Every week I will be offering up some random thoughts and observations concerning the SEC. We are now in the meat of the schedule and every weekend features compelling match ups. As I always I will be totally candid and just call it the way I see it. Nothing personal towards any program. I am not a professional writer and I will not be publishing a novel every week on the league. My primary responsibility lies with my handicapping for my clients. But I will provide some thoughts coming with an impartial viewpoint.
GEORGIA: Well Mark Richt's Bulldogs got in some good work in their warm up game leading up to the monster show down this weekend against the Tide. They rolled Southern by 42 points and we all know it could have been worse. Chubb is obviously a beast and he had another stellar day rumbling for 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Hard to take a helluva lot from this game as they led by 17 after the initial quarter and cruised. I mean how can the Bulldogs and Richt in particular not by sky high and ready to rumble in this one. They have to feel like they owe the Tide one and this game just shapes up as the prime opportunity. Richt is calling this week business as usual and if you believe that I have some beach front property to sell you here in mid missouri. I cannot wait to see this one guys.
ALABAMA: Nick Saban's team also had what amounted to a tune up to the showdown taking out Louisiana Monroe by a convincing 34-0 final score. The Tide defense was just smothering all day and allowed a mere 92 yards of total offense. Coker had an encouraging day firing three TD passes. As I mentioned above this one will be a slugfest and I cannot wait. I see a lot of guys I respect liking the Bulldogs at home in this one and certainly things seem to be lining up for it. But I have seen Georgia spit the bit so many times in the really big ones. Tide as the underdog, man oh man.
LSU: Made a release on the game last week. I felt the Tigers were laying too much on the road there in unfamiliar territory against a Syracuse club that was really going to be up for a battle with an SEC power. I figured the Orange would bring all they had to bear and they did. Those kids played their asses off. I look hard at the schedule for Les Miles club and the possibility is they are in for a real collision on November 7th at Tuscaloosa. Three of their last four games could be brutally tough but right now this team looks salty as hell. Fournette will be carrying the mail on sundays and that is a lock my friends.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Spurrier's club got their season mark squared at 2-2 with a solid win over Central Florida 31-14. I did not see this game guys. But apparently the Game cocks were once again shaky on the offensive end for much of the early going. Bottom line is they recorded the win and now prepare to hit the road and travel to Columbia, Missouri to deal with a Tigers club coming off a tough loss in Lexington. The last two times these two teams have tangled both have been battles to the bitter end and this one shapes up as another. Two years ago in Columbia the Tigers apparently had a choke hold on the game but blew it in the end. Then last year out in their place it appeared the Cocks were on their way to a big home win but the Tigers got up off the deck in the final quarter and shocked them. This one marks the return of DC Jon Hoke to Columbia where he served as the secondary coach under the late Larry Smith at Mizzou. Hoke is a very capable DC and given time will turn that unit around but you have to have to proper tools to use to ply your trade. Patience required there.
MISSOURI: I took off my fan hat last week and really chucked it down the road. I tabbed Kentucky over my Tigers as my SEC game of the year. I simply did not trust the Tigers offense. At all. A lot of folks were pointing at the return of Hansbrough being the savior to the offense. Sorry, it was going to take much more than that. I loved the Cats and went large on it. I expected the Mizzou defense to step up and play a great game and frankly they pretty much did. It gets very disheartening for a defense to keep playing their asses off and watch their offense continue to sputter along. It just sucks the bone marrow out of the kids. Former Tiger Michael Sam couldn't stand to watch and let it be known he felt the time was here to unleash true freshman QB Drew Lock under center. Well Michael, you are getting your wish my man. Gary Pinkel has suspended Maty for the game this saturday and young Lock will step into the starting role. Will this spark the Tigers at home this saturday? Yup, I have an opinion and it is not what many think it will be. I do know Gary Pinkel is a long term proven winner and he has a huge coaching job on his hands this week. I will be there to watch this one closely.
TENNESSEE: Another kick squarely in the nuts for Butch Jones club last week dropping another heart breaker in the swamp to those hated Gators 28-27. We were in a little beach front pub in Port Washington called schooner something when I say that final scroll across. I am not a fan of either but thought oh damn, I know that stung the Vols and their fans. By the way, side note, if you are ever in that little town of Port Washington Wisconsin, well, enjoy. What a neat little community nestled right up against the lake. Clean as a whistle and the people are very friendly. There is a little pub called the Schooner that is as friendly a joint as I have ever been in. Anyway, I veered off course guys. Anyway, Jones clubs have now blown two late leads and the heat is on. Many Vols supporters frustrated at what if. Oh how things can turn quickly, just a couple weeks ago in the first half against the Sooners Jones could have been elected governor of the state. Now just two weeks down the road and people are grumbling. What have you done for me lately, hmm, I think I can relate, lol. This week they host another team that really needs a win with the Hogs coming into town. Something's gotta give as they say.
