Let’s Talk About the SEC
Okay so you’ve read the headlines: “SEC Is Overrated,” “SEC Biggest Week 1 Losers,” and “Embarrassing Week 1” all the overreaction that Bleacher Report, CBS, and ESPN writers live off. Some of it is deserved (looking at you, Missouri and Tennessee), but we all knew last season that the SEC East is a dumpster fire after Florida and Georgia.
The SEC went 8–4 on opening Weekend for non-conference opponents which was 3rd most in wins and 4th in win percentage. The SEC didn’t silence any doubters that the league is way more top-heavy than a powerhouse top to bottom. The top tier teams like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU all dominated their opponents. Auburn rallied late in the 3rd quarter, scoring 21 unanswered points to defeat #11 Oregon in Dallas. Florida did not look the part, struggling to put away a young Miami team the week before, winning 24–20. Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Arkansas all had very unconvincing wins against lesser opponents. South Carolina choked in a game they definitely should have won against non-conference rival UNC 24–20. The really bad came from one big upset and another historical upset.
Missouri had some pre-season hype coming into the season, especially with SEC newcomer and former Clemson QB Kelly Bryant. However, none of that mattered when they took the field in Wyoming. Bryant had a great throwing performance for over 400 yards, but unfortunately for Missouri, he couldn’t play defense too. Wyoming held on in a shoot-out win 37–31.
On the other end of the spectrum for disappointing SEC East losses, we have Tennessee. Coming into Pruitt’s second season along with returning starting QB Jarrett Guarantano, Tennessee was looking to return to bowl season and maybe upset a few top SEC teams. However, those chances are looking slim after they lost to Georgia State at home. Georgia State was 2–10 last season and still managed to reel off a 38–30 win in Neyland Stadium.
The SEC bottom dwellers performed lower than expected, but the usual suspects performed as predicted (minus Missouri). The SEC has a chance to prove they are still at the top of Power 5 as LSU takes on Texas next Saturday and Texas A&M looks to take revenge on #1 Clemson after last season’s controversial loss in College Station.
-Jackson Aaron (@JacksonAThrone)
Sports Throne Blogger
