Podcast: Auburn-Georgia

This is Brock and me talking Auburn generally and AU-UGA specifically.

Podcast: Bama-MSU

This is Brock, Sugar Lumps and me reviewing Bama-LSU, talking Bama generally, previewing Bama-MSU, and reviewing Auburn-Furman.

LSU v. the SEC

LSU presents its evidence.

High Four!

I once proposed that college football games be divided into five 12-minute quintiles.  This guy foiled my plan.

Game Day Open Thread

Will Saban get to hold another one of these, this time while wearing Crimson?  He needs to beat his old team if he wants a chance this year.

While the showdown in T-town is the biggest game of the week . . . well, actually it's pretty much the only game this week.  Two years ago on LSU-Bama weekend, the C'est Bons were staying with us for the weekend.  Watching the game with Dick was not an experience Mrs. McHugh cared for (LSU won).  After, we went to Jim n' Nicks for supper, and not of word of football was uttered by anyone.  Last year, we were in the Smoky Mountains with the C'est Bons, plus the in-laws (Mr. and Mrs. Slade, Bama fans).  It made for an interesting afternoon, with the Slades and Mrs. McHugh watching upstairs, the C'est Bons downstairs, but each able to hear the others' cheers and boos.  When Bama finally won in overtime, we all went to dinner and, again, not a word of football was uttered.  This year, Mrs. McHugh has announced that she'll be watching with her Bama-lovin Daddy and no one else.  Together, they are the two most pessimistic Bama fans you'll ever meet.

Arky and SC will likely be a "good" game in that it matches two roughly equal teams: Arky O v. SC D = good football; SC O v. Arky D = mediocre football.  Also, the game doesn't really count for much, SC, though 2nd in the East, is already out of contention for winning the division, and at 6-3 is already bowl eligible.  Arky is actually in last place in the West and, at 4-4, they need two wins just to get bowl eligible.

East Champ Florida is playing the worst team in the SEC 2-7 (0-5 SEC) Vandy.  Already Vandy is out of contention for a bowl game.  Florida already clinched its division and is a 35-point favorite.  Unless Tebow gets another concussion, this is a snoozer.

While I guess UT-Memphis is some sort of cross-state rivalry, what sort of rivalry is it really when one team owns a lifetime 20-1 record over the other.  However, the last time these two teams met (2005), UT narrowly prevailed 20-16.  The '05 Tigers were 4-4 when they met the Vols and ended the year 7-5 with a MotorCity Bowl victory over Akron.  This year, Memphis is 2-6 and dead last in C-USA East.  After losing tomorrow, Memphis will lose any hope for going to a bowl this year.  Impress your friends by pointing out the Memphis coach (for now) Tommy West played for UT in the '70s. 

Miss State has the week off to get ready for its home date with Bama next week.

Everybody else decided it was I-AA week.  Auburn's playing Furman.  Georgia's playing Tennessee Tech.  Kentucky's playing Eastern Kentucky and Ole Miss is playing N. Arizona.  Since we're all a litlle unfamiliar with these teams, here's a little primer.

Furman is a 2,600 student liberal arts school in Greenville, SC, founded in 1826.  Their mascot is the Paladins and their color is purple.  They play in the Southern League, which includes some 1-AA powerhouses like App State, Georgia Southern, Elon and Wofford.  It also includes Samford and the Citadel.  Furman is 4-4 on the year.  Vandy's coach Bobby Johnson used to be the coach at Furman.  As Brock pointed out, Two-a-days star Max Lerner plays for Furman.

Tennessee Tech  is a public university of 8,200 students in Cookeville, TN.  I once had a TA from Cookeville who had the strongest country/southern accent I've heard this side of George Lindsey.  Their mascot is the Golden Eagles and their colors are purple and gold.  They play in the Ohio Valley Conference.  TTU's coach is Watson Brown (his website lists his phone number and e-mail, give him a call, find out how he's doing).  Watson Brown used to be the head coach at UAB and Vandy.  He is the brother of Texas' Mack Brown.  TTU is 5-3 this year.

