For most teams, Week 12 was a taking care of business week. But who really took care of business? For once Alabama stumbled (for a half), and Vandy came up big. So there were some surprises … and as is our custom, we’ll grade the week that was, singling out the best and worst of SEC Week 12.

SEC West

Mississippi State: A

They dominated the line of scrimmage, winning the rushing battle 287-69. That was fairly common this week, but this was a conference game, albeit one against Arkansas.

Auburn: A-

They played almost perfectly and got an A- only because they saved this game for such a nothing opponent. They almost quadrupled Liberty in yardage and gave up only 7 first downs while forcing 4 turnovers.

LSU: A-

Like Auburn, there was little not to like here, and 372 passing yards feels like what used to be half a season’s worth in Baton Rouge. If they replicate this effort against A&M, they’ll have nothing to worry about.

Texas A&M: B+

Excellent work by the Aggies, as their 41-20 win wasn’t as close as the score. The defense did give up 306 yards passing, but everything else basically went their way.

Alabama: B-

They won by 33 and get a B-. For one bizarre and amazing half, The Citadel, as Saban said of a former FCS foe, ran through Alabama like (expletive) through a tin horn. It’s the best blueprint we’ve seen thus far on how to beat Alabama, and it was given by a team with basically no SEC-caliber players.

Ole Miss: C-

The passing game gets an A- and the rest of the team gets an F. Jordan Ta’amu passed for 457 yards and probably completed the game-tying touchdown that was wiped off by instant replay. On the other hand, the defense gave up 36 points to Vandy, and the Rebels probably doomed themselves to a losing season.

Arkansas: F

Losing this game wasn’t surprising. But the Razorbacks were embarrassed, pretty much in all phases. Offensively, they passed for about 4 yards per play, and they rushed for 2 yards per carry. Defensively, they gave up more than 10 yards per pass and about 6 yards per run. State could pretty much choose their method of destruction.

East

Missouri: A

The Tigers went to Knoxville and absolutely bullied Tennessee. They rushed for 227 yards, they won the turnover battle 3-1 and they held UT to 11 first downs. Yes, Tennessee isn’t exactly the ‘90s Dallas Cowboys, but this was impressive.

Vanderbilt: A

Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

This week’s grades are full of teams that throttled FCS foes. Meanwhile, Vandy was outgained by 191 yards, watched the opposing quarterback throw for 457 yards but won their game. We credit the bottom line. This is like working a math problem the absolute wrong way but getting the right answer. The answer’s right, so here’s their grade.

Florida: A-

The only thing not to like was the poor level of competition. The Gators passed for 399, rushed for 201 and returned 2 picks for scores, meaning their defense could have personally taken down Idaho.

South Carolina: A-

Taking care of business game, with Jake Bentley putting together a near-perfect day with 339 passing yards. How it will go next week against Clemson instead of Chattanooga, we’ll wait to see.

Georgia: B+

Here’s the rub. They scored 66 points and gained 700 total yards. Defensively, they gave up almost 400 yards and let UMass throw the ball basically at will. Sure, game situation dictated some of that, but the defense didn’t impress. And yet, they ran for 426 yards. Gulp.

Kentucky: C+

The Wildcats did get their eighth win, but they also were outgained 392-324 by a C-USA team. After the Wildcats grabbed a pick-six on Brent Stockstill’s first pass of the game, the MTSU passer was 30-for-32 for 293 yards for the rest of the game. Kid’s good, but he’s not Joe Montana or Aaron Rodgers.

Tennessee: F

Losing this game wasn’t a shock. Jeremy Pruitt’s team has delivered a couple of impressive upsets of its own. But the biggest down note of this? Losing to Missouri by the same score as last season. At this point, the worst thing you can say for UT is that this team reminds you of last year’s team … but for a day, that was the case.

Honor Roll

Offense

Georgia

Justin Fields got to play, and they racked up 700 yards. Yes, it was UMass. Still …

Missouri

Balance (257 yards passing, 227 yards rushing) and a conference game butt-whipping land the Tigers on this list.

Defense

Auburn

Yes, they played nobody. But a shutout is a shutout.

Florida

They did give up 10 points, but they scored 12 on a pair of pick-sixes in crushing Idaho. Impressive.

Special Teams

Vanderbilt

They had a crucial blocked punt that set the stage for a comeback from an early deficit … and they had a solid day kicking.

Texas A&M

They blocked a field goal and an extra point, and they still have the best punter in the SEC.

Detention

Offense

Arkansas

Yes, State’s defense is good. But when you don’t throw well (150 passing yards) or run well (69 rushing yards), it’s going to be a long day in Starkville.

Tennessee

The UT passing game was key in wins over Kentucky and Auburn. Against what the numbers suggest is a bad Mizzou pass defense? 7-for-21 with a pair of interceptions.

Defense

Ole Miss

They have played worse, but when the game was on the line, they let Vandy pass or run with equal impunity. It’s hard to blame an offense that puts up 578 yards for losing this game. Ole Miss punted once all day and lost.

Kentucky

Yes, they scored a touchdown and amassed 7 sacks. But they also allowed MTSU’s Stockstill to absolutely throw at will. 30-for-33 for 293 yards sounds like video game numbers, not what a C-USA QB should do against a top-half SEC defense.

Special Teams

Alabama

Two more missed extra points. Punter didn’t do a good job on his one kick, either.

Missouri

Hey, we needed another team. They were fine, but they did miss an extra point, although if they did it to replicate the score of last year’s UM-UT game, that’s the kind of shade throwing that should land them extra credit.