Louisanna Monroe at Auburn
Auburn's performance last Saturday against MSU was miserable on every level, and the outlook for this weekend doesn't look a lot better. La. Monroe is coming off a huge road win this past weekend. Next week they have their home opener against Baylor. It is the old "beware of the sandwich game" scenario. The Warhawks need to stay on their game. Auburn is a 17 point favorite? Really? Do we have any reason to think Auburn will score 17? Their best hope is that they catch the Warhawks looking ahead. Seriously, Auburn should regroup and win, but if the Warhawks pull it off again it wouldn't be the most shocking upset of the season.
PJ's pick: Auburn 20 La Monroe 17
Texas at Ole Miss
One has to wonder why Texas agreed to play the Rebs. It is against a team from a major conference, but ole Miss has been so inept in the last couple of seasons that a win wouldn't do much for the Longhorns resume. It is not an easy game to evaluate, as neither team has been tested thus far. My gut feeling is that even though Texas has really struggled the last two seasons, they still have the talent to take care of business comfortably this Saturday.
PJ's Pick: Texas 28 Ole Miss 13
aTm at SMU
The Aggies played credibly in their opener against Florida, but as happened to them several times last year, they could not hold a lead in the second half. Look for them to muscle up against an outmanned SMU team and even their record.
PJ's Picck: aTm 37 SMU 17
Arizona State at Missouri
Missouri played very hard against Georgia. In the end, the Dawgs superior depth prevailed in the fourth quarter and Georgia pulled away. Missouri's introduction to "Grown Man Football" will be instructive to them about developing line depth on both sides of the ball.
I don't know much about ASU, other than their having a gypsy coach who is at his third school in three years. Mizzou should prevail in this one, especialy at home.
PJ's Pick: Missouri 34 Arizona State 21
Turning to intersectional games:
TCU at Kansas
TCU opened as a heavy favorite in this game, and for some reason the spread has dropped since it opened. I am not sure why. I can't imagine big money being bet on Kansas in a football game. Someone may have some inside scoop that I don't, but the Horned Frogs should win this one going away.
PJ's Pick: TCU 49 Kansas 17
Georgia Tech at Virginia
The Cavaliers struggled against Penn State last weekend. The Yellow Jackets missed a great opportunity to win their opener at Va Tech, but they should do better against the Cavs. Virginia is no longer the door mat that they have been for years, but the Techsters are just plain better.
PJs Pick: Georgia Tech 31 Virginia 21
Florida at Tennessee
For once, both fan bases are upbeat, though one of them won't be this time next week. The Gators played a terrific second half against aTM last week, showing signs of being the physical, run oriented team that Muschamp wants. The Vol faithful are excited because after several tumultuous and disappointing season, they have started well, and in QB Tyler Bray they have one of the more exciting players in the league. Actually, to this observer, it is a sign of return to normalcy that both teams are playing well and this game means something. Since this game is in Knoxville, I like the Vols, but it could go either way.
PJs Pick: Tennessee 27 Florida 24
Western Kentucky at Kentucky
The Hilltoppers almost beat the Wildcats last year. The way they played in T'Town this past Saturday certainly got us to sit up and take notice. If WKU pulls off an upset this week (it would not be a huge upset) even Kentucky fans will start grumbling about Joker Phillips. I think the Wildcats prevail, but it will probably go down to the final minutes.
PJs Pick: Kentucky 24 Western Kentucky 21
The next few games are in the "We have to play somebody" category.
Presbyterian at Vanderbilt
The Commodores had hopes for better things this year, but they have opened their season by taking two tough losses, both games that they might have won. They will get untracked this week.
PJs Pick: Vanderbilt 42 presbyterian 7
UAB at South Carolina:
The UAB people here in Birmingham have high hopes that they are headed in the right direction under McGee. Along about 10:00 o'clock Saturday night they may still think that they are going in the right direction, but they will see just how long that journey is.
South Carolina 52: UAB 10
Mississipi State at Troy
It is certainly no surprise that Mississippi State plays Troy, as they have been a credible mid major opponent for a good while. The surprise to me, given all the money thay State has put into its own stadium , is that they agreed to play them at Troy, just as they played UAB in Birmingham a year ago. Tyler Russel had a nice outing against Auburn, throwing for 3 TDs and no picks. His emergence is a good thing for them, as with Relph and Ballard gone the Dogs don't have their customary powerful running game. The dogs will prevail.
PJs Pick: Mississippi State 28 Troy 14
Florida Atlantic at Georgia
There are bigger cream puffs among SEC opponents than thse guys, but the Dawgs will be at full strength on defense and anxious to flex their muscles a bit . This one is over early.
PJs Pick: Georgia 42 Florida Atlantic 13
Idaho at LSU
Idaho is the team that travels furthest to receive a drubbing this week. LSU looked like, well, LSU last week as they dominated Washington. This week will be even more so. The only question I have is when will that improved passing game with Mettenberg show up. So far that hasn't mattered, and will not this week.
LSU 48 Idaho 7
Alabama at Arkansas
Although many Arkansas fans were optimistic about a championship coming into this year, I thought that this was misplaced. They were getting their great runner back, and had to me the best QB in college football coming back, but there were other issues. These start with losing three great playmakers froom their wide receivers, an offensive line that wasn't able to protect Wilson against strong defenses, and a defense which while it was good a year ago, lost several stalwarts. Throw in the turmoil around Petrino's departure and the arrest and dismissal of some players, and it just didn't add up to a championship season, at least not to me.
As far as the game, our pass rush isn't as fierce as last year's not yet anyway. It is nevertheless substantially better than what the Warhawks threw at the Hogs last week.If Wilson plays he will get hit a lot. Maybe not as much as a year ago, when Upshaw was around Wilson so much that they became friends, but Wilson will get hit. Even in the heavy rush, Wilson will make some plays, just not enough. If Wilson does not play, Arkansas may not score on offense.
After I am sure some very unpleasant film sessions our OL will stop reading its clippings and tend to business. The Hog secondary has shown that it has problems. It will have more aginst a more talented group of receivers and our own stellar QB.
PJs Pick: Alabama 38 Arkansas 14
