Random email of the week: 1:01 AM Sunday morning Whitey emails me….I don't have my pants on. I saw macgruder. I'm happy. He's not. Life is good. Surprisingly enuff, I'm drunk.


Week 6 October 7th

I think Whitey’s email pretty much summed up the Tennessee vs. Georgia game. Two years ago I witnessed the shirt come off after a 19-14 Vols upset win.....….I think it's good his wife was there this time! There were 2 other big SEC games to discuss: Auburn vs. Arkansas and Florida vs. LSU. Yes this was the SEC’s big day. On the national scene only Texas vs. Oklahoma and Cal vs. Oregon registered as big games on a relatively quiet day in college football. Clemson got some help from Wake and GA Tech held on for dear life to make their battle in 2 weeks a huge one. But since this was the SEC’s day let’s rank the SEC teams from worst to first. Along the way I will judge them against the Big Ten +1 just like they do in basketball between the ACC and Big Ten..

12. Mississippi State – I have never been to Starkville and I am going to guess I will never make it there. They didn’t score the first 2 weeks of the season. They have one win against UAB. The defense is actually pretty solid but the offense just gives them no chance. Before the season I actually heard many of the so called College Experts picking Miss. St as a potential pit-fall for West Virginia….please.

11. Mississippi – The title of worst SEC team may come down to the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving. Although they hung on and beat Vandy last week 17-10 they are ranked below the Commodores. Vandy out gained Ole Miss 400 to 179, had a 23 -7 advantage in First Downs and had the ball for 10 more minutes and still lost because of 4 fumbles and 2 Int’s. (YES I’m pissed because I picked Vandy) This year has been a huge disappointment with Brent Schaeffer as their QB. Why did they let David Cutcliffe go? They could probably have him back after this year. Big Ten match-up with Northwestern - edge Ole Miss -6

10. Kentucky – They beat Ole Miss badly and they hung in with Florida for 3 quarters before losing 26 – 7. Last week’s 7 point loss to South Carolina probably ended any hopes of making it to a Bowl game for Rich Brooks and the Cats……Oh Tim Couch where have you gone? Big Ten opponent Illinios – Edge Pick’em

9. Vanderbilt – Jay Cutler gave them a chance in most SEC games the last few years, but Vandy continues to be a pesky team. They only gave Michigan 27 points (20 less than Notre Dame gave them) lost by 3 to Bama and 2 to Arkansas, and you already know about the Ole Miss disaster. The problem is without Cutler Vandy has to play mistake free football and when they don’t they lose. Big Ten Opponent Indiana - Vandy - 6

8. South Carolina – The next 2 are tough to call. South Carolina played UGA and Auburn at home and gave Auburn a scare after getting shut-out and shut-down by the Dawgs….(we should have seen Auburn’s loss coming after the way they played in Columbia) Clearly Spurrier has to find some lineman and a true QB before he can even think about coming to Atlanta with the Cocks. Big Ten opponent Michigan St. – SC -3.5

7. Alabama – How good are they? Well, when they were up 10-0 on Florida I thought they were pretty good. When they were down 14 -10 to Duke at the half I was pretty sure they were bad. The truth is still to come. With Tennessee, LSU and Auburn on the schedule they could easily lose 5 games. Big Ten Opponent Purdue – Bama -8

6. Georgia – A week ago or even a half ago the Dawgs would have been much higher on the list. I asked myself if Georgia played Arkansas right now who would be favored and who would I take…..I think you would be looking at a pick’em or a point or 2 for the home team. Right at this moment I would have a hard time picking UGA in that match-up. Unfortunately they don’t play so we won’t actually find out. I can’t imagine the wave of emotions in Sanford Stadium on Saturday….up 24 – 7 down 38 – 27 only to see Thomas Brown run the kick-off back 99 yards to cut the margin to 4 with plenty of time to go in the game. But even after having Smokey lay 51 on them they can still be 7-1 going to Jacksonville in 3 weeks. More importantly Mark Richt and his staff have to restore some confidence to the Dawgs and find a QB that gives them a fighting chance. That guy is not Joe T. Big Ten Opponent Minnesota – UGA -8

5. Arkansas – Yes I know they just won at Auburn by 17 points….but one game does not make a season. The big question is can the Hogs keep the momentum going? They actually control their own destiny in SEC West. They still play Kentucky, SC, Miss. St, UT and LSU…..but losing only one game still puts them into the title game. Who would have thought you could go into Auburn throw for less than 100 yards and use the modern version of the fumblrooski and still win. Darren McFadden is a difference maker, who as McGruder said is “Scary Fast”, he can go 80 yards anytime he touches the ball. I still think they find a way to lose 2 more games. They did play USC….so give them credit for playing a tough out of conference game. Big Ten opponent Penn State - Even

*Strange stat of the week: Arkansas entered Saturday last nationally in time of possession. It then held the ball for 31 minutes, 50 seconds, 3:40 longer than Auburn. ...

