What we’re not overreacting to in the SEC after Week 5
Here’s what we’re not overreacting to in the SEC after Week 5:
Florida is the best team in the SEC: The whole country took note of Florida’s thrashing of Ole Miss, including ESPN analyst Danny Kanell. Following Florida’s 38-10 win, Kanell stated on the broadcast that the Gators may be the SEC’s best team. He even followed that up with a tweet.
Florida might be the best team in the SEC #gators
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) October 4, 2015
Look, it’s easy to get carried away about Florida, and the Gators sure did look good. But can Will Grier and the offense deliver that type of performance every game? No doubt the Gators are the SEC’s most improved team through five weeks, but I’m just not ready to say they are the best overall team. However, seeing what Auburn did in Gus Malzahn’s first year, the Gators are having that type of turnaround under Jim McElwain. It’s impressive.
Ole Miss’ loss to Florida: It’s not over for the Rebels. Not even close. Sometimes you’re the windshield, and sometimes you’re the bug. The Rebels happened to be the bug Saturday night. If I’m Hugh Freeze, I go to my best players during big games. The Rebels simply didn’t take enough shots down the field against Florida’s defense. Yes, the Gators have the best secondary in the conference, but I’m still trying to get the ball in Laquon Treadwell’s hands throughout the game. It’s simple: Florida just had the Rebels’ number Saturday night. Play that game 10 times and that blowout just doesn’t happen many. Ole Miss is still a conference contender, but it just ran into a buzzsaw Saturday night.
LSU’s struggle against Eastern Michigan: The LSU Tigers are coming off a mediocre win against Eastern Michigan; so, let’s all freak out.
Whoa… Eastern Michigan just won’t go away. LSU finding themselves in a dogfight — Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) October 4, 2015
Winning has never been pretty for Les Miles at LSU, and knowing the passing game is average, it’s going to be ugly. Eastern Michigan hung close with the Tigers — it was 30-22 heading into the fourth quarter. Still, LSU looks like the best team in the conference, boasting college football’s best player in Leonard Fournette.
The Tigers get South Carolina this week and Florida the next. We’ll start to really learn what this team is all about over the next month.
Big Game Richt: “Fire Mark Richt!”
You think Georgia’s in a bad situation, go take a gander at Texas and Tennessee. Charlie Strong can’t buy a win right now, and Butch Jones could be sitting on the SEC’s hottest seat exiting the 2015 season.
Richt’s Bulldogs read the script like usual and were pounded by Alabama. It happens. It seems like it happens every year for UGA. He’s won 10 games in nine of 14 seasons, and the Bulldogs will likely finish with 10 again this year. The SEC East and the College Football Playoff are still intact for UGA.
Sure, there’s certainly enough firepower to be displeased, but now we know what Alabama’s best shot looks like.