Friday SEC Pick-Em

Here we go sports fans, another exciting weekend of SEC football. The division leaders have the chance to clinch this weekend, but both Bama and Florida will have their work cut out for them. November is the month to remember, as we are coming down the homestretch towards a great post season. Ole Miss and Mississippi State are idle this weekend but the rest of the conference schools are in action. Wednesday I posted about SEC bowl possibilities, and that job will get a little easier at the conclusion of this weekend. So what do you say? Let’s get started with Pick-Em!

Alabama versus LSU: This is what it is all about sports fans, Saturday in Baton Rouge with the SEC Western Division title on the line. Alabama is 9 – 0 (5 – 0 SEC) and №1 in the nation. A Tide win puts them in Atlanta playing for the SEC championship, a loss and they will have to wait another week. What is in their way? A bunch of angry Tigers, and not to leave them out, the Tiger Fans. Alabama’s head coach Nick Saban is going to make his first appearance back in Death Valley since his departure from there in 2004, when he left the Bayou Bengals to coach the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. The Cajuns in Baton Rouge are licking their chops for a chance to beat up on Saban and his herd of elephants in the second installment of “Saban Bowl”, the first was played in Tuscaloosa last year with LSU claiming the 41 – 34 victory. This however is a new year and Bama wants to repay the favor. LSU is relying on freshman Jarett Lee as their quarterback. I still haven’t heard any news on the recovery of backup Andrew Hatch. This means that the game is on Lee’s shoulders, but there is a slight possibility of true freshmen Jordan Jefferson getting some playing time as well. Lee has made some good throws but some awful ones as well and those awful ones were not against the Crimson Tide defense. I look for Alabama to key their defense on Tiger running back Charles Scott, in turn forcing Lee to beat them in the air, something I just don’t think he can do. I just don’t see the Tiger offense matching up against the Tide defense. Let’s take a brief look at Alabama’s offense. Quarterback John Parker Wilson is having a great year and with hoss running backs like Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram, why wouldn’t he? I have no doubt that the Tide will be capable of scoring points against LSU. The big question this week is can LSU answer the scoring of Alabama? I don’t think so! The Tide should get some help from turnovers as well, with two freshmen quarterbacks having to throw the ball, look for the Tide DB’s to come down with a few interceptions, possibly of the “Pick 6” variety. Alabama wins Saban Bowl II.

Florida versus Vanderbilt: This game can decide the SEC Eastern Division champion if Florida can get out of Nashville with a victory. That is a big if! I have seen Vanderbilt play some real tough games against Florida. Some would speculate that those close games were the result of Florida looking past Vandy to a later opponent. Whatever the case may be, Florida better not get caught looking forward in this one as this is not your father’s old Vanderbilt. The Commodores have fallen a little flat after starting the year 5 – 0, but I still believe in them. Coached by Bobby Johnson, the Commodores are a pretty sound football team. Vanderbilt has a QB seeking missile in Broderick Stewart, and that is exactly what he will have to do this Saturday. Tim Tebow has more rushing touchdowns than some Division 1-A teams, eight total, so not only do you have to get pressure on him when he is passing, but Mr. Tebow can run, so DE’s and LB’s will have to stay at home and guard the running lanes. It is hard to get a lot of pressure doing that. The Mackenzie Adams led Vanderbilt offense has been a slight bit anemic as of late, and I just believe that the Dores will have to score some points if they are to beat Florida. When I think of the Gators, all I can think of is Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin. These two guys are point and yard machines. Even in their one loss on the season, they were awesome. You add in a kick return man like Brandon James and all this adds up to a very dangerous Gator football team. I have a soft spot in my heart for Vanderbilt, but I just can’t pick them to beat Florida. The Gators will take this one and secure their spot in the SEC Championship Game.

