AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October
October 2007
Richt adds new fuel to Georgia-Florida
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just one man’s opinion:
1. The Georgia-Florida rivalry is back: You can argue whether or not what Georgia’s Mark Richt did was right. But here’s what it did do. It threw a big old bucket of new fuel onto the Georgia-Florida rivalry. Florida is going to remember this for a whole year and when the two teams meet in Jacksonville in 2008 that is going to be one intense football game.
2. The SEC East winner will have three losses: This won’t make my Georgia friends happy, but the odds are against the Dawgs beating Auburn and Kentucky on consecutive Saturdays. The Auburn game will be very physical and Georgia can certainly win it. But those will be brutal back-to-back games. And given Tennessee’s defense-or the lack thereof-I can’t see the Vols beating a great running team (Arkansas), a great passing team (Kentucky), and an extremely well-coached team (Vanderbilt) in three consecutive weeks.
3. Florida State can beat Boston College: Yes, you read that right. The Seminoles have been a strange team this season but they have a lot of athletes on defense. They have more speed than BC has seen all season. Florida State is just due to play a complete game. Will it be Saturday in Chestnut Hill?
4. Georgia Tech needs to play its best defensive game of the season: The only way for the Yellow Jackets to win Thursday night is to play ugly and keep the score low. In other words, Georgia Tech needs to beat Virginia Tech at its own game-defense and special teams. If 22 (Tashard Choice) were healthy, Georgia Tech could be a little more aggressive on offense. Not now. It’s going to have to be a 13-10 game for the Jackets to win.
5. Nick Saban has already earned his $4 million: First and foremost, Saban was hired by Alabama to make Crimson Tide football relevant again as a national program. By Sept. 22 ESPN’s College Game Day was on campus. Saturday CBS will have a one-hour pre-game before a nationally televised 5 p.m. start. The whole country will be watching. Saban has done all that after just eight games as head coach. Given the amount of national exposure Saban has brought to the program in only 10 months, Alabama got off cheap.
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Ohio State deserves to be No. 1
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We have a month left in the 2007 season and I get the feeling that this is going to be a November to remember. And after what happened in September and October, why wouldn’t it be? Here is this week’s top five:
1. Ohio State (9-0): I know some of you are skeptical of the Buckeyes because of last season’s BCS championship beat down by Florida. But for Ohio State to go into Penn State and dominate (37-17) the way it did was really impressive. The defense is for real and quarterback Todd Boeckman is a lot better than I thought. The Buckeyes still must beat Wisconsin and Illinois at home and have that final test at Michigan on Nov. 17.
2. LSU (7-1): The fact remains that the Tigers have only lost one game to Kentucky in triple overtime on the road. And the loss came the week after a very rugged game with Florida. LSU is starting to get really banged up on defense and they are certainly vulnerable on Saturday when they go to what promises to be a crazy atmosphere at Alabama. But if LSU goes 12-1 and wins the SEC championship, there is going to be a lot of howling if the Tigers don’t get in the big game.
3. Boston College (8-0): The Eagles had a great escape at Virginia Tech and, I predict, will have a tough game this Saturday against Florida State at home. BC still has to go on the road to Maryland (Nov. 10) and Clemson (Nov. 17) and finish with an unpredictable Miami team at home. Then there is the ACC championship game, which could be a rematch with Virginia Tech. This team still has a lot of work to do.
4. Oregon (7-1): I really like watching this team play. Fans forget that in the Ducks’ only loss (to California 31-24) they were in position to tie the game in the final seconds but fumbled. Dennis Dixon knows how to run the spread offense as well as any quarterback in the country. Oregon gets Arizona State (8-0) at home on Saturday and will win. But if Arizona State wins, they deserve to be in this spot.
5. Oklahoma (7-1): Before all is said and done, Oklahoma’s inexplicable (27-24) loss to Colorado on Sept. 29 may be the only thing that stands between the Sooners and a shot at the national championship. Oklahoma has three of its final four games at home (Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma State). The lone road game is at Texas Tech (Nov. 17) and anything can happen in Lubbock.
