KNOXVILLE—Sorry that I haven’t posted anything for the teeming masses who read this blog. Actually, if we even start getting a bare trickle, that will be a vast improvement.
Anyway, between the normal workload and cranking out copy for our basketball previews, the blog has had to take a back seat.
But while I have time this morning before the UT-Arkansas showdown, I’ll give you the weekly SEC picks.
Around the SEC
Arkansas at Tennessee
Looks like a dream matchup for Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and the Arkansas running game, doesn’t it? They’ll get a lot of yards and points, but the Volunteers will win the game. Why? UT is 5-0 at Neyland Stadium this year and has been a different team there. Its offense moves the ball, its defense seems to come up with big plays and it’s like it has a 12th man out there. Sounds cliched, but as someone who’s watched this team all year, I will vouch for it. Just like I’ll vouch for the Vols continuing to stay in control of the SEC East race after today. Tennessee 38, Arkansas 34.
Alabama at Mississippi St.
If I had some guts, I’d pick a Bulldog upset. The Crimson Tide invested a lot emotionally into last week’s mega-showdown with LSU and barely came up short. It’s not like Alabama is so talented they can just walk into Starkville, throw on those all-white unis and leave with a win. MSU isn’t bad and it’s rested to boot. But this is why Nick Saban makes $4 million a year—to win games like this. And in the end, the Tide will. Alabama 27, Mississippi State 24.
Kentucky at Vanderbilt
Every SEC East team has won its game coming off a bye this year. The Wildcats’ bye was last week and it was much-needed after a brutal stretch of SEC games which resulted in a pile of injuries. With rest, they face a Commodores team which just got plastered at Florida and may be running out of steam in their quest for their first bowl bid in 25 years. Kentucky 35, Vanderbilt 21.
Auburn at Georgia
Here’s the only stat you really need to know for this week: 11-3-1. That’s the record of the road team the last 15 years of this series. Since the Tigers are the road team, bet on them. They are physical enough to stop the Bulldogs’ run game and force Matthew Stafford to try to beat them. If I’m Tommy Tuberville, I take my chances with that parlay any day. Auburn 24, Georgia 17.
Florida at South Carolina
Looks like the Gamecocks’ chances for a breakthrough season expired when Ryan Succop’s field goal sailed wide right down here two weeks ago. I know Steve Spurrier will get the masses fired up for the Gators, but it’s hard to imagine a defense which got ripped as it did last week can magically stop Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin and the Florida offense. Florida 37, South Carolina 27.
Louisiana Tech at LSU
This is the breather the Tigers sorely needed. The less said about this one, the better. LSU 49, Louisiana Tech 7.