'07 Bowl Season Begins

Independence Bowl

SEC Week 12 Review & Week 13 Predictions

Looks like Bama will be in the headlines for the 2nd straight week this week. Last week was their epic loss to LaMonroe they'd like to forget. And of course, this week is Iron Bowl week. Hard to believe another season is ending. Let's just hope Auburn can take something positive into next year with their 6th straight in the series. After last week, I'm 67-20 on the year (77%). On with Week 13...

LSU 35 vs Arkansas 20
This may be a bit too close for the home team in the beginning. But, look for LSU to pull away in the 2nd half.

Miss St. 27 vs Ole Siss 20
MSU is guaranteed a bowl game with a win in the annual Egg Bowl. Man, what a job Croom has done!

Florida 28 vs FSU 17
Giving the Gaytors the edge at home.

Kentucky 33 at Tennessee 28
This should be a shootout. Not much defense in this game. The Vols have a lot on the line with a trip to Atlanta at stake. Hope Fulmer wins so he can continue to lead the Vols into mediocrity for years to come. But, I think UK will give UT what they've had coming, a heartbreaker.

Wake Forest 21 at Vandy 20
The 'Dores come up short again for a bowl bid. Poor Vandy.

UGAy 24 at Ga Tech 20
Always a close game. The Dogs still have a shot at the Sugar with this win. Go Rambling Wreck!

Clemson 30 at S. Carolina 20
Not much defense for Carolina to slow down these Tigers. Eventually, the 'Cocks will wear out.

***UPSET (not so) SPECIAL***
Crimson Turds 22 at Auburn 20
I hate making this pick. But, it's hard to get a feel of either team this year. Auburn has been notorious for slipping up when the door is waiting to be slammed shut. And, they could slam the door on Bama's season by giving them their 6th loss. Then, a bowl game would be doubtful for the Tide. But after Bama's debacle last week, I don't see a repeat performance. Auburn should be as healthy as they've been all year after a bye week. I just see them playing tight. This game will define Cox's career IMO. Win, and he leaves on a positive note with some impressive wins under his belt. Lose, and his career will be marred with inconsistency. Should be another nail-biter and could go either way. Hope I'm wrong. I have been quite a bit with AU this year. ;-)
WDE!

SEC Week 11 Review & Week 12 Predictions

Went 4-2 last week with the in-state schools tripping me up. UGAy "blacked" us out in the 2nd half. Never experienced a more rude group of fans than UGA. Of course, I've never been to Baton Rouge either. Bama got Croomed for the 2nd straight year. The days of taking MSU lightly are over. So, that brings my season record to 63-18 (77.8%). Auburn's off this week and Bama has a cupcake. On with the picks...

Bummer 31 vs. LaMonroe 10 (+25)
Just a tuneup before the Iron Bowl. I expect Bama to really work on their ground game.

Tennessee 27 vs. Vandy 13 (+12)
Vols have played well at home this year. Vandy won't be able to keep up.

UGAy 33 vs. Kentucky 23 (+7.5)
Should see some points scored in this game. Don't know if the Dawgs can post another 40-point game again.

LSU 40 at Ole Miss 14 (+19)
What a pitiful year for the hapless Rebels. Big 'O' may depart at season's end.

Florida 42 vs. Fla Atlantic 9 (+34.5)
Tuneup for the Gators before FSU next week.

***UPSET SPECIAL***
Miss. St. 27 at Arkansas 24 (-11)
Both teams are looking for their 7th win. 6 wins this year may not be good enough to make it to a bowl game. Arkansas can forget about beating LSU and MSU doesn't want to wait until their annual Egg Bowl either. I expect a physical contest. The key is whether MSU can contain the Hogs' running game. Should be interesting.

SEC Week 10 Review and Week 11 Predictions

Went 6-1 last week with my only miss courtesy of the Gamecocks, bringing my total to 59-16 (78.7%). For a minute there, I thought ol’ Spurrier was about to bring his boys back in the 3rd quarter. I also thought Bama was going to pull off the big upset over LSU. Bama’s propensity for the big play is impressive. That’ll be something Auburn will certainly need to limit in the Iron Bowl. On to week 11…

Bummer 23 at Miss. St. 16 (+5)
Look for the Tide to struggle and possibly trail to the Dogs. Should be a hard-hitting game. I think the Tide will be ready to avenge their home loss last year.

Florida 31 at S. Carolina 24 (+6.5)
The USC team I saw last week had very little firepower. Florida is still fighting for a berth in the SEC Championship game. If UGAy & UT lose, they’re in the driver’s seat with this win.

Tennessee 28 vs. Arkansas 24 (even)
This is a very evenly-matched game. I’ll give the Vols the nod being at home. I really hope UT makes it to the championship game. They’re the weakest of the Big 3 in the East, yet control their own destiny. The West representative (LSU) should make quick work of them. Plus the higher-ranked SEC team leftover, if LSU wins out, would have a great shot at a BCS bowl.

Kentucky 30 at Vandy 14 (+3.5)
The ‘Cats will score. And, Vandy won’t be able to keep up. This win all but assures UK of their 2nd bowl berth in as many years.

LSU 42 vs. LaTech 6
Nice break for the Tigers before wrapping up the season with back-to-back conference games.

***UPSET SPECIAL***
Auburn 24 at UGAy 19 (-2)
Another classic battle for the Oldest Rivalry in the South. Normally, the road team wins in this series. UGA has asked their fans to wear all black for the game. Should look pretty cool if we wear all orange, like Halloween. And, I think AU has a few tricks for these puppies this year. Sometimes for unknown reasons, this game is a blowout. Don’t be surprised if it turns out the same Saturday.

