Published September 16, 2012 - 9:45am
NEW: Discuss this topic in the Google+ community for SEC fans.
Here’s a quick recap of all week three games and performances that stood out:
Auburn 31, ULM 28
- It wasn’t pretty but Auburn got the win in overtime with a field goal
- Kiehl Frazier started off strong in the first half, but he didn’t finish the game too well. He was 10 of 18 for 130 yards and one touchdown, with one INT.
- Frazier’s Hail Mary just before halftime proved to be the difference
- ULM had over 400 yards of total offense on Tigers’ defense
- Auburn committed two turnovers, but still found a way to win the game
- Credit the players and coaches for not quitting
- Onterio McCalebb carried 11 times for 128 yards and one touchdown
- Corey Lemonier was a terror off the edge and was a difference-maker in the second half
- Auburn has to learn how to finish games. They were up 28-14 and never could put it away in the second half.
- With LSU coming to town next, Auburn needed this win in the worst way
- QB Kiel Frazier needs to become more than a game manager if the Tigers are going to do anything the rest of the season in the SEC
Vanderbilt 58, Presbyterian 0
- It was all Vandy from the get-go
- RB Zac Stacy racked up 174 yards rushing with one touchdown
- Freshman RB Brian Kimbrow carried 14 times for 137 yards and one touchdown
- QB Austyn Carta-Samuels started in place of Jordan Rodgers and was 13 of 20 for 195 yards and one TD
- Vandy’s defense only gave up 149 total yards all game
- Vandy showing some life on offense heading into Georgia next week
#1 Alabama 52, Arkansas 0
- Bama exerted their will against a beaten down and abused Hogs’ team
- Without Tyler Wilson, the Hogs posed no offensive threat all day
- Arkansas self-imploded, committing five turnovers
- Bama’s defense held Arkansas to 137 yards total, with 58 rushing yards
- The Alabama running game racked up 225 yards on the ground with six rushing touchdowns
- AJ McCarron threw for 189 yards and one touchdown, but he didn’t have to do much at all
- This marks Alabama’s second straight shut out, with last week’s coming against WKU
- Wilson criticized his teammates after the loss saying they “quit”
- Is there any doubt Bama is the most dominant team in the country?
#18 Florida 37, #23 Tennessee 20
- Tennessee had the lead at halftime 14-10, but it was all Florida in the second half
- The Gators scored the final 24 points and really exerted their will in the second half
- Gators’ QB Jeff Driskel was as cool as the other side of the pillow under pressure. He finished 14 of 20 for 219 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran eight times for 81 yards.
- Florida’s two big plays – Trey Burtons 80-yard TD run and Frankie Hammond’s 75-yard TD catch – were the big plays Florida hasn’t had this year yet
- Florida racked up 555 yards of total offense, compared to 340 of Tennessee
- Florida also rushed for 336 yards compared to the Vols’ 83
- The best rushing team has won the last 21 of 23 games, and that was the main takeaway of the night
- The biggest takeaways from this game are that Florida’s team is buying into Will Muschamp, and that Tennessee folds when it hits adversity
Texas A&M 48, SMU 3
- QB Johnny Manziel took over this game. He finished 20 of 36 for 294 yards and four TDs through the air. He also rushed 13 times for 124 yards and two TDs. Six total touchdowns isn’t a bad day.
- Aggies rolled up 605 total yards of offense, with 380 of them coming through the air
- Texas A&M is better than what people think, now that Manziel has some experience
- This team will be tough to beat moving forward if they develop a better running attack with their running backs.
- Star RB Christine Michael was suspended for the SMU game for unknown reasons
Missouri 24, Arizona State 20
- QB James Franklin did not play in the game because of a right shoulder injury, the same shoulder he had surgery on in the spring
- Backup QB Corbin Berkstresser completed 21 of 41 for 198 yards and played good in Franklin’s absence
- Mizzou’s defense forced four turnovers, and it was the difference in the game. The defense stepped up at the biggest time.
- RB Kendial Lawrence carried 16 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns
- This was a big win for Missouri, after losing last week. It gets some momentum back on their side.
#8 South Carolina 49, UAB 6
- Steve Spurrier picked up his 200th collegiate career win
- Connor Shaw started the game and reinjured his right shoulder. He finished 8 of 14 for 107 yards before getting hurt. His status for next week is largely unknown.
