No offense to Georgia-South Carolina, a game I love, but we're approaching the first truly Big Game in the SEC this year.
Arkansas-Alabama is a strange series (Bama leads 10-8) marked by weird calls or noncalls, last-second catches or noncatches and one OT affair in which Leigh Kiffin had more trouble kicking the ball than Charlie Brown.
This game, however, has the biggest build-up of any of them. Reasonably sane people in Arkansas, a truly endangered species, are calling Saturday's matchup the biggest instate sporting event since the 1969 showdown with Texas. To put that hyperventilation in perspective, the 15-14 Longhorn win 42 years ago is the single greatest piece of gridiron tragi-drama I have ever seen.
Suffice to say both teams have a lot at stake. Bobby Petrino and Ryan Mallett will attempt saturation bombing of the Tide's still unsettled defense. The Hogs will score, and plenty. But unless the top-ranked Alabama starts leaving the ball on the grass, Arkansas can't score enough.
Call the Hogs, for sure. But get them to higher ground. High Tide acomin', 35-24.
Georgia at Mississippi State
Expectations are a funny thing. Two sets of Bulldogs with the same record. But one team comes in under withering criticism about its coaching and future, while the other is ready to play another game. For most of a quarter last Saturday, Georgia looked like a football team. But they fell apart when it was time to win. Now they are at the point of salvaging something of their season or turning up the fire already burning beneath them. I like UGA's quarterback, but I don't like their chances. State 17-14
Kentucky at Florida
Looks like Florida will be the worst-looking unbeaten team in America when it comes to Tuscaloosa a week from now. Gators, 21-10
South Carolina-Auburn
South Carolina catches the Aubies at the perfect time. Banged up offensive line and running backs will put more pressure on Tiger quarterback Cameron Newton. Two keys: Can Newton throw against the Roosters' talented defense? Can Carolina QB Stephen Garcia make enough plays so the Tiger defense can't attack Marcus Lattimore like bream after a bread crumb. This game should end in a tie. AU, 21-20.
West Virginia at LSU
Call this one the Rodney Dangerfield Bowl. Bill Stewart and Les Miles get no respect as head coaches. But one of them has to win. To quote ol' Lester, What me worry? LSU, 24-16
Fresno State, 35, Ole Miss, 31.
UT 24, UAB, 7.
-- MG
Alabama at Arkansas: According to the transitive property of football, I want the team that gut-punched my Dawgs last week to beat Alabama so we'll look better. And I still think Bama loses three games this year. But as good as Ryan Mallett is, he's not as tasty a matchup as Ingram, Richardson and Jones vs. the Razorback defense. This one will be entertaining. Tide, 38-30.
South Carolina at Auburn: I always like to make one crazy prediction early on and get it over with, so here it is: This will also be the SEC championship game. That one's on neutral ground. This one's on the Plains. War Eagles, 23-14.
West Virginia at LSU: Les Miles finally runs into someone he can outcoach. Tigers, 27-13.
Georgia at Mississippi State: I'm angrier at both the NCAA and A.J. Green with every passing day. State, 22-19.
Kentucky at Florida: Man, I want to pick Kentucky here. In Lexington, maybe. But dreams die in the Swamp. Florida, 31-21.
Fresno State 28, Ole Miss 13.
Tennessee 36, UAB 7.
-- Tommy T.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Who ya got? Week IV
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The college football season is too short. When we get up Sunday morning, the season will be one-third over already. Good thing the bowl season is so long.
Despite my belief that it will be 95 degrees on Christmas Day in Charlotte, the weather geeks insist this is the last Saturday that we have to watch a winter game with July temperatures, because Sunday brings true fall weather to the area. Maybe it’s that coming weather change, maybe it’s one of them premonition things, or maybe it’s indigestion from a jacked-up cheeseburger, but I have a queasy feeling in my gizzard that a rash of upsets is upon us.
On to the week 4 picks:
‘Bama at Ar-Kansas – These two offenses appear to slow down only when they choose to. Last man with the ball wins. Scum-bag coach upends Mr. Clinched Butt-Cheeks. Ar-Kansas 31, The Evil Empire 28
Kentucky at Florida – Gators still a little sluggish on offense, and gave up 17 to a totally inept Vols team. How do they overcome the efforts of the first true elite playmaker they face? They don’t. Since I correctly predicted the score of last week’s UK game, I’m most confident of this upset. Randall Cobb 27, Gators 21
UAB at Tennessee – My brother, a UAB grad, swears the Charlotte 49ers football program is already better than UAB. It’s been a long time since Roddy White had the Blazers at a level of relevancy. Vols 35, UAB 7
Fresno State at Misipi – First came Jacksonville St, and then came Vandy. Houston Nutt is in serious trouble – or he should be. Fresno St 38, Misipi 14
Georgia at Misipi State – Step away from the ledge, Tomlinson. This week’s opponent doesn’t have a real QB. Big Ol’ Hairy Dawgs 21, Misipi St 10
West Virginia at LSU – We still don’t know if LSU is any good. WVU should have lost to Marshall and couldn’t put away a mediocre Maryland team until late. Shut down Noel Divine and you shut down WVU. LSU 24, WVU 17
South Carolina at Auburn – You can still drive a convoy of trucks through Auburn’s run defense. I have a friend at church that has a degree from SC and a mouth to match. I am not looking forward to the next year of listening to him. Fightin’ Chickens 28, WAR EAGLE 20
This comes courtesy of my Georgia bud, Bud, and I realize we're approaching critical DAWG mass.
