| 06 November 2009
SEC Football is entering the dark week as most teams play a cupcake, a top team plays a cellar dweller, etc. The game of the week this week is definitely the Alabama Crimson Tide versus the LSU Tigers. Without much ado, here we go.
Coming into this week, SECRivals is 56-11 on the season picking SEC football games straight up (83.6%) on the season and was 6-1 last week.
South Carolina Gamecocks at Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks are favored by seven points with an over/under of 55 points
South Carolina is fresh off a 31-13 loss to the red-hot UT Vols last week. Has the mid-season slide begun for the Gamecocks? While the score was lopsided, three SC turnovers put this team into a fast hole that they never recovered from. Offensively, the Gamecocks have yet to find a solid running game and have relied on clutch play from Freshman wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. Defensively, the Gamecocks are near the top.
At times, Arkansas has shown promise this season ... then at times this team has been totally dominated by the upper echelon programs. Arkansas' passing offense is very strong and typically over shadows the running game. Defensively, Arkansas needs vast improvement.
This is probably a mistake, but I am taking the Gamecocks in a mild upset on the road ... I know, I know: never bet against Arkansas at home.
South Carolina 24
Arkansas 20
Vanderbilt Commodores at Florida Gators
The Gators are favored by 35 points at home
Vanderbilt has played to our expectations this season, but has this team turned the corner due to an injury? Vandy's Bobby Johnson has seemed hell bent to stick with QB Larry Smith all season. Perhaps Smith gives the Commodores their best shot at winning ... judging by the Commodore's over all record, that is debatable.
Mackenzie Adams will start for the injured Smith and VU will attempt to rely heavily on the running game.
The Gators are currently ranked number one in the country and the distractions are beginning to pile up. First, the fans are showing their ire by questioning the Gator offense. Then you have a lack of depth at wide receiver and the inability of the Gators' to get off of the line of scrimmage on passing downs. Florida has many weapons to choose from in the running game, but time after time, Tim Tebow has put this team on his back.
Florida 44
Vandy 10
LSU Tigers at the Alabama Crimson Tide
The Tide are favored 7.5 points with an over/under of 39.5
We are not really sure what Vegas is smoking on the over/under. Both teams have strong defenses and weaker offenses. I will be shocked to see 25 combined points in this one, much less 39.5.
Everyone knows about Alabama. The Tide boast a very strong defense that limits nearly everything an offense tries to do. While the UT Vols were able to move the ball on the Tide, LSU's running game is weaker than Tennessee's ... yeah, we thought we would never even imagine that one this season either.
The Crimson Tide offense has shown flashes, but is nearly 100% reliant on Mark Ingram at running back. Look for Bama to put Ingram in the Wildcat early and often in this one. If Alabama sticks with a standard offense, this game will be much closer than it should be.
Offensively, LSU has the talent. Somehow, this talent has not had the break through game that everyone has expected all season. Defensively, LSU will load the box to stop the Tide offense.
Alabama 14
LSU 3
Memphis Tigers at the Tennessee Vols
The Vols are 25.5 point favorites in this game
The Tigers are pitiful and head coach Tommy West is standing on his last leg. Look for UT to be able to do what they want, when they want in this one.
Tennessee 31
Memphis 6
Tennessee Tech at Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia 44
TTU 0
Eastern Kentucky at Kentucky Wildcats
Wildcats 38
EKU 3
Furman Paladins at Auburn Tigers
Auburn 52
Furman 7
Northern Arizona at Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss 49
N AZ 0
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7-1 for the week and 63-12 on the year ... we invite our competition to post their results as well ...