- Backup Dylan Thompson played well again filling in for Shaw, connecting on 5 of 10 passes for 177 yards and two TDs
- RB Marcus Lattimore had 12 carries for 85 yards and one TD
- Gamecocks’ defense stepped up on run defense, keeping UAB to just 27 yards on the ground
- It looks like Thompson will be starting in SC’s second conference game against Missouri, unless Shaw can recover quickly
Mississippi State 30, Troy 24
- MSU is off to first 3-0 start since since 1999 and has now won 13 consecutive non-conference games
- Tyler Russell shined again, throwing for 244 yards and three TDs
- WR Chad Bumphis is starting to breakout of his shell as a senior. He caught six passes for 180 yards and all three TDs. He’s been big all season so far.
- RB LaDarius Perkins carried 23 times for 179 yards and one TD
- MSU’s defense forced four turnovers
- MSU should start 4-0, as they face South Alabama next week
#7 Georgia 56, FAU 20
- Aaron Murray had a career night, throwing for 342 yards and two touchdowns
- Georgia’s offense racked up over 700 yards of offense, a school record
- RB Todd Gurley carried 10 times for 111 yards and one TD
- RB Keith Marshall carried 10 times for 104 yards and one TD
- However, Georgia committed four turnovers. That has to get cleaned up before next week against Vanderbilt.
- LB Jarvis Jones sat out with an injury
#3 LSU 63, Idaho 14
- LSU has now won an NCAA FBS record 40th-straight non-conference regular season games
- LSU safety Ronald Martin had two INTs, with one returned for a TD
- LSU’s defense forced four total interceptions on the night, and two of them were returned for TDs
- QB Zach Mettenberger was 17 of 22 for 222 yards and two TDs, and he played much better and was more efficiently on the night
- RB Kenny Hilliard rushed 11 times for 116 yards and two TDs
- Tigers’ RBs combined for five rushing touchdowns
- Tigers’ defense held Idaho to 213 total yards, with only 39 rushing yards
- LSU looks really ready for a date against Auburn next week
#14 Texas 66, Ole Miss 31
- You have to credit Ole Miss for fighting and never giving up
- The air in Oxford was electric before and during this game
- Texas racked up 676 total yards on offense, compared to Ole Miss’ 399
- QB Bo Wallace was held in check for most of the night, as the Longhorns forced three INTs
- Ole Miss’ defense simply couldn’t match Texas’ prolific offense. The Longhorns scored on seven straight possessions at one point.
- It was obvious that Texas was just the bigger and better team early in the game
- No harm done for Ole Miss, as this was expected. They still scored 31 points on arguably the top defense in the Big 12.
- The Rebels have to bounce back this week with a road trip to Tulane

Florida played exactly the way they needed to to beat Tennessee. The passing game is really the only weapon that Tennessee has, and they are going to beat a few teams with it this season. The wide receivers get down field quickly and Tyler Bray has a nice arm. However, when you have to rely on the pass that much it will be hard to win, especially if the opposing defensive backs can catch. Florida did a poor job of catching interceptions early and they gave up some big passing plays, but they didn’t allow those plays to go for touchdowns. The offense did a decent job of keeping the Tennessee offense off the field.
Bray/Hunter/Patterson is going to make some plays. They’re very talented. But overall, Florida was all over the WRs and the coverage was great. On the plays that the Vols made, it’s because those guys are all potential NFL players. Once Bray started getting hit around a bit, the game was over.
Bray is a younger Jay Cutler – similar strengths and weaknesses.
I like the way things are shaping up this year. I believe Georgia has an opportunity to sweep the schedule if they hunker down and get after it. Looking like Florida will be the next big team to beat in the east but who wasnt guessing that? They always give us a good game and I think both teams will bring all they can when the time comes. Vandy will be a good game because Franklin will have them fired up. I think South Carolina is over rated just like they were last year and after seeing Florida beat UT last night, I dont believe we are going to have many problems out of them especially since they are coming to Athens to play. Auburn has already proven how tough of competition they are gonna be this year….. I really dont think we can beat them…..
I still have Tennessee on the bubble. Don’t count them out yet, I really think they could easily win 8, maybe 9, games this year. Florida-Georgia is shaping up to be one of the best of all time. And then there is triple-option GA Tech. Always tricky to defend. Georgia still has a couple hurdles left.