4. LSU – The Bayou Bengals have lost at Auburn and Florida and they still have to go to Knoxville on November 4th……talk about a tough road schedule. They are a long shot to make it to Atlanta even if they beat UT and Arkansas. Auburn would have to lose twice for LSU to have a chance. Are we sure Les Miles is a good coach?? Does anyone actually know? All you ever hear is how great their defense is and what athletes they have at LSU. 13 points in their 2 biggest games of the season isn’t going to get the job done very often. Big Ten Opponent – Wisconsin Edge LSU -7

3. Auburn – Tommy should have never opened his mouth…..look at the bright side of things, you can’t get screwed this year. Two weeks ago we saw South Carolina run the ball on the Auburn D and come within the fingertips of a tight end from tying the score at 24 in the waning moments. Last week Arkansas did one better….they dominated Auburn, running for almost 300 yards and controlling the clock in the 2nd half. What was disturbing was Auburn’s lack of energy and urgency when they fell behind by 14 points in the 4th quarter. This is not the NFL….one off week can and will ruin your season. Well Auburn can quickly resurrect its’ season and jump back in the mix by beating Florida at home this weekend. If they do so they might also eliminate the SEC from any hope of reaching Glendale and the National Title Game. Big Ten Opponent – Iowa Edge Auburn -2.5

2. Tennessee – 51 points in Athens….think back one year ago, the Vols with many of the same offensive players had a hard time scoring 15 points. Ainge now looks like the 2nd coming of Peyton Manning and his receivers are constantly running free 15 yards down field. The Vols have a bye week and sit at home and root for Auburn. If Auburn wins and the Vols can take care of business against Bama and LSU at home and on the road against SC and Arkansas they still have a chance to make it to Atlanta. Boy would I like to see Cal and UT play again now….these are the 2 hottest teams in America outside of Columbus, Ohio. Big Ten Opponent Michigan – Edge Michigan -3

1. Florida – Congrats you have beaten LSU and Tennessee…..what do you get? A trip to Auburn against an angry group of Tigers at night! For Chris Leak the best thing about this week is that is gets to go on the road. Tim Tebow is the hottest thing in Gainesville since Emmitt Smith was a freshman running back…..and he doesn’t even start! Florida is 6-0 for the first time…however, remember they did lose a game in their National Championship year since 1996….Is this a great Gator team? Talk to me on Sunday….I’m guessing very good but not great. Big Ten Opponent Ohio St. - OSU -4

People keep saying that the SEC can’t win the National Title because the league is too tough…well I don’t buy that. If they have the best team they will make it to the big game on January 8th. Is it the best conference in football this year? Yes…..was it last season….I don’t think so. (Florida and Tennessee had down years and they didn’t have one great team) Getting through the SEC will always be difficult…..As you can see in the comparisons against the Big Ten teams 3-11 were favored in every single match-up and the SEC winner still has to play in a conference championship game. This to me is the single biggest problem with the current college football system. The power conferences need to have some consistency, either everybody has a conference championship or nobody does. Secondly, if you can’t qualify for your own conference championship game you shouldn’t be eligible for the National Title game….aka Nebraska. If Florida can survive their trip to Auburn this week they could well be on their way to a perfect season. They still play Georgia (who they have dominated and FSU who is way down….actually they suck.)

Big Games this week:

Florida at Auburn -1.5
Michigan at PSU +6.5 (Both of these are night games on the road for an undefeated team…….hmmm) ….and no Mario Manningham.
Virginia Tech at Boston College + 2.5 (Thursday)
Syracuse + 25 at West Virginia…..yes I know I am reaching.
Missouri -2.5 at Texas A&M
Ohio St. -15 at Michigan St. – John L’s revenge……not likely.
Rutgers at Navy -1.5


Disappointing performance of the week: Mike “Flytrap” Pine giving me nothing from the Navy – Air Force game in Colorado Springs. We spoke early Saturday morning and I never heard from him again as the Force fell behind 24-7 and ended up losing 24-17. PS: That makes four straight wins by the Goats over the Force