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Georgia played like GEORGIA again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five things we learned from the weekend:
1. Georgia played like GEORGIA again: I don’t have any problem with Mark Richt’s motivational ploy against Florida, but the SEC office may have to say something given their previous stands on sportsmanship, etc. But Georgia didn’t beat Florida because the whole team rushed the field after the first touchdown. The Bulldogs won because they played GEORGIA football again.
They ran the ball.
They were physical for 60 minutes.
And every time Georgia had a chance to hit somebody, they did it with enthusiasm.
And did I mention that they RAN the ball?
After Saturday’s game with Troy, which is pretty good team, the Bulldogs had better buckle it up for Auburn on Nov. 10 because the Tigers are going to come to Athens and challenge their manhood.
2. Tennessee still has issues on defense: You have to give the Volunteers credit. They were dominated in the second half by South Carolina and, in a normal year, would have lost. But this, we have learned, is not a normal year. Tennessee gave up 501 yards of total offense with 355 coming in the second half. Because the defense is basically holding on for dear life, it is going to be very difficult for the Vols to win their last three SEC games with Arkansas, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. Tennessee may control its own destiny, but unless that defense gets better that destiny is looking pretty shaky.
3. A team with three losses could win the SEC East: It’s happened in the SEC West, but never in the East. But given the kind of year we’re having, it’s going to be hard for Georgia (4-2) to beat both Auburn and Kentucky. It is also going to be hard for Tennessee (3-2) to beat Arkansas, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. Just looking at the standings, where everybody else has three losses, it might take somebody from MIT to figure out the tiebreakers.
4. No coach in the country is doing a better job than Jim Grobe: After Wake Forest opened the season with losses to Boston College and Nebraska, a lot of people dismissed Wake Forest’s 2006 ACC championship as a flash in the pan. Since then the Deacons have won six straight and are bowl eligible for the second straight year. Wake Forest has to play three out of its last four games on the road with trips to Virginia, Clemson, and Vanderbilt. Nobody gets more out of his talent than Grobe, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year in 2006.
5. We shouldn’t be surprised by Mississippi State: The Bulldogs (5-4) won at Kentucky on Saturday and won at Auburn earlier this season. This is a solid, well-coached team with a good defense. This season is proof that Sylvester Croom is building something that will last in Starkville. If it qualifies, this team deserves to go to a bowl. It would have to win one of the last three against Alabama, Arkansas, and Ole Miss.
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Georgia’s defense must rise to the occasion
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We dropped to 6-4 last week because Alabama destroyed Tennessee, Vanderbilt upset South Carolina, Michigan got better and beat Illinois and Florida State-well, I don’t know what Florida State was doing in a loss to Miami.
That puts us at 55-25 as we get ready to close out October with another version of the Fearless Friday Forecast.
1. Georgia vs. Florida: In the past Georgia has won this game as a more-than-a-touchdown underdog. But in those games it was because the defense rose to the occasion and decided that the game was not going to turn into a track meet. In short, Georgia is not going to out finesse or out score the Gators. Look at Auburn’s game plan when it won at Florida on Sept. 29: Run the ball, play great defense, steal the game at the end with a field goal or a long drive against a tired defense. That’s the plan. The problem is that Georgia can’t play great defense. Florida 31, Georgia 20.
2. South Carolina at Tennessee: For the second time this month, Phillip Fulmer and the Volunteers have their backs to the wall after an embarrassing loss. You should be able to rally the troops any time the Old Ball Coach comes to town. Both teams are still in the SEC East race. The loser is virtually eliminated. If South Carolina’s quarterbacks were playing a little better, it would be tempting to go with the Gamecocks. But it’s hard to see the Vols losing a game like this at home on a Saturday night. Tennessee 24, South Carolina 21.
3. Mississippi State at Kentucky: The Wildcats have had a remarkable two weeks, first beating LSU and then losing a shootout to Florida. Now that the national TV cameras are gone, how will Kentucky play against a solid team from Mississippi State? As long as the Wildcats have quarterback Andre Woodson, they will be just fine. Kentucky 35, Mississippi State 17.
4. Ole Miss at Auburn: Auburn has to recover from a heartbreaking loss at LSU last Saturday. The Tigers may be 5-3 but no team in the SEC has improved more since the beginning of the season. Ole Miss plays folks tough at home but the Rebels don’t have the same kind of zip on the road. Auburn 28, Ole Miss 10.