SEC Week 9 Review & Week 10 Predictions

Went 4-2 last week bringing my total to 53-15 (77.9%). The parity bug has bitten me recently with Vandy over S. Carolina and MSU over Kentucky. And, how about UGAy's little dance in the endzone against UF? Richt was lucky a riot didn't break out. Should be another interesting weekend of SEC football. AU will be playing several young guys for homecoming. Will Kodi throw a pass? And Bama has by far their biggest game of the Saban era hosting LSU. On with this week's picks...

AU 42 vs. Tenn Tech 7
Tech returns a kickoff for a TD against our weak coverage. Tubs may blow a fuse if that happens. It will be neat to see the younger guys play more. If Cox is playing in the 2nd half, I might blow a fuse!

LSU 28 (-7) at Bama 14
The crowd in Tuscaloosa will be frantic. There's so many story lines to this game I can't cover them all from Saban vs. old team, Perrilloux's suspension, to Bama's 5 suspended players and a possible NCAA investigation looming. I struggled with this pick all week and considered it as my upset special. But in the end, I just think LSU is that much more talented than Bama. I've got a feeling that the razzle-dazzle of the Bama offense will get snuffed out early and often by the LSU Dline. LSU will establish their dominance defensively, which I feel will leave Bama's D on the field too long. It will be low-scoring for a half. But then, Bama will be struggling to just keep it respectable.

Florida 27 (-14.5) vs. Vandy 14
The 'Dores usually play tough in Gainseville. This game is sandwiched between a loss to UGAy and a road trip to Columbia next week. This may be too close for comfort in the 2nd half.

UGAy 31 (-16) vs. Troy 13
I think I heard that Troy's star QB got hurt last week and is doubtful this week. The Dawgs may be too busy drooling over their win last week to anticipate a decent Troy team looking for respect. Richt's dance team should pull away in the 3rd quarter.

Ole Miss 42 vs. NW State 10
May be the Rebs last win of the season.

UT 45 (-27.5) vs. La Lafeyette 13
Don't be surprised if UT flounders around for most of the 1st half.

***UPSET SPECIAL***
S. Carolina 27 (+5.5) at Arkansas 24
Another nail in Houston's coffin courtesy of the Ol' Ball Coach himself. The 'Cocks once looked poised to take the SEC East this year. But after back-to-back losses to Vandy and UT, they're fighting for their lives. I'm sure Spurrier will have plenty of tricks in his bag for the Hawgs. Could go either way, but I give the advantage to Carolina with superior coaching.

SEC Week 9 Predictions

Sorry, but it's been a busy week. I'll have to make these quick...

Auburn 27 Ole Miss 10
Will probably be close for a half. But, I don't expect Ole Miss to move the ball much. Kodi Burns needs to see some action Saturday.

Kentucky 33 Miss. St. 10
The 'Cats continue their miraculous season with a dominating home win vs. the Bulldogs.

Vandy 23 Miami(Ohio) 13
Critical game for the 'Dores if they're going to make a bowl game for the 1st time in 25 years.

Arkansas 40 Florida Intl. 6
No comment.

Florida 24 UGAy 16
UGA's had an off-week to prepare for this game. But at this point, the Gators have more at stake. UF has won 16 of their last 18 meetings. And, I don't see this one stopping the trend.

***UPSET SPECIAL***
Tennessee 28 S. Carolina 26
The Vols are back home and ready to avenge their massacre at Tuscaloosa. Spurrier will bring his bag of tricks. But, the Vols are clearly a better team at home.

Be Careful What You Wish For...

Auburn lost a heartbreaker in Baton Rouge while the Bama offense was relentless against a mediocre UT defense. Last week was by far my worst week of predictions, missing 3 out of 6. That brings my total down to 49-13 (79%).

The AU-LSU game was an epic battle that came to the wire. Another interesting side note is the fact that the futures of each head coach, according to rumor, are questionable for next year. Both Miles and Tubs are winning coaches who seem to be at the top of 2 other programs' lists, Michigan and Texas A&M. Personally, I think the best way to measure a coach's performance is whether his program is better off now than it was when he arrived. It would've been difficult for Miles to improve on Saban's success. However, he seems to keep LSU near the nation's elite. As for Tommy, it's easy to see his progress at Auburn taking over a 3-8 team to an undefeated season and perennial SEC powerhouse.

But, if you take a closer look at the LSU program, you will notice the abundance of key performers that are seniors, i.e. Saban's recruits. I was astonished to count 15 starters from the Saban era that were on the field for Miles Saturday. It's safe to say there will be a large dropoff next year in that program. But, I'm not sure Miles will be around to see it.

I went to a Michigan-Penn St. game earlier this year while the stunning losses of App. St. and Oregon were still fresh on the Michigan fans' minds. It was interesting to see that Les Miles, former Michigan player, was easily at the top of their list. See pic above. I say be careful what you wish for. I'm not a big Les fan, not because his team just beat Auburn, but rather for the reckless calls he seems to make during critical game moments. His 4th down conversions against Florida were crazy to say the least. Then came the bomb in the endzone with 1 second left Sat. night. That was really a call against the odds. After the game, he stated that he wasn't worried because there was 16 seconds left on the clock when they snapped the ball. I'm not sure if he was watching the same game I was because it was 7 seconds left with only 1 remaining after the catch. All I'm saying is the odds will soon catch up with ol' Les. And, I'd hate to see it happen anywhere other than LSU.

Oh yeah, and thanks to my goofball friend who got me a ticket to the Big House.

