Saturday SEC round-up: Texas A&M impresses, Auburn does not

Saturday’s SEC games saw victories for all SEC schools playing – including resounding ones for Texas A&M, Auburn and Alabama in the three biggest games out there.

So here are our big thoughts about the SEC’s Saturday.

1. Texas A&M’s performance impresses

Great performance by the Aggies, who crushed Arizona State 38-17 and looked comfortable. A lot of credit has to go that the game wasn’t played in an actual ‘neutral’ venue (Houston’s in Texas, people), so ASU struggled with crowd noise…but they also struggled with Myles Garrett, who was sensational. On the other side of the ball, Christian Kirk was excellent (1 TD, 1 TD from a punt return) as the Aggies put up 247 yards. Great going, folks. But seriously, big hand for the Aggies’ defense, which looks 100% better under John Chavis than it ever did under Mark Snyder.

2. Auburn wasn’t wonderful

Auburn sped out to a 24-0 lead, with the highlight of the day Justin Garrett’s 82-yard fumble recovery for a TD and a INT. But the Tigers tired out, managing to only squeeze out a 31-24 victory. And Jeremy Johnson, the Heisman candidate? 3 interceptions were horrible.

3. Derrick Henry…was Derrick Henry

We expected a big performance from Alabama’s Derrick Henry against Wisconsin, and we got one. 147 yards and 3 touchdowns destroyed the Badgers, even on a day where neither Jacob Coker or Cooper Bateman had us jumping with joy at QB.

4. If you think Nick Chubb disappointed….

Listen, if you think Georgia’s Nick Chubb disappointed Heisman voters by only putting up 120 yards and 2 TDs in the Bulldogs’ waltz against ULM, then think again. Keith Marshall and Sony Michel had a combined 16 touches, over 100 yards and 3 TDs.

5. But Georgia’s secondary certainly did

You would have thought by only conceding 14 points that Georgia’s secondary had been pretty good against ULM, but after the Dawgs sped out 35-0, ULM put together its passing game and Georgia really struggled. The lightning break for about an hour managed to give UGA’s D a big kick-up-the-ass and they managed to stop them, but what happens when there is no lightning storm?

6. Tennessee’s defense was absolutely terrible

As much as Vols fans will talk about the ‘W’ and a 29-point ‘W’ (59-30), their defense was absolutely awful. And yes, we watched the game. Well, most of it until the rain/lightning delay, and UT’s D got a kick-in-the-ass from their will-get-fired-in-2016-unless-things-improve-quickly DC John Jancek. My worry – like Georgia’s – will be if there’s no lightning delay.

7. Welcome, Jim McElwain

Florida’s 61-13 win, in which they put up 606 yards – including 385 in the air – was tremendous. Sure, it was against New Mexico State, but it was good to see not only Treon Harris but also Will Grier having competent days, sharing 382 yards and 4 TDs.

8. Sorry, Brandon Harris

Lightning made sure LSU’s clash with McNeese State was cancelled, so that means that Brandon Harris’ first game will be on the road to the clanging cowbells of Mississippi State. And McNeese kept $500,000, will will doubtless annoy LSU’s administrators.

9. Robert Nkemdiche with the play of the day…

Offensively. For Ole Miss. It was wondrous. Click here.

10. Arkansas, Mississippi State, Missouri, Kentucky win too.

Well done.