Okay, the week we've been talking about is here. Every SEC team except Auburn is in action. I will save the best for last, so here goes.
New Mexico State at Georgia
LSU suspends key players for a game (one they expect to win). Now Georgia suspends their running back group for one they should win easily. Will they be back for their game with Auburn? We will see. The Georgia passing attack will be enough.
Georgia 35 New Mexico State 10.
UT Martin at Mississippi State
The Bulldogs got their feet back on the ground against Kentucky last week. They should win easily this time, getting ready for their stretch run.
Mississippi State 37 UT Martin 3
MTSU at Tennessee
The Vols offensive struggles continue, but after facing two great defenses and a very good one back to back to back they will get a little relief this time.
Tennessee 28 MTSU 13
Missouri at Baylor
As Tim Brando noted last Satruday, Missouri clinched the Big 12 Division of the SEC last week with their win over aTm. This weekend they take down the RG III express.
Missouri 41 Baylor 24
aTm at Oklahoma
After losing to Texas Tech and taking a trip to the BCSCG out of their own control, the Sooners are ticked. Now they will try to give the lash to every opponent, hope for Stanford to lose to Oregon and for favorable consideration by the pollsters. The Aggies are in their path.
Oklahoma 52 aTm 24
Ole Miss at Kentucky
Many think that Houston Nutt is on his farewell tour of the SEC. If he is going to get an SEC win this is far and away his best shot. The last few weaks the rebel bears have actually played well in the first half. That should be enough against Kentucky
Ole Miss 24 Kentucky 20
Vanderbilt at Florida
The Commodores now have "attitude", and they have given some good teams (Arkansas, Georgia) anxious moments before succumbing. The Gators fought hard last week against their bitter rivals, but could not muster much offense. The Swamp will be friendly to the Gators this week, but it will be a nail biter.
Florida 20 Vanderbilt 17
USCe at Arkansas
Its a new experience for Steve Spurrier. Any remains of a high powered offenseive attack left with the season ending injury to Lattimore. Now he is running a very low risk offense and playing to his defense. That was enough against Tennessee. Arkansas is another matter. The Hogs are good enough on offense to keep the Gamecocks defense on the field, and the Gamecock run game isn't good enough to sustain long drives and rest the defense. USCe gives it a good fight, but wears down at the end.
Arkansas 24 USCe 13
LSU at Alabama
Historically big games like this have been dull, low scoring affairs except to the partisans of the two schools. Each side doesn't want to have the big gamble back fire and cause its team to lose when it might have won by playing it straight. That doesn't fit the public persona of Les Miles. You remember all those plays against Florida a few years back where he went for it on fourth down, the fake field goal against them in last year's game, the pass into the end zone against Auburn, the reverse on fourth and one against us last year. Old Les is a regualar river boat gambler, only not so much this year. Of course Nick Saban has the reputation of playing it straight because you usually can't beat him if he does. Think on the pass off the fake field goal against Arkansas this year, though. That went for a TD. The fake punt against Penn State got the first down but it would have been a huge gainer if Smelley had hit the right hole.
Two extraordinary coaches, two dominating defenses, two offenses that feature power running games and play action passes. Here is how I see the game playing out. The game starts slowly. Alabama establishes a little bit of a running game, and has some success off play action. LSU is unable to move the ball on the ground and becomes one dimensional. LSU is able to hit two or three big plays in the passing game, but Lee and Jefferson are under heavy pressure. Ultiamately our very large offensive line wears down their defensive front, and Bama is in control in the fourth quarter. I also expect this to be a game where people start to realize that A J McCarron is a special QB.
Alabama 24 LSU 17
New Mexico State at Georgia
LSU suspends key players for a game (one they expect to win). Now Georgia suspends their running back group for one they should win easily. Will they be back for their game with Auburn? We will see. The Georgia passing attack will be enough.
Georgia 35 New Mexico State 10.
UT Martin at Mississippi State
The Bulldogs got their feet back on the ground against Kentucky last week. They should win easily this time, getting ready for their stretch run.
Mississippi State 37 UT Martin 3
MTSU at Tennessee
The Vols offensive struggles continue, but after facing two great defenses and a very good one back to back to back they will get a little relief this time.
Tennessee 28 MTSU 13
Missouri at Baylor
As Tim Brando noted last Satruday, Missouri clinched the Big 12 Division of the SEC last week with their win over aTm. This weekend they take down the RG III express.
Missouri 41 Baylor 24
aTm at Oklahoma
After losing to Texas Tech and taking a trip to the BCSCG out of their own control, the Sooners are ticked. Now they will try to give the lash to every opponent, hope for Stanford to lose to Oregon and for favorable consideration by the pollsters. The Aggies are in their path.
Oklahoma 52 aTm 24
Ole Miss at Kentucky
Many think that Houston Nutt is on his farewell tour of the SEC. If he is going to get an SEC win this is far and away his best shot. The last few weaks the rebel bears have actually played well in the first half. That should be enough against Kentucky
Ole Miss 24 Kentucky 20
Vanderbilt at Florida
The Commodores now have "attitude", and they have given some good teams (Arkansas, Georgia) anxious moments before succumbing. The Gators fought hard last week against their bitter rivals, but could not muster much offense. The Swamp will be friendly to the Gators this week, but it will be a nail biter.
Florida 20 Vanderbilt 17
USCe at Arkansas
Its a new experience for Steve Spurrier. Any remains of a high powered offenseive attack left with the season ending injury to Lattimore. Now he is running a very low risk offense and playing to his defense. That was enough against Tennessee. Arkansas is another matter. The Hogs are good enough on offense to keep the Gamecocks defense on the field, and the Gamecock run game isn't good enough to sustain long drives and rest the defense. USCe gives it a good fight, but wears down at the end.
Arkansas 24 USCe 13
LSU at Alabama
Historically big games like this have been dull, low scoring affairs except to the partisans of the two schools. Each side doesn't want to have the big gamble back fire and cause its team to lose when it might have won by playing it straight. That doesn't fit the public persona of Les Miles. You remember all those plays against Florida a few years back where he went for it on fourth down, the fake field goal against them in last year's game, the pass into the end zone against Auburn, the reverse on fourth and one against us last year. Old Les is a regualar river boat gambler, only not so much this year. Of course Nick Saban has the reputation of playing it straight because you usually can't beat him if he does. Think on the pass off the fake field goal against Arkansas this year, though. That went for a TD. The fake punt against Penn State got the first down but it would have been a huge gainer if Smelley had hit the right hole.
Two extraordinary coaches, two dominating defenses, two offenses that feature power running games and play action passes. Here is how I see the game playing out. The game starts slowly. Alabama establishes a little bit of a running game, and has some success off play action. LSU is unable to move the ball on the ground and becomes one dimensional. LSU is able to hit two or three big plays in the passing game, but Lee and Jefferson are under heavy pressure. Ultiamately our very large offensive line wears down their defensive front, and Bama is in control in the fourth quarter. I also expect this to be a game where people start to realize that A J McCarron is a special QB.
Alabama 24 LSU 17