Week 7 Review & SEC Week 8 Predictions

Dropped 1 game last week, LSU/UK. That was a thriller. Unfortunately for Auburn, that may have awakened a sleeping giant. I'm adding a new format to my picks this week noting the favored team in parentheses. With my 1 loss last week, my record is now 46-10 (82.1%).

Alabama 27, Ole Miss 24
Georgia 20, Vanderbilt 17
Tennessee 33, Mississippi State 21
South Carolina 21, North Carolina 15
Auburn 9, Arkansas 7
*Kentucky 43, LSU 37 (3OT)

On to Week 8...
LSU 17 (10.5) vs. Auburn 16
I expect this to be a slobber-knocker. Coach Tuberville is 5-0 against top 5 teams during his career at AU. However, LSU will be playing a late night game in front of their well-inebriated fans. Coming off the heart-breaker to UK, I believe the Bungled Tigers will be extremely focused. This should be another classic games between these 2 SEC West powerhouses.

UT 24 (even) at UAt 20
Phat Phil will bring an explosive offense into Bryant-Denny for this early morning showdown. I just doubt their D will allow them to pull away. This game is usually not high-scoring. But, I wouldn't doubt it if it finishes well into the 30s.

Florida 35 (7) at Kentucky 31
I expect another barn-burner this weekend in Lexington. Man, has this been a great year for Kentucky football! Who would've believed that 5 years ago. I think this is the week the dream meets a little reality. I hope the 'Cats can pull it out. But, I think they may be a bit less focused after their epic win of then-#1 LSU last week. Florida had the week off last week and is ready to get things back on track.

West Virginia 33 (24) vs. Miss. St. 13
MSU's only hope is for its defense and/or special teams to outscore its offense. This could get ugly if their D doesn't keep them in the game.

S. Carolina 23 (13.5) at Vandy 14
Another moral victory for the Commodores. Such high hopes for Vandy to start the season. Alas, they've returned to form with another bowl-less season. Should be a typically close game until the 'Cocks where them down in the 2nd half.

***UPSET SPECIAL***
Ole Miss 27 vs. Arkansas 24 (5)
This is a match of SEC winless teams. If the Rebels don't win this weekend, it's quite possible they may not win 1 SEC game the whole year. I expect the home team to bring their best game after a tough loss to Bama last weekend. If the Ole Miss D can somehow contain the Hogs' running game, that should be enough for their offense to pull this one out.

Week 6 Review & SEC Week 7 Predictions

Dropped 2 picks last week. What's up with Ole Ms.? I never thought they'd blank La Tech. Auburn continued to improve. Not sure what Bama's deal is. That was a blowout, then almost lost it. Reminded me of Shula ball. That being said, I'm now 41-9 (82%).

Auburn 35, Vanderbilt 7
Alabama 30, Houston 24
South Carolina 38, Kentucky 23
Arkansas 34, Chattanooga 15
LSU 28, Florida 24
Mississippi State 30, UAB 13
*Ole Miss 24, Louisiana Tech 0
*Tennessee 35, Georgia 14

On to Week 7...
Alabummer 24 Ole Sis 23
With the way the Rebels have been playing lately, they should win this type of game at home. But, my gut tells me $aban will rally the troops and put in a few wrinkles to pull this one out. The Big 'O' rips his shirt off in protest at midfield after the game.

UGA 27 Vandy 14
For some reason, Vandy gives UGA a hard time, even beating them in Athens last year. I have a feeling though the puppies will return the favor this year. Vandy cannot pass the football. Until they can, everyone will stack up to stop their running game.

LSU 37 Kentucky 20
The last time LSU played in Lexington, they pulled off a last second upset against the Sabanator dubbed "The Bluegrass Miracle". Another miracle is what these kitties will need to win again. LSU has a stout D that should stymie UK's offense. It may be interesting for 3 quarters. But, I expect the Cajuns to wear out UK's D.

UT 28 MSU 20
This is a big game for Croom's dogs. They actually have a good shot at pulling this off at home. Unfortunately, UT cannot afford to take them lightly. And, it looks like the Vols took it up a notch last week whipping the other pups from Athens. Can you believe this game is not on TV?

S. Carolina 27 N. Carolina 26
UNC put up some impressive numbers last week beating down Miami. This game would be a milestone for Butch Davis beating the ol' Ball Coach, Spurrier. Could go either way. But, I'll go with the favorite in a tight one.

***UPSET SPECIAL***
Auburn 31 Arkansas 23
The piggies are a slight favorite, but it's pretty evenly matched. Unfortunately for both teams, they'll be missing some key players, i.e. M. Monk & Q. Groves. Auburn, however, has seemed to figure things out the past couple weeks. Unless the Tigers turn the ball over, I expect our success in the white jerseys to continue. The key matchup in this game is Auburn's run defense vs. Arkansas' dominant rushing attack. If our secondary is making a lot of tackles, it could be a repeat of last year's Arkansas beat down.

Week 5 Review & SEC Week 6 Predictions

Well, it's been a great week to be an AU fan. When you count them out, that's when they usually play a great game. Coach Tuberville is 5-0 vs. top 5 teams as Auburn's head coach. Wonder if LSU will be worried. As far as my picks, fittingly, my only miss was Auburn. But, I did get their points right. :-) I've missed on 3 games involving AU this year. That's almost half my miss total. With last week, I'm now 35-7 (83.3%).

*Auburn 20, Florida 17
Florida State 21, Alabama 14
Arkansas 66, North Texas 7
Georgia 45, Ole Miss 17
Kentucky 45, Florida Atlantic 17
LSU 34, Tulane 9
South Carolina 38, Mississippi State 21
Vanderbilt 30, Eastern Michigan 7

On to Week 6...
Auburn 21 Vandy 13
I came very close to picking this the other way. AU has traditionally done terrible with early kickoffs. I know Vandy is looking for a big win to propel them to their 1st bowl game since '82. And, I haven't been very accurate picking AU this year. I hope I don't jinx them.