ARKANSAS: Well the Hogs dropped their conference opener at home to Texas A&M in a game I pushed. My subscriber release on that one was the Aggies. As I said this week they hit the road and meet what will be a cranky Tennessee club taking the field in front of equally cranky Vol's fans. As I type this up the hosts are laying 6.5 to Arkansas. Expectations are falling way short thus far and frankly I will be surprised if they right the ship saturday night in Knoxville.
FLORIDA: Huge win for the Gators and their program saturday taking out Tennessee. Jim McElwain is a fiery sort and as i stated before I do like this chances to get this program back on track and for Gators football to become a force in time. Huge game looming this saturday as Ole Miss comes rumbling into town. Measuring stick time. The Reb's are legit bad asses, just ask the Tide. As I type this up the Rebs are laying the touchdown and dreaded hook. There are folks in Gainesville feeling their oats and actually talking east champions. I think they are getting ahead of themselves. Let's see how they hold up this weekend. Ole Miss is salty guys.
MISSISSIPPI: Workman like effort from the Rebs last week in a game I just didn't want any part of wagering. I figured they could be a little flat off the monster game against the Tide and they were. But I did not feel compelled to trust Vandy with our money either. In the end the Rebs dispatched Vandy by a 27-16 final. I know a lot of people are still casting a skeptical eye towards the Reb's but one source indicated that Ole Miss has more NFL prospects on their roster than Bama does. Looking at their schedule it is not insane to see them running the table. One gimme game at Memphis does not obviously appear to be anything to mail in but overall the game against LSU in Oxford could loom large. Of course if they are unbeaten going into the final week that collision with Missy State in Starkville could be epic. Good stuff.
TEXAS A&M: Business trip to Arkansas and Kevin Sumlin's crew went into town and took care of business by a touchdown. Push for yours truly as I said. They host Mississippi State at College Station this saturday night and I think this will be a closer game than some. I see the Aggies laying 6.5 to 7. I think the Bulldogs defensive front will wreak some havoc on that offensive line of the Aggies. This is one of those games that will clearly be over shadowed by some of the more marquee match ups but should be a helluva war and I think in question going down to the final minutes.
MISSISSIPPI STATE!: The Bulldogs shut down the train wreck called Auburn last week by a 17-9 final. Clearly any conference win is a beautiful thing but lets face it, this win does not have anywhere remotely the appeal one would have projected such a short time ago. Dak Prescott will lead his troops into a big one as I mentioned against the Aggies this week. Big game for both sides here. I seem to say that a lot but they all truly are. It is that time of year. Much like the Aggies this club is under the radar. Pivotal game saturday for the Bulldogs and Aggies.
KENTUCKY: Well I placed much trust in Stoops club last saturday night and despite sputtering against a Mizzou defense much of the night they did enough to win a big release for yours truly. The Wildcats are more than capable on the defensive end guys. I know a lot of fans around the country cannot stand Kentucky because of their dominance through the years in hoops but I am personally glad to see the football program relevant again. Stoops can both recruit and coach. Great hire and that was a big win for them saturday night. They knocked off the two time defending east champs and a team that had been real road warriors. I felt the time had come for Mizzou to stumble on the road and the Cats came through for us. Once again I proved I am more than capable of distinguishing fan support from handicapping. You have to be cold blooded as an assassin to do this stuff. Glad it cashed for us. There will be no other SEC games of the year guys. That was the one. I do not abuse that label.
AUBURN: This will be brief. It has just never been my nature to pile on when someone is going through a tough stretch. I would have made a rotten troll. Just think guys, there were MANY talking heads on ESPN and such touting the Tigers as serious contenders not only for a conference crown but to take the whole deal. Good grief, not just some egg on the face but the whole damn chicken coop has landed on their heads. It will serve to keep Auburn nation humble for a bit. With that being said I will move it along.
VANDERBILT: Once again, I am not into kicking sand in the faces of the skinny guys. They remain winless in league action after dropping one at Ole Miss last weekend. This week they tangle with Middle Tennessee and for the pride of the conference I hope they prevail. I will just leave it at that.
Okay guys. That is it. I am not stretching the truth when I say I have much work to cover. Will be one of those nights I imagine I will be sitting at my desk at 3am doing capping responsibilities. I honestly do not think most comprehend the hours involved in doing this stuff if you are committed to doing it the fight way. And I am. Good luck as always fellas and enjoy the games.