AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2006 > September > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTaking the Vols in a hunch
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Let’s review last Friday’s Fearless Forecast:
—Georgia will win comfortably. Right.
—Clemson will win by a field goal. Tigers lost by a blocked PAT.
—Texas will beat Ohio State. Way wrong.
—Cal will beat Minnesota. Right.
—Ole Miss will upset Missouri on the road… Way, way, wrong.
Hope none of you are putting down bets on this stuff. It is, however, the Fearless Forecast so let’s try, try again.
Logically, Florida should win Saturday night’s game at Tennessee. The Gators have looked pretty strong in their first two games and have found lightning in a bottle with rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin. Tennessee has one defensive starter (DB Inky Johnson) out and another (DT Justin Harrell), who is hurting. But I just get the sense that this Tennessee team is really close and really determined to find a way to win this game. Call me crazy but I’m going with Tennessee 20, Florida 17.
LSU just might make all of us look stupid this weekend. The whole world has been picking Auburn since this summer. But LSU’s complete domination of Arizona last week was one of the most impressive performances I’ve seen in a while. There is a lot of talent on that team and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell doesn’t make mistakes, LSU is very hard to beat. I’m still picking Auburn, 24-20, but I’m not going to be shocked if LSU proves all the experts wrong.
After watching West Virginia destroy Maryland last night, I can’t wait until the Mountaineers go to Louisville on Nov. 2. But for that game to be a matchup of Top 10 teams, Louisville needs to make a statement when it hosts Miami. People in Louisville have been pointing to this game since the Cardinals lost at Miami 41-38 two years ago. But here’s something to keep in mind. This may be the biggest home game Louisville has ever played. Miami plays these kinds of games just about every week. When an opponent throws down the gauntlet, Miami usually responds. Louisville has a great offense, but it hasn’t seen a defense like Miami’s. Miami 17, Louisville 16.
Texas had the nation’s longest winning streak (21 games) when it lost to Ohio State last Saturday. Now TCU has the top streak at 12. That ends Saturday when Texas Tech comes to Fort Worth.
Nebraska says that its game at Southern Cal is a measuring stick of how far the program has come under Bill Callahan. The Trojans, who have had a week off, will take that stick and beat the Cornhuskers over the head with it. Southern Cal 45, Nebraska 17.
Comments
By Ft Worth Dawg
September 15, 2006 12:41 PM | Link to this
Florida easily. LSU-Auburn is totally unpredictable.
TCU has sold out its stadium for the 1st time in 22 years. They could learn a thing or two from Ga Tech on ticket sale manipulation.
By AFinPC
September 15, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this
Auburn wins hands down…34-14…LSU has no offensive line, none and their defense hasn’t seen an offense better than their scout team get on the field since the SEC Championship game last year(crack on Miami). Missippi St’s defense did one thing noone else will try…Sold out on the run and allowed themselves to get slaughtered with the pass…RIP LSU~! WAR EAGLE!!
By honest_abe
September 15, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this
auburn crashes this week. that lsu defense is scary and will be auburn’s backfield all day! jamarcus russell does just enough to win the game. lsu by 3..
key in the florida game is how banged up is justin harrell? if he is seriously injured and florida can run the ball with deshawn wynn… then this game will be a blowout… i like uf by 10..
By ATLVOL
September 15, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this
Tennessee by absolutly no means will be blown out, nor beaten easily.
For those who were there 2 weeks ago against Cal, they experienced a Neyland Stadium crowd that was just amazing. Up 35-0 on Cal, the entire stadium was on their feet well into the third quarter after the game was over as far as Cal stood.
Florida will recieve no mercy, not from anyone on that field Saturday. Also for all you all knowladgeble fans, Tennessee has not allowed a sack yet this year. Add that to the Gators playing all these mid-bottom level teams and only having 2 sacks themselves, doesn’t equate to UF stopping anybody.
Also for those of you who forgotten, or should I say tried to forget, only had ONE ROAD WIN LAST SEASON. Who did they beat you ask? Kentucky! Pathetic.
Nobody will pick Tennessee maybe besides Tony Barnhardt, but there is no way Florida walks away with a win in Knoxville this saturday!