UAt 35 Houston 24
If Jessica Parker Wilson doesn't bring his 'A' game, Bama could slip up against the Cougars. Houston has a potent offense. I just doubt they can stop the Tide.

S. Carolina 38 Kentucky 30
This will be a great Thursday night game. I think this is the best UK team I've seen in my lifetime. I'll be rooting for the 'Cats. But, I've got a feeling Coach Spurrier will coach his team up in front of the home crowd. Listen for the Rooster Crows in the background. It'll begin to annoy you.

Arkansas 40 Chattanooga 10
Tune-up for the Hogs before AU's visit next weekend.

LSU 30 Florida 20
I have a feeling the Gaytors will be fired up after losing a heart-breaker to AU last weekend. But, LSU will eventually wear them down. I expect a close game for at least 3 quarters.

UGA 31 UT 27
Mark Richt's road record has been phenomenal. I think he's lost like 2 or 3 games on the road since he's been the coach at UGA. UT is not a very good defensive team. And UGA tends to play well in Knoxville. Should be a good game though.

MSU 27 UAB 14
The Dawgs need this win to keep their postseason hopes alive. With UT coming to town next week, UAB could pull off a win against an uninspired MSU team.

***UPSET SPECIAL***
La Tech 34 Ole Miss 30
This could really go either way. After narrowly losing to undefeated Hawaii, I believe the Bulldogs are a hungry team. This could ease the pain of some missed opportunities. Ole Miss has Bama at home next week and could be looking ahead. I don't think this is a good matchup for Ole Miss. It could turn into a shootout.

Week 4 Review & SEC Week 5 Predictions

Well, I took a step back last week with Kentucky and UGA pulling out the wins. Although, the UGA win didn't hurt my feelings. ;-) So far, I'm 28-6 (82.4%)
Auburn 55, New Mexico State 20
LSU 28, South Carolina 16
Florida 30, Ole Miss 24
Mississippi State 31, Gardner-Webb 15
Tennessee 48, Arkansas State 27
*Georgia 26, Alabama 23 (OT)
*Kentucky 42, Arkansas 29

On to Week 5...
Florida 34 Auburn 20
This may be quite a game until the 4th quarter. I'm really not sure what to expect of Auburn this week. It'll either be close or we'll get pounded. Tuberville seems to field his best team when the odds are against him.

LSU 45 Tulane 0
No comment.

S. Carolina 27 Miss. St. 10
The Dawgs will get bit this weekend in Columbia. Spurrier shows how a good team beats an inferior opponent at home.

UGA 35 Ole Miss 9
The Rebels have little left in the tank after hanging with the Gators last weekend.

Kentucky 55 Fla Atlantic 2
Fla Atlantic gets sacks Woodson in the endzone to start the game. ;-)

Arkansas 44 N. Texas 7
No comment.

Vandy 31 E. Michigan 3
Prep game for the Commodores for their road trip to AU next week.

***UPSET SPECIAL***
FSU 21 Alabummer 17
Statement game for the 'Noles in their home state. This is about the only "upset" I could see this week. And, it really wouldn't be much of an upset. Both teams are equally matched. Look for FSU's 'D' to attack Bama's front line to cause some chaos in their backfield.

SEC Week 4 Predictions

Auburn 31 NMSU 17
AU is now struggling to rejuvenate an offense ranked dead last in the conference. While true freshman, Kodi Burns, has shown some promise, there will be plenty of growing pains this year. Hal Mumme will come to town with an Aggie team fresh off a win over conference foe, UTEP. It’ll be interesting to see who’s offense can put up the most yards.

Alabama 28 UGA 17
Gameday will be in Tuscaloser this weekend hyping the already raucous crowd on the return of Alabama football. And if the Tide wins, keep your eye on magazine racks for the next SI issue with St. Saban on the front. While Bama may have their shortcomings dealing with the running game, I don’t think UGA will be able to exploit it like Arkansas did. Look for UA to jump out early again. And, UGA may make it interesting in the 2nd half.

LSU 27 S. Carolina 10
Spurrier may show the world how to slow down LSU on both sides of the ball. He’s the best when it comes to game-planning. Unfortunately, LSU has way too much talent to allow the Gamecocks to win at Death Valley. It’ll be interesting to watch nonetheless.

Florida 33 Ole Miss 13
The big ‘O’ will have his mighty Rebs ready for this one. Frankly, his job is on the line this year. If he can somehow pull off a miracle, he could spare his fate 1 more season. While it may be surprisingly close for 1 half, I see the Gators putting it out of reach going into the 4th quarter.

Miss. St. 35 Gardner-Webb 6
Sly’s boys get the week off before their trip to Columbia next week.

Tennessee 42 Arkansas St. 10
2 more weeks before the Dawgs come to town.

***UPSET SPECIAL***
Arkansas 40 Kentucky 30
This has turned into an interesting early-season matchup. If the Hogs drop this game, it’s doubtful they could make any push to repeat as SEC West champs. This is UK’s first road game and SEC game. Couple that with their exhausting win last week over in-state rival Louisville, and I think they’ll come up a bit short.

