 8 Georgia at Missouri: This is the biggest game on the SEC schedule, one with building stakes as coaches and players begin what looks to be a weeklong barrage of trash talk. The Bulldogs did not look overwhelming in their opener against Buffalo (likely emboldening one Tigers player) and will be missing numerous defensive starters against a dangerous Missouri offense. But can the Tigers stop Georgia’s youthful rushing attack with Gurley and Keith Marshall?
