Here is our SEC Football Stock Report for what was week four in college football.
Stock up:
South Carolina: Connor Shaw is playing better than any quarterback Steve Spurrier has had in 15 years. Shaw was 20-21 against Missouri and almost as good against Kentucky in what was an overall lackluster effort. Lattimore is getting his legs and rhythm back and one can’t help but feel that the staff was managing his workload with the October stretch in mind. The Gamecock defense has made a seemingly seamless transition from Ellis Johnson to Lorenzo Ward. We will find out Saturday evenin’ if Atlanta is in the cards for this team.
Florida: The Gators entered the season with a number of questions namely, who is the quarterback? A neck and neck battle between Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel stretched into week one with Driskel taking control and not looking back. Don’t look now, but Muschamp’s most glaring weakness may turn into a positive as Driskel has gotten better each. The talented sophomore has shown the ability to keep his cool on the road and use his legs when needed to provide a spark. The Gator D is living up to the preseason billing. The unit has yet to surrender a 4th quarter point.
Holding steady:
Tennessee: After the Vols show of guts and fight in Athens, Dooley’s squad almost got the W, but we here at LOHD do not believe in moral victories. Tennessee could have rolled over and quit but they kept punching against Georgia in a crazy 51-44 shoot out. Dooley has to win in two weeks against Mississippi State if wants to get another year in Knoxville.
Georgia: Much maligned Bulldog OC Mike Bobo certainly appears to know what he is doing know that he has a seasoned and talented quarterback, two tailbacks who can go 70 yards on any play, and an offensive line playing better than it should be. The Junkyard Dawg D got shredded by Bray to the tune of 37 points (UT got a pick six). No doubt Steve Spurrier will examine any weakness and attempt to hit with the heaviest hammer he can swing. Saturday night in Columbia should be one for the ages.
Trending down:
Missouri: It seems the mood has gone from “Hell yes! We are in the SEC now” to “damn, we are in the SEC now”. After getting worked by Georgia and South Carolina, Mizzou travelled to Central Florida (note to Mizzou AD, don’t schedule games like that) and muddled out a 21-16 win. Here’s guessing no one got to get the big turkey legs they sell in the magic kingdom. Gary Pinkel has a reworked and underweight offensive line with Alabama coming to town in two weeks following Vanderbilt. So there is that.
Vanderbilt: James Franklin’s sophomore season is not going as planned. Rodgers has been benched and Vandy is struggling on all fronts. Can Vandy beat Mizzou? Yes, but it will be one of the few wins the Commodores will get. Bowling is not in the future for this Vandy team.
Kentucky: Joker Phillips is all but fired. A nice first half against a sleep walking Carolina team doesn’t fix that. Will Kentucky really make a run at Petrino?
Power Poll
1. South Carolina/Georgia-It will be tough for the loser to get to Atlanta.
3. Florida– Last year’s Florida team started 4-0, can this team win in October?
4. Tennessee—If it wasn’t for bad luck, Derek Dooley would have no luck at all
5. Missouri—Lots of work to do to become a contender in this league
6. Vanderbilt—Same ol Vandy.
7. Kentucky—For real, y’all think Petrino would take this job?
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Bryant Roberts is a life long SEC fan, has 2 autographed pictures of Steve Spurrier, is addicted to BBQ, and a graduate of Presbyterian College. Follow him on twitter here.