5. Clemson at Maryland: This is a huge game in the ACC Atlantic Standings. Both have two losses in the conference so the loser is virtually eliminated in the race. Both still have to play Boston College, the leader in the division. Both are capable of putting up a lot of points. This is a field goal game if ever I’ve seen one. Clemson 24, Maryland 21.
6. North Carolina at Wake Forest: Since starting the season with losses to Boston College and Nebraska, Wake Forest has won five straight and is starting to look like the team that won the ACC championship last season. North Carolina (2-5) has won two straight and is gaining a little confidence. I like the Deacons to become bowl eligible for the second straight season. Wake Forest 17, North Carolina 13.
7. Ohio State at Penn State: No. 2 Boston College had to perform a great escape to get out of Blacksburg with a (14-10) win Thursday night. What fate awaits the No. 1 Buckeyes at Happy Valley? The Buckeyes have rolled to 8-0 against an easy schedule but I hear the defense is very, very good. Part of me really wants to pick Penn State, which will lead most of the game before losing Ohio State 17, Penn State 14.
8. Kansas at Texas A&M: The Jayhawks, one of only five undefeated teams left, are a slight favorite as they go to College Station. But I think the Aggies (6-2) know how big a game this is. Texas A&M finishes with Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas. If the Aggies don’t win Saturday, they might not win again. Texas A&M 24, Kansas 21.
9. California at Arizona State: This is what kind of year it has been. Two weeks ago California was ranked No. 2 and just needed a field goal against Oregon State to move to No. 1. But the Bears lost that game and then fell again last week to UCLA. Now they are No. 21. Arizona State (7-0) is ranked No. 4 in the BCS but has not been tested. That test comes Saturday and the Sun Devils will fail. California 31, Arizona State 27.
10. Southern Cal at Oregon: Oregon has scored 48 or more points in five of its seven games. Quarterback Dennis Dixon should be getting more love for the Heisman Trophy. Oregon has the best offense (550.86 ypg) in the Pac-10. Southern Cal has the best defense (252.14 ypg). I like the Ducks at home. Oregon 31, Southern Cal 17.
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Will Georgia run the ball against the Gators?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five burning questions as we head into the weekend:
1. Will Georgia run the ball against the Gators? After watching Kentucky’s Andre Woodson throw for 415 yards against Florida, it’s going to be tempting for Georgia to turn Matt Stafford loose against that young secondary of the Gators. But the two teams that beat Florida (Auburn, LSU) did it by running the football to set up the play action pass. Kentucky threw it 50 times but after the game coach Rich Brooks was lamenting the fact that he could not run it more. Both Auburn and LSU wore down the Florida defense in the fourth quarter with the run. This should be Knowshon Moreno’s game.
2. Can Virginia Tech pressure Matt Ryan? Tonight we find out if Boston College is the real deal when the No. 2 Eagles go to Virginia Tech. Ryan, the BC quarterback, is in the top three on most Heisman ballots but has yet to face a defense like Bud Foster’s group. Virginia Tech will try to get pressure on him with the front four and if that doesn’t work, the Hokies will start using some of their blitz packages. If Ryan has time, he will pick most defenses apart. Virginia Tech, by the way, is 13-2 in Thursday night games.
3. How did Florida State beat Alabama? The Seminoles (1-3 ACC) have won exactly one conference game this season. That came against N.C. State (0-3). Florida State (4-3) beat Alabama 21-14 on Sept. 29 but as a team seems to have gotten worse in October. Alabama has won three straight since then and is on top of the SEC West with LSU. In a season full of strange things, this is one really befuddles me.
4. What will be the mood Saturday night in Knoxville? The Volunteer Nation is pretty disgusted after watching their Volunteers get hammered last Saturday at Alabama. Many of them think it’s time to really shake things up in the football program. So how do they react when Steve Spurrier, the man they love to hate, comes to Neyland Stadium on Saturday night? Do they get fired up like they did for Georgia? Or do they sit on their hands and wait for the team to do something? It’s going to be interesting.
5. Will Kentucky be ready to play? The Wildcats (6-2) have been pretty geeked up the past two weeks to play No. 1 (at the time) LSU and Florida. No team in college football could be more drained. But Kentucky has the talent to finish10-2 and go to a great bowl if the Wildcats can stay focused. Their final four games with Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Georgia, and Tennessee are all winnable. How will they play when Mississippi State (4-4) comes to Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday?
