Oct 24, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) carries the ball against Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Jarrett Johnson (40) during the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi Rebels beat Texas A&M Aggies 23-3. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Was week 8 exciting or what? Can week 9 provide the same level of competitiveness? It sure looks like it. Let’s recap week 8 and then launch full steam ahead into what week 9 has to offer. Arkansas and Auburn played one that will be remembered for at least a year. All of us at Southbound and Down knew the potential in Fayetteville, but none of us saw a 4 overtime thriller coming. Arkansas sure seems to know how to win those overtime games.
Oct 24, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) runs off the field after the Crimson Tide defeated the Volunteers 19-14 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The Third Saturday in October wasn’t finished. Tennessee and Alabama added drama on CBS later in the afternoon, with the Crimson Tide answering a late Tennessee march. Alabama has some things to clean up before LSU arrives in Tuscaloosa next weekend. Vanderbilt narrowly squeaked by Missouri in a defensive stale-mate. The Commodores flexed their unpredictable nature once more. The Landshark defense smelled blood in the water last Saturday night in Oxford and tormented Aggie quarterback Kyle Allen most of the night. Can Ole Miss stay consistent? That is the elephant in the war room at the Manning Center now. But on to this week and the top SEC games.
Starting off week 9 the Aggies look to rebound against South Carolina after two straight losses from the Western Division. Do the Aggies have a quarterback controversy brewing? Ole Miss and Auburn will square off at the same time. Just how valuable is that 11 AM start time for the Rebels? Florida and Georgia will go at it in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. History says to expect the unexpected. So does that bode well for the Bulldogs? Tennessee and Kentucky fight in Lexington in a game that carries heavy bowl eligibility implications. Are the Vols poised to finish off their October schedule with a win over the desperate Wildcats? Thoughts inside on everything covered above as week 9 begins to ramp up.