Eastern Kentucky is also in the OVC.  It's a school of 15,000 students founded in 1906 and located in Richmond, Kentucky.  Their mascot is the Colonels and their colors are maroon and white.  Their head coach is Dean Hood.  The Colonels are 5-3 on the year.

Northern Arizona is a school of 17,000 founded in 1899 and located in Flagstaff, Arizona.  Their mascot is the Lumberjacks and their colors are blue and yellow (their unis look like West Virginia).  They play in the Big Sky Conference with I-AA powerhouse Montana, who beat Furman in the championship game in 2001, Bobby Johnson's last year at Furman before leaving for Vandy.  Their coach is Jerome Souers.  The Lumberjacks are 5-3 this year.

Chuck Visor's thoughts from Scranton, Pa

This short, all-purpose post is coming from my blackberry at the Gourdgeous (they have tons of pumpkins in the lobby) Hilton Garden Inn in the next-town-over from Scranton Pa. Here are the highlights:
My picks for the week, since I can't seem to post a comment on the picks post via the berry.
LSU
Florida
Arkansas
Tennessee
Ole Miss
UGA
UK
Auburn (over my alma mater)
Notre Dame
Penn State

The South Carolina vs Arkansas game is and has been scary for me. Arky always plays us tough. We haven't played anyone tough in about a month. That's why my pick (for the 1st time this season) went against the Gamecocks. I am trying a little reverse psychology this week. I also know one thing for sure. If we fumble at all in the 1st quarter of this game, Spurier's head will explode. I am hoping for a Gamecocks win, but am guarded after watching their performances the last few weeks. Go Gamecocks.

Guest Blog: Sugar Lumps on Bama-LSU

Carter Slade had the pig flu this week, so I asked Sugar Lumps to give us this week's Bama preview.   Being the Saban-inspired trooper that he is, Carter fought through and posted a game preview anyway.  Well, this game can't have too many previews.  So, I present to you: Sugar Lumps on "The Showdown in T-town."

Battle of the coaches…or the bad quarterbacks?

As regular Alabama previewer Carter Slade has been reportedly stricken with the pig flu, I am honored to be writing the preview for the hugely important Bama-LSU game. This is the 73rd meeting of these two teams, with Alabama leading the series 44-23-5; yet LSU is 6-4 the last 10 years, has won 7 of the last 9 meetings, and since 1982 has only lost 3 times in Alabama (while playing Bama, and has won the last 4 in Tuscaloosa). The billing the last couple years has been the “battle of the coaches”, yet this year the whole “coaches battle” seems to be out of the picture, with some seeing this as the “battle of the bad quarterbacks”.

Jefferson has been playing better, more consistent says Miles, since LSU’s dismal performance against Florida, but then again, the opponents’ defense was a lackluster Auburn one and Tulane, enough said. On the good side of the tracks, McElroy has been on a slippery slope as of late. Alabama only has 2 offensive TDs in the last 3 games and McElroy is 0-10 passing in the red zone during these last 3 wins. However, if you ask McElroy himself, or Saban, they would say his passing game against Tennessee was spot on.  Saban wants to go deep on Saturday, even if it means a turnover or incomplete pass; he wants to create opportunities with the passing game, and score on big plays outside of the red zone.

The teams match up pretty well on offense. Both have great talent at the skill positions on offense, while Bama has the edge on the O-Line front. LSU has lost their starting left guard and center; the replacement center is former Saints and Falcons quarterback Bobby Hebert’s son…T-Bob Hebert, I’m not kidding, his name is T-Bob. T-Bob says he knows he has a size disadvantage against Mount Cody (6-3 282 v 6-5 365), and will have to win with technique. LSU is 101st in the nation at giving up sacks, and Bama is 14th in sacks. This is going to be key, getting to Jefferson. He is no doubt a great athlete, but he is inexperienced. To piggyback, no pun intended, on one of Slade’s previous posts, quarterbacks have suffered greatly against Bama’s defense versus the rest of their opponents. Look for Bama to pressure Jefferson early and often, and to try to limit the big plays.

