Week 9 had the least drama in the SEC to date. All five games were decided by at least 17 points, with Georgia and Texas suffocating opposing offenses while South Carolina, Missouri, and Ole Miss took care of business on the ground.
Before flipping over to a Week 10 slate with four top-18 matchups, let’s break down the standout stats and performances from Week 9.
Georgia scores 17 points off four Florida turnovers and shuts out the Gators for three quarters in a 27-8 win
Georgia’s defense flipped a switch against Florida in Atlanta. To put the defensive unit’s performance in perspective, Georgia’s offense gained 14 total yards in the third quarter and was held scoreless. The Bulldogs still carried a 24-0 lead into the fourth quarter. Florida’s Jaden Baugh was held to 38 rushing yards on 2.2 yards per carry. Baugh hasn’t rushed for 100 or more yards since rushing for 142 in Florida’s decisive win in Week 4 – a win that lifted Florida to the top 10. Florida’s decline over the last month can be attributed, at least in part, to a rushing attack that has gone MIA and poor quarterback play. Aaron Philo started against Georgia coming off an injury that caused him to miss the Texas game in favor of Tramell Jones Jr. Philo threw one of the worst interceptions you will see all season before being benched for Jones. Jones was more effective than Philo, but he was sacked four times, and in the second quarter, he threw his own awful interception in the end zone that halted a chance for Florida to cut into a 17-0 Bulldog lead.
Texas records seven sacks, holds fifth consecutive SEC opponent to season-low yards per play in 31-3 win over Mississippi State
The Longhorns held Mississippi State to a season-low 187 total yards, marking the fifth consecutive SEC opponent they’ve held to its lowest yards-per-play average of the season. I’m certain that’s an obscure stat you don’t hear highlighted on ESPN often. Linebacker Rasheem Biles was a terror in the Bulldogs’ backfield, recording three sacks and two forced fumbles, including a strip sack that led to a 61-yard fumble-return touchdown. Unfortunately, Texas was aided by a Mississippi State offense that has had no identity since Kamario Taylor’s season-ending injury. The Bulldogs averaged 39 points per game in the first five games before Taylor suffered a foot injury. They’ve averaged only six points in the last three games in which Taylor left early against Oklahoma and did not play against LSU or Texas.
South Carolina, Missouri and Ole Miss each rush for 200-plus yards, score at least 34 points in convincing wins
South Carolina, Missouri and Ole Miss each dominated the ground game while holding their opponents to just 237 rushing yards. South Carolina had arguably the most impressive offensive performance of the three, racking up 521 total yards against an Oklahoma defense that entered Saturday allowing just 273.7 yards per game. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers accounted for 397 yards and five touchdowns in the Gamecocks’ 42-25 win. Missouri led with defense, forcing four Arkansas turnovers and converting them into 24 points while outrushing the Razorbacks 211-59 in a 34-10 win. Ole Miss was nearly unstoppable on third down, converting 13-of-16 attempts and scoring 21 fourth-quarter points in a 45-15 rout of Auburn.
By Jake Thigpen (@Jake_Thigpen)
