Ah, the evolution of a blog post. For the first week or so, I planned this post to be a simple glance around the SEC, but it’s starting to evolve a little bit. For instance, Auburn’s national rankings fluctuate with each passing week, I’ve been posting it on Twitter, and there is really no reason to keep the numbers out of this space. So I’m going to add another quick look to the blog, beginning with Auburn’s national rankings.
Auburn is still unranked in the coaches poll, but the Tigers moved back into the AP poll at No. 25. Auburn (6-3, 4-2 SEC) also moved up one spot to No. 22 in the BCS standings.
Offense
- Total offense: 89.
- Rushing offense: 29.
- Passing yards: 104.
- Passing efficiency: 67.
- Scoring: 73.
- Turnovers: 57.
Defense
- Total defense: 74.
- Rushing defense: 85.
- Passing yards: 54.
- Passing efficiency allowed: 68.
- Scoring: 74.
- Turnovers produced: 36.
- Turnover margin: 49.
I’ll have more on Auburn after Gene Chizik’s teleconference this afternoon, although with the bye week looming, the normal Sunday night media availability will not be happening. On to a glance around the rest of the SEC as the season’s final third gets underway. Vandy had a chance to upset Arkansas and failed. Florida had a chance to pick up some momentum with a win in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party and failed. Both Kentucky and Tennessee dropped games and find themselves sitting at 3-5 and needing a late-season push to reach bowl eligibility.
But first, let’s start with what the Mississippi beat writers are saying about Auburn’s win last night.
From the other locker room
- Hugh Kellenberger of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger says Gus Malzahn’s second-half job wasn’t hard: Nothing fancy here.
- The Jackson Clarion-Ledger’s Rick Cleveland examines Ole Miss’s tendency to fall off in the second half of games: Rebels’ 2nd-half funk remains mystery.
- The third quarter continues to haunt Houston Nutt, writes the Oxford Eagles’ John Davis: Auburn beats Ole Miss 41-23.
- Before the game, there was a lot of talk about Ole Miss badly needing a victory: Auburn, Ole Miss both need a win.
Around the SEC
- From the Ledger-Enquirer, Seth Emerson says Georgia’s win over Florida was crucial for Mark Richt: Georgia beats Florida for first time in four years.
- Ledger-Enquirer sports editor Kevin Price took a look at Carver graduate Jarvis Jones’ dominant performance: Bulldogs linebacker Jarvis Jones records four sacks against Florida.
- The Orlando Sentinel’s Rachel George notes that Florida’s loss officially knocked the Gators out of the SEC East race: Gators knocked out of division race after loss to rival Georgia.
- The Tennessean’s David Climer says Vanderbilt only has itself to blame: Vanderbilt kicks itself against Arkansas.
- Arkansas is coming dangerously close to losses, the Democrat-Gazette’s Matt Jones blogged: Hogs survive Vanderbilt scare.
- Brandon Marcello notes that two quarterbacks is working for Mississippi State: Two-QB system sharp in win.
- And the Lexington Herald-Leader’s John Clay gave Kentucky backup quarterback Maxwell Smith a vote of confidence: Backup QB Smith a ray of hope.
- Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Herald examines Tennessee’s offensive futility: Drives stall close to end zone.
- The State’s Josh Kendall writes that South Carolina may have found an answer to the loss of Marcus Lattimore: Gamecocks grind it out, topple Tennessee.