College Football Around the SEC: Week 5

We are starting to get into conference play with a couple of good ones coming this week.

Win-Loss Record key:

• SEC - conference record
• P5 - non-SEC record against Power 5
• MM - record against Mid Majors/Non-Power 5 FBS but projected bowl participant
  
• CC - record against cupcakes, FCS and perennial FBS doormats (subject to my whims).

EAST:

Georgia Bulldogs (5-0: SEC 2-0, P5 1-0, MM 1-0, CC 1-0)

So Georgia wants to be just like Alabama, huh? Well, let's see how they perform without one of their key defenders. Bulldogs defensive lineman Trenton Thompson will miss Saturday's game at Vanderbilt with a sprained MCL in his right knee. His return date is uncertain and he is said to be on a "week to week" basis. Uh-huh... The preseason first-team All-SEC lineman and #1 recruit in 2015 is tied for third on the team in tackles including 3 TFL.

Georgia at Vanderbilt 11am/noon ESPN

Florida Gators (3-1: SEC 3-0, P5 0-1, MM 0-0, CC 0-0)

Do you think the Gators are over that whole Joe Alleva and Jeremy Foley pissing match Hurricane Matthew fiasco from last season. Don't believe it. Florida has circled this game and designated it as this year's Homecoming game.

LSU at Florida 2:30/3:30 CBS

Tennessee Volunteers (3-2: SEC 0-2, P5 1-0, MM 0-0, CC 2-0)

If you haven't noticed... Butch Jones is under a little bit of fire this week after an embarrassing 41-0 home loss to UGA. The UT administration may be hesitant to fire another coach so soon. The Vols have gone through four head coaches (Phil Fulmer, Lane Kiffin, Derek Dooley, Butch Jones) since Nick Saban began his tenure at Alabama and none of them have defeated the Crimson Tide. As a matter of fact, it has been 4,000 days since UT beat Alabama.

Tennessee no game this week.

Kentucky Wildcats (4-1: SEC 1-1, P5 0-0, MM 2-0, CC 1-0)

Something is amiss in the UK offense. Total offense has slowly declined from 436 to 353 to 340 and then to a scant 228 against Eastern Michigan. The 'Cats hope to improve this week against Mizzou who is giving up 452.5ypg.

Missouri at Kentucky 6:30/7:30 SECN

South Carolina Gamecocks (3-2: SEC 1-2, P5 1-0, MM 1-0, CC 0-0)

Of the Gamecocks’ 13 third downs against Texas A&M, six needed 9 or more yards for a conversion. SC’s average distance faced on third down was 10.3 yards, making it no surprise they only converted two of them in the game.

Arkansas at South Carolina 3pm/4pm SECN

Missouri Tigers (1-3: SEC 0-2, P5 0-1, MM 0-0, CC 1-0)

Mizzou was looking for some good news this week after three straight losses. They didn't get it. Tigers starting receiver Dimetrios Mason, second on the team with 13 catches, has been dismissed from the team for disciplinary reasons.

Missouri at Kentucky 6:30/7:30 SECN

Vanderbilt Commodores (3-2: SEC 0-2, P5 1-0, MM 1-0, CC 1-0)

Vandy is in the final leg of four straight games against ranked teams (although K-State has dropped from the top 25 after their loss to VU). The 'Dores fell to Alabama and Florida with UGA still to play. After starting 3-0, they will likely fall to 3-3. However, if they can keep their confidence levels up, they have 6 winnable games in the second half of the season (OM, SC, WKU, UK, Mizz, Tenn).

Georgia at Vanderbilt 11am/noon ESPN

WEST:

Auburn Tigers (4-1: SEC 2-0, P5 0-1, MM 1-0, CC 1-0)

The excitement for the Tigers from the national press has not translated into fan excitement just yet. Auburn sold out their first game against Georgia Southern but was below capacity (87,451) in their last two home games. Against Mercer they tallied 87,033 and then only 86,901 last week versus #24 Mississippi State. The MSU game was a 5pm CT start and nice weather.