GO VOLS!
By ATLVOL
September 15, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this
Tennessee by absolutly no means will be blown out, nor beaten easily.
For those who were there 2 weeks ago against Cal, they experienced a Neyland Stadium crowd that was just amazing. Up 35-0 on Cal, the entire stadium was on their feet well into the third quarter after the game was over as far as Cal stood.
Florida will recieve no mercy, not from anyone on that field Saturday. Also for all you all knowladgeble fans, Tennessee has not allowed a sack yet this year. Add that to the Gators playing all these mid-bottom level teams and only having 2 sacks themselves, doesn’t equate to UF stopping anybody.
Also for those of you who forgotten, or should I say tried to forget, only had ONE ROAD WIN LAST SEASON. Who did they beat you ask? Kentucky! Pathetic.
Nobody will pick Tennessee maybe besides Tony Barnhardt, but there is no way Florida walks away with a win in Knoxville this saturday!
GO VOLS!
By honest_abe
September 15, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this
just read this…
“Fulmer was 5-9 against top 10 teams in Knoxville since 1992 going into this season with a losing streak of six. Four of the losses came at the hands of _ you guessed it _ Florida”“
By Corey
September 15, 2006 02:33 PM | Link to this
Well Honest Abe,
I don’t know about the accuracy of those stats; the DAWGS have beaten the VOLS during the last THREE visits to Neyland Stadium! How impressive is that!
Knoxdawg
By Travis
September 15, 2006 02:46 PM | Link to this
how bout them vols!!!!!!
By Matt
September 15, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this
Honest Abe, I recall the last visit to Knoxville for the Gators did not end to well for Chris Leak and the almight Gators. And don’t cry about being robbed …see the Gafney “non catch” in 2000. I guess that makes it even. And when is the last time the Gators have won the SEC East or made the SECCG?
By Chris
September 15, 2006 03:11 PM | Link to this
Seems to me it would be pretty tough to expect a team to win that had a losing record last season and needed Air Force to fail on a two point conversion to win last weeks game. ATLVOL how can you talk about Florida not stopping anyone when we only allowed 7 points in our first two games. I’ll give you that it was against inferior competition. However, last week proved that that the vols can’t even stop an inferior team. UF defense is stout. Percy Harvin puts up another huge effort and Florida wins by at least a touchdown.
By honest_abe
September 15, 2006 03:23 PM | Link to this
whoooooooa nelly….hold up guys i’m not even a gator fan… i could care less who wins this weekend. the dawgs are going to win the east anyways. i was just throwing my two cents in…i think uf will beat ut…
By BullDawgBorn
September 15, 2006 03:29 PM | Link to this
Percy Harvin has not played against an SEC defense yet. I am very interested to see how the young man does! I wouldn’t predict failure, but wonder if he will be toned down?
By davedawg
September 15, 2006 03:45 PM | Link to this
Good luck to all the Tigers, Vols, and Gators this weekend. I hate you all equally and wish there was a way you could all lose.
By Lee
September 15, 2006 03:46 PM | Link to this
Chirs,
How do you consider UCF and So Miss inferior competition? They both went to a bowl game last year. :)
By misplacedvolfan
September 15, 2006 03:49 PM | Link to this
Tennesse has played two tough teams and won. Florida has played below average teams and won. The thing to note is Randy Sanders is not calling the plays now … David Cutcliff is back at what he does best … helping the Vols get back to where they are accustomed—atop the SEC. Watch-out! Watch-out! Rocky Top is gonna rock Saturdays this year. GO VOLS!
By Dawg gone it
September 15, 2006 04:04 PM | Link to this
In all honesty Lee, just going to a bowl game isn’t nearly as pretigious as it used to be. With so many games available, even the bugs can find some kind of blue turf or nut bowl to play in.
By GT
September 15, 2006 04:41 PM | Link to this
Use to be a time when talent would carry you through an SEC season then Georgia went out and hired a coach, then Florida fired a pretender and did the same, not to mention new good coaches at LSU, South Carolina. Now I’m not as sure Tennesee has the horses and I know they haven’t got the coach. TCU never gets any love, but they are for real and I imagine Patterson will be coaching somewhere in the SEC in the near future, maybe Tennesee. Miami will win only because Louisville has done something the Miami coach can’t, motivate them to win, with comments made. Nebraska is located where, not on the college football map where USC is the capital. This thing shouldn’t even be on television there won’t be an audience on the east coast after the first quarter.
