Last Week: 5-2
Season: 36-7
My wife and I are going down to Gainesville to see the offensive train wreck in the Swamp, so I won't be around much this weekend. As always, games are listed in schedule order.
It's a battle of the physically and emotionally wounded versus the mentally wounded. In other years, this game would be a battle of SEC East contenders. Now? It's to see who will get out of the East cellar. I'll pick Georgia because they're at home, and because with a full roster, the Bulldogs can probably wear out the Vols.
Georgia 26, Tennessee 20
Williams-Brice Stadium is one of the underrated venues in the league. It always fills up and is always loud no matter the quality of the team. The Gamecock defense figured out how to stop 10 of Bama's 11 offensive players last year, and if they can tackle Mark Ingram this year, they'll keep it very close. I think the better team will win in the end, but this won't be a 25-point blowout again for the Tide like last week.
Alabama 27, South Carolina 23
Framed in the reference of this off season, this game features an SEC team versus a wannabe SEC team. Anyway, I don't see much of a reason why this game won't be similar to last year's Razorback romp. Both teams play offense; only one tries at defense.
Arkansas 41, Texas A&M 21
And you thought cupcake season was over until November.
Vanderbilt 34, Eastern Michigan 10
I don't think the WIldcats will pull off the upset again; Auburn won't be overlooking this one. However, they will get Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb out on the edges where Auburn's defense is vulnerable. Nick Fairley may take care of everything inside, but outside the tackles, there's headway to be made. Not that Kentucky plays good defense inside or outside the tackles. Expect Cam Newton to torch this team.
Auburn 40, Kentucky 27
Contrary to popular opinion, it's unlikely that all of the touchdowns in this game will come on defense and special teams. That doesn't mean it's going to give the world cause to call this kind of football, "the beautiful game." I'm going with Florida because it's in the Swamp, and also because the UF offensive coaches have a real plan. It's not a good plan, but it's better than Gary Crowton's Yahtzee dice routine.
Florida 17, LSU 10
If Case Keenum wasn't hurt, this game would be very different. As it is though, State should be able to control this one with its running game. Houston doesn't play much D, and it's offense is way down. I don't know if it'll be a laugher, but it should be close.
Mississippi State 33, Houston 20
Idle: Ole Miss