Alabama avoided disaster at the final moment this weekend in its much-anticipated game against Texas A&M. Auburn and its offense fared about as well against Georgia as we thought they would Saturday.
What did we learn from week six in college football?
BAMA KNOWS HOW TO WIN, BUT NEEDS BRYCE BACK
Jalen Milroe is a pure athlete. He’s also a mystery wrapped in an enigma. He’s been most dangerous on his feet, rushing for 174 yards in seven quarters against Arkansas and Texas A&M.
After two fumbles in the first half against the Aggies, it’s going to be nerve-wracking to see him hold the ball past the scrimmage line with one hand.
In the pocket, Milroe shows patience and poise. When the ball leaves his hand, however, it sometimes goes other places than where it’s supposed to. Yet, he somehow managed to throw for three scores this weekend.
While Milroe will grow and get better in the weeks to come, Alabama fans will welcome the moment they see Bryce Young return from injury.
Alabama defense is one of the scariest in the Saban era. The secondary has gelled, linebackers have never been more in sync, and defensive coordinator Pete Golding has hit a playcalling rhythm earlier in a season than he ever has.
Was No. 1 Alabama supposed to need all 60 minutes to beat unranked Texas A&M at home this weekend? No.
But it’s not time to panic as the polls have, dropping the Tide to No. 3 behind top-ranked Georgia and No. 2 Ohio State.
It took a historic number of turnovers and an injured Heisman winner for Jimbo Fisher’s clown show to stay in the game and almost pull off a second consecutive win against the Tide.
That being said, the road doesn’t get smoother for Saban. Next week, travels to Knoxville to face a No. 6 Tennessee team that hasn’t been this ready or capable of beating the Tide in literally decades.
AUBURN ONE STEP CLOSER TO A NEW COACH
The powers that be in Lee County are one step closer to closing out the brief Bryan Harsin era at Auburn.
Losing big to a top rival – no matter how wide the spread is – will do that to a program.
The Tigers’ passing game didn’t get any better, with Robby Ashford going 13-38 and 165 yards. Depressingly, he again led the team in rushing over Tank Bigsby.
Auburn’s defense also made Georgia quarterback look like Randall Cunningham on a few plays, letting the former walk on sprint for 64 yards on three rushes for one touchdown.
Even though Auburn gave fans hope after the first quarter – and kept it close until halftime – we knew this game would end up like this. They were playing a behemoth Georgia team at home after two weeks of Bulldog under-performance.
The only question that remains is if Harsin will be given the rest of the season to yield these predictable results or if someone else will be given the reins before November hits.
Auburn continues its road trip next week against No. 9 Mississippi.
ELSEWHERE IN THE SEC
It was another week in the Southeastern Conference that showed how tough the league really is this year.
No. 8 Tennessee bulldozed No. 25 LSU in Death Valley in another blow to Brian Kelly’s inaugural season in Baton Rouge.
South Carolina took advantage of injuries under center to deal No. 13 Kentucky its second-straight conference loss.
No. 23 Mississippi State made quick work of Arkansas. If not for a down week against LSU, the Bulldogs from Starkville could be a top ten team.
No. 9 Mississippi let Vanderbilt hang around in the first half before turning on the jets and destroying the Commodores, 52-28.
What did we get wrong? What games are you looking forward to? Let us know on Twitter or Instagram. Listen to Throw the Flag wherever you get your podcasts.
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