College Football Around the SEC: UGA-USC Showdown

Win-Loss Record key:

• SEC - conference record
• P5 - non-SEC record against Power 5
• MM - record against Mid Majors/Non-Power 5 but projected bowl participant
  
• CC - record against cupcakes

Georgia Bulldogs (1-0, SEC 0-0, P5 1-0, MM 0-0, CC 0-0)

Georgia at South Carolina 2:30 PM CT / 3:30 PM ET CBS - GAME OF THE WEEK

UGA has won exactly one game and many of their fans have already put them in line for the Giant Beer Tap Trophy. Many in the media that cover the Dawgs have already given RB Todd Gurley the Heisman Trophy, so fortunately we don't have to worry about that. They have also declared Gurley, oft-injured Keith Marshall, and two true freshmen with a combined 10 carries in their college careers as the best group of running backs in the nation. They better not be reading too many press clippings or someone will jump up and smack them down.

South Carolina Gamecocks (1-1, SEC 0-1, P5 0-0, MM 1-0, CC 0-0)

Georgia at South Carolina 2:30 PM CT / 3:30 PM ET CBS - GAME OF THE WEEK

For the second straight week, the Gamecocks struggled to stop the pass, giving up 321 yards to ECU to go with the 511 yards given up to Texas A&M in the Week 1 humiliating 52-28 loss. However, they did hold the Pirates to 132 rushing and 169 to the Aggies. Might this team have an upset in them? Steve Spurrier and Mark Richt always seem to have one face plant in them that screws up their season. Spurrier has already experienced one.

Tennessee Vols (2-0, SEC 0-0, P5 0-0, MM 2-0, CC 0-0)

Tennessee at Oklahoma 7:00 PM CT / 8:00 PM ET ABC

If you were able to catch a few minutes of the Vols game with Arkansas State, you would've seen a much improved quarterback in Justin Worley. The senior had some sharp passes on the way to a 39-14 defeat over a decent Red Wolves team. He already has 520 yards passing and 5 throwing TDs on the young season. Saturday's game with the Sooners will say a lot about who this team is.

Florida Gators (1-0, SEC 0-0, P5 0-0, MM 0-0, CC 1-0)

Kentucky at Florida 6:30 PM CT / 7:30 PM ET SEC Network

What did we learn about the Gators in their win 65-0 win over Eastern Michigan? Not much. One takeaway might be that the defense does not make mistakes giving up only 125 yards, seven first downs and creating five turnovers. However, two recurring themes from last season popped up in injuries (2) and penalties (10). Tight end Jake McGee was carted off the field in the second quarter with a lower leg injury. Left tackle D.J. Humphries also left the game with a left ankle injury.

[SIDE NOTE: Remember Penn State QB Rob Bolden who twice fell to Alabama in 2010 and 2011? He transferred to LSU where sat on the bench and did not play a down. He is now the THIRD-string QB at Eastern Michigan and got his first playing time since 2011 in garbage time. He was 2 for 5 with 4 yards passing and an INT.]

Arkansas Razorbacks (1-1, SEC 0-1, P5 0-0, MM 0-0, CC 1-0)

Arkansas at Texas Tech 2:30 PM CT / 3:30 PM ET ABC

The Hogs bullied around a bad FCS team in Nicholls State 73-7. Nothing really learned there. This week's trip to Lubbock might just be the most important game in Bret Bielema's tenure at Arkansas. Win and maybe they have turned the corner. Lose and it might send the season circling the drain.

Mississippi State Bulldogs (2-0, SEC 0-0, P5 0-0, MM 0-0, CC 2-0)

Mississippi State at South Alabama 3:00 PM CT / 4:00 PM ET ESPNews 

Saturday will be a historical day for the South Alabama Jaguars football program as they host an SEC team for the first time in their brief six year history. It is also the first Power 5 team to visit Ladd-Peebles Stadium. This is a two-for-one deal where USA visits Starkville twice in exchange for one return trip by MSU.

Ole Miss Rebels (2-0, SEC 1-0, P5 0-0, MM 1-0, CC 0-0)

LA-Laf at Ole Miss 3:00 PM CT / 4:00 PM ET SEC Network

The Rebels did not do much wrong in their 41-3 rout over Vandy on Saturday. With the scrubs playing in the fourth quarter, Ole Miss gave up a 14 plays, 81 yard drive but stymied the 'Dores at the two yard line. Freshman QB DeVante Kincade fumbled on the very next play giving the ball right back to Vanderbilt at the 5. The Rebs held Vandy to a 26-yard field goal.

LSU Tigers (2-0, SEC 0-0, P5 1-0, MM 0-0, CC 1-0)

LA-Monroe at LSU 6:00 PM CT / 7:00 PM ET ESPNU

If you read my most recent Random Thoughts Around the Country post, you may have seen the bit about true freshman LSU RB Leonard Fournette striking "a presumptuous and awkward-looking Heisman pose after scoring a forgettable 4-yard TD against big bad Sam Houston State." Coach Les Miles voiced some displeasure but I did not see him yank the young man from the lineup like many other coaches likely would have done. Fournette finished with 92 yards on 13 carries and one TD.

Auburn Tigers (2-0, SEC 1-0, P5 0-0, MM 0-0, CC 1-0)

Auburn at Kansas State NEXT THURSDAY 6:30 PM CT / 7:30 PM ET ESPN

Before the season began, many people pointed to Auburn's trip to K-State next week as a possible loss but I don't see it. The Wildcats struggled against Iowa State (0-2) who had lost their home opener to FCS North Dakota State by 20.

Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0, SEC 0-0, P5 1-0, MM 0-0, CC 1-0)

Alabama vs. Southern Miss 5:00pm CT / 6:00pm ET ESPN2

Try your best to stay into the 4th quarter. ROLL TIDE!