Week 6 brought the first bye week in the conference as four SEC teams took a break. For the remaining 10 teams, there were six total games, including three inner-division showdowns. Stat lines and lead changes provided the five biggest surprises of the past week.
5. Florida’s best cornerback might not be Vernon Hargreaves III: Football analytics website Pro Football Focus turned some heads last week when it proclaimed Hargreaves the third best cornerback on UF’s roster behind Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson. While Hargreaves is tied for second in the conference in interceptions with three, Tabor and Wilson have allowed fewer receptions for less yards by PFF’s tally. Tabor closed the takeaway gap on Saturday against Missouri when he tallied his second pick-six of the season.
4. Missouri could only convert a third down in garbage time at home against Florida: The Tigers are hurting on offense without QB Maty Mauk, but it’s still surprising they couldn’t even convert a third down at home until garbage time (under a minute left, trailing 21-3). An offensive line stacked with seniors struggled to defend Florida’s pass rush, and MU was leaning heavily on the pass, desperate for a big play.
3. Brandon Harris finally cracked the 200-yard passing mark in a game: The South Carolina Gamecocks defense holds the dubious honor of being the first team to allow LSU QB Brandon Harris to throw for more than 200 yards. Harris recorded 228 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-28 passing in LSU’s 45-24 win over USC. It will be interesting to see if this forces the Gators to respect the pass when No. 8 Florida comes to Death Valley.
2. Alabama was held without a touchdown for almost three quarters: Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban warned his team and its fans to not overlook Arkansas, but nobody expected the Razorbacks to lead 7-3 at the half and into the third quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama scored its first touchdown with 1:39 left in the third quarter. The Tide pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 27-14 victory.
1. No Pig, no problem: In the first game following the dismissal of UT’s top returning receiver from 2014, Pig Howard, QB Joshua Dobbs notched his first 300-yard passing performance of the year (25-of-42, 312 yards, 3 TDs, INT). The Volunteers’ season looked like it was running off the rails between off-the-field drama and heartbreaking defeats, but Team 119 put forth its most inspired performance in an epic comeback to top Georgia 38-31 after trailing 24-3.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaign of Fred Taylor.