No doubt there, if anything I think all of us Georgia fans are rather humble when it comes to our analysis of other teams lol. If we arent, we should be because we have certainly lost our fair share of games we should have won. I’m not taking anything back from UT or Scar but I just have this feeling they are on the decline for their seasons. If Dooley and the other leaders can get UT fired up, I think we will have a good ball game. If they take the loss and dont get motivated I dont think we will have any trouble. South Carolina is just a weird team to me. I dont understand how they win ball games sometimes. It just looks ugly watching them play. Thats just my opinion. Tech looks like they may give us a good run for our money for the first time in a while. However, like I said, we have the opportunity to have whatever kind of season the guys want to have.
I agree with South Carolina. Dylan Thompson looks strong, but I need to see him against a real defense for an entire game. T
Carolina was overrated last year? Solid enough to beat you Georgia boys! I’m not going to sit here and say that we’re top 5 team..yet. What I will say is that our Defense looks just as good as anyone if not better than anyone in the SEC, and I think Dylan Thompson will be the new QB for South Carolina, and knowing the guy I think he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve.
I can’t wait for you Bulldogs to show up in a few weeks, it’s gonna be a good one. And don’t get it twisted the race for the SEC is still all up in the air!
Really? Last season, South Carolina struggled against East Carolina, UGA Navy, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Florida, and Citadel. Besides UGA still won the East.
A win is a win. Who cares? UGA won the SEC east because they had the easiest schedule, and that might happen again this year. Doesn’t mean they are the best team.
They shouldn’t have even beat Georgia last year. Our offense lit them up and if you take away the points from the defensive touchdowns or turnovers in the redzone our D did a pretty good job as well. Turnovers make or break a game though and it just so happened they weren’t in Georgias favor last year. Shaw shouldn’t give Georgia any problems since they handled James Franklin pretty well (who is a better dual threat, he can actually pass) and I’m not sold on Dylan Thompson being solid. He choked when he was put in against Vandy but came back strong against ECU and UAB but again…..it was against ECU and UAB that he put up decent numbers. I still expect it to be a good game though and it will more than likely be close like alot of the others. Go Dawgs.
Oh and Atl gamecock, you can chalk up a loss to LSU but theres no way you should lose to Arkansas this year. If Carolina can handle business and only take a loss from LSU they can control their own destiny. If not they can’t blame anyone but themselves. If yall wouldn’t have lost to a weak Auburn last year yall would have been in Atlanta. Not Georgias fault yall didn’t win that game.
They better sweep – it is the softest schedule in the SEC…
@Atlgamecock we had an easier schedule? What do you call East Carolina, Navy, and Citadel? Boise State, New Mexico State, and Coastal Carolina are as good or better than (with the except of Coastal Carolina who is better than Citadel) than each of those teams.
South Carolina has struggled to protect Conner Shaw, and the only time that Dylan Thompson faced an actual SEC defense, he looked awful. Marcus Lattimore is still not at 100% (granted he is at like 80%). South Carolina has no consistent deep threat.
Georgia ‘s offense is far and away better than South Carolina. Right now, South Carolina has looked stronger on defense, but that can be attributed to playing Vanderbilt, East Carolina, and UAB.
“I think South Carolina is over rated just like they were last year and after seeing Florida beat UT last night, I dont believe we are going to have many problems out of them especially since they are coming to Athens to play.” Who is coming to Athens to play? UF and UGA play in Jacksonville every year and UGA plays at USC this year. So neither games will be in Athens.
obviously the guy was talking about UT, not USC or UF.
Alabama is the top team in the country. Who the heck is #2? It doesn’t matter at this point, we’ll see how it shakes out.
As far as I’m concerned, the SEC will come down to Alabama/LSU and Florida/Georgia. Both will be great games. Also, Florida/LSU will indeed have an impact on the SEC. Georgia has an easier path than Florida.
The Vols have a serious leadership problem. This comes from Bray and Dooley. Dooley is ultimately accountable. They can’t overcome any adversity. The Gators showed how they can overcome a terrible first half last week in College Station. Tennessee right now is the opposite. Bray’s body language is awful when things go wrong and Dooley is incapable of adjusting and getting his team back in the game. I like Dooley, but he’ll be gone within a year or two.
I enjoyed watching Florida/Tennessee. Will Muschamp is showing that his team is taking on his personality of toughness. Of course, I credit the fact that Muschamp played at UGA with all of his success.
I would have liked to have watched the game but I was on my way to Athens after work to catch our game. I got to see the ending on the jumbotron. Depressed me seeing UF win, was really pulling for the Vols in that one.
Even though Muschamp is from my hometown dont think I can ever pull for him in anything. Once you put on the Florida colors I just cant like ya lol.
haha ^like.
Mississippi State baby! We will start 7-0.