The surprise
Of all the SEC surprises, none may be bigger than Kentucky’s success.
The Wildcats climbed to 5-1, albeit with a non-conference victory against Louisiana-Monroe, but they also scored more than 45 points for the second week in a row and are within a victory of qualifying for their first bowl game since 2010.
The one thing keeping Kentucky competitive in SEC games, a fierce pass rush. The Wildcats had six more sacks on Saturday.
“This year’s team has a different vibe, different swag, different mentality on offense and defense,” said senior defensive end Alvin “Bud” Dupree, who had five tackles including 1.5 sacks. “Coaches know us now. We know the coaches. … We have a good feel for it, so we just go out and execute better.”
Historic shutout
With the 34-0 shutout of No. 23 Missouri, Georgia posted its first road shutout over a ranked team today since 1982 when it hammered No. 20 Florida 44-0 in Jacksonville, and that, of course, was a neutral-site contest.
It marked the first time in school history that Georgia did it on a ranked opponent’s home field.
The other shutouts over ranked teams came in Athens or in bowl games including a victory against then-No. 18 Missouri in the 1960 Orange Bowl in Miami when Fran Tarkenton threw for two touchdowns. It was the ninth shutout under coach Mark Richt and the fourth in the SEC. Missouri last suffered a shutout in 2002 against Kansas State.
Numbers game
4 Turnovers by Auburn in the loss at Mississippi State, the most by the Tigers with Gus Malzahn as head coach.
175 Consecutive games with points by Alabama, the longest streak in school history.
143 Rushing yards for Georgia freshman Nick Chubb, on 38 carries, as he replaced Todd Gurley as the featured back against Missouri.
38 Chubb's carries, the most for UGA since Verron Haynes went for 207 yards on 39 carries during the 2001 Georgia Tech game.
2 Rushing touchdowns against Tennessee-Chattanooga for Tennessee's Justin Worley, the first Vols QB to do so since was Casey Clausen in a 45-17 Florida Citrus Bowl triumph against Michigan on Jan. 1, 2002.
Standings
East; SEC; All
Georgia;3-1;5-1
Florida;2-1;3-1
Kentucky;2-1;5-1
Missouri;1-1;4-2
S. Carolina;2-3;3-3
Tennessee;0-2;3-3
Vanderbilt;0-4;1-5
West; SEC;; All
Miss. State;3-0;6-0
Ole Miss;2-0;5-0
Auburn;2-1;5-1
Texas A&M;2-1;5-1
Alabama;1-1;4-1
LSU;0-2;4-2
Arkansas;0-2;3-2
Through afternoon games
Saturday’s schedule
Furman at S.C., noon (SEC)
Texas A&M at Alabama, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
Georgia at Arkansas, 4 p.m. (SEC)
Missouri at Florida, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Tennessee at Ole Miss, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Kentucky at LSU, 7:30 p.m. (SEC)
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