Q1 Review (Backfield Turnover)

Obviously, my AU team is not where I thought we could be after 3 games. There's an epidemic on offense that has mangled our efficiency to the tune of 10 turnovers the past 2 games. And no, it's not all Cox's fault. Though I resisted the temptation to 'boo' after his pick-six to start the game, that has no place in Auburn football. True AU fans understand that these kids are part of the family and don't 'owe' us anything. But, I digress. The real reason, as many have conjectured of late, is the fact that we've started this season with more than 2/3 of our backfield missing. Whatever the reason for Cox's woes, he's not the same QB that we were expecting. Add to that Lester and Tristan have yet to play a snap and our part-time F-back is the only effective player from a backfield that has been depleted for 1 reason or another. Hence all the turnovers and poor execution, resulting from a need to play freshmen, i.e. Burns, Fannin.

Where to go from here? Only one way and that's up. While these younger players develop, we will need more leadership in other areas, namely Dline and receiving. If you thought MSU gained too many yards on the ground, wait until we pay a visit to NW Arkansas! The guys on the Dline need to man up. They need to give our offense a shot at winning the ball game. All 3 teams we've faced have scored on their opening drives. So from the get-go, we're playing catchup. And this offense can't succeed like that. Additionally, our receiving has been very inconsistent. I can't count how many dropped balls we've had, both WR and TE. If we can get better production out of these 2 areas + our backfield and eliminate our turnovers, we'll see better results on the field, obviously.

So, there's not one solution at this point. Our coaches will have to earn their money this year. BTW, I wonder how LSU, Alabama, or Florida would perform if they suddenly loss 2/3 of their backfield? Not making excuses, just an explanation.

As far as my picks go, I'm 23-4 (85%) thus far. Auburn's bit me twice. :-(
Alabama 41, Arkansas 38
Florida 59, Tennessee 20
Georgia 45, Western Carolina 16
Kentucky 40, Louisville 34
LSU 44, Middle Tennessee 0
Vanderbilt 31, Ole Miss 17
South Carolina 38, South Carolina State 3
*Mississippi State 19, Auburn 14

SEC Week 3 Predictions

Ran a little behind at work this week. Sorry so late with the picks. This week is a bit tougher to judge. There'll be several close games I believe. We'll find out much more about Bama's defense this week. Vandy returned to true form last week. Auburn is still trying to find their offense. Brandon Cox couldn't throw his way out of a wet paper SACK. Excuse the pun.

Auburn 20 MSU 7
We should find out just how far behind AU is to LSU this week. Let's see, LSU beat MSU on their own turf 45-0. Auburn will struggle to a mediocre victory at home. Not looking forward to our trip to Baton Rouge next month. Anyway, there has been a shakeup at receiver to get Dunn more touches and sit greasy-fingers Prechae. And if Fannin can hold onto the ball, watch Auburn try to establish the run to help Cox execute.

Bama 24 Arkansas 20
Don't know enough about the piglets to give them the nod on the road against a rejuvenated Tide team. I'm sure these Elephants remember last year's heartbreaker. I wouldn't be surprised to see Bama come out and try to make a statement. Only picking this close because I believe McFadden will break off a couple long ones.

Florida 34 Tennessee 20
The Gaytors have made it look too easy against their creampuff competition so far. Unfortunately, UT doesn't have enough defense to give them a shot. Look for Meyer to extend his undefeated streak at home.

Vandy 27 Ole Miss 17
Vandy coming off a disappointing performance against Bama last week will look to take out their frustration against the hapless Rebels. This is a must win for Vandy if they're considering a bowl game.

LSU 31 MTSU 7
This game will show the separation between LSU and everyone else. The Blue Raiders hung with "mighty" Louisville last week. But a good LSU defense will punish any hopes they may have this week. May get to see Perrilloux early in this one saving Flynn for the showdown with the Gamecocks at home next week. I don't believe S. Carolina and LSU have every played each other, have they? :-)

Georgia 35 W. Carolina 3
The Catamounts extend their scoring streak to 2 games against SEC foes. I think that'll bring their average to 1 point per SEC game.

S. Carolina 31 S. Carolina East State Tech...0
Who cares?

***UPSET SPECIAL***
Kentucky 56 Louisville 55
Stay tuned late for the fireworks. This will be a barn burner. Neither team's defense could bust a grape between the 2. But their offense will make any Auburn fan want to slap Al Borges. I'm not too confident that UL will have back-to-back poor defensive games. But, this is about the best choice there is this week for an upset, aside from AU/MSU. :-)

SEC Week 1 & Week 2 Predictions Recap

Overall, my record is 16-3 (84.2%). Here's a recap...

Week 1 (9-1)
My wild upset didn't happen. Went out on a limb with that one anyway. Certainly wouldn't have bet on Richmond beating Vandy. Auburn escapes with the win. Should've lost.

Florida 49, Western Kentucky 3
Mississippi 23, Memphis 21
Kentucky 50, Eastern Kentucky 10
Georgia 35, Oklahoma State 14
Arkansas 46, Troy 26
South Carolina 28, Louisiana-Lafayette 14
Alabama 52, Western Carolina 6
Auburn 23, Kansas State 13
California 45, Tennessee 31
*Vanderbilt 41, Richmond 17

Week 2 (7-2)
Auburn offensive woes continued and cost them the game. Unfortunately, Cox will play until he gets hurt regardless of his performance. At this point, I'm hoping for 8-4. 7-5 is more realistic. At least I picked my upset special. Looks like S. Carolina is turning the corner. Wonder if they have a QB we can borrow.

