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SEC Recap: What we learned about every SEC West team in Week 10
By Ethan Levine
Published:
Here’s what we learned about every SEC West team following Week 10 action.
RELATED: AP Poll | Coaches’ Poll
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Week 10 result: Bye
What we learned: Alabama was off last week, so we didn’t learn much about the Tide as the rest of the SEC West beat up on itself on Saturday. We were reminded, however, that Alabama is going to be a factor in the SEC West race and the hunt for a playoff spot come season’s end. The Tide is now one of only three SEC teams with one loss or fewer, and it has games remaining against both of the other two — Mississippi State and Auburn — meaning it will control its destiny in trying to win the West Division title. Considering Nick Saban’s consistent success in Tuscaloosa, we shouldn’t be surprised.
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
Week 10 result: Lost to Mississippi State 17-10
What we learned: Arkansas taught us it has the talent to win games in the SEC West, but not the polish and discipline of a winning team. The Razorbacks played relatively even with No. 1 Mississippi State for most of Saturday’s contest, but they lost on the four or five plays that ultimately decide any close game in the SEC. That’s been Arkansas’ story all season, and it remains true after Week 10. The Hogs are the perfect example of just how hard it is to win in the SEC, and they continue to teach us how grueling the SEC West schedule really is.
AUBURN TIGERS
Week 10 result: Defeated Ole Miss 35-31
What we learned: Auburn taught us it still has a little magic left over from last season, and it may help the Tigers repeat as SEC champions come season’s end. Auburn benefitted from two Ole Miss fumbles inside the 5 yard line on the Rebels’ final two possessions, allowing the Tigers to hold on to a four-point win. The Tigers did force those fumbles and they deserve credit for doing so, but they were also fortunate those balls came lose and were recovered by Auburn defenders. Auburn benefitted from similar fortunate bounces of the ball during last season’s run to the national championship game, and the same may be happening this season as well. The Tigers are certainly good enough to win a national title, and with a little luck on their side they might just finish what they started a year ago.
LSU TIGERS
Week 10 results: Bye
What we learned: LSU, like Alabama, was on a bye in Week 10, so we didn’t learn much about the Bayou Bengals during their week off. The Tigers are among the best two-loss teams in America, and although their hopes of reaching the four-team playoff this winter appear slim, they can still help decide who wins the West this season. We’ll learn much more about LSU next week when it takes on Alabama in one of the SEC’s best rivalries during the last five years. The Tigers are stuck playing spoiler the rest of this season, but who better to spoil than the almighty Crimson Tide.
MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
Week 10 results: Defeated Arkansas 17-10
What we learned: We learned this Bulldogs team is capable of winning any style of game, be it high-scoring, low-scoring, tight until the end or a blowout from the start. The Bulldogs had cruised to a 6-0 start, but they’ve battled through close games the last two weeks to remain unbeaten in 2014. Dak Prescott played on a bum ankle and Josh Robinson had his worst rushing output of the year, yet MSU still managed to take down a tough Arkansas squad thanks to its defense and a career day through the air for Prescott (he threw for 300 yards for the first time as a collegiate in the win). Players like Fred Ross came out of nowhere to have a major impact, and MSU continues to prove to us it is the most complete team in the SEC. Mississippi State may not win it all, but it’s certainly on the short list of contenders. The Bulldogs are far better than Arkansas, but surviving a scare from the Hogs showed this team is never out of a game, no matter how shaky it looks.
OLE MISS REBELS
Week 10 results: Lost to Auburn 35-31
What we learned: Ole Miss taught us how unfair the West really is, as it’s plummeted from top 5 in the nation to fifth in the division standings in a matter of just two weeks. Ole Miss lost in the final 10 seconds to LSU in Week 9, and fumbled twice inside the Auburn 5 yard line in the fourth quarter of a four-point loss in Week 10. Had the Rebels held on to the ball on either possession, they likely would have scored the go-ahead touchdown. Instead, Auburn forced the two turnovers, the second of which came on a freak play involving Laquon Treadwell, who lost control of the ball as he broke his ankle inside the 1 yard line. The Rebels were mere inches from taking a late lead, but instead they now have two losses and won’t have Treadwell again the rest of the season. Ole Miss fell fast and fell hard, and it’s just another example of how quickly the SEC West can swallow you in a moment of weakness.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Week 10 results: Defeated Louisiana-Monroe 21-16
What we learned: Texas A&M taught us to temper our expectations of the Aggies the rest of this season with freshman Kyle Allen starting under center. The Aggies began the year as impressively as any team in America, but 10 weeks later they barely escaped past Louisiana-Monroe on their home field. Kenny Hill set a school passing record in his debut in August, but Allen barely threw for 100 yards in his first career start. Texas A&M appears to be the most vulnerable team in the SEC West at this juncture of the season, and it could be tough sledding for Allen and the Aggies the rest of the way.
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