Georgia versus Kentucky: Both of these teams are already bowl eligible but this game could greatly improve which bowl they receive. Georgia I know is disappointed after last week’s loss to Florida but they will be looking to bounce back and improve their bowl choices against the Wildcats and what a difference a victory over Georgia would do to shift the Kentucky season into a higher gear heading down the homestretch? Kentucky started freshman Randall Cobb at quarterback last weekend against Mississippi State and he came through for them by passing for one score and running another in himself. Wait a minute, isn’t he a receiver? Yes he is, and he actually leads the team in receiving. But now he is at the QB position and he will have to score more than 14 points to beat the Bulldogs, whose defense is led by the SEC leading tackler Rennie Curran. The Georgia offense isn’t so bad either. QB Matthew Stafford has two great targets to throw to in A.J. Green and Mohamed Massaquoi. Stafford and company are sure to put up some points so the Wildcats will have to be able to answer. I just don’t believe this answer will come for Kentucky. Georgia will bounce back from an embarrassing outing in the Cocktail Party and beat Kentucky.

Arkansas versus South Carolina: South Carolina has secured a 6 win season for bowl eligibility but the Razorbacks are still hoping. A loss this weekend would give the Hogs 6 losses, meaning that the R-Backs would have to put together back to back wins versus Mississippi State and LSU to get bowl eligible, the latter will probably present some problems. Arkansas pulled off a great victory last weekend over №18 Tulsa, and Casey Dick had a career day doing it. The Hogs also have the SEC leading rusher Michael Smith so Arkansas has plenty of offensive weapons, and they will need them all. South Carolina possibly has the best defense in the SEC. The Gamecocks will make it a very difficult day for Smith so Casey Dick will have to be exceptionally sharp to win this one. Gamecock Redshirt freshman QB Stephen Garcia is throwing the ball at a 57.5% completion percentage but has also thrown three interceptions. This game is hard for me to pick but the coin just landed on heads and that means I am going with the Spurrier coached Gamecocks. I actually look for this game to be a squeaker

Wyoming versus Tennessee: Phillip Fulmer, well what else can someone say about this man? Fulmer has had a great career at UT but now it is coming to an end. I have hinted all year long about his possible dismissal, but this week he made it official by agreeing to step down at seasons end. There is still football to be played in Knoxville though so I will leave that story for later. This week’s Volunteer game pitches the SEC against the MWC. The Wyoming Cowboys are coming off a 35 – 10 victory over SDSU last weekend and boasting a 234 yard rushing performance from running back Devin Moore in the process. This performance by Moore earned him MWC player of the week honors and rightfully so. The reservation I have about this though is the fact that SDSU isn’t Tennessee. The Vols may be having a bad year but they are still a team in the toughest conference in the nation. UT has only lost one non-conference game all year and have never lost to any team presently in the MWC, including a 2 – 0 advantage over Wyoming. I just don’t see the Cowboys being able to beat the Vols. The Tennessee players will be inspired to give their coach wins as his going away present, and that will begin this weekend.

Tenn. Martin versus Auburn: This game shouldn’t hold much in the way of surprises to the SEC Nation. UTM is a capable ball team inside the Football Championship Subdivision, but in Division 1-A, I cannot foresee any upsets here. So far this year though the Skyhawks have really scored some points, averaging 40.7 PPG, but again this is in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Auburn Defense just needs to watch out for the pass, UTM will probably let a few fly in order to set up some sort of run game led by Brandyn Young. The Skyhawks also have Cade Thompson, an SEC transfer (South Carolina) at the Quarterback position and one of his favorite targets is Mike Hicks, another SEC transfer (Ole Miss). Auburn has had offensive woes all year, but not this week. Kodi Burns is coming off his first 300 yard passing performance in the game versus Ole Miss, and he will continue this weekend. Auburn wins their Homecoming.

There you have it SEC fans! There is plenty of action going on in the SEC as well as the country. №2 Texas Tech is in action against a very tough Oklahoma State, I am sure that the №3 Penn State fans are going to watch that game very close as well as Saban Bowl II, hoping for a Cowboy or a Tiger upset. All SEC eyes turn to Red Stick country and to Music City to see if the “Big 2” can finalize their Atlanta itineraries. Come on back here on Monday as I will be re-capping the action for you, right here on SEC Nation. Until then……Hotty Toddy!

Darryle “Speedy” Clark