If that was supposed to be a battle of Top 5 teams in Baton Rouge, then color me unimpressed. Florida took on its biggest challenge of the year and passed with flying colors as they dropped the Tigers as a 10-point road favorite, 13-3.
When you hear that score, you expected it to be a closely contested battle. The stats, however, show a one-sided affair.
The Gators outgained LSU by almost a 2:1 margin (325-161). And the Tigers were only able to convert just one of their nine third-down opportunities. Louisiana State’s longest play of the night was a 27-yard pass completion from Jordan Jefferson to Brandon LaFell early in the second quarter – it accounted for a quarter of LSU’s passing yards for the night (98).
Tim Tebow came back with a vengeance on Saturday night, completing 11 of 15 passes for 132 yards with the game’s lone touchdown. Tebow also showed no ill effects from his concussion by running himself 18 times for 37 yards.
Florida’s path to the SEC Title Game appears to be virtually assured when looking at its schedule. The Gators will no doubt be double-digit favorites the rest of the regular season.
The only team that stands in the Gators’ way is Alabama, who was facing the Rebels as a four-point road “chalk.” The Crimson Tide used their defense to stifle Mississippi to just 193 total yards on offense and not allowing them to move the chains on all 10 third-downs. Jevan Snead was suckered into throwing four interceptions, killing any shot at momentum Ole Miss may have had during the match. Mark Ingram paced the Tide with 175 rushing yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.
The Red River Rivalry will be at the Cotton Bowl next weekend, but a possible spot in the national title game is in the balance…just not for both teams.
Texas overcame an early 14-3 deficit to overtake the Buffaloes, 38-14. Colt McCoy connected on 32 of his 39 passes for 265 yards and one score. McCoy’s roommate, Jordan Shipley, caught 11 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown. He also returned a punt 74 yards for a score to help seal the deal. The Longhorns also had a blocked punt and picked off a pass for a touchdown to dominate the Buffs. The only thing the ‘Horns failed to do was cover as 34-point home faves.
The Sooners got their Heisman Trophy winner back under center and never looked back against Baylor, 33-7. Sam Bradford looked like he never left as he completed 26 of 48 passes for 386 yards and a touchdown. Chris Brown also had a great afternoon for Oklahoma by rushing for 72 yards and two scores on 19 carries. As great as the win was, gamblers didn’t get paid by backing OU as they failed to cover as a 27-point home favorite.
We did have a couple of unbeaten teams finally take their first tumble of the season.
Auburn was starting to get some ESPN love after starting 5-0 this season. Then the Razorbacks slapped Gene Chizik and company back to reality with a 44-23 setback to win as two-point home pups. Arkansas was paced by Ryan Mallett’s 274 passes yards and three touchdowns (two passing, one run). The Hogs also got to Chris Todd three times for a loss of 31 yards. And the Razorbacks held Auburn to just four third-down conversions on 14 chances.
The Badgers were the one 5-0 team that nobody was buying into this year. I can’t fault the skepticism since one of their big wins was against those bullies from Wofford. Wisconsin actually outgained the Buckeyes 368-184, but still wound up losing 31-13. How did that happen? Scott Tolzien was picked off twice by Ohio State – both were taken to the house for touchdowns. And Ray Small busted through for a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to eliminate any doubt. Even better for me is the fact that OSU covered as a 15 ½-point home favorite.
There is one unbeaten left in the Big Ten and they’re starting to look legit. Iowa didn’t cover as an eight-point home favorite against the Wolverines, but still walked away with a 30-28 win. The Hawkeyes’ Ricky Stanzi gave up a pick-six on his first pass of the game, but found a way to throw for 284 yards and a pair of scores. Iowa’s defense was up to the task as well by forcing five Wolverine turnovers, which were converted into six points. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it was just enough to keep them perfect.
We’re going to see if the Hawkeyes can keep it up as they play back-to-back road games in Wisconsin and Michigan State. If Iowa makes it through those tilts unscathed, then a Nov. 14 showdown with the Bucks in Ohio Stadium could determine who makes it to the Rose Bowl.
You can reach Judd Hall via e-mail at judd@vegasinsider.com