Alabama 24, Vanderbilt 10
South Carolina 16, Georgia 12
Florida 59, Troy 31
Kentucky 56, Kent State 20
Missouri 38, Mississippi 25
Tennessee 39, Southern Miss 19
LSU 48, Virginia Tech 7
*Mississippi State 38, Tulane 17
*South Florida 26, Auburn 23

SEC Week 2 Predictions

Auburn 20 USF 17

Both teams have something to prove after lackluster performances last week. I was all set to pick USF after seeing AU’s anemic offense last week. But, Auburn gets the benefit of the doubt playing at home. Expect the Bulls to put the heat on Cox much like KSU was successful at doing. I’m hopeful, however, that Auburn will finally use Cox more in the shotgun to alleviate his inability to make the right reads from under center. Unless Fannin is used, don’t expect much more production from the running game.

Bama 31 Vandy 21

I’ve learned a hard lesson over the years that Vandy will never beat Bama. I’m pretty sure their record is 0-114 vs. the Tide. There may be some tense moments for the chubby elephants. But expect Suitcase Saban to have his team very prepared. What to watch: By how many will the Vandy fans be outnumbered in their own stadium?

Florida 34 Troy 13

Time for Tebow to flex his muscle against the Trojan minis. Let’s just hope they don’t spring a leak in the Swamp ‘cause it could get ugly quick. But don’t be surprised if it’s unusually close at the half with Florida looking ahead to Tennessee next week.

Kentucky 35 Kent St. 10

Quietly, the Flashes upset a BCS team last week, Iowa St. You may not have noticed with all the weekend buzz centered around Appalachian St. dethroning a terribly-coached Michigan team. With UK hosting their “rival” Louisville next week, this has the making of another upset. But, I’ve got a feeling little ol’ Kent will be a bit hung-over to do it again.

LSU 31 Va Tech 9

If you weren’t impressed with LSU’s opening shutout of MSU last week, this should be enough to convince you. LSU is solid on both sides of the ball. They’re fortunate with inheriting a Sr. QB to lead this talented team when Russell left early for the NFL. How many years until ‘Tall-Cap Miles’ gets credit for the job he’s doing at LSU?

Missouri 28 Ole Miss 23

Back-to-back road games to start the season for these Midwest Tigers. They’re peaking outside the top 25 for the 1^st team in recent memory. Will this be the year that the Big 12 north actually becomes competitive? Ole Miss was very fortunate last week scoring off Memphis turnovers. I think their luck runs out this week. The Big ‘O’ will be pounding his hairy chest like a raging silverback during halftime.

Tulane 13 Miss St. 10

The Green Wave’s season gets off to a ‘bang’ with a monumental upset of an SEC school. Unfortunately, that may be their only 1-A win in September. I guess as an Auburn fan, I can look at the MSU offense and realize it could always be worse.

Tennessee 27 S. Miss 6

The Vols will be making adjustments to scrape some of the burnt left on their defense from last week. Unfortunately, Southern Miss won’t provide much of a challenge. Ainge may leave in the 3^rd quarter after handing off 32 consecutive plays.

***UPSET SPECIAL***

S. Carolina 23 UGA 21

This is always a scrappy game. Spurrier has his team poised to move into the upper echelon of the SEC. The puppies avoided the sexy upset pick last week and took care of business against OSU. And, I wasn’t too impressed with the ‘Cocks performance last week. But, QB Blake Mitchell’s return should provide a boost offensively.

SEC Week 1 Predictions

Auburn 24 KSU 10
This will be a battle of the felines. Whose curiosity will be their downfall? KSU knows they must take some chances. Although the Tigers are fast on defense, look for KSU to get a couple big plays to keep it interesting. But, don’t be surprised if it costs them a couple turnovers also. The 2nd half will start too close for comfort for most AU fans. But look for their traditional running game start to wear down the ‘Purple Cats’ from Kansas.

Bama 34 W. Carolina 7
Another set of Purple Cats invade the state this Saturday. These are from North Carolina and will barely muster a purr. This will be a good audition for St. Saban. It will be interesting to see Bama’s new, high-powered offense on display. Even more interesting will be if the Catamounts can generate a sustainable drive against this Crimson ‘D’ with many questions to answer.

LSU 28 Miss. St. 9
The cowbells will be ringing early this Thursday night in Starkville. Shouldn’t take very long before the ‘Fat Lady’ tunes up either. While Croom’s Dawgs will be scrappy, these Fightin’ Tigers won’t show any quit. MSU tacks on a late TD and misses the 2-point conversion to make it ‘respectable’.

Cal 27 Tennessee 24
Cal’s defense will have their hands full with Ainge under 2nd-year offensive coordinator, David Cutcliffe. But, the Bears will be ready to return the favor for last year’s blowout in Knoxville. Tennessee won’t have much time to shake off a tough loss with Southern Miss and Florida their next 2 games.

Florida 40 W. Kentucky 10
The coronation of ‘Tebow the Great’ begins this Saturday in Gainesville. The ‘3 Daves’ of Lincoln-Financial will shout his name from the mountaintops as he completely dismantles this 1-AA powerhouse. The Hilltoppers are barely a mole hill for what seems to be another promising season for the ‘Greators’, until the Vols come to town in week 3.

UGA 27 Oklahoma St. 13
2nd-year starter, Matt Stafford, will look to lead an unproven offensive line against the Cowboys from Tornado Country. With the Cowboys still riding an impressive bowl win against the mighty Tide of ’06, their confidence will keep it interesting for a half. The Dawgs will look to establish their running game with a 2+ touchdown lead before the Pokes kick a meaningless FG with time winding down.

Arkansas 31 Troy 7
With an open week to follow, Arkansas season will have to wait until the 3rd week before it begins at Alabama. I don’t think we’ll see much from the Hogs this week, whether unintentional or not. Forget the VCR. A PBS original will generate more excitement.