LSU has the 4th rated defense in the SEC and is dependent on its strong secondary. They will be looking to Patrick Peterson to stop Julio Jones, if and when McElroy can get the ball to him. Peterson will no doubt remember the OT 27-21 Bama win last year when Jones caught a pass with Peterson all over him at about the 3 yard line. This will be a great match up of sophomores; Peterson can match the muscle that Jones has, but Jones has a slight edge in the height department. Yet, Peterson has been struggling with the flu this week…with Saban wanting to go deep, look for Jones to break out of his second season slump.

Peterson won’t be the only one looking to avenge last year’s poor performance, Ingram only had 6 yards rushing on 5 carries last year. Given LSU is not as strong on rush defense, look for Ingram and Richardson to have big games to hopefully open up the passing game. Also, Roy Upchurch says he is back to 100% for first time this year, he says he’s ready, whatever his role. Upchurch is a workhorse, and great blocker on top of being a talented runner. I say he’ll be used as a prominent part of a trio with Ingram and Richardson.

Mrs. Sugarlumps and I were at the 2007 Bama-LSU game where I thought Bryant-Denny was going to come down when Arenas ran one back, only to see LSU score twice in the remaining 2:49 to win. Speaking of which, Arenas is creeping up on some NCAA records.

This game will no doubt have huge BCS implications. No one has to work to “get up” for this game. It will come down to which quarterback can perform better, and special teams (Edge: Bama (Arenas)). If Bama can confuse Jefferson as they have with other more talented QBs, and limit the big plays, we will go on for the win. I look for Bama’s passing game to rediscover itself, cover the spread (Bama +9) and win, 27-14. Roll Tide!

Northern Arizona? Really?!

I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay...

Ole Miss hosts the FCS Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in Oxford on Saturday. Not even going to waste time on this one.

Rebels win big and hopefully someone besides Jevan Snead gets playing time at the QB position...

Saban Bowl III

Like Super Bowl III, Wrestlemania III, and Rocky III...errr, The third "Saban Bowl" has the potential to be one of the best battles of the year. If Bama wins, they clinch the West. If LSU wins, and wins the rest of their SEC games, Atlanta and another crack at Tebow's head is the prize. Alabama will be fired up for this game. Coach Saban has already made comments this week to this effect, and the crowd is sure to deliver. The Tide should be well-rested and have the offense clicking on all cylinders. Don't believe Saban's "throw caution to the wind" comments earlier this week. McElroy will throw down field more often, but only if Ingram and Richardson are successful running early.

LSU will likely respond with veteran RB Charles Scott, who looks like a possible future version of Mark Ingram. Scott will have a tough time running against the Bama D, however. Miles knows that Saban will throw the blitz book at his young QB, Jordan Jefferson, in an attempt to confuse him. Look for LSU to try a lot of quick passes and slant routes to pick up chunks of yardage wherever they can. This game may very well come down to the best defensive front seven. LSU has not done a good job of pressuring QB's all year. If they give McElroy time in the pocket (something McElroy has not had since the Arkansas game) he will make them pay. LSU's secondary is one of the best in the SEC, but McElroy can go through his reads and pick them apart. There is still no word on whether TE Colin Peek will be healthy for this match up. He will be the Tide's not-so-secret weapon on offense this game if available, and a guaranteed first down with each reception.

This should be an exciting game. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Bama drops this one at home, but I think the Tide will win 20-10.

Picks - Week 10

Picks – The who-the-heck-knows edition.

