The first half of the season has come and gone, so let’s take a look back at the top teams, individuals and performances of the first six weeks.
Top offensive player
Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas: Replacing Ryan Mallett was a daunting task, but Wilson has more than capably guided the Razorbacks to a SEC-high 39.2 points per game. Wilson leads the conference with 1,779 yards passing, is third with 12 touchdown passes and second in passing efficiency. He set a school record by throwing for 510 yards in a 42-38 victory over Texas A&M, the fifth highest total in SEC history.
Top defensive player
Melvin Ingram, DT, South Carolina: In a conference full of fast and furious defenders, Ingram has had a season of outstanding plays. He has scored three TDs — including rumbling 68 yards on a fake punt to help beat Georgia — picked off two passes and recovered two fumbles for the Gamecocks. He even recovered an onside kick to clinch the win at Georgia. By the way, Ingram has 7 1/2 tackles for loss and 5 1/2 sacks, despite missing parts of the past two games with an injured ankle.
Top rookie
Isaiah Crowell, RB, Georgia: Crowell has shown why he was one of the top high school running backs in the nation last year. He's the fourth leading rusher in the SEC with 95.5 yards per game and has provided balance and stability to a backfield rocked by the offseason losses of Caleb King and Washaun Ealey. Crowell has rushed for 573 yards, four touchdowns and has averaged 4.9 yards per carry, taking some of the burden off quarterback Aaron Murray.
Top coach
Les Miles, LSU: Despite leading LSU to a national title in 2007, Miles has been more known for taking chances and trickery, not his traditional coaching methods. This season, Miles refused to allow the Tigers be distracted when starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson was arrested and suspended and guided them through a tough early-season stretch in which they defeated Oregon, Mississippi State and West Virginia away from home.
Biggest surprise
A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama: Sure, having Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy in the backfield makes life easier on the Alabama quarterback. But McCarron won a preseason battle for the starting job and has not thrown an interception in five consecutive games. He's completing 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,156 yards and eight touchdowns with only two interceptions. McCarron has played so well that opponents can't crowd the line of scrimmage to shut down Alabama's running game.
Biggest disappointment
This might be indicative of the SEC’s strong defenses, but several teams — including Auburn, South Carolina and Mississippi State — have received lackluster quarterback play. Only Wilson, Murray and Tennessee’s Tyler Bray have averaged more than 200 yards passing, and Bray will miss at least six weeks with a broken right thumb. Incumbents Chris Relf (Mississippi State), John Brantley (Florida) and Stephen Garcia (South Carolina) have struggled (Garcia since kicked off the team), and newcomers such as Morgan Newton (Kentucky) and Barrett Trotter (Auburn) have been average at best.
Game to remember
South Carolina 45, Georgia 42: Ingram was the hero, scoring two of the Gamecocks' three non-offensive touchdowns — including the game-winner on a 5-yard fumble recovery — in a game that wasn't over until he smothered Georgia's onside kick. The teams combined for five touchdowns in the fourth quarter, three in the final 3:28. Strong performances by South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore (174 yards rushing, one touchdown) and Crowell (118 yards, one touchdown) were nearly lost in the wild events.
Game to see
LSU at Alabama, Nov. 5: The top two teams in the SEC — and perhaps the country — will be on display in a game that could impact who wins the national championship. The Crimson Tide play Mississippi and Tennessee the next two weeks, and the Tigers must get past Tennessee and Auburn for both teams to go into the matchup undefeated. Both teams are off Oct. 29, giving them an extra week to prepare for the showdown of the season.
Quotable
“They’re not as good as advertised. I think the D-linemen and front seven is really, really good. Alabama’s hands down a lot better. A lot more physical, just tougher guys. If I had to pick one to not go against, it’d definitely be Alabama.” — Florida’s Trey Burton on LSU’s defensive backs. The Gators have lost to Alabama and LSU the past two weeks.
“We felt like we owed them something. Back in 2008 they beat us by 30 at their place. We talked about it all week long, and we wanted to repay that. Fortunately we got them by 30, so we’ll call it even I guess.” — LSU guard Will Blackwell on the Tigers’ 41-11 victory over Florida
By the numbers
4 SEC teams in the top 10 in the nation in total defense. Alabama is third, LSU is fifth, Georgia is sixth and South Carolina is ninth.
119 Kentucky's rank in total offense among 120 FBS (formerly Division I-A) teams. The Wildcats are averaging 229 yards a game, ahead of only Kent State.
Saturday’s schedule
South Carolina at Mississippi State, 12:21 p.m. (WPCH)
LSU at Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
Alabama at Mississippi, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
Florida at Auburn, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Georgia at Vanderbilt, 7 p.m. (FSSO)
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