Well ladies and gents here we are in Week 13 of another great SEC football season and I'm finally back! Sorry for my absence in the last few weeks but the moving, new job and school has kept me pretty busy. Anyway, here we go!
This weekend we will have 8 games featuring SEC teams and this is the week of the year that everybody that is an SEC football fan lives for....RIVALRY Weekend! The SEC Championship game has already been decided with Auburn representing the west and South Carolina representing the east. While most of the games this weekend will just help to solidify the bowl picture, there is one that has National Title implications....yep, that right....Bama vs. Burn!
Now, as most of you know, I picked Bama and South Carolina at the beginning of the year to meet in the SEC Championship game. At least I was 50% right. Bama's youth, esecially on defense really jumped up and bit 'em in a couple fo their huge away games. South Carolina, although inconsistant, picked the right year to be decent with Florida, UT and UGA on down years. I'll go ahead and say it right now, Auburn is going to win the SEC Championship. Now let's look at this week's games.
Game 1: (2)Auburn at (9) Alabama- Unless you have lived most of your life under a rock somewhere, you know that even in a down year for these schools this is the biggest game of the year. This year, with Auburn in the National Title hunt and Bama being the defending National Championship...it doesn't get any better. How fitting that in order for Auburn to win the National Title, they have to go through the current title holder in Bama, much like Bama had to do with Florida. If you have ever followed this game you know that blowout, easy wins, don't come along often and I'm not looking at seeing one this week either. Bama has played at home like the team most expected to see the whole season. Only in away games did the youth on defense seem to get rattled and therefore allow big plays. Going against the best player in college football in Cam Newton, the Bama defense can't afford any of these big plays. The key for Bama as I see it on defense is in their Cornerback play. Yes, I said cornerback. Bama is young and these young corners have got to play the pass first and run second. If they do that and then are able to close quickly when Cam Newton gets across the line to help out the outside linebackers, it will put them that much closer to slowing down the Auburn offense. On defense for Auburn, once again it goes to the defensive secondary. Auburn has been terrible against the pass but they have had a full two weeks to gameplan this thing against Bama. Look for Auburn to lean on the run on offense and Bama to try and open it up with the pass on offense to try and gain an early lead at home and hopefully deflate an already dreadful pass defense. Without a good day passing for Bama, it'll be next to impossible to beat Burn. Their rush defense is top notch. Now for my prediction, like I said earlier, I had picked Bama to win the SEC. I think that this Friday, with over 100,000 screaming bloody murder, the Bama we all expected to see will show up and so will Auburn! This one could be one of the best games we have seen in years and I'm looking forward to being there. I think that Bama pulls this one out. In a season that has been nuts in the SEC so far, why would it be any different on Friday? Bama by 6.
Kentucky at Tennessee. Even though this one is being played in Knoxville, I've gotta go with the Wildcats. Tennessee fans, don't worry. It'll get better one of these days.
Florida at Florida State. I've been very disappointed in Florida this year. Disappointed because it seems that they have no desire to play if they aren't iin the hunt for the National Title. They are much better than they have shown but not this weekend. I'm taking the Seminoles. Sorry Mo!
LSU at Arkansas. Like I said, a crazy year in the SEC. Les Miles' luck finally runs out in Fayetteville and the Hogs pull this one out. WOOO PIG SOOOUIE!
South Carolina at Clemson. The old ball coach has his boys playing decent ball but Dabo and the fells from Clemson are having a rough time. I think USC ekes out an ugly one.
Miss. State at Ole Miss. Folks, the Bulldogs have shown some flash of brilliance at times this year and if Dan Mullen can recruit, look out in the SEC West in fututre years. (Of course, they couldn't pay enough to get Cam Newton, but I digress) Ole Miss just stinks. Bulldogs win the Egg Bowl BIG!
Wake Forest at Vandy. Wake hasn't won a game on the road all year. Vandy has only won one game at home all year. Honestly, this game doesn't even deserve a pick but I'm gonna go with Vandy and their total domination at home. Give me a break!
Georgia Tech at Georgia. I said about 5 games in that I thought that UGA would make a turn for the better and they have against argueably better teams. Their only losses coming at Auburn and against Florida. UGA plays like a different team at home and lets face it, stop the run for Tech and win the game. Even though I said earlier in the season that I wouldn't pick UGA anymore for the season....I have to. I'm tired of hearing all the bleeding hearts in Atlanta about Tech.
Alright, so any of ya'll that are gonna be up in Tuscaloosa for the game this Friday, Kate and I will be up there and of course we will be at our favorite tailgate with my buddy Shane and his better half Julie. I've been telling you all season about these tailgates and the food that Shane cooks up. Check out the menu for this weekend at http://www.alabamatailgate.com/ and if you are in town for the game, give me a holler and I'll direct you in! Have a good one and ROLL TIDE!
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