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Georgia-Florida should stay in JAX
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just one man’s opinion:
1. Georgia-Florida doesn’t need to move: Before Steve Spurrier came to Florida in 1990, the Gator faithful were convinced that Georgia had the home field advantage in Jacksonville. Spurrier said that was silly and proceeded to beat Georgia 11 of the next 12 years. Now that Florida has won 15 of 17 some on the Georgia side want to move the game. Funny. Georgia-Florida in Jacksonville is one of the great traditions in college football. Leave it alone.
2. If you’re an Auburn fan, keep your eye on Texas A&M: The rumors are flying hot and heavy that Coach Fran’s days are numbered in College Station. I don’t know if that’s true or not. Hard to believe the Aggies will make a change if he beats Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas down the stretch. But if Texas A&M makes a change I promise you that Auburn’s Tommy Tuberville will be one of the first to get a phone call. And if A&M comes in at $3 million plus Tuberville will listen.
3. South Carolina is not done: A lot of people are writing off the Gamecocks because of last week’s loss to Vanderbilt. That would be a mistake. In 2005, his first year in Columbia, Spurrier beat Tennessee, Arkansas, and Florida. If he does it this season, the Gamecocks will be going to Atlanta.
4. Phillip Fulmer will be the head coach at Tennessee in 2008: The Volunteer Nation is not happy. I understand that. But starting over right now-with all the talented coaches in this league-would not be the smart way to go. There are some problems at Tennessee, particularly with the talent level on defense. Tennessee also needs to get back to running the football. Adjustments need to be made. The question is: Will Fulmer, who can be loyal to a fault, be willing to make them?
5. Arkansas can’t wait much longer: I know that you’re supposed to wait until the end of the season to evaluate a football program. But I’m hearing that all of the work Houston Nutt and his staff have done in recruiting for this next class may unravel in a hurry because of the uncertainty about his future in Fayetteville. Recruiting has changed and guys are making commitments much earlier. And they are more likely to bail if they think a head coach is in trouble.
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We’re not done with the “upsets”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If this college football season has taught us anything, it is that preseason rankings mean absolutely nothing. Here is what has happened to the rankings in the past four weeks:
Four weeks ago: Seven of the top 13 in the AP poll lose so the rankings are reshuffled and we get a new Top 10.
Three weeks ago: Four of the Top 10 lose. Another shuffling. Surely this time we got it right.
Two weeks ago: On the eve of the first BCS Standings, No. 1 (LSU) and No. 2 (California), both lose.
Last week: The BCS Standing have now set the field and then No. 2 (South Florida), No. 6 (South Carolina) and No. 7 (Kentucky) all lose.
So no one in anybody’s top five should feel comfortable right now because no matter where a team is ranked, the schedule says they can take a hit before the season is over.
Here is my top five and the opportunity all have to lose down the stretch.
1. LSU (7-1): After that miracle last Saturday night against Auburn, LSU looks like a team of destiny. They also have more good football players than anybody else. But the Tigers, who have this week off, have to go to Alabama on Nov. 3. Then they will probably have to play Florida in the SEC championship game.
2. Ohio State (8-0): Really good defense. So-so on offense. That formula worked in 2002 when the Buckeyes won the national championship. Ohio State has to go to Penn State this Saturday and Michigan on Nov. 17. They also play Illinois in the Horseshoe on Nov. 10.
3. Boston College (7-0): The Eagles have to go to Virginia Tech Thursday night and winning in Blacksburg won’t be easy. There are also road game with at Maryland and Clemson left.
4. Oklahoma (7-1): Don’t read too much into the fact that the Sooners struggled with Iowa State (17-7). The Sooners have the easiest path to running the table but a Nov. 17 trip to Texas Tech could be interesting.
5. Oregon (6-1):I like the Ducks and quarterback Dennis Dixon. Their only loss was to Cal (31-24) and in that game Oregon fumbled on the one-yard line and lost a chance to tie. We’ll find out in the next two weeks if the Ducks get to stay here as they host Southern Cal and Arizona State.
