Two Daves Pick the SEC
September 25, 2010
Welcome to Two Daves Pick the SEC! As we close out September, we are
starting to get some really good matchups in the SEC. Two of the best
freshmen running backs in the nation face off at Auburn, The Tide rolls in
to face a good Arkansas team. There will not be any good games in
Mississippi, unless you are the visiting team.
Doug says:
Are we having some fun now, or what? The season is now in full swing with
numerous compelling matchups, and more clarity around who the real
contenders are, and who the pretenders are. Congrats to the Geeks from
Nashville who won an SEC game on the road by two touchdowns for the first
time in gosh, who knows how long?
The prevailing theme across the country right now is that the SEC is down.
Sure, Bama is number one, but the drop off after that is precipitous,
according to the talking heads. Blah, blah, Big Ten, blah, blah, Pac 10,
blah, blah, Big 12. My opinion is that the conference is as strong as ever,
top to bottom. Well, top to ten. Neither Ole Miss nor Vanderbilt is strong
by any measure of the word, unless you¹re comparing them to each other.
Alabama at Arkansas
Dave:
Speaking of skulldragging, Alabama redefined bitchslap last weekend at Duke.
The Tide had its way early and often with Koach Kutkliffe¹s Krew. Now comes
a real test for the Tide, an offense that can throw and catch the ball very
well, which goes directly against the one weakness Alabama has: the
secondary. Arkansas in a win? Not so fast my fine feathered friends.
The real offensive juggernaut in this matchup is Alabama. The Tide is an
offensive juggernaut (I still cannot believe this) and can mix the run and
pass together very well. The defense, while not at last year¹s level, is
still very good and will only get better as the season goes on. Arkansas¹
defense will struggle being pounded on for four quarters.
Alabama 31 Â* Arkansas 27
Doug:
I didn¹t think Arkansas was quite ready for prime time, but they proved me
wrong by beating Georgia last week. But did they really prove me wrong? I
think they¹re awfully one-dimensional, even if that one dimension is pretty
danged good. The thing is, Alabama will exploit that. We all know Arkansas
struggles a bit on the defensive side, which means they¹ll have to match
Bama point for point offensively. That ain¹t happening against Alabama¹s
defense. Even in Northwest Arkansas.
Tide 38 Â* Sooie 17
Kentucky at Florida
Dave:
Everyone expected Florida to be undefeated at this point in the season. I
doubt many expected Kentucky to be as well. Florida is clearly suffering
from PTSD, that¹s Post Tebow Scoring Dysfunction. Joker Phillips is doing a
fine job as Kentucky¹s new coach, and he faces his first test in an SEC game
in one of the toughest venues in the country, The Swamp.
Florida looks beatable and they are going to lose to someone they should not
lose to. It¹s likely going to be Kentucky, Georgia or Mississippi State.
This one will be close.
Florida 27 Â* Kentucky 24
Doug:
Kentucky is undefeated, but then again, Kentucky has played nobody. Florida
is undefeated, but then again, Florida has played nobody (sorry, UT fans).
This game will probably be a little nerve-wracking for Florida fans for a
quarter or two before Florida goes ahead and pulls away. Maybe the Mildcats
will leave Gainesville with a moral victory in their back pocket.
Gators 31 Â* Gatorbait 21
South Carolina at Auburn
Dave:
The War Beagles looked cooked against Clempson last weekend, only to stage
its own furious comeback win. South Carolina didn¹t look quite as sharp
against Furman as I expected. The AKC can deny it, but they were looking
forward to this game, and for good reason. The winner of this game takes a
big step toward reaching Atlanta, the loser will look back at this game and
say ³if we had won that one².
Gus Malzhan versus Ellis Johnson is a no-brainer, the defensive mastermind
wins this one. The test comes when the Ol¹ Ball Coach¹s boys go up against
Gene Chizik, who knows something about defense as well. I really think this
one will be very, very close. Someone will make a big play to win this game
for their team.
Lattimore 24 Â* Dyer 23
Doug:
For my money, this is the game of the week. It may be the battle for the
second-best team in the conference. Auburn is much better than they get
credit for. South Carolina has already shown that they¹ve taken the next
step, and they¹re already battle-tested in SEC play. Auburn impressively
stared down adversity and came back to beat a game Clemson team last week.
I expect this game to be a defensive battle. South Carolina will have a
game plan in place to control Cam Newton. Auburn will key on sensational
frosh Marcus Lattimore. This one will be fun.
