With each passing week, it has become more and more apparent that Georgia will have to fall flat on its face to not win the SEC East this season.

The latest example came Saturday: Much like Alabama had done two weeks prior, Georgia went into Vanderbilt Stadium and threw the Commodores around like a rag doll. The Bulldogs gained 549 yards and allowed just 236. Before the half, Vanderbilt punched it in the end zone to get on the board and keep within striking distance at 21-7. But Georgia would have no talk of any type of rally by the hosts, as it outscored Vanderbilt 24-7 in the final 30 minutes.

Week after week, the Bulldogs are implementing the same formula to walk away victorious: Lean on one of the nation’s strongest defenses and best backfields and keep opposing defenses honest by letting true freshman quarterback Jake Fromm pick apart a scheme with mind-numbing efficiency.

Saturday, Fromm threw just 11 passes. But he completed seven of them for 102 yards and two touchdowns — and of note, he didn’t throw an interception.

About the only quibble Georgia coach Kirby Smart could find in the dominant victory would be a lack of turnovers. That was one of the few areas where Vanderbilt “won” Saturday: It didn’t give the ball away a single time, while Georgia lost a fumble courtesy of Jacob Eason, who entered the game with the win already well in hand.

As it stands, Georgia appears to have a cake walk of a schedule in the next month.

Its next three games? Hapless Missouri. A middling Florida. And a South Carolina squad that is a bit baffling to figure out. That game might shape up as the most difficult of the three, especially if dynamic playmaker Deebo Samuel is back for the Gamecocks.

Even if Samuel is healthy to return for that Nov. 4 date at Sanford Stadium, however, the Bulldogs will remain a heavy favorite.

Barring something unforeseen, all of that is merely a prelude to Nov. 11, when Georgia heads to Auburn in a game that increasingly appears to be a matchup of legitimate national title contenders.

Until then, Georgia just has to stay the course.

Implementing that aforementioned formula for success — stout defense, a spectacular ground attack and an opportunistic passing game — is, of course, easier said than done.

It’s a testament to how sensational the Bulldogs’ recent play has been that they’ve made it look, well, easy.

Now let’s take a look at what else is going on around the SEC East:

Florida

Two things came out of Saturday’s game for Florida that can be viewed positively.

There was this:

And there was the spontaneous start of a new tradition.

(More on that later.)

The problem for the Gators is that neither of those things contributed to a victory. Instead, they were felled by the LSU Tigers 17-16 at The Swamp.

And that was just one of the many negative takeaways that came from that loss.

Such as defensive back Duke Dawson barely escaping an ejection. Or former defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. slamming his alma mater for lack of offensive progression during Jim McElwain’s tenure. Quarterback Malik Zaire wasn’t happy, either. Heck, even before the game, Florida’s fans were fighting each other.

Things won’t get any easier this coming week, as Florida hosts a tricky Texas A&M squad.

About the only thing that will quell some of the growing criticism toward McElwain would be an upset victory of a likely undefeated Georgia later this month.

Georgia

We’ve already touched on Georgia’s dominance Saturday above.

But Marc Weiszer, the beat writer for the Athens Banner-Herald, has more insight on the defense. Specifically, despite a looks-great-on-paper outing Saturday, the unit wasn’t satisfied.

And after being a sore spot for much of the season and the first few weeks of this fall, Smart believes the offensive line has turned a corner, saying it deserved “the game ball” after Saturday’s showing.

Kentucky

Missouri put a scare in Kentucky on Saturday. But the Wildcats were able to escape with a 40-34 home victory.

According to Tim Sullivan of the Courier-Journal, it was a win that only led to more questions about the play of the secondary. Fellow Courier-Journal reporter Jon Hale, who serves as the Wildcats’ football beat writer, handed out grades for each position group from the narrow win.

Missouri

Saturday was yet another loss in a season that’s already been filled with them for the Tigers. But Saturday likely lands at the top of the list for most frustrating, as the SEC admitted its officials erred on the game’s controversial final play.

J’Mon Moore, the receiver involved in said play, already let his thoughts be known, which you can see below.

South Carolina

After starting the season 2-0, South Carolina had alternated losses and wins in its three subsequent outings entering Saturday’s matchup against Arkansas. And as fate would have it, that streak was extended, as the Gamecocks rocked the Razorbacks 48-22.

After taking a 17-10 lead into halftime, the Gamecocks turned it on in the final two periods, outscoring the Razorbacks 31-12.

It was a victory, The State’s Ben Breiner wrote, that came because South Carolina manhandled Arkansas up front.

And the defense wasn’t too shabby, either.

Tennessee

The Volunteers had an open date Saturday. But that doesn’t mean embattled coach Butch Jones was able to get any relief from the Tennessee fan base.

Vanderbilt

The Commodores’ 3-0 start seems so long ago. Since then, they’ve lost three straight to fall back to .500. Worse, all three of those games came in league play, putting Vanderbilt alongside Missouri in the division basement.

But, whether you believe it or not, coach Derek Mason said his team’s confidence has “not eroded” in the wake of Saturday’s dismal defeat.

As always, Adam Sparks, the Vanderbilt beat writer for The Tennessean, handed out his “bests and worsts” as well as five things he learned from Saturday’s game.

Tweet of the week

This is arguably the easiest “tweet of the week” pick all season. You have to love the crowd at The Swamp belting out the lyrics to “I Won’t Back Down” by native son Tom Petty.

 

Quote of the week

Sometimes we’ve gone with lengthy quotes. Sometimes they’ve been serious.

But this week, it’s time for a laugh.

Here, Kirby Smart offered insight as to why starting center Lamont Gaillard exited the contest Saturday.

“I think Lamont came out the game because he was tired,” Smart said, “and just wanted a sandwich.”

Aren’t we all Lamont Gaillard at some point in our lives?