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There is no one else like Tim Tebow
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five things we learned over the weekend:
1. There is nobody else like Tim Tebow: I keep thinking this guy is going to get tired and start playing like a mere mortal, but every week he just puts Florida on his back and carries them. Last spring somebody suggested to coach Urban Meyer that the sophomore could win the Heisman Trophy. Meyer smiled as if to say “You’ve got to be kidding. He’s never started a game.” I thought the notion to be silly. I don’t think it’s silly any more.
2. Les Miles should buy a lottery ticket: Trailing Auburn 24-23 and with time running out, Miles let his team throw a pass from the Auburn 22-yard line. Demetrius Byrd caught the ball with one second left and LSU won 30-24. It worked and so Miles is a genius. But if Byrd bobbles the ball one time and doesn’t catch it the clock runs out and Miles would be having a very difficult week. LSU did not manage the clock properly at the end of that game but got away with it. If LSU runs the table and gets to the BCS title game, we will look back on that play as the pivotal moment of the season.
3. The Florida State situation is getting serious: Here are the facts. Florida State joined the ACC in 1992 and won 71 of its first 73 ACC games. After Saturday’s loss to Miami, the Seminoles have now dropped 10 of their last 14 ACC games. The offense is just a mess. New offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher was hired to clean up the problem but it is much worse than even he anticipated. Somehow Florida State, which produced two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks in the 1990s, does not have a quarterback.
4. Tennessee’s defense can’t be fixed: Coach Phillip Fulmer says what coaches have to say. He believes that by coaching harder and teaching more, this defense will get better. But there is only so much that coaching can do. The fact is that there has been a significant drop off in talent on the defensive side of the ball at Tennessee. There are no John Hendersons on the defensive line. I don’t see an Al Wilson at linebacker. Tennessee has good players but no difference makers on that side of the ball. Jonathon Hefney is not playing like an All-SEC defensive back because he’s surrounded by so much inexperience.
5. I can’t wait for LSU-Alabama: The boys at CBS couldn’t have drawn this one up better. LSU, after a narrow escape, goes to Alabama on Nov. 3 with first place in the SEC West on the line. LSU fans are mad because Nick Saban’s at Alabama. Saban got his first signature win against Tennessee and is looking for another one against a team that could be No. 2 or even No. 1 when the game is played. Both teams have this week off and so the hype in those two states has begun. Should be fun.
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Sizing up the wild, wacky SEC East
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After another wild weekend, here’s our ranking of the top five teams in the SEC East and their chances of playing in the conference championship game on Dec. 1 in Atlanta:
1. FLORIDA
— Record: 5-2, 3-2 SEC
— SEC games left: Saturday vs. Georgia (Jacksonville), Nov. 3 vs. Vanderbilt, Nov. 10 at South Carolina.
— Comment: Two teams on this list (Tennessee, Kentucky) allowed a combined 104 points vs. UF. No one can keep up with the Gators’ athletes on offense.
2. SOUTH CAROLINA
— Record: 6-2, 3-2
— SEC games left: Saturday at Tennessee, Nov. 3 at Arkansas, Nov. 10 vs. Florida.
— Comment: Like Florida, Steve Spurrier & Co. are in if they just win out. That’s easier said than done, given the state of the Gamecocks at quarterback.
3. KENTUCKY
— Record: 6-2, 2-2
— SEC games left: Saturday vs. Mississippi State, Nov. 10 at Vanderbilt, Nov. 17 at Georgia, Nov. 24 vs. Tennessee.
— Comment: Talented enough to run the table but even that might not be enough. They’d lose the tiebreaker to either Florida or South Carolina, which both beat UK.
4. TENNESSEE
— Record: 4-2, 2-2
— SEC games left: Saturday vs. South Carolina, Nov. 10 vs. Arkansas, Nov. 17 vs. Vanderbilt, Nov. 24 at Kentucky.
— Comment: Even if they play more like they did against Georgia (21-point win) and less like they did against Alabama (24-point loss), they still need Florida to stumble.
5. GEORGIA
— Record: 5-2, 2-2
— SEC games left: Saturday vs. Florida, Nov. 10 vs. Auburn, Nov. 17 vs. Kentucky.
— Comment: It will take more than a rare cocktail party win to make it: UGA needs to win out and hope both South Carolina and Tennessee slip up somewhere.
