Around the SEC West: Week 3

#1 Alabama (3-0, 1-0) and #10Texas A&M (2-1, 0-1) - If you're like me, then when you think of SEC football, you think of a game featuring 1,196 total yards of offense and 91 points.

What's that? You don't think that at all? Oh, well, that's what we got last weekend when Alabama and Texas A&M faced off in College Station. The final score was 49 to 42 in favor of the top-ranked Crimson Tide in a tit-for-tat type of game that went well into the fourth quarter. Johnny Manziel was phenomenal for the most part, going 28-of-39 for 464 yards, five touchdowns, and two picks. He also rushed for 98 yards on 14 attempts. His top target was Mike Evans, who averaged nearly FORTY YARDS A RECEPTION, gaining 279 yards on seven catches.

Those are video game numbers, y'all.

AJ McCarron had his expected efficient performance, as he calmly completed 20-of-29 for 334 yards, four scores, and no picks. Alabama also leaned heavily on their rushing game, as TJ Yeldon picked up 149 yards and a score on 25 carries. Aside from the "allowing the Aggies to absolutely gut the Tide secondary," it was as Sabanesque an offensive performance as we'd expect, aside from the letting off of the gas in the fourth with the game out of reach.

This game has already undoubtedly caused people to suggest that Alabama's defense isn't cut out to be the defense of a number one team. Well, so long as they keep winning, that doesn't really matter at all. And I still believe they're one of the better defenses in the country, and will prove as much throughout the season. Johnny Manziel and Mike Evans are, turns out, just that good.

Arkansas (3-0, 0-0) - Arkansas attempted a total of 11 passes against Southern Miss, completing just six of them for 69 yards. Doing what Bret Bielema has set out to do, they kept it on the ground, and again had both Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins top 100 yards each. Each had a rushing touchdown, as did quarterback Brandon Allen, in a lazy 24-3 victory over Southern Miss.

Auburn (3-0, 1-0) and Mississippi State (1-2, 0-1) - Auburn won it's first SEC game in a year-and-a-half with a 24 to 20 victory over Mississippi State. Auburn scored on their final drive with an 11 yard touchdown pass from Nick Marshall to CJ Uzomah. Marshall, after being rather blah through two weeks, was 23-of-34 with 339 yards, two scores and two picks. He also completed a pass to himself, which isn't as cool as it sounds but is certainly worth a mention.

Mississippi State has also seemed to have found an answer at quarterback, with the more mobile Dak "Choo Choo Train" Prescott doing well in place of the concussed Tyler Russell. Prescott was 15-of-28 and 213 yards, and added to that 133 yards rushing on 22 carries for a pair of touchdowns. Still, as impressive as State's running game was, it wasn't enough to keep ahead of the Tigers.

#6 LSU (3-0, 0-0) - LSU beat the crap out of Kent State 45-13. Yippee. Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry again were the workhorses of the Tigers passing game. Jeremy Hill again had a good day rushing along with Terrence Magee. LSU again proved that, in spite of our hopes for the contrary, they'll be a legit contender for the SEC West title this season.