First, the updated standings (last week, overall):

Chuck Visor: 5-2, 37-23

Drake McHugh, Esq.: 2-5, 30-30

Max Power: 2-5, 29-22

Brocktoon: 2-5, 28-32

Full Monte Kiffin: 4-3, 25-25

Carter Slade: 0-0, 23-19

Woody Widenhoefer: 0-0, 22-18

Dick C'est Bon: 0-0, 14-12

Arnold Porkzenegger: 0-0, 3-4

Herschel Talker: 0-0, 0-1

Since my pick record is pretty bad, I’ve decided my picks can’t be any worse in the games this week, where I know nothing about some of the teams and don’t even know who I expect to win in others, much less who might cover the spread. Here goes.

LSU (+7.5) at Alabama (3:30 p.m. / CBS ) – Since I think either team has a chance to win, the obvious pick would be LSWHo and the points, right? However, I have a feeling, based on nothing concrete or factual, that Bama is tired of all the criticism of their inept red zone offense and general inability to separate themselves as a truly elite team. Therefore, I think they will come out after their off-week loaded for bear (or tiger as the case may be) and put up some points. Also, have we forgotten that just 3 weeks ago the conventional wisom was LSU was overrated? LSWho? Exactly. Bama wins and covers.

Vanderbilt (+35) at Florida (7:15 p.m. / ESPN or ESPN2) – OK, here I know I’m picking UF to win, but by more than 35? I got burned last week thinking the Gators were showing a lack of offense that might hurt them against the Dawgs. Unfortunately, the Dawgs lack both offense AND defense (and special teams?) Vandy scored a bunch against Ga Tech last week, but Ga Tech has no defense. How can I not pick the eye-gouginest, referee-criticizinest team in the land to cover against Vandy. Gators cover.

SC (+7) at Arkansas (12:21 p.m. / SEC Network) – These match-ups of two middling teams are always tough to pick. I could see an Arky blowout a la the Arky-AU game, or I could see a close SC win a la the SC-Ole Miss game. Has Arkansas won a close game all year? Has SC won any game that wasn’t close? I think SC’s defense keeps them in it and they have a chance to win it at the end. SC plus the points.

Memphis (+22.5) at Tennessee (7 p.m. / ESPNU) Is Memphis really that bad? Seriously, I couldn’t tell you anything about the Tigers football team this year. What’s their record, who have they played, are they in C-USA? I have no idea. I know Tennessee, and I know they’ve only beaten one team by more than 22 – UGA 45-19. They did beat SC by 18 last week, but they only beat Ohio by 11. UT’s playing better of late, so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and say they cover tomorrow.

Well, well. Everyone’s picking accuracy is about to go up because the following games against I-AA cupcakes have no line:

N. Arizona at Ole Miss (7:30 p.m. / CSS) – Quick, name N. Arizona’s mascot. I thought so. Forward Rebels! You’re gonna be bowl eligible!

Tennessee Tech at UGA (1 p.m. / UGA PPV) – I think former UAB coach and Texas coach Mac Brown’s brother Watson Brown coaches at Tenn Tech. Finally, a team Georgia’s staff is capable of out-coaching. Hunker down, dawgs!

E. Kentucky at UK (1 p.m. / Local Coverage) – These aren’t the Hilltoppers, right? That’s W. Kentucky. Who’s E. Kentucky? Go wildcats! (Unless that’s also EKU’s mascot.)

Furman at Auburn (1:30 p.m. / AU PPV) – Furman is in South Carolina and in the same league as Samford. Their mascot is the Paladins. War Eagle!
Bonus picks:

Navy (+12.5) at Notre Dame – I know exactly 3 things about the Navy football team: (1) they nearly beat Ohio State in the season opener; (2) they won a game last week without attempting a forward pass; (3) Hoover High alumnus Jared Bryant played there. With absolutely no basis for doing so, I’ll take the Midshipman and the points.

Ohio State (+5) at Penn State – I believe both teams would lose if the laws of physics allowed it. For games like this they should suspend the overtime rules and just let the game end in a 5-5 tie. And the teams should wear leather helmets and striped rugby shirts. Also, can someone tell me why the Nittany Lions play in beaver stadium? Wouldn’t it be great if SC played a game in “Happy Valley”? OK, gun to my head I don’t think Penn State can win by more than 5, there.

