Around the SEC: Week 9

The favored teams of the SEC defended their rank in the polls by dominating teams they were suspected of beating.

The most anticipated game of the week for the SEC was Kentucky hosting No. 19 Tennessee who clinched a 33-27 victory and bumped their rank from No. 21 to No. 19 in the AP poll.

Tennessee dropped in the polls after their loss to No. 8 Alabama in Week 8 and needed this win to retain their reputation as a mediocre opponent in the conference.

This match-up was the closest game in the SEC this week with all of the other games ending in at least a 13-point difference.

Tennessee finished the first quarter with a 10-0 lead but Kentucky began to creep up by gaining 17 points in the second quarter with touchdowns from sophomore wide receiver Barion Brown and senior running back Ray Davis.

Quarterback Devin Leary kept Kentucky trailing behind Tennessee throughout the game with 372 passing yards and 2 touchdowns.

Both teams kept the second quarter interesting, scoring touchdowns one after another making the game a nail-biter.

The Volunteers dominated in rushing yards by gaining 253 yds while the Wildcats could only gain 72 yds.

Despite Kentucky’s persistence, Tennessee kept the lead with major finishes from kicker Charles Campbell who completed a 35-yard field goal and a 49-yard field goal to keep the Volunteers ahead.

No. 11 Ole Miss annihilated Vanderbilt with a 33-7 victory which was crucial for their rank and reputation because of their reality check against Auburn in Week 8; a bottom-tier opponent.

Ole Miss controlled the game in the first half. The Rebels did not allow the Commodores points on the board until the 3rd quarter and proved that they are the same team that upset No. 13 LSU in Week 5 as the No. 20 team.

No. 1 Georgia (8-0, 5-0 SEC) traveled to Gainesville and defended their undefeated record after beating Florida 43-20.

The Bulldogs just about satisfied the predictions of being 14-point favorites.

However, Florida quarterback Graham Mertz found wide receiver Eugine Wilson III for a 25-yard touchdown in the first quarter to take the early lead.

Georgia reciprocated quickly with a 22-yard field goal from kicker Peyton Woodring and finished the half with an intimidating 41-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Carson Becker to wide receiver Ladd McConkey.

Predictably, Georgia shut down any hope Florida had of winning the game by taking over the second and third quarters and simply doing what they do against unranked teams like the Gators.

Texas A&M embarrassed South Carolina with a 30-17 win keeping the GameCocks at 1-5 going into Week 10.

Alabama had their bye week and is well-rested to host LSU on Nov. 4, who they have beaten 10 times in their last 12 match-ups.

Sophia Monteforte is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email smm8954@psu.edu.