Best and Worst SEC Football Performances: Week 8

Oct 24, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Brandon Harris (6) passes as Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defensive lineman Jontavious Morris (3) defends during the second quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Harris and his duo of favorite targets, QB & WR, LSU

– Surprise LSU has a passing game. If it wasn’t evident already after their top-10 win against Florida in week 7, the Tigers proved in week 8 that they aren’t just a team being carried on the back of running back Leonard Fournette.

Last week against the Gators, Harris connected on 13 of his 19 passing attempts for 202 yards and two touchdowns.  He then carried that momentum into this week’s game against Western Kentucky.

Harris threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns on 11 of 20 passing. While Fournette has still been productive scoring in both of the past two games for the Tigers, the ability to air it out is making the Tigers very successful as of late.

Harris couldn’t be having this much success, though. without the help of his two most trusted wide receivers: Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural. Those two combined have caught 17 of Harris’ 24 completions over the past two weeks for 398 yards and four touchdowns.

The combination of Dupre, Dural and Harris are going to push this Tigers team into the SEC Championship game and potentially even the College Football Playoff. We’ll see how it plays out.

Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

– Despite a rough night for quarterback Chad Kelly in Oxford, Laquon Treadwell didn’t have any trouble lighting up the Texas A&M secondary for some major yardage and a few big plays.

Oct 24, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (1) Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Cody Core (88) and Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Markell Pack (11) celebrate during the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi Rebels beat Texas A&M Aggies 23-3. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Treadwell, who was taken out last year with a season ending leg injury, has put up decent numbers so far this season as the Rebels continue to be one of the top teams in the SEC.

In week 8, Treadwell finally showed that he is back at the top level of his game against the then-No. 15 Aggies defense on Saturday. Ole Miss went on to win 23-3.

Like I said, the Rebels’ quarterback Chad Kelly had a rough time against the Aggies.  While throwing three interceptions in the game)l,  he knew where to go when he needed a key reception.  HE went to his number one – Treadwell.

Treadwell had five receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown against the Aggies and scored the only touchdown in the second half and the first after a short touchdown toss in the first quarter.

The touchdown connection between Treadwell and Kelly was a 58-yard bomb that increased the Rebels lead  in the third quarter.

Treadwell split between two defenders and caught the ball in stride on his way to the end zone.

If the Rebels want to contend for the SEC West as the season winds down, they will need more performances like these from Treadwell. In addition, Kelly will have to not turn the ball over as much because they won’t always be able to rely on their defense in hostile environments or against powerful offensive teams like we’ve seen in the Rebels two losses this season.

Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State

– The first twelve minutes of Kentucky and Mississippi State’s game Saturday was a back and forth duel – then Dak Prescott found the end zone. One taste is all he would need and for the second straight week Prescott ends up on the Best of the Week docket in the SEC.

Prescott punched in a goalline 1-yard touchdown with 2:39 remaining in the first quarter and the next time he got on the field marched his team down the field for a touchdown capping off a 75-yard drive that took just over two minutes to complete. The next three times the Bulldogs would score six, and all three drives took less than 1:45.

Prescott threw for 348 yards and three touchdowns while adding 117 yards and three scores on the ground. A truly dominant performance from the senior stud at Mississippi State.

All his numbers in week 8 were season-highs and he looked like the Dak Prescott of 2014.  Unfortunately for him, after (probably) dismantling Missouri in week 10 his final three games are against Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss. More likely than not, those won’t leave him in good spirits as his career winds down in Starkville. The Bulldogs will use their bye week to prepare for Mizzou on Nov. 5.

We looked at who was hot in week 8, but who was not?

Next: Worst of the Week