SEC: 5 things we learned -- Week 13
1. Alabama and Georgia weren't going to be denied. Alabama needed to beat Auburn to clinch the SEC West and stay in the national title hunt. Georgia had the East wrapped up, but needed to beat in-state rival Georgia Tech to stay near the top of the BCS rankings. Both got the job done with no problem. Alabama rolled to a 49-0 win over the Tigers and Georgia cruised to a 42-10 win the Yellow Jackets.
2. Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel is virtually indestructible. The freshman got his knee twisted in the first half of a 59-29 win over Missouri. It looked like a potential torn ligament, but after being fitted with a brace, he loosened up and went back in the game a few series later. Despite missing those drives, he still finished the game with 372 passing yards, 67 rushing yards and five total TDs. It looks like the knee is fine.
3. There's a new sheriff in Mississippi. That would be Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze, who led the Rebels to a 41-24 win over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. The Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4 SEC) had a better overall record this season than did the Rebels (6-6, 3-5 SEC), but Saturday's win combined with the fact that Ole Miss tripled its win total from last year (2), has to have some at Mississippi State a little nervous.
4. Florida's offense can rise to the challenge. We were skeptical about Florida's chances of moving the ball at Florida State, a team that came into the weekend ranked No. 1 in total defense nationally. The Gators proved us wrong. Florida piled up 394 yards of total offense in a 37-26 win. Five turnovers from the Seminoles certainly helped, but a strong running game allowed Florida to win the time-of-possession battle 36:20 to 23:40.
5. At least four teams will have a new head coach next season. We already knew Tennessee and Kentucky would be in the market, but add Auburn and Arkansas to the list after both failed to pull off an upset this week. Arkansas played LSU down to the wire on Friday, but ultimately fell 20-13. Auburn didn't put up much of a fight. The Tigers never had a shot at Alabama. They trailed 42-0 at halftime before Alabama mercifully only scored one more TD in the second half to secure the 49-0 win.
For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.