Kentucky 42 E. Kentucky 14
Not much defense on display in Lexington this weekend. Andre Woodson will put up some Heisman numbers.

Ole Miss 14 Memphis 13
Another opening day struggle will resemble more of a pillow fight in the River City. The Memphis Kitties will put up another valiant effort before continuing a long tradition of losing seasons. What’s worse is their victors won’t even finish September above .500.

S. Carolina 36 La Lafayette 6
The Gamecocks tune up for their road trip to Georgia next weekend.

***UPSET SPECIAL***
Richmond 17 Vandy 16
It’s hard to find a real upset special this week. But, I’ll go with the hapless Commodores. They have become everyone’s favorite surprise team this year. But, we all know their luck. When things are looking up for Vandy that usually means they’ll falter. And, with Bama lurking around the corner, don’t be surprised if Vandy plays very uninspired this weekend. Will the Spiders actually beat this Vandy team? Probably not. But, don’t be surprised if it’s close.

Offense...Random Thoughts

Haven't had the chance to go to practice much lately. I caught the last 20 minutes the other day, but didn't get to see much. So, based on what I'm hearing and what I've seen, I decided to post a few random thoughts.

Tristan Davis
It's unfortunate that his turf toe wound up being a broken toe. However, we saw how a "turf" toe hobbled K. Irons all last year. For Tristan to be effective, he has to be at full speed. So, I'm glad to see we're taking all necessary precautions as soon as possible. We probably won't have him for KSU and USF. But, he'll have plenty of time to rest before we enter the Swamp. Could be a "secret" weapon for us.

OLine
Now, this has been a soap opera. First of all, a true freshman has held the 1st string slot longer than anyone at RT this fall?! You've got to be kidding me! I know Ziemba is a phenom. But, what's the deal with Daniels and Gonzales? I can understand, to some extent, McCain's dropoff being new to the whole position. But to have an incoming freshman beat you out is amazing! I, for one, hope he hangs on to the spot. I'm tired of seeing veterans feel like it's their turn and not putting out the effort, i.e. Leon Hart. And speaking of Leon, he's gone back home to take care of "family matters" with his mom? Not sure about that either. Boy, I hope he's got his head on straight. I'd hate for him to leave the team or something. I wish we'd stop using him as a backup center. He really needs to get his guard position down. I think Berry and Pugh can be an adequate backup at center. Once Hart returns, I hope to see Berry get a shot at RT. I really think he can contribute more as an every-down lineman vs. a utility man. Here's how I hope things shake out. Personally, I think either Ziemba or Pugh will not redshirt.
RT - Berry/Ziemba, McCain
RG - Hart, Eddins
C - Bosley, Berry/Pugh
LG - Green, Isom
LT - Dunlap, Gonzales

WR
Loaded, loaded, loaded! While I wouldn't say we're as talented as USC, I think we've got a great group of talent at this position, both experienced and young. I think it's looking more like the starters will be Smith, Billings, and Dunn. And, there will be several others on the field as well, Hawthorne, Prechae, Swinton, Zachery.

RB
Good to see Fannin is starting to take it to the next level. It'll be fun watching him and Lester battle for starting time over the next couple years. Oh, did I forget to mention Tate? He looks really good too. Looks like we'll have another unfortunate situation of a crowded backfield again, i.e. Cadillac/Ronnie '04. And if Carl Stewart returns to form from his hamstring injury, this should be a fun group to watch.

QB
Coach Tubs is looking for 3 to go with after scrimmage Saturday. Cox is the starter. The other 2 will likely be Caudle and Burns. This may be the biggest audition of Field's career. If he can't break the 3-deep, that might be 'sayonara'. I doubt he'll hang around for scout team duty. Cox will be off limits Saturday, but CTT has announced the other 4 will be fair game for the defense. Nothing to lose in my opinion. They've got to feel the heat. Kickoff is 3 short weeks away. It's time to make a cut.

I'll cover my thoughts on defense soon. Let me know your thoughts as well. Look forward to hearing your responses.

WDE!

Practice Notes - August 3 (PM)

I was able to catch the last part of practice. So, I missed Stewart's hamstring injury. But from what I read, he'll be back within a week.

DLine
This is a special group of guys. While I watched some of their position drills, it reminded me of that feeling I had when I watched Carnell and Ronnie their Sr. years. You know this doesn't come around often. There's a good mixture of seniors (JT, QG, TD), veteran starters (PS, SM), and young talent (MG, MB, AC). Our coaches have done a great job, beginning to end, with this group. They recruited the talent and developed them into solid players.
First of all, Sen'Derrick Marks is going to hurt somebody. I don't know how he can move that big body like he can. But, he's a force. He looks like a future All-American. Stump (JT) is almost too strong. He's got deceptive quickness for his size too. Or course, there's no need to elaborate any more on Quentin Groves. QBs are in trouble.

TEs
I didn't get to see them in action much the 1st day. But I did notice them this time. I saw Trott make some nice catches against the D. Cole Bennett looks good too. I think Trott can really stretch the middle of the defense. He runs good routes downfield and always seems to catch the ball.

WRs
Now I was pleasantly surprised with this group. Robert Dunn looked spectacular. He always manages to get his hand(s) on the ball. And usually, he catches it. He has a knack of getting to the ball first. Q. Carr is surprisingly making some plays out there too. He's got a lot of potential.

