Howdy, SEC football crazies.  It’s your sports guy from the sticks, bringing you the wrapup from week four in the Alliance Killer.  The week that was in the SEC was full of points, defensive stops, and a possible ascension of an SEC West school to a step behind the monolith that is Alabama.

Let’s discuss.

Kentucky 16, South Carolina 10

Why Should I Care:  The Cats moved to 4-0 on the season despite an uneven performance on offense thanks to a dominant performance on defense.  UK held Carolina to 216 yards of offense (58 rushing.)  The Cats laid the ball on the mat too many times though.  That will cost them big in the upcoming gauntlet of SEC games on the schedule if it isn’t cleaned up beginning with Florida.  However, the Gamecock defense was the best they have seen this season, and the Cats found a way to pull a win in a hostile SEC environment.  For Carolina, they are improving under Shane Beamer and will be in a bowl game this season.  Up next for them is Troy and an opportunity to go 3-2.

Florida 38, Tennessee 14

Why Should I Care:  Here’s the thing about Tennessee.  They have improved in areas and are laying the foundation to get better.  They threw a haymaker at the Gators and held a 14-10 lead before Florida rattled off 28 straight points to close the deal.  Did the Vols expose enough about the Gators that UK can take advantage of next Saturday?  The Vols have a date at Mizzou next in a game that could go either way.

Georgia 62, Vanderbilt 0

Why Should I Care:  Oooh.  Poor Vanderbilt.  The Dawgs came to Music City with bad intentions and followed through on them on the Commodores.  UGA had way too much of everything.  They are without question the team that can beat Alabama straight up.  Their defense is spectacular, and the offense with JT Daniels calling signals is very good.  UGA’s war machine goes home to face a rolling Arkansas squad in the game of the week in the SEC, while the Dores hope to get right against a hapless UConn squad and pick up win number two.  I’m pulling for the Music City boys. 

Boston College 41, Missouri 34

Why Should I Care:  I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Power Five school charge the field after beating a middling SEC school, but when you’re an SEC school, maybe you have status.  I don’t know.  Anywho, the Tigers jumped out quick, quit playing for a while, and played super at the end to get the game to OT.  I still think Mizzou is a good team, but they can’t rely on their offense to save the day over and over.  Their defense has to improve.  Up next for the Tigers is Tennessee in a tossup.

Alabama 63, Southern Miss 14

Why Should I Care:  The Crimson Tide was ho-hum again, impressive everywhere and blasting another team.  Their offense is getting better with every snap and that defense is tough, despite what Nick Saban would tell us.  Next week is a serious test for Bama as Ole Miss and their juggernaut offense rolls into Tuscaloosa.  Last season, the Rebels scored at will but could not stop the Tide.  You better believe Saban remembers every snap and will have the Tide laser-focused for this one.

Auburn 34, Georgia State 24

Why Should I Care:  Honestly, it took Tiger quarterback Bo Nix going out of the game and backup TJ Finley to save the day to beat the Panthers.  I’m not convinced about War Eagle.  They are very spotty- good one series, bad another.  They could be really good, and the first step is making Finley the starter.  Honestly, he’s better than Nix.  Bigger arm, is a better athlete, and is much stronger in the run game.  Next week, Auburn faces LSU in Baton Rouge in what could be a homecoming for Finley, an LSU transfer.

Arkansas 20, Texas A&M 10

Why Should I Care:  I’ll say it if no one else does.  The Hogs are a Top 10 squad right now and the second-best SEC West team behind Alabama.  They are solid on both sides of the ball, very physical, and do not beat themselves.  The job that Sam Pittman has done in Fayetteville is one of the best turnarounds in all of college football.  It was a ten-point game, but it never felt like Arkansas was ever in trouble.  For the Aggies, they have to find a quarterback.  Haynes King is so-so, and Zach Calzada is iffy at best.  They have talent across the board, but if you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have one.  The Hogs have a monster date with Georgia on the road and the Gig Ems play Mississippi State at home in College Station. 

LSU 28, Mississippi State 25

Why Should I Care:  The Dawgs took another team to the wire, but could not close the deal and win the game.  They’re getting closer due to their better-than-average defense and the influx of some running plays to go with the Air Raid passing game.  They’ll win a couple of tough ones soon.  For the Tigers, they are finding ways to win despite injuries on defense and an inconsistent offense.  The Dawgs face Texas A&M on the road and the Bayou Bengals play Auburn at home.

Week Five Predictions

Last week, the Backwoods Swami was 7-1 for the week and is 46-4 (.920) for the season.  My only loss was the Missouri overtime loss.  Not too shabby.

Let’s forecast Week Five.

Mississippi State at Texas A&M

Florida at Kentucky

Arkansas at Georgia

Tennessee at Missouri

Ole Miss at Alabama

Troy at South Carolina

UConn at Vanderbilt

Auburn at LSU

The Swami’s SEC Rankings

And to add a little somethin’ somethin’ to the wrapup, let’s do an SEC Conference weekly ranking list.  C’mon, it’ll be fun for the whole family.

1. Alabama
2. Georgia
3. Florida
4. Arkansas
5. Texas A&M
6. Ole Miss
7. LSU
8. Kentucky
9. Auburn
10. Mississippi State
11.      Missouri
12. Tennessee
13. South Carolina

14. Vanderbilt