This week’s guesses.
TENNESSEE at MSU
The Vols looked like a sleeping giant awakened against Georgia, holding the Bulldogs to just 69 rushing yards. The Vols are ranked ninth in the SEC in rushing defense, and Georgia’s tandem of Thomas Brown and Knowshon Moreno are the best 1-2 punch I’ve seen in a while.
It wasn’t a matchup that favored Tennessee, but shutting down those two forced Georgia to win with the passing game and I think they’re just average in that department.
After the game Phil Fulmer took the “us against the world” position that coaches love so much. He made reference to a newspaper story that quoted former Tennessee players and questioned the direction of the program.
State struggled against UAB before turning up the juice late.
State ran for 182 yards on a porous Blazers defense. It’s unlikely the Bulldogs will duplicate that success against the Vols if the Vols turn out like they did a week ago. State’s OL did lead a 140-yard rushing performance in its most recent SEC game, a 38-20 loss South Carolina.
But it’s unlikely the Bulldogs will be one-dimensional and beat Tennessee. They have got to get more from the passing game.
Tennessee 33, MSU 23
GEORGIA at VANDERBILT
Georgia had the East in its hands before getting its feet chopped off at Tennessee.
Vanderbilt … what can you say? They roll through non-conference, they pound Ole Miss. The talent is better, the coaching is better, but can they win a meaningful SEC game?
It doesn’t look like it.
Vandy just 221 yards in a 35-7 loss at Auburn. So is Vandy just Vandy or has Auburn arrived. A mix of both I think.
Georgia 23, Vanderbilt 14
AUBURN at ARKANSAS
The return of Brad Lester has obviously given Auburn a lift. The Tigers have a nice 1-2 punch now of Lester and Ben Tate.
It’s certainly not the 1-2 punch of Arkansas backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, but Auburn isn’t 1-dimensional either.
The Auburn receivers, an average bunch though they are, have decided to catch passes from Brandon Cox again and freshman Kodi Burns gives Auburn a nice dual QB threat … at least something to plan for and be concerned with.
Arkansas’ best receiver, Marcus Monk, has yet to play, and its others haven’t been completely healthy.
It’s added up to inconsistency in the passing game.
I like Auburn’s momentum in this game. Plus, the Razorbacks haven’t seen an SEC team since losing three weeks ago at home to Kentucky.
Auburn 28, Arkansas 24
LSU at KENTUCKY
Kentucky QB Andre Woodson has thrown just two interceptions in 207 attempts and did not throw a single pick before Week 5 against Florida Atlantic.
Florida’s Tim Tebow had similar interception numbers prior to last week. He didn’t unravel against LSU but was hurried on the play that resulted in a tipped ball pick and led to an LSU scoring drive.
South Carolina slowed Kentucky’s offense by forcing turnovers. Ball control has been a problem for the Cats most of this season, and I don’t think the turnovers will become habit.
But bad defense by Kentucky is a habit. The Cats will have some energy from playing at home, but LSU will get a strong running game going and will make enough plays on defense and will return to Baton Rouge undefeated for next week’s home Western Division showdown against Auburn.
This one won’t require a Bluegrass Miracle.
LSU 29, Kentucky 25
– PA
October 10, 2007 at 11:08 am |
I really like your picks this week PA….
I like UT’s Defense against State’s offense – Tenn 31 MSU 17
I like UGA against Vandy; don’t really know what to expect here though….UGA 24 Vandy 13
I think Auburn has found the majic again; they have the talent to stop a 1D Arkansas O – Auburn 24 Ark 20
I don’t think UK is going to have as much success against the LSU D as did Florida. I like LSU a little bigger…. LSU 34 UK 13
Guess I will to pick Bama tomorrow PA. I’m with you, I feel like a win is achievable, I just think we’ll have a play or two like the last 3.5 years that does us in. Then again, it may not be that close, I’ll fight the demons within between now and the morning to decide.
October 10, 2007 at 12:04 pm |
This Ole Miss team has not done anything to give me the confidence to predict a win. I see that a win is possible. A lot will depend on whether tackling improvement against La. Tech was real or imagined.
– PA
October 10, 2007 at 1:18 pm |
I didn’t see any improvement against La Tech. Most of their rushing yards came after missed tackles. I just thought it was par for the course. We had a chance to destroy their QB on one play, and we completly missed the sack. I think we go for the head and not for the lower half of the body 95% of the plays I see.
October 10, 2007 at 1:51 pm |
Tackling is physical. Six games into the season either you’re physical or you’re not. Ole Miss’ defensive linemen are physical. Some of their defensive backs are not. I’m not sure there will be much improvement in 1-on-1 open field tackling. The best way for Ole Miss to improve tackling at this point is to cut out assignment busts. If players are in the right place, they’re more likely to be able to gang tackle.
– PA
October 10, 2007 at 4:47 pm |
UT at MSU-
Tennesse showed last week that they can contain the run on one of the best pair of running backs in the conference, so seeing as how the run game is State’s only offense, it’s a no brainer for this one. The only exception would be that either UT was a fluke on defense last week, or that the Carroll kid turns into an SEC QB overnight.
UT-35
MSU-10
UGA at Vandy-
GA is used to playing in front of about 90000 folks on any given Saturday, so the whole intimidation factor won’t be there when they play in front of the SEC’s smallest crowd. Vandy has shown signs of being a decent team, but they have not shown any consistency. GA is an excellent run team, and Stafford may not have the greatest arm but it’s enough, and that combination should be more than plenty to slow down Bobby’s navy.
UGA-31
Vandy-17
Auburn at Arkansas-
Auburn has gotten back to their winning ways and has showed signs of SEC contenders over the past couple of weeks. Arkansas on the other hand is showing signs of a busted season under the helm of QB Casey Dick. If not for their two running backs, AR could be as bad as Ole Miss this year (with the exception of comparing the defenses). I think that Auburn can slow down the dynamic duo enough to pull out a comfortable victory for playing on the road.
Auburn-27
Arkansas-17
LSU at UK-
Not much to talk about here. If USC defense can contain the high powered Cats, LSU should have no problem. Look for Woodson to be running for his life this weekend.
LSU-30
UK-21
I just noticed that I picked all the road teams to win this weekend, which I realize is very unlikely. If one of my picks are wrong, I’d say the AR/AU game. I think the others are fairly safe.
I’ll save my Ole Miss pick for later. I disgust the the Tide and will probably have a lengthy post when the time comes.