Tennessee came into their game with LSU a two-touchdown underdog, and it looked to be a long afternoon for the Vols when LSU QB Jordan Jefferson scored on an 83-yard run on the Tigers' first offensive play of the game. But Tennessee put together a 7-play, 64-yard drive and Tauren Poole capped it off with a one-yard run that tied the score just before the end of the first quarter. It stayed that way until Josh Jasper kicked a 31-yard field goal for LSU to open the fourth quarter, but Tennessee answered with a touchdown on the next drive to take their first lead of the game at 14-10.
Fast forward to the end when things got really weird. LSU got the ball with a little under six minutes left in the game and started a drive down the field. On second-and-goal on the Tennessee two with 32 seconds left, Jefferson was stopped at the one-yard line, and LSU suddenly seemed to have no idea of what to do next. Players rushed on the field and others rushed off and the LSU was running around trying to get a play called. Tick, tick, tick. Incredibly bad coaching and clock management. LSU C T-Bob Hebert finally just snapped the ball as time was running out. Jefferson wasn't ready for it, and Tennessee's Nick Reveiz fell on it as time expired.
But hold on! The replay booth called down on the field and Tennessee was charged with illegal participation. As players from both teams were running on and off the field, it appeared that four Vols ran on and three headed off, then one of the players that was going off turned around and came back. Thirteen Vols on the field when the ball was snapped. LSU got one more crack at it. Jefferson pitched to Stevan Ridley and he punched it in for the 16-14 LSU win.
As much as I really hate Tennessee, I have to admit that they might have gotten screwed on the first "final" play. LSU did not appear to get set before the ball was snapped, and after the play, when it looked like Tennessee had the win, an LSU lineman snatched his helmet off and threw it to the ground, which should have been a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
The final sequence really has to be seen to be believed. Click here!
On paper, the marquee matchup of the day seemed to be Alabama vs. Florida, the best of the west vs. the best of the east. On the field, however, it was all Alabama in a 31-6 win. Mark Ingram had two touchdowns, but only rushed for 47 yards. Marquis Maze threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Michael Williams out of the wildcat formation. And C. J. Mosely had a 35-yard interception return for another touchdown. The final stats were actually pretty close, but four turnovers -- three interceptions and a fumble -- killed any chance Florida had of getting back in the game. Two of the turnovers came with Florida deep in Alabama territory.
Georgia's losing streak is now at four for the first time since 1990. The Bulldogs were down two to Colorado in the closing minutes, but were within field goal range. They were just trying to run the clock down and maybe punch out a few more yards. But Colorado turned LB B. J. Beatty loose on a blitz. He got to Caleb King in the Georgia backfield just as he was taking the handoff and stripped the ball loose. Colorado fell on it to preserve the 29-27 win.
The scores:
#1 Alabama 31, #7 Florida 6
#10 Auburn 52, Louisiana-Monroe 3
#12 LSU 16, Tennessee 14
Mississippi 42, Kentucky 35
Colorado 29, Georgia 27
Mississippi State 49, Alcorn State 16
Connecticut 40, Vanderbilt 21
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