Ole Miss at Auburn 11am/noon SECN

Texas A&M Aggies (4-1, SEC 2-0, P5 0-1, MM 1-0, CC 1-0)

First coat of paint is on, as Kyle Field honors the great Gene Stallings and his ‘67 SWC Champions--who are reuniting this weekend #12thman pic.twitter.com/EHVvC2RJI4

— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 3, 2017

If you have not heard by now, former Crimson Tide and Aggies head coach Gene Stallings suffered a heart attack over the weekend and is in rough shape. Texas A&M will be honoring him and his 1967 squad this Saturday. Stallings played for Bear Bryant at Texas A&M from 1954-56 and was one of the "Junction Boys". Later he served as TAMU coach from 1965-71 winning the 1967 Southwest Conference championship.

ALABAMA at Texas A&M 6:15/7:15 ESPN

Arkansas Razorbacks (2-2: SEC 0-1, P5 0-1, MM 0-0, CC 2-0)

Saturday's game in Columbia is a pivotal one for the Hogs for they have Alabama and Auburn up next. This season could go sideways in a hurry if they lose. As you can see from the record above, Arky's two wins are not impressive.

Arkansas at South Carolina 3pm/4pm SECN

Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-2: SEC 1-2, P5 0-0, MM 1-0, CC 1-0)

The Bullies have already been profiting from Ole Miss' downfall nabbing 2018 commits from the top five players from the Magnolia State. Their latest commitment, 3-star DE James Williams, had offers from Bama and UGA among others.

Mississippi State has the week off.

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

Nick Saban had a friendly word with AJ Brown after the game. Do ya think he said "Shoulda signed with us!"? pic.twitter.com/zZjDOKfOuV

— C B (@CB969onRBR) October 1, 2017

I don't want to start any rumors or anything (or do I?) but I thought the moment at the end of the game between Nick Saban and the Rebs best offensive player AJ Brown was interesting. You may recall after Penn State was hammered by the NCAA, the players were allowed to transfer out without sitting out a year. If the same penalty is handed down in Oxford, Brown would be a target of many programs. Alabama and Mississippi State wanted him very badly as a recruit and he looked like he may commit to one of the two. Then out of nowhere, the Starkville native made an unexpected visit to Ole Miss five days before NSD and ended up signing with the Rebs. Hmmm... I wonder what happened there.

In that same recruiting class was 5-star DT Benito Jones who grew up an Alabama fan and had committed to Bama. But then he mysteriously flipped to Ole Miss two days after a visit to Oxford. Hmmm... I wonder what happened there. Oh by the way, Da'Shawn Hand and Joshua Frazier are seniors and Da'Ron Payne will probably leave for the 2018 NFL Draft.

Ole Miss at Auburn 11am/noon SECN

LSU Tigers (3-2: SEC 0-1, P5 2-0, MM 1-1, CC 1-0)

A few months ago, there was talk that Arden Key would be the top pick of the 2018 NFL draft pick. However, it seems as though he was reading a few too many headlines this summer while recovering from shoulder surgery. The junior linebacker has only one half of a sack on the season after having twelve a season ago. There has been talk that Key was loafing during his recover time and has yet to get back in game shape.

LSU at Florida 2:30/3:30 CBS

Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0, SEC 2-0, P5 1-0, MM 2-0, CC 0-0)

If you haven't heard the story about Alabama's special sideline guest from last Saturday, check this story out. Be careful not to read it in a dusty room.

ALABAMA at Texas A&M 6:15/7:15 ESPN - Joe Tessitore, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe.

WEEK 7 SEC GAMES:

• South Carolina at Tennessee 11am/noon ESPN or ESPN2
  
• BYU at Mississippi State 11am/noon SEC Network
  
• Vanderbilt at Ole Miss 2:30/3:30 SEC Network
• Missouri at Georgia 6:30/7:30 SECN
• Arkansas at Alabama TBA *
  
• Texas A&M at Florida TBA *
  
• Auburn at LSU TBA*
  
• Kentucky has the week off.

* Kickoff times and television network assignments for these three games have been put on a six-day hold by the Southeastern Conference and its network partners.

#ROLLTIDE!