War Tigers 21 Â* Cackolackey 20
Georgia at Mississippi State
Dave:
Mississippi State is the elixir for whatever ails LSU. No matter what is
wrong with the Tigers, playing the Bulldogs just makes things better. LSU
skulldrug Mississippi State in Red Stick last weekend, giving Jordan
Jefferson some much-needed confidence. Meanwhile, in Athens, Jawga¹s
furious comeback attempt was shot down by Ryan Mallet¹s late touchdown pass
to secure the Pigz win.
What does all of this mean? It¹s dawgie style in Starkville, the only
question is which dawgs will be on top. Both teams enter this game 1-2
overall and 0-2 in the SEC. A loss here pretty much kills the season. I
don¹t think that Mark Richt has ever lost three games in a row. I know Dan
Mullen has, and will do it again.
G¹s up 24 Â* M¹s down 17
Doug:
If Dan Mullen looked in the mirror right now, he¹d see Mark Richt. That¹s
how similar these two football teams are right now. Both are 0-2 in
conference after playing difficult early schedules. Both are competitive
but just can¹t get over that hump. Both have a bit of an identity crisis at
this point. Both are in must-win situations if they want to salvage
anything this season. I think the most likely team to get over the hump
this week is Georgia, just because they have players who¹ve been there. But
my gut is telling me that the Starkville-based Bulldogs is going to get it
done. Georgia has the better offense, but State has the better defense.
We¹ll have to see how it plays out.
Western Dawgs 17 Â* Eastern Dawgs 16
UAB at Tennessee
Dave:
I¹m sure that Derek Dooley is thankful to have this game come along after
facing a tough stretch against Oregon and Florida. The Vols get a
much-needed win.
Tennessee 34 Â* UAB 13
Doug:
Tennessee has a long way to go. Getting a C-USA foe will help their current
fragile state. However, don¹t sleep on these Blazers. They have a QB who
has the ability to sling it all over the field. The Vols may need to score
a lot of points to secure the win here. But they should prevail. It¹s not
like they¹re playing Jacksonville State or anything.
Rocky Top 38 Â* Puff The Magic Dragon 20
Fresno State at Mississippi
Dave:
Vanderbilt. At home. Really? Jeremiah Masoli isn¹t Houston Nutt¹s biggest
problem. Running out of Ed Orgeron¹s talent is what plagues Nutt. Orgeron
cannot coach or speak English, but the man can recruit. Things aren¹t going
to be much better for Rebel fans this weekend. Things will get much worse
in Oxford before they get better.
Fresno State 27 Â* Mississippi 21
Doug:
I just have to laugh. I know it¹s not the nice thing to do. But it¹s just
funny. Take the craziest coach in the league, add the most delusional
fanbase in college football. Sprinkle in a sense of entitlement that
they¹ve neither earned nor deserve. Then, give them a modicum of success.
Now add a Heisman caliber QB, obtained through nefarious circumstances.
Then, pull the rug out from under them, and sit back and enjoy the hilarity
that ensues. This would be a great plot for a comedy movie. Maybe Sandra
Bullock is available.
West Coast Representin¹ 31 Â* Last Place Representin¹ 20
West Virginia at LSU
Dave:
The coonasses got their first home game of the season, and of course an easy
win over Mississippi State. Note to Dan Mullen, don¹t get the ball near
Patrick Peterson. If West Virginia doesn¹t bring their A game, they will be
crushed. After all, they almost lost at Marshall. Red Stick is one of the
greatest and most intimidating venues in all of college football,
particularly at night. Even Lester cannot screw that up, he¹s 26-1 at LSU
in night games.
Make it 27 30 Â* Deliverance 24
Doug:
I don¹t know what to think about LSU. Looking at the score, they dominated
Mississippi State. But looking deeper, they were outgained in total offense
and had less first downs than the Bullies. What if State didn¹t turn the
ball over five times? West Virginia is undefeated and on a roll, but I
truly don¹t think they¹re ready for the talent disparity they are about to
face. The Tigahs should outclass the Mountaineers fairly easily from a
talent standpoint. But gameday coaching is the great equalizer here. I
still like LSU at home on a Saturday night. I will say this, however: a
stadium full of moonshine-filled hillbillies and drunk, weasel-crazy
coonasses will be must see television.
Coonasses 27 Â* Hillbillies 17
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