Ole Miss Recap, Furman Preview

So, Auburn exceeded expectations last weekend, beating Ole Miss 33-20 and becoming bowl eligible again. I didn't see that coming, but Max Power certainly told us it would be close. I'm not sold on Auburn being "back", but if they can play better, we may beat Furman and Georgia, getting up to at least 8 wins (with Alabama looming in the distance). I didn't watch the game (again), but from what I've been told, Auburn got up after the injury that sent Zac Etheridge to the sideline for, probably, the rest of the season. Luckily, Etheridge will be OK and will be ready next season.

On to the Furman game...the Paladins come in with a 4-4 record, 3-3 in the Southern conference. The only things I really know:

1) That shirt is awesome! A bunch of kids at the school got them when they went on the college trips last year. I think that is hilarious!

2) At least one player on their team went to Hoover (safety Max Lerner, also from MTV's Two-A-Days).

Auburn should take this one easily as a tune-up for a night-and-day Georgia team. Prediction: Auburn 45, Furman 17.

War Eagle!

Told Ya So

Auburn won. Big. But it could have been much different. (Thanks rogue, corrupt SEC officials.) There was no indisputable evidence and so many holding calls that weren't called against the Tigers, but magically were called against the Rebels.

But give Auburn credit. They played hard and were hungry for this one. I knew it was going to happen, but didn't want to say it - wish I wasn't typing it right now.

Stubborn coaching, plus a terrible quarterback that needs to be benched, plus poor OL play, plus tired defense, plus slow receivers = not the best season in over 40 years. The waiting continues. The death march goes on - on to Northern Arizona. Maybe the Rebels can defeat another FCS opponent.

Here's hoping the Rebels don't end up needing a win in Starkville to become bowl eligible...

On a related note, RB Rodney Scott deserves much praise and recognition for his heroic actions in possibly saving Auburn's Zac Etheridge from paralysis or death. Outstanding, Rodney!

Happy Belated Halloween

Meant to post this yesterday.  Enjoy watching the slowest white boy you will ever see run a punt back for an 87-yard TD.  50 years ago, Heisman trophy winner Billy Cannon's Halloween run lifted No. 1 LSU over No. 3 Ole Miss 7-3.  Guess losing on Halloween is a bit of a tradition for the Rebels.  Interesting historical note: this was Ole Miss' only loss in 1959.  They met LSU again in the Sugar Bowl, beat them 21-0, and shared the national championship with Syracuse.  Oh yeah, and Billy Cannon later served 2 years in federal PMITA prison for being part of one of the top ten conterfeiting rings in U.S. history.

Nothing quite that colorful happened yesterday, if you don't count the wardrobes.  Tennessee served up more tricks than treats by beating South Carolina in festive black jerseys and orange pants.  And I'm not sure if Georgia's black helmets and black pants (c'mon, they're the sons a' bitches in SILVER britches!) were intended to recognize Halloween, or, like when they wore black jerseys against Alabama, to mark their own funeral. 

Halloween was a treat for UF, who, with more than a month to go until the SEC Championship game in Atlanta on December 5, punched its ticket.  Florida's win over Georgia gives the 'Dawgs 3 league losses (LSU, UT and UF); SC's loss to UT gives the 'Cocks 3 SEC losses (UGA, UA and UT).  The Vols already have 3 SEC losses (AU, UF and UA).  The Gators only have two league games left (Vandy and SCar), so even if they lost both, they'd still be in.  In case you're wondering, UK already has 4 league losses (UA, UF, SC and MSU) and Vandy is winless in league play (0-5).  Speaking of Vandy, their loss to Ga Tech puts them at 2-7 on the season and ensures that the Commodores will not be back-to-back bowling this year.

