Conference
play begins…
By
Jeff Sallas
Georgia at
South Carolina – The game of the week (Saturday at 2:30 on CBS)
The Bulldogs
invade Columbia for what has become the official game to kick off conference
play. South Carolina has won the last 2
years and both wins helped launch big seasons.
However South Carolina’s defense was much better. The defense simply hasn’t been there this
year and the offense isn’t much better.
After a lackluster effort against New Mexico South Carolina was shut out
in the second half vs. Virginia while the Cavaliers ran up over 350 yards of
offense. South Carolina also had
double-digit penalties.
Meanwhile
Georgia has had a week off after winning a squeaker over Clemson. That win has been well-publicized as
everyone including me has been writing about how that is the SEC’s only win
against a major conference. There is a
QB “situation” at Georgia but they are still very good. Basically David Greene will start but DJ
Shockley will play. The only problem seems
to be with Greene. A key factor will be
if he comes out against South Carolina as tight as he did against Clemson. The Georgia offense should still be pretty
good with all the weapons they have.
The defense was also surprisingly good against Clemson.
I don’t think
the South Carolina offense will be much better than Clemson’s although Gamecock
QB Corey Jenkins is probably a bit better QB than Clemson’s Willie
Simmons. Jenkins is a dangerous runner
and a decent passer. I think the key
matchup will be Georgia’s gamebreaking WRs against the tough South Carolina
secondary. I think whoever wins that
battle will win the game. Obviously
Georgia RB Musa Smith will play a big role as well. On the South Carolina side I just don’t see many gamebreakers
other than Jenkins. TB Andrew Pinnock
is more like a fullback and South Carolina just hasn’t thrown the ball that
much.
The biggest
thing the Gamecocks will have going for them is 80,000+ roaring fans in
Columbia. Holtz will have them up and they will fight Georgia
tooth-and-nail. That does make you
pause before making this pick. However
I think Georgia just has too many weapons on offense and is due.
GEORGIA OVER
SOUTH CAROLINA
Vanderbilt at
Auburn (Saturday at 11:30 on Jefferson Pilot)
The only
other conference game this week. Auburn
finally ended it’s 4 game losing streak that started last season against a
completely overmatched Western Carolina team last week. However if any team needed one of those
games it was Auburn. The offense has
struggled so badly outside Carnell Williams and frankly Auburn hasn’t blown
anybody out patsy or not since Tuberville has been there. It was good medicine at least for a week.
However I am
not sure we will find out much about Auburn as Vandy brings in a worse than usual
team. They bring in a new QB and a
whole lot of other new players. They
were humiliated by Georgia Tech in the season opener and then routed Furman
last week. Vandy made it close against
Auburn last year in Nashville behind senior QB Greg Zolman and senior RB Lew
Thomas. Those 2 guys are long gone
though. Vandy also now runs the option
again which will probably not be too effective against the speed of the Auburn
defense.
Frankly I
just don’t see much in these inexperienced Vandy team that makes me think they
will put up their usual “good fight”.
Especially not with a head coach and QB that have never played against
an SEC team and are making their debut at Jordan Hare stadium where Vandy has
never won. The jury is still out on
Auburn but I see nothing but a rout here.
The key for Auburn is performing well on offense outside of Carnell
Williams for the second straight week.
AUBURN OVER
VANDY
Ole Miss at
Texas Tech – (Saturday at 2:30 on ABC)
The Rebels
play their one tough out-of-conference game against the Red Raiders. This is actually a much better matchup than
it initially appears. It matches 2 of
the best QBs in college football in Eli Manning and Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury rolled up some pretty awesome
stats last year throwing for 3500+ yards and 25 TDs. He already has over 700 yards and 6 TDs this year in a loss to
Ohio St and a win over SMU. Texas
Tech’s biggest problems seem to be run defense as Ohio St rolled up over 300
yards rushing.
I look for
Ole Miss to do some of the same. Cutcliffe has traditionally started his QBs off slow, it is the
same every year. However his offenses
usually get better as the season goes on.
The Rebels go-to guy on the ground is senior RB Robert Williams who has
averaged over 100 yards per game so far.
I look for more of the same this week.
Manning also has a stable of young WRs to throw to and a good TE in Doug
Ziegler.
I look for
this to turn into a bit of a shootout.
I think Ole Miss will try to establish the run while Texas Tech will
throw it all over the field. A tough
pick but with the way the SEC is going this year I think I am going to have to
take...
TEXAS TECH
OVER OLE MISS
Indiana at
Kentucky – (Saturday at 6:00)
VERY
interesting game. Maybe Kentucky can
make the SEC 1-0 vs. the Big Ten.. Plus
start 3-0 which doesn’t happen at UK very often. I think this is a big game for Kentucky. People all over are starting to take notice
of the Wildcats after being ranked Louisville and destroying UTEP. Another solid win would really give the
Wildcats a boost.
The Cats are
just playing some good fundamental football this year. They are running the ball, playing defense
and not turning it over. They are led
by senior RB Artose Pinner who is averaging 100 yards per game while hefty QB
Jared Lorenzen has thrown for 400 yards, 6 TDs and NO INTs. Very good football. Meanwhile the Hoosiers have a new QB after
the departure of super play-maker Antwaan Randle-El. They don’t seem to be doing too good without him. They barely beat William & Mary (???)
and then got rolled at Utah.
I am going to
go with the new-look Wildcats to start 3-0...
KENTUCKY OVER
INDIANA
One more week
of multiple patsy-killings...
Bama over
North Texas St
Arkansas over
South Florida
Florida over
Ohio
LSU over
Miami of Ohio
(how many
Ohio teams are heading south this week?)
Miss St over
Jacksonville St
Tennessee is
open this week.
***I went 8-2 again last week missing the Florida/Miami game and the South Carolina/Virginia game. Somehow I got the LSU Citadel game right... (-: I am now at 16-4 for the season.