Around the SEC (Nov. 21, 2016)

Welcome to Around the SEC! We’re back for an abbreviated week with action going down this week on Turkey Day and more, as it’s ‘rivalry week’ around the country. Lots of fun stuff is on the horizon folks. Get ready.

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Florida rises in the polls (Alligator Army)

After several weeks of Florida being the only SEC East team in the rankings, Tennessee sneaks back into the polls and joins the Gators. The Volunteers are at No. 24 in both rankings. Elsewhere in the SEC, Alabama remains at No. 1, as they have all season.

The fourth year (Anchor of Gold)

But last night was the culmination of what Mason has been building for over the last three years. Ralph Webb got healthy. On a chilly night in Nashville, Vanderbilt’s receivers showed up to play. Kyle Shurmur finally hit that play action bomb that Andy Ludwig had spent the entire season setting up.

Podcasting ‘bout some Hogs (Arkansas Fight)

Can you believe there’s only one more (not including the Bowl game) game left in Arkansas football? I mean, Coach Bielema has the chance to once again add one more win to his previous seasons record, which is pretty remarkable. What else is remarkable you may ask? We scored 58 points on the road and WON! But, let’s don’t harp on the positives...cause my god are their negatives.

Viewing Auburn from the couch (College and Magnolia)

The offense struggled at times, but with the starting running back and starting quarterback hurt, that wasn't a shock, either. They got things going after some struggles and managed to put this game away early.

No need to look for new coach (Dawg Sports)

Congratulations, Isaiah McKenzie who is now Georgia’s all-time punt-return touchdown leader with 5. Good things generally happen when you score, so as inconsistent as we played for much of the day I still felt pretty good about the eventual outcome when you took the first snap from scrimmage and blazed towards the end zone.

Bulldogs defeat Miners. Weird to say (FWtCT)

Although Quinndary Weatherspoon struggled, the Bulldogs were able to find a way to win thanks to other contributors on the team stepping up. Weatherspoon had 9 points, 3 rebounds, and a pair of steals in today’s game.

Passing out game balls (GAB Attack)

Offensive coordinator Kurt Roper wasn’t doing anything too special or creative in getting his freshman running back the ball. Many of Dowdle’s plays came straight up the middle, on either option read plays or designed inside runs.

Let’s look inside the numbers (Good Bull Hunting)

Yes. That was certainly...a game, alright. We suppose we should look on the bright side and say that no one got hurt (we think), we rested some guys (maybe?) and hell, even a few of our most hated rivals had really bad days yesterday. We takes what we can gets.

Ole Miss made Vandy look great. That’s troubling. (Red Cup Rebellion)

Any late-season momentum that Ole Miss built up with its dramatic upset of Texas A&M was torn asunder in Nashville on Saturday night. After cruising to an early 10-0 lead, the Rebels watched impotently as Vanderbilt—yes, Vanderbilt—piled up 31 unanswered points en route to an eventual 38-17 win.

They ran, but couldn’t hide (Rock M Nation)

After sacking the quarterback on six occasions versus Vanderbilt, the vaunted D-Line Zou was only able to muster one sack of Dobbs. More often than not, the Tigers found themselves grasping at air as they unsuccessfully made attempts to bring Dobbs to the ground. Dobbs torched them for five total touchdowns — three passing and two rushing.

How do we view Tennessee’s 2016? (Rocky Top Talk)

A comparison we look to around here from time to time is Butch Jones at Tennessee and Hugh Freeze at Ole Miss, one year ahead: two unproven head coaches on the SEC level who made an immediate and stunning impact in recruiting to turn their programs around.

Coach O wants to get a premier O...C (SB Nation)

LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron is no longer the favorite to replace Les Miles in 2017 and beyond, but he’s planning an aggressive pitch to athletic director Joe Alleva following the Tigers’ season finale on Thanksgiving night at Texas A&M.

Savoring a ‘Bama-less week (SB Nation)

With Rivalry Week being all that's left of the 2016 regular season, let's take a few dozen minutes and ask some questions.

The Browns want ‘Bama (SB Nation)

Sometimes in life it’s important to change your expectations instead of waiting for the universe to change something for you. It’s a critical lesson Cleveland Browns fans learned on Sunday while watching their team struggle once again to do anything against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

‘Bama and UF are playing... again (SB Nation)

The SEC Championship only started in 1992. Its first game was between the Gators and Tide, and that’s been the matchup in eight of 24 games in total. Just 11 of the games have proceeded without one of Alabama and Florida involved, out of a league that’s had 12 and then 14 teams throughout the game’s lifespan. It’s been an incredible monopolization of the league final in the country’s best conference.

Scouting Quade Green (A Sea of Blue)

Green, the fourth-ranked point guard in the Class of 2017, has been deadlocked between Kentucky and Jim Boeheim's Syracuse Orange. National powers like Duke and Villanova have been in the chase as well, but ultimately, the Philadelphia native is coming to Lexington.

Takeaways from the win over Duquesne (A Sea of Blue)

For the fourth straight game, Kentucky’s guard play made their presence felt on both ends of the court. Kentucky gained an early 21-11 lead and never looked back. The Wildcats routed the Duquesne Dukes 93-59 to start their season 4-0.