Georgia at Mississippi State:
First things first. It will be Dog eat Dog in Starkville in an SEC East versus West double elimination match. The loser has to wear the SEC dunce cap until they figure out how to win a conference game. This is definitely a must win for the Georgia Dawgs and I assume it is for their Mississippi St cousins. The only difference is Dan Mullen’s career can probably absorb a 0-3 SEC start. But if Mark Richt starts off 2010 with three conference losses his hot seat is going to burst into flame. It should be close but I have to believe Coach Richt is going to figure out how to win it. Georgia Dawgs 23-17
Arkansas at Alabama
This looks like a showdown for the SEC West driver’s seat. But I know the Razorbacks, I saw the Razorbacks squeak by Georgia last weekend, and Arkansas you are no Alabama. The Tide will rise to the challenge and by Sunday morning the Razorback Nation will have floated back down to earth. ‘Bama 33-14
South Carolina at Auburn
Another East-West clash in Loveliest Village on the Plains. Every time I hear that I want to ask – who is it competing against, Opelika? I’ve been to Jordan-Hare on two occasions to watch Georgia play the Tigers. Both times were very unpleasant. This really is the loudest stadium I’ve ever been in and yes, it’s definitely louder than Sanford in Athens. This is the Spurrier South Carolina team that’s finally supposed to win the SEC East. But Stephen Garcia ain’t never heard nothing like he’s going to hear come this Saturday night. There’ll be toilet paper in the tree tops by midnight at Toomer’s Corner. Auburn 24-17
Fresno State at Ole Miss
We’re talking major culture shock here. Had these California Bulldogs asked me I would have advised them NOT to schedule a night game in Mississippi, even in these relatively enlightened times. But there’s no way to stop it now.
Logic says pick Fresno. But I think the Excitable Nutt will snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Ole Miss 24-21
Kentucky at Florida
It’s been a long time since Kentucky beat Florida and it’ll be a cold day in hell before it happens again. Gators keep on rolling like a snowball headed for Tuscaloosa. Florida 34-17
West Virginia at LSU
In my book LSU is still the second best team in the SEC West until proven otherwise. LSU 27-21
UAB at Tennessee
Young Dooley gets his second win after getting beaten and banged around the past two weeks by the Big Boys. Tennessee 28-10
This comes courtesy of my Georgia bud, Bud, and I realize we're approaching critical DAWG mass.
Georgia at Mississippi State:
First things first. It will be Dog eat Dog in Starkville in an SEC East versus West double elimination match. The loser has to wear the SEC dunce cap until they figure out how to win a conference game. This is definitely a must win for the Georgia Dawgs and I assume it is for their Mississippi St cousins. The only difference is Dan Mullen’s career can probably absorb a 0-3 SEC start. But if Mark Richt starts off 2010 with three conference losses his hot seat is going to burst into flame. It should be close but I have to believe Coach Richt is going to figure out how to win it. Georgia Dawgs 23-17
Arkansas at Alabama
This looks like a showdown for the SEC West driver’s seat. But I know the Razorbacks, I saw the Razorbacks squeak by Georgia last weekend, and Arkansas you are no Alabama. The Tide will rise to the challenge and by Sunday morning the Razorback Nation will have floated back down to earth. ‘Bama 33-14
South Carolina at Auburn
Another East-West clash in Loveliest Village on the Plains. Every time I hear that I want to ask – who is it competing against, Opelika? I’ve been to Jordan-Hare on two occasions to watch Georgia play the Tigers. Both times were very unpleasant. This really is the loudest stadium I’ve ever been in and yes, it’s definitely louder than Sanford in Athens. This is the Spurrier South Carolina team that’s finally supposed to win the SEC East. But Stephen Garcia ain’t never heard nothing like he’s going to hear come this Saturday night. There’ll be toilet paper in the tree tops by midnight at Toomer’s Corner. Auburn 24-17
Fresno State at Ole Miss
We’re talking major culture shock here. Had these California Bulldogs asked me I would have advised them NOT to schedule a night game in Mississippi, even in these relatively enlightened times. But there’s no way to stop it now.
Logic says pick Fresno. But I think the Excitable Nutt will snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Ole Miss 24-21
Kentucky at Florida
It’s been a long time since Kentucky beat Florida and it’ll be a cold day in hell before it happens again. Gators keep on rolling like a snowball headed for Tuscaloosa. Florida 34-17
West Virginia at LSU
In my book LSU is still the second best team in the SEC West until proven otherwise. LSU 27-21
UAB at Tennessee
Young Dooley gets his second win after getting beaten and banged around the past two weeks by the Big Boys. Tennessee 28-10
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