By T Robb
September 15, 2006 05:01 PM | Link to this
Hey, moronic Vols - the Gators’ “low end” opponents were both bowl teams last year.
And congrats on your dominant home performance against Air Force last week.
Florida will receive no mercy, you say? No problem. Florida doesn’t need it.
You won’t move the ball on us - your quarterback flaps his arm like a seal. Even the return of your treasured Cutcliffe won’t be enough to make any significant progress against one of the best defenses I’ve ever seen. Wait’ll you get a load of this front seven.
Our offense is coming together nicely, as well. Punishing running, playmaking - it’s all there.
This ain’t Ron Zook’s team and this won’t be close. Prepare for an a*-whipping.
By Dawg gone it
September 15, 2006 05:52 PM | Link to this
Well, if UF has one of the best defenses that “T Robb” has ever seen, you Vols may as well not even show up.
By RockyTop
September 15, 2006 06:53 PM | Link to this
T Robb: Obviously, you don’t read well nor absorb factual information. Florida has two sacks total against inferior competition. Tennessee has allowed zero against two opponents, one a Top Ten team.
The Tennessee offense has yet to be stopped. Fulmer pulled the horses after scoring 35 against Cal, something no Florida coach has ever had the class to do. Tennessee never had to punt against Air Force. Look out. It could get ugly. Florida will lose and the Gators will be looking for a Spurrier-like excuse, blaming the officials or perhaps the 106,000 people who will let them feel the love.
By beavol
September 15, 2006 11:02 PM | Link to this
By gaytorhater
September 15, 2006 11:11 PM | Link to this
By Byou Bill
September 16, 2006 06:42 AM | Link to this
Aiyeeeeeeeeee!
Not so fast dere my fine, feathered, War Eagle fans!
YOU SAY: Mississippi State’s defense was able to hobble Mr. Irons becsuse they sold out on the run and got ripped apart by the pass. Dat may be true. But Mississippi State ain’t LSU.
BAYOU BILL SAY: LSU’s defense will sell out on da run and give Mr. Irons a meltdown. And dere ain’t a darn ting Brandon Cox can do bout dat cause he’ll be trowin’ against the best defensive secondary in the nation. Not only dat, but LSU won’t be dropping two more passes in da endzone like we did last year against y’all. So get ready for a good ol’ fashioned beat down. Laissez les bon temps roullet cher! Dat’s coonass for let da good times roll baby.
By Eric
September 16, 2006 08:51 AM | Link to this
Davedawg, you’re a man after my own heart. I hate you all equally too and I’d love to see you all lose every game. Gaytor Hater, you seem to have a thing with “gay”. Is is just possible that you have, shall we say, tendencies? War Damn Eagle!!! Beat LSWho!!!
By Chris
September 16, 2006 01:34 PM | Link to this
UCF and Southern Miss. were inferior competition compared to Florida. They are just not as good. That’s the definition of inferior. I’m a Florida fan Lee. We’re on the same side.
Let’s quit pretending like Air Force is actually a quality opponent. Same with Cal. They play in the Pac-10 which means they have one or two tough games a year. That’s the only reason they are ranked high year in year out.
Rockytop. I guess you didn’t pay attention to the UCF game. Meyer put in the second team offense for the second half. Still dominated the game.
Florida is better on both sides of the ball. Home field is the only thing that could potentially keep Tennessee in the game. Gators about to take a Leak on UT.
By War Eagle
September 17, 2006 02:04 PM | Link to this
Bayou Bill, all you said was true except Kenny Irons and Brandon Cox were the main charaters in LSU 7-3 defeat…Oh I forgot LSU did not cross our goal line…I would say you should not lose another game, great defense and team…good luck
By Chuck
September 17, 2006 06:32 PM | Link to this
Well, Tony, I guess you are crazy. Gators win, Gators win, Gators win.