SEC East: Georgia makes the right call at QB

By foxsports
Published

The preseason favorite in the SEC East looked the part, dismantling Louisiana-Monroe 51-14 in less than four quarters of play – the game was called due to inclement weather in the fourth quarter. The weather wasn’t the lasting image from Athens, no the story of the game was transfer quarterback Greyson Lambert. 

In his first game as a Bulldog, Lambert effectively managed the offense well and even contributed two touchdowns along with 141 passing yards. If Lambert continues to effectively run the Georgia offense and can occasionally threaten teams with the downfield throw, the Bulldogs may prove too difficult to beat in the East. 

“He’s been very, very sharp,” coach Mark Richt said in his post game press conference. “He’s learned this offense extremely fast. He’s making good decisions. He’s getting us in the right plays, right protections and guys respect him.”

Playing well at home is one thing, but can Lambert play well on the road? We’ll find out right away as the Bulldogs travel to Nashville to take on a rested Vanderbilt defense that suffocated a high-powered Western Kentucky offense in their Thursday opener. 

Does Tennessee possess the SEC’s best running game?

Everyone already knew about quarterback Joshua Dobbs and his wheels, as well as the sophomore Jalen Hurd following his successful freshman campaign, but now Tennessee has a third threat as transfer running back Alvin Kamara showed in his first major collegiate performance. 

Kamara’s 144 rushing yards in his debut were the most ever in a back’s first game in the 119-year history of the Tennessee football program. The Vols regularly lined up all three players in the backfield causing chaos for the Bowling Green defense. 

Hurd ran for 123 yards and Dobbs chipped in 89 as the trio combined for six rushing touchdowns and a rushing average of 7.1 yards on 50 attempts. 

For the game, Tennessee was one yard shy of 400 rushing yards, a feat accomplished by only three teams in week one action. If the Vols are going to contend in the East this season, it will be behind the rushing attack of their new three-headed monster. 

Significant games this weekend:

Oklahoma at Tennessee – 3 p.m. ET

The Volunteer offense looked the part in the opener while the defense left much to be desired against Bowling Green. Tennessee should face a significantly more challenging opponent this week from the Sooners and their multitude of skill talent on offense. 

“We all also understand that the team we are about to face here in less than a week," Butch Jones said Monday. "I believe is a top 5 football team and a top 5 football program.”

The Vols’ fans plan to Checkerboard the stadium and the capacity crowd will be belting Rocky Top all night long in anticipation for Tennessee’s potential return to glory. Will this be the game that helps elevate the Volunteers back among the SEC elite?

Kentucky at South Carolina – 4:30 p.m. ET

Are the Wildcats ready to turn the corner under Mark Stoops? Can South Carolina contain SEC offenses with their revamped defense? Come Saturday night, we’ll have the answer to one, if not both, of these questions. 

Last season’s meltdown loss to Kentucky began the downward spiral nightmare season for the Gamecocks and a loss here could very well do the same to 2015’s aspirations. Kentucky is still searching for their first SEC road victory entering their third season under Stoops. “It is very important," Stoops said Monday. "That has been well documented, our struggles on the road against SEC opponents. This is going to be another great challenge. A great opportunity for us.”

Quick hits:  Both Florida quarterbacks Treon Harris and Will Grier looked great as they combined to throw for 379 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in a 61- 13 rout of New Mexico State...  New season, same results for Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk as the junior completed just over 50 percent of his throws against Southeast Missouri State. Mauk made some spectacular plays to go along with an interception on a bad throw. Missouri won’t win the East with Mauk turning the ball over this season...  Vanderbilt suffered the SEC’s only loss of the season at the hands of Western Kentucky, as the Commodores were stopped just short of a successful two-point conversion after their first touchdown of the game with less than one minute to go in the contest... South Carolina's revamped defense passed their first test of the season after holding North Carolina to 13 points in the opener. Will the Gamecocks exercise any demons this week after collapsing against Kentucky a season ago?

Michael Wayne Bratton covers the SEC for FOX Sports. You can follow him on Twitter at MichaelWBratton