QBs
Neither Ensminger or Field impressed me more than the other. When Field is on, he looks really good. He threw a pretty pass to Trott down the middle. But, he did throw a pick or two also. Ensminger didn't really separate himself either. He made some good throws and some bad. I remember thinking that I'm glad we don't have to decide yet on which one of these guys is going to start. It's good Cox has 1 more year. The young guys are getting better, but you can tell a strong D will give them problems. Of all of them, I still like Caudle the most so far. I haven't seen Burns play yet. But, I doubt he's as far along as the other 3. I really wished Field would step up. I was hoping to have a Sr. QB next year. Hopefully, he will. But, I'm afraid there won't be enough separation to keep from playing a younger guy instead.

One last observation, I noticed a lot of chatter out on the field, both players and coaches. It sounds like this team really knows each other well. I didn't see many veteran mistakes. Blanc got his earful. And, Goggans looked much better this time. MG uses his hands really well. Once he puts it all together, I think he'll be fun to watch.

WDE

First Day of Practice - August 2, 2007

Got to see the afternoon practice today. Another season has begun! The coaches used some of the veterans in the morning practice with mostly incoming freshmen. Trott, Lester, Ricks, and Clayton I believe all worked with the new guys. One radio show mentioned that the coaches were going to mix that up a bit over the next few days while holding separate practices for the incoming freshmen.

The 1st group I watched was the DL. Groves is a specimen. I don't see anyone replacing him anytime soon. That guy is lean and pure speed. And, I love Thompson! That boy really fits the mold of a noseguard. He hurt the sleds out there today. And, it looks like he was taking a bit of a leadership role. He was helping Goggans some with his technique. MG was not himself today. And another pleasant surprise for me was Doolittle. He looked real focused. I can't remember our DL being this deep and talented.

Next, I saw the OL work some. There was some talk of Bosley straining his pectoral muscle. Apparently they taped it up because he was snapping the ball in the drills. Berry ran center some too. I thought overall we looked pretty good. First of all, Bosley looks stout. Unless he gets hurt, I don't see much worry there. RT is probably the biggest question mark. Couldn't really tell much from drill work. But if McCain don't work out, we're in trouble unless Berry can move over. Daniels looked slow to me. I don't like his stance. He doesn't look like he can get much leverage. Not sure, but I'd be worried if he's protecting Cox's blindside. Overall though, if everyone can stay healthy, I really like our 1st 5. Hopefully, Berry can be our utility man much like Palmer was in the past.

I didn't get to see much out of the skilled positions. But from what I did notice, I thought Caudle threw a good ball. Blake looked comfortable out there too. Hopefully for our future, Caudle will step up for us in the 2-spot. Wilhite, Gilbert, and Lee looked like veterans in coverage drills. As far as receivers, I think Montez is ready to step up. Robert Dunn looked good too. There is a separation though from Rod and the rest. Rod looked very polished.

I didn't get to see much of the RBs. I thought it was a good idea though to get Lester away from the other guys battling for the 2-spot. At a glance, I was impressed with Tate. I had him penciled to play some TB, but also start working more in the F-back role behind Stewart. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by his speed. I've always liked his legwork and vision. If he can now be more explosive at the hole, the sky's the limit for him.

Notably missing was Cox. Not sure if he was just hanging out or if he practiced with the freshman. I was surprised not to see him getting some reps with the veteran WRs. I may have missed him though.

Well, I hope this gave some insight. It's really hard to tell from the 1st day of practice. So really, 1st impressions is about all you can elaborate on. I will say that I haven't seen this deep of talent at AU in a while. What we lack in experience, there will be plenty of talent to compensate.

Here's to another season of AU football! If the road schedule don't kill us, the future looks real bright.

WDE!

Notable Moments from SEC Media Days

http://www.secsports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=2&url_article_id=9281&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2

From what I gathered, nothing too surprising came out of SEC media days last week in Birmingham. LSU was picked to win it all, McFadden was a unanimous choice for All-SEC, and Saban arrived with the fanfare that would've made Elvis jealous. It's interesting to note that all the covers on each team's media guide included pictures of their players, except 1. That's right, Saban was pictured on the cover of UA's media guide walking as if water was beneath him. I wonder how many losses will he have to endure to fall from the graces of sainthood. As far as other coaches, Spurrier was as quotable as ever, "I thought we'd beaten a good team in Clemson, then Kentucky beat them in their bowl game." Hmmm...when is that S. Carolina/Kentucky game this year?

I suppose LSU as the appointed favorite should be leery of falling to history as another preseason favorite not to win the SEC. If so, who'd be their likely replacement? Each division has their contenders. If we were to look at the preseason All-SEC teams, Arkansas could make a case with 5 players elected to the 1st team. Too bad there's a mutiny waiting for Coach Nutt should his team have an unexpected loss, i.e. 9/22 vs. Kentucky.

Speaking of the All-SEC predictions, it's interesting to note the omissions as well. Cole Bennett was 1st-team All-SEC last year. Yet he seems to be forgotten after missing last year with a broken ankle against LSU. Coach Tuberville would like you to believe his QB was slighted after what he deemed Cox's MVP performance last year, playing with multiple injuries. Where's DJ Hall, Andre Caldwell, or Tristan Davis (KR) ? And for God's sake, how many Colquitts are there in Tennessee? You can pick your most notable omission in my latest poll.

Until Next Time,
WDE!

2007 SEC Football Schedule

A New Beginning (2007)

As SEC media days begin, I take on a new venture in recording my thoughts (and others) regarding the upcoming SEC football season. Be forewarned, this blog has an Auburn bias. So if I offend you, bye. And if you offend me, bye again. ;-) Seriously, I enjoy giving other team's fans a hard time. And, you're welcome to do the same. Just try not to get your feelings hurt. :-( Let's enjoy the pageantry of a new college football season together. Hopefully, 2007 will be a good year to remember for all us fans, except UAt of course.

War Eagle!