In the West, the title will likely be decided next week in Tuscaloosa between LSU and Alabama.  If Bama wins, they're in.  LSU will have two league losses (UF and UA) and even if Bama lost both its remaining SEC games (MSU and AU, so not likely) it would own the head-to-head tie-breaker over the Bayou Bengals.  Every other team in the West already has at least 3 SEC losses.  However, if LSU wins Saturday, they're in the driver's seat, as both The Tide and Tigers would have 1 SEC loss, and LSU would own the head-to-head tie-breaker.  Bama would have to hope LSU slips against either Ole Miss or Arkansas (not unreasonable) to sneak in to the Championship game.  Believe it or else, Auburn's win yesterday (which also got them bowl eligible at 6-3) puts them at 3rd in the West.  All 3 of Auburn's losses are against SEC foes.  Ole Miss and MSU also have 3 SEC losses each.  I know what you're thinking, it's possible to have some sort of crazy four-way SEC West tie. (It can't be 5-way because Ole Miss and MSU still have to play each other.)  Here's how.  Bama loses to LSU then drops its last two to MSU and AU, making them 5-3 in league play.  LSU wins against Bama, but then loses to Ole Miss and Arky, and the Tigers are also 5-3 in the SEC.  Auburn wins out (against UGA and Bama) so they're also 5-3 in the SEC.  Then, either Ole Miss (UT, LSU and MSU) or MSU (UA, UA, OM) wins out, and they're 5-3 too.  If you think you know who would play in ATL under that (admittedly very unlikely) scenario, show your math in the comments.

Also, enjoy this inteview of frequent King Football commenter Sugar Lumps:

Picks - Week 9

Our updated standings (last week, overall):

Chuck Visor: 4-4, 32-21

Drake McHugh, Esq.: 5-3, 28-25

Max Power: 5-3, 27-17

Brocktoon: 3-5, 26-27

Carter Slade: 6-2, 23-19

Woody Widenhoefer: 1-6, 22-18

Full Monte Kiffin: 5-3, 21-22

Dick C'est Bon: 0-0, 14-12

Arnold Porkzenegger: 0-0, 3-4

Herschel Talker: 0-0, 0-1

Tubby-bowl ‘09:
Ole Miss (-4.5) at Auburn, 11:21 AM, SEC Network:
In this match-up of Tommy Tuberville’s two former teams, I agree with Max. It’ll be a “Navy Nightmare,” but for the team in Burnt Orange and Navy Blue, not the team in Harvard Crimson and Yale Navy. In fact, the description of the game as a nightmare is appropriate since, given the performance against Arkansas with the 11:21 start, it is unlikely Auburn will be awake. This year’s coach drama is a bit different. Instead of Rebs angry at Tommy “Pine Box” Tuberville for leaving them, Ole Miss’ Nutt is mad at Auburn’s Malzahn for creating division in the program at Arkansas, and Malzahn is mad for being fired by Nutt. Last week I said Auburn would have a chance against LSU if Todd played well. I said there was no reason for Todd to play well against LSU’s defense. Just replay that comment this week, as Ole Miss’ front 7 is as good as it gets. Ole Miss wins and covers.

The Game Formerly Known as the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party:
Florida (-14.5) vs. Georgia, 2:30 PM, CBS:
If you ask me, it’s tough to call anything that starts at 3:30 local time a cocktail party, but here it is. Call me crazy, but I think the Dawg’s have a chance to win this one. I certainly don’t like a UF team that struggled against Arkansas and Mississippi State as a two-touchdown plus favorite. I’ll Hunker down with the points.

Must be Homecoming:
Eastern Michigan (+36.5) at Arkansas, 6:00 PM, ESPNU:
Can’t remember which of the Michigan directional schools is good and which is bad? The Western Michigan Broncos are OK, 4-4, 3-2 in the MAC. The Central Michigan Chippewas are good. They’re 7-1 with their only loss to Arizona. They beat Michigan State and are undefeated in the MAC and lead their division. The team that the Hogs will play, the Eastern Michigan Eagles, is bad. As in, 0-7 with losses to Army, Temple, Kent State and Ball State bad. This is a big line, but I’ll take the Hogs to cover.

