Week 2 is here, and there are some massive matchups on Saturday. Each and every week we’ll have a morning primer to get ready for the day’s action. Here’s the latest around the SEC and what to watch for.
Friday update: SEC stays undefeated
The Border War rivalry between Kansas and Missouri resumed on Friday night in Lawrence, Ks. One of the fiercest rivalries in all of college football, one that often goes overlooked, was on full display. Missouri opened as nearly a touchdown favorite, but as the week went on, Kansas became more and more of a trendy pick to pull the upset. That trend didn’t get very far.
Missouri played about as poorly as possible for over half of the game, and still left with a 38-21 emphatic win. The run game struggled at times, and the pass catchers really struggled. But, Austin Simmons was incredible all night. He ended the night with 300 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. Even with all the drops, he finished with a 65.5% completion percentage. It was a statement win for head coach Eli Drinkwitz who improved to 12-3 in rivalry games and 6-0 as a road favorite against unranked teams.
The SEC is now 17-0 on the season and improved to 4-0 against Power Four opponents this season.
Final: Missouri 38, Kansas 17
Drinkwitz goes off on Kansas on social media
Leading up to the Kansas-Missouri game, the Kansas Jayhawks’ media team put out a hype video that was as controversial as you could imagine. The theme of the video stretched far beyond trash talk about football or the athletic departments, and several segments included references to Missouri not being anti-slavery during the Civil War. While the history lesson was interesting, it was also wildly uncalled for a football game.
Drinkwitz felt the same way, and made several comments about it during his postgame press conference. He then took to social media and circled back to some receipts he took from the pregame arrogance on Kansas’ side.
Give yourself the gift of nostalgia today
There are some really good games today, but let me give you an elevator pitch on why you should be glued to the television at 2:30 p.m. for Mississippi State at Minnesota. If you’re like most SEC fans, you miss the nostalgia and good ole days of the SEC on CBS era. Well at 2:30 today you can relive some of that nostalgia directly in your veins. There will be an SEC team featured, the theme song we all know and love will blare during the intro, and best of all – no Gary Danielson on the broadcast.
There will be better games this Saturday, but there may not be a better minute and a half than the one I just described.
Head Start for the Heisman?
There are several big games on Saturday and almost all of the premiere matchups could also play a role in some early season momentum for this year’s Heisman Trophy. Three of the top four players with the current best odds for the Heisman will face off in Austin tonight during Texas-Ohio State. As of Saturday 11 of the top 22 odds to win this year’s trophy are quarterbacks from the SEC.
Here’s a look where the current odds are for all 11 SEC quarterbacks and where they rank nationally.
2. Arch Manning, Texas +1000
7. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss +1200
8. Sam Leavitt, LSU +1500
12. John Mateer, Oklahoma +3000
13. Keelon Russell, Alabama +3000
14. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M +3500
15. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina +4000
16. Austin Simmons, Missouri +5000
T18. Aaron Philo, Florida +5500
T18. Gunner Stockton, Georgia +5500
22. Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State +6500
Winner Winner Kickin’ Dinner
Some people love the segment, and some people hate it. However, everyone should love the charitable aspect of Pat McAfee giving away six figures or more every Saturday on College GameDay in the weekly kicking contest. This week a freshman named Connor took the stage, and before the big moment, grabbed the mic and told McAfee that half of his winnings would go to a charity in his hometown of Indianapolis, where McAfee punted for the Colts.
That is if he won. Connor missed the first kick, but also showed off arguably the best leg we’ve ever seen in the contest. He was awarded another chance as actor Matthew McConaughey and the crowd looked on, and the freshman at Texas absolutely drilled it for $1.2 million.
The Slate (all times central)
11:00 a.m. – Arizona State at Texas A&M | Texas A&M -14.5 | ABC
11:00 a.m. – Oklahoma at Michigan | Oklahoma -4.5 | FOX
11:45 a.m. – Western Kentucky at Georgia | Georgia -40.5 | SEC Network
2:30 p.m. – Alabama at Kentucky | Alabama -10.5 | ABC
2:30 p.m. – Mississippi State at Minnesota | Mississippi State -2.5 | CBS
3:15 p.m. – Delaware at Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt -21| SEC Network
4:30 p.m. – Campbell at Florida | Florida -49.5 | SEC Network+
6:00 p.m. – Tennessee at Georgia Tech | Tennessee -11.5 | ESPN
6:00 p.m. – Towson at South Carolina | South Carolina -43.5 | SEC Network+
6:30 p.m. – Louisiana Tech at LSU | LSU -35.5 | SEC Network+
6:30 p.m. – Ohio State at Texas | Texas -1.5 | ABC
6:45 p.m. – Charlotte at Ole Miss | Ole Miss -44.5 | ESPN2
6:45 p.m. – Southern Miss at Auburn | Auburn -32.5 | SEC Network
9:15 p.m. – Arkansas at Utah | Utah -12.5 | ESPN
