Tennessee and Georgia exchanged big plays, but it was running back Todd Gurley and the Bulldogs who came away with the 51-44 win. (US Presswire) |
SEC scoreboard
Texas A&M 58, Arkansas 10: Texas A&M (3-1, 1-1) rolled behind Johnny Manziel, who has thrown for 10 scores and rushed for six this season without throwing an interception. The Aggies scored 51 unanswered points. Arkansas (1-4, 0-2) committed three turnovers, including two interceptions by preseason Heisman candidate Tyler Wilson. WR Cobi Hamilton had 11 catches for 162 yards a week after breaking the SEC record with 303 receiving yards. Knile Davis took a screen pass 64 yards for a first-quarter touchdown, but his third-quarter fumble was returned 28 yards for a score by DB Tramain Jacobs. (For more on the game, check out CBSSports.com's Eye on College Football blog here)
Missouri 21, UCF 16: Two big plays were key in the Tigers' road victory at Central Florida (2-2). An 80-yard touchdown reception from freshman WR Dorial Green-Beckham gave the Tigers a 7-3 lead in the first half, and a 66-yard punt return for a touchdown by Marcus Murphy helped Missouri (3-2, 0-2), a two-point underdog, pull out the win in Orlando. The Knights had the ball with under three minutes in the game, down by five, but a fumble by WR Jeff Godfrey ended their chance at knocking off an SEC team.
Georgia 51, Tennessee 44: So much for old-fashioned SEC football. These two programs, known for great RBs and defense, combined for 95 points Saturday. In the end, it was Georgia (5-0, 3-0) that came up with more big plays. A 72-yard touchdown run from freshman RB Keith Marshall put Georgia up 51-37 late in the third. Although Tennessee (3-2, 2-2) made it interesting at the end, the Vols couldn't find a last-minute score. A fumble by QB Tyler Bray ended the Vols' chances with just over two minutes remaining. Marshall and fellow freshman RB Todd Gurley combined on 34 carries for 294 yards and five TDs. (For more on the game, check out CBSSports.com's Eye on College Football blog here)
South Carolina 38, Kentucky 17: It was a tale of two halves in Lexington. The Wildcats (1-4, 0-2) held a stunning 17-7 lead at the half, but it was all Gamecocks after that. Kentucky wouldn't score again, and South Carolina (5-0, 3-0) scored 28 points in the second half, powered by RB Marcus Lattimore's 23 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Kentucky QB Maxwell Smith left the game in the first quarter with a sprained ankle and was relieved by freshman QB Jalen Whitlow, who was 12 of 23 for 114 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. (For more on the game, check out CBSSports.com's Eye on College Football blog here)
LSU 38, Towson 22: This wasn't exactly the performance LSU (5-0, 1-0) was looking for after a shaky 12-10 win over Auburn last week. Towson, an FCS program, stuck with the Tigers into the second half before LSU pulled away late. QB Zach Mettenberger was 15 of 26 for 238 yards and two touchdowns. RB Michael Ford added 11 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers.
Alabama 33, Ole Miss 14: Alabama trailed for the first time this season when Ole Miss took a 7-6 lead in the first quarter. That lead lasted all of 15 seconds. Christion Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, and Alabama never gave up the lead again. RB Eddie Lacy had 19 carries for 81 yards, and WR Amari Cooper added eight receptions for 85 yards and two touchdown catches. Ole Miss used three QBs -- Bo Wallace, Barry Brunetti and Randall Mackey -- in the losing effort. (For more on the game, check out CBSSports.com's Eye on College Football blog here)
Play of the day: Texas A&M WR Ryan Swope had a nice double move that confused the Arkansas defense. Nobody stuck with him after his initial move and he got past the secondary. QB Manziel hit him perfectly in stride to give the Aggies a 27-10 lead late in the second quarter.
Runner up: Take your pick from the Georgia-Tennessee game. Gurley and Marshall had huge runs, but a 46-yard touchdown by Tennessee WR Cordarrelle Patterson might have been the most athletic play of the day. He took a reverse, looked to throw, but with no one open, he reversed field and ran past the Georgia defense for a score.
He said what?: Arkansas defensive coordinator Paul Haynes on his unit's effort against Texas A&M: "Very disappointing. It can’t happen. ... We’re better than that. That’s the bottom line."
RapidReports defensive star of the day: Texas A&M DE Damontre Moore. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound junior caused two Arkansas turnovers that led to 14 points. In the second quarter, he pressured QB Wilson into a bad throw that S Steven Terrell intercepted. Three plays later, QB Manziel hit Ben Malena with an 11-yard TD pass for a 20-10 lead. In the third quarter, Moore jarred the ball loose from Arkansas RB Davis. DB Jacobs picked it up and ran 28 yards for a touchdown and a 44-10 lead. Moore entered the game leading the SEC with six sacks.
RapidReports offensive star of the day: Texas A&M QB Manziel threw for a school-record 483 yards and added three passing touchdowns. He also had 14 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown. The Razorbacks had no answer for the redshirt freshman.
Runner up: The freshman RB duo of Gurley and Marshall of Georgia made some huge runs against Tennessee. Gurley had 24 carries for 130 yards and three scores. He was impressive, but Marshall was an even bigger threat with carries of 72 and 75 yards that helped him finish with 10 carries for 164 yards and two scores.
His seat is getting uncomfortable: Could it get any worse for Arkansas coach John L. Smith? Saturday was a chance to get the Razorbacks back on track, but the big losses continue to pile up. Arkansas AD Jeff Long said he would stick with him through the season, but it doesn't look like the Razorbacks are getting any better.
A possible spot on the bench for: The entire Arkansas secondary. The Hogs have been burned all season, and it only got worse Saturday. Texas A&M put up 716 yards, including 499 passing. The Razorbacks looked clueless trying to tackle Manziel, and they gave up multiple big pass plays.
Why you should care about these stat lines:
1. Texas A&M WR Swope had 141 yards receiving: It was his 10th career game with at least 100 yards receiving, a school record.
2. Tennessee and Georgia combined for seven turnovers: Turnovers were a huge part of the story in this game. A 35-yard interception and run back by S Byron Moore energized the Vols in the first quarter, but a late fumble by Tennessee QB Bray cost the Vols a chance to tie late.
3. LSU RB Kenny Hilliard had six carries for 23 yards: Hilliard was emerging as one of the top RBs in the conference this season, but he's only had 16 carries for 63 yards the past two weeks. Many of his carries have gone to RBs Ford and Spencer Ware.
Key number: 89.7. That's the percentage of passes South Carolina QB Connor Shaw has completed over the past two weeks. Not bad for a QB playing with an injured shoulder.
For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.