Questionable Rivalry Game I:
Mississippi State (+3.5) at Kentucky, 6:00 PM, FSS:
Since the league split into divisions in 1992, and started the one-permanent cross-division rival schedule in 2003, MSU and UK have played every year. I suppose there’s some deep tradition of rivalry between these teams of which I am unaware (checking Wikipedia, nope). These teams have only played 36 times, with UK holding a slight edge 20-16. Anyway, this is a flip-a-coin game. I’ll take MSU only because it comes with 3.5 extra points.

ESSS EEE SEEEEE RULEZ!!11!:Georgia Tech (-11.5) at Vanderbilt, 6:30 PM:
As an SEC homer, normally I’d have to take the SEC team over any SEC opponent. However, this is Vandy and Ga Tech. The Jackets already beat MSU, who beat Vandy, (also Ga Tech beat Va Tech, who lost to Bama, whow beat Ole Miss who beat Vandy) so by transitive property Ga Tech is clearly the better team. I know Vandy beat BC in a bowl last year, but they also lost to Wake Forest and Duke last year. BEEEEEESSSSSSS RULE !!!11!!

Mouths of the South:
South Carolina (+6) at Tennessee, 6:45 PM, ESPN:
I thought this game would have lost some luster with the departure of Phil Fulmer. After all, it was kind of fun to see Spurrier scrap and sometimes barely beat the Coach and team he had tormented and dominated when he was at UF. Well, in comes Kiffin and whoa, Nelly, has this guy got a mouth that can match the OBC’s. Locker-room bulletin board fodder this week: Kiffin allegedly told SC’s leading wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey that if he went to SC he’d end up pumping gas for a living. Both QBs are spotty, so whether Garcia or Crompton has the better game will determine who wins. If I were picking this straight up I’d likely take Tennessee since the game’s on Rocky Top, and unfortunately, it looks like Jeffrey has the flu. But I believe SC’s D is for real, so I’ll take them plus the points.

Questionable Rivalry Game II:
Tulane (+36) at LSU, 7:00 PM:

This game is the inverse of UK-MSU. While the Cats and Dogs are two evenly-matched mid-league powers on the rise but with no history as rivals, The Tigers and Green Wave have a history dating back to the Southern League, but they are no where near evenly matched today. These squads have played some 97 times since 1893, but the most recent Tulane victory was 1982. But any rivalry that includes a riot (1938) is not a rivalry to be taken lightly. My only hesitation in picking LSU is the size of the line and the fact that I don’t expect LSU to go all out or leave the starters in too long with a West-division championship game coming up next week in Tuscaloosa. I’ll take the Wave plus the points.

Auburn....what's left to say?

I know I didn't post a recap of last week's game against the Bayou Bengal Tigers, but that's because I didn't watch it (that's two weeks in a row where I found something more productive-working on my dissertation-than watching the Auburn Tigers go down in flames). I imagine the game went like this: Auburn completes a pass for 1 yard, then runs for 2, then punts on third, just to catch LSU off guard. Then LSU scores. Repeat ad nauseam.

Is this week's game going to be any different? Max Power thinks so, but I think it'll be another game that a team other than Auburn runs away with. At a 4.5 point line, I think you take Ole Miss on this one, and put a lot of money on it...that is, unless they decide to bench Chris Todd, then you just put about half of what you were going to bet on the game, but still on Ole Miss. Charles Hollis of The Birmingham News likes Ole Miss here too, by more than the spread. They came out like gangbusters against Arkansas, and that trend continues this week against highly-favored-turned-laughing-stock AU. I'm not saying I'm laughing, but I probably won't watch the game again either. Prediction: Ole Miss 34, Auburn 13. I hope I'm wrong again.

The Blind Side

I dare you not to get teary eyed...

Navy Nightmare!

Auburn has declared this Saturday's Halloween game against Ole Miss as a Navy Nightmare. But, I have to ask a couple of questions. One, will navy scare a team and fans who wear the color all the time? Also, whose nightmare will this game be?

