Oct 09, 2018

Big Ten & SEC Week 6 Recap: Two Top-10 SEC West powers upset on the road

Big Ten

SEC

AP Top 10

1. Alabama
2. Georgia
3. Ohio State
4. Clemson
5. Notre Dame
6. West Virginia
7. Washington
8. Penn State
9. Texas
10. UCF

The Swamp comes alive as Florida upsets LSU

No. 22 Florida scored with eight minutes remaining and held off fifth-ranked LSU 27-19 on Saturday in front of a packed house of 90,283 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

The win was Florida’s first over a top-5 opponent since it beat No. 3 Ole Miss, 38-10, in October 2015, and the Gators have now defeated ranked opponents in consecutive weeks for the first time since Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, 2008 (No. 23 Florida State and No. 1 Alabama).

The Tigers defense held the Gators scoreless in the first quarter, but Florida’s offense came alive in the second quarter after Tim Tebow was inducted into the Florida’s ring of honor during the intermission, outscoring the Tigers 14-3 in the second quarter.

With 11:14 remaining, LSU took a 19-14 lead on running back Nick Brossette’s second touchdown of the game. However, the Tigers’ two-point attempt was batted away and Florida answered with a nine-play, 75-yard drive to take earn a 20-19 lead. On the drive, Lucas Krull lofted a pass to Franks on a trick play that set up the go-ahead touchdown.

The Gators put the game away with 1:45 to play when Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow threw his first interception in 160 pass attempts as a Tiger. Florida’s Brad Stewart Jr. returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.

LSU takes on Georgia at home next week while the Gators travel to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt.

Bulldogs’ defense stands tough, MSU upsets Auburn

Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald ran for 195 yards and two touchdowns, and the Bulldogs’ defense had a dominant performance in a 23-9 victory over No. 8 Auburn on Saturday night

The Bulldogs have now allowed less than 14 points five times this season, which is best in the FBS. The Bulldogs have also out-scored opponents 117-21 in the first half this season

On offense, the Bulldogs eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark for the fourth time this season, and finished the game with 353 yards on the ground — the most Mississippi State rushing yards against an SEC opponent since the Bulldogs had 457 against Ole Miss in the 2016 Egg Bowl. It was also the most rushing yards allowed by Auburn since LSU had 411 on Sept. 9, 2015.

Overall, Fitzgerald accounted for 264 yards of total offense, including 195 yards on the ground, and two rushing touchdowns. Fitzgerald’s performance on the ground brought his career rushing yard total to 2,999, surpassing Tebow for the most rushing yards in SEC history.

Texas A&M needs overtime to top Kentucky

Texas A&M handed Kentucky its first loss of the season as Trayveon Williams flipped into the end zone for 10-yard touchdown run to seal a 20-14 overtime win for the Aggies.

The Wildcats were looking to improve to 6-0 for the first time since 1950 before the Aggies snapped a six-game losing streak to Associated Press Top 25 opponents, including losses this season to top-ranked Alabama and then-No. 2 Clemson.

The Wildcats’ offense struggled all night against a stout Aggies’ defense. Kentucky managed just 178 yards of total offense, with star running back Benny Snell, Jr. held to a season-low 60 yards rushing. The Wildcats’ defense kept the game close, however, by keeping the Aggies off the board and forcing two key turnovers. UK has allowed 83 points this season, fewest in the first six games of a season since 2008.

The Aggies appeared to be in control late in the game and were trying to drain the clock when quarterback Kellen Mond fumbled and Kentucky safety Darius West scooped up the ball and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown to tie it at 14 with 4:17 remaining.

In overtime, Kentucky kicker Miles Butler missed a 43-yard field goal off the crossbar, setting up Williams’ game-winning touchdown run four plays later.

Kentucky has an open date before playing host to Vanderbilt on Oct. 20. Texas A&M travels to take on South Carolina next Saturday

Northwestern wins third straight over Michigan State

Northwestern beat Michigan State for the third straight time on Saturday, as Clayton Thorson threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 29-19 win in East Lansing. The victory was the Wildcats’ first win over a ranked opponent since their 2017 win over the Spartans.

Michigan State entered Saturday’s game with the top ranked run defense in the country and held Northwestern to eight total rushing yards on the afternoon. However, the MSU defense was picked apart by Thorson who completed 31 of 47 passes and threw three touchdowns.

After falling behind 14-6 at the half, Michigan State responded with fourteen unanswered points on a pair of Felton Davis III touchdown catches. The Wildcats took the lead back off a 21-yard touchdown pass from Thorson to Cameron Green with 15 seconds left in the third, and a 2-point conversion gave Northwestern a 22-19 lead.

Next Saturday the Wildcats host Nebraska, while the Spartans play at Penn State.

Vote for the Play of the Week!

Week 6 was filled with memorable plays and moments in the Big Ten and SEC. Here were two of our favorites. Make sure you vote for the best in the poll below

1.) Georgia’s Terry Godwin makes a great catch and then stays on his feet for the touchdown.

2.) Iowa’s Brandon Smith makes an incredible catch over the defender

 

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