AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 12
Friday, October 12, 2007
Georgia Tech will beat Miami
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ouch.
Good thing I picked Illinois to knock off Wisconsin or a very bad week would have turned into a disaster. As it was, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Clemson, and Miami all went down to give us a record of 5-5 on the week and 41-19 on the year.
What surprises will we get this week? You’ll find them here in the Fearless Friday Forecast.
1. Georgia Tech at Miami: Forrest Gump would love Georgia Tech because, like a box of chocolates, you just never know what you’re going to get. How about this: Just the word “Miami” gets the Yellow Jackets’ attention and gets their blood pumping. This team still has a pulse (I think), and will show it on Saturday. And consider this: Former Tech assistant Patrick Nix now calls the ball plays at Miami. Methinks Georgia Tech DC Jon Teunta will have a few extra wrinkles ready for him. Georgia Tech 13, Miami 10.
2. Georgia at Vanderbilt: Based on what I’m hearing and reading from the Dawg Nation, nobody in Athens knows what the heck they are doing. That includes everybody from Mark Richt down to the guy who fills up the water bottles for practice. A bad afternoon at Tennessee-and it was a real stinker-can do that. Georgia gets well at Vanderbilt, which is having trouble getting the ball to Earl Bennett, their great wide receiver. Georgia 28, Vanderbilt 13.
3. LSU at Kentucky: Here’s the debate. Does LSU have big letdown after last week’s huge win over Florida? Or, are the Tigers so good and so physical that they take care of business against an undermanned Kentucky defense? I’m going with the latter and an LSU defense that will take Kentucky QB Andre Woodson to the woodshed. LSU 31, Kentucky 17.
4. Auburn at Arkansas: It is tempting to take Arkansas because, like Tennessee’s Phillip Fulmer last week, this is a game that Houston Nutt has to have. A loss puts Arkansas at 0-3 in the SEC and Nutt’s future in Fayetteville in some serious doubt. But Auburn has figured some things out and Darren McFadden, the splendid Hog running back, is hurting. Auburn 21, Arkansas 17.
5. Tennessee at Mississippi State: The Volunteers played one of their most complete games in several years against Georgia. Now we wonder if Tennessee’s players can maintain focus as they go on the road to Starkville. The Volunteers should win because the Bulldogs are all beat up at the quarterback position and have to fight for every point. Mississippi State makes you play ugly. Tennessee 21, Miss. State 10.
6. South Carolina at North Carolina: The Head Ball Coach knows this is a recruiting game and he knows he’ll be ranked pretty high in the first BCS standings. So the Gamecocks need to be sharp on Saturday. The last time Steve Spurrier was in Kenan Stadium, as the head coach at Duke, he beat the Tar Heels 41-0. South Carolina won’t score that many points but the Gamecocks do win. South Carolina 28, North Carolina 14.
7. Alabama at Ole Miss: Alabama had to hold on for dear life to beat Houston (30-24) last week and will have to fight and claw to get out of Oxford with a win on Saturday. After six games it should be clear to the Crimson Tide Nation that every week will be a struggle for this team. But Alabama wins this week’s struggle. Alabama 20, Ole Miss 13.
8. Boston College at Notre Dame: Boston College has beaten Notre Dame four straight times by a grand total of 14 points. One game was decided by seven points and the other three by four points or less. Playing Notre Dame is a very big deal to the kids at BC, a lot of whom were passed over by the Irish in recruiting. Boston College QB Matt Ryan has a big day. Boston College 31, Notre Dame 17.
9. Central Florida at South Florida: USF has risen to No. 5 in the country and people are starting to talk about the Bulls as a BCS championship contender. UCF, coached by George O’Leary, is coming off a horrible loss on the road at East Carolina where the Knights gave it away with five turnovers. After two weeks of upsets, where is this week’s shocker? You just found it: Central Florida 24, USF 23.
10. Missouri at Oklahoma: Because Oklahoma stubbed its toe at Colorado two weeks ago, the Sooners have no margin for error if they want to stay in the BCS race. In Chase Daniel, Missouri has one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country. The Tigers are 5-0 and were very impressive in beating Nebraska (41-6) last week. If this game were in Columbia, Mo., I might go with the upset. But the Sooners are still one of the best teams in the land. Oklahoma 24, Missouri 20.
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