I suppose some could argue that the nightmare could belong to Houston Nutt. Or Gus Malzahn. Because as most people who follow these teams expected, this game is turning into a grudge match. Don't believe me? Check out here, here and here. For much of this season, my fellow Rebels and I have discussed how Malzahn has been wanting to stick it to Coach Nutt ever since their messy separation in Fayetteville. But what about Coach Nutt? One could argue that Coach Nutt is equally bitter about how Malzahn splintered the fanbase and began Nutt's unfortunate departure from the school he loved. So, don't be surprised if Ole Miss' coaching staff (many of whom were also affected by the feud with Malzahn) has some tricks up their sleeves.

There are a lot of questions in this game. Will Auburn's high octane offense shake off the last three games and return to its early season form? Will Malzahn choose to use different players in order to kickstart "Gus' Bus?" Will Dexter McCluster continue to shine like he did last Saturday? Which Jevan Snead will show up? Can Ole Miss' defense slow down the AU offense and hold them to 20 points or less?

Many Auburn fans I know who have tickets to the game aren't going. They cite Halloween, the weather, Auburn's current three game slide and the fact that Auburn has not played well in early games in recent history. But for weeks now I've had reservations about this game and I still do. I think Ole Miss can win this game, but it is going to be a fight and the Rebels don't historically play well in Auburn.

Bottom line is this - as the "homer" for Ole Miss on this blog I am picking the Rebels to win this one. But it will be close - Ole Miss 27, Auburn 21.

Forward Rebels and Happy Halloween!

Congrats to Herschel

Herschel and Mrs. Talker welcomed a 7 lb 13 oz, 20 inch little girl into the world yesterday. Congratulations. You'll get her home from the hospital in plenty of time to watch the Georgia-Florida game together.

Jevan & Co. Take Down Petrino's Pigs

Final score: Ole Miss 30, Arkansas 17. But that score was closer than the game actually ever was as the much heralded Ole Miss offense finally lived up to some of the preseason hype last Saturday.

Arkansas fans made a huge showing in Oxford as they REALLY wanted to take the evil Houston Nutt down and strut through the Grove post-game telling all Rebel fans how terrible he is. Alas, they are left to wonder for another season and off-season about what might have been had they had the sense to keep him in Fayetteville.

Jevan Snead and the offensive line looked spectacular. Dexter McCluster was a man on a mission and received SEC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Heck, he only had 36 less yards than all of Arkansas' offense! And speaking of retrospect, Ole Miss fans were left wondering what might have been had this offense shown up in Columbia in September or Oxford a few weeks ago. But, that's water under the bridge now. What Ole Miss can still do is win out. Do that and they assure themselves of probably the 3rd best record in the SEC.

First things first, though. The Auburn Tigers are up next and on a bad skid. And if you don't think Gus Malzahn has had this game circled since he was hired you're smoking something. There is still plenty of bad blood between Nutt and Malzahn for how things ended in Fayetteville and Gus will have plenty of tricks up his sleeves to try and embarrass his old coaching "buddies."

More on the Rebels and Plainsmen later in the week. For now though, enjoy the sound victory Rebels!

Gameday Open Thread

Two sort-of Heisman hopefuls square off today in T-town with Mark Ingram carrying the ball for Bama and Eric Berry trting to stop him. Woody and I will be there live.

Plus, tiger-on-tiger action in the swawp tonight on the Deuce; the up-and-coming Hogs vs. the down-and-falling Rebels in the brunch game; Gators and Gamecocks on varying levels of upset alert (UF in Stark-vegas tonight; SC hosting Vandy); Kentucky looks to take a step toward bowl eligibilty vs. the Warhawks of La-Monroe; and the Bulldogs of Athens looking to avoid a defeat vs. Bye week. Quite a slate of SEC action.

Leave your thoughts, reactions, and suggested punishments for any referee incompetence in the comments below.