(Use our interactive tool to rank the SEC East, and compare it with other readers.)
The Fearless Friday Forecast
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We were 8-2 last week because I wasn’t smart enough to pick Kentucky over LSU and because I took a flyer on Central Florida over South Florida, which crashed and burned, 64-12. That gives us a record of 49-21 on the season.
After all of the upsets we’ve had in the first half of the season, and again last night when South Florida lost to Rutgers, you should know that the fun is just beginning.
So here, without further delay, is another edition of the Fearless Friday Forecast.
1. Army at Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets and Tashard Choice stepped up at Miami last Saturday and will use this game as a tune-up for the visit from Virginia Tech on Nov. 1. Tech needs to make sure no one gets hurt and that QB Taylor Bennett builds up his confidence. He’ll need it against the Hokies. Georgia Tech 31, Army 7.
2. Miami at Florida State: Remember when this game used to mean something? For the first time since 1977 neither team is ranked for this once-proud rivalry. Both are coming off losses. You have to give the edge to Florida State because the Hurricanes have been so bad on the road. Florida State 14, Miami 10.
3. Florida at Kentucky: Kentucky’s win over No. 1 LSU last week was very impressive. But the Gators have had a week off and have to win or they are done in the SEC race. Kentucky will play hard but after three overtimes last week, the emotional tank will start to run dry in the second half. Florida 28, Kentucky 21.
4. Auburn at LSU: Like Kentucky, LSU has had two straight tough games. After a shaky start, Auburn is starting to play well. Auburn has won eight straight SEC road games. Coach Tommy Tuberville has won nine of his last 10 games against teams ranked in the Top 10. Earlier in the week I liked Auburn. But after last night’s loss by USF, LSU knows that it will be no worse than No. 3 in the next BCS standings. LSU will get it done at home. LSU 14, Auburn 10.
5. Tennessee at Alabama: Nick Saban gets his first big rivalry game as the coach of the Crimson Tide. The Volunteers still control their own destiny in the SEC East and need a win to set up a big showdown with South Carolina next week. Tennessee is more athletic than Alabama and it will show in the fourth quarter. Tennessee 21, Alabama 20.
6. Vanderbilt at South Carolina: The Gamecocks are No. 6 in the BCS and still in the hunt for the SEC East championship. The offense is still struggling so you will see Blake Mitchell back at quarterback before this game is over. South Carolina wins because the defense is really good. Vanderbilt will play hard but get its heart broken again. South Carolina 21, Vanderbilt 10.
7. Central Michigan at Clemson: This is a dangerous game for Tommy Bowden. He’s got to convince his players that the Chippewas are for real and can fling it all over the place with quarterback Dan LeFevour, who has thrown 12 touchdown passes in his last two games. Clemson 28, Central Michigan 21.
8. Texas Tech at Missouri: This one may take five hours to play. Graham Harrell (Texas Tech) and Chase Daniel (Missouri) have combined for over 5,000 yards of passing in just half a season. Harrell is completing 74.35 percent of his passes. Daniel completes 68.9 percent. Missouri’s defense is a little bit better. Missouri 42, Texas Tech 37.
9. Southern Cal at Notre Dame: The Trojans are No. 14 in the BCS so they need to start winning with some style points. Notre Dame has improved but the Irish are still a bad football team. Like they did in 2005, the Irish have grown the grass pretty tall at Notre Dame Stadium hoping to slow down the Trojans. Won’t help. Southern Cal 35, Notre Dame 13.
10. Michigan at Illinois: Despite early non-conference losses to Appalachian State and Oregon, Michigan is on top in the Big Ten and hopes to stay there until it hosts Ohio State on Nov. 17. But the Illini have a mobile quarterback (Juice Williams) and that has given the Wolverines trouble. Michigan is a slight favorite but I like Illinois at home. Illinois 21, Michigan 20.
Will Tech turn Taylor Bennett loose?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five burning questions as we head into the weekend:
1. Will Georgia Tech turn Taylor Bennett loose? Coaches can’t say this or they would get run out of town. But I can say it. Saturday’s game with Army is a good time to work on the passing game, which the Yellow Jackets are going to need if they want to beat Virginia Tech on Nov. 1. Bennett threw it reasonably well against Miami but he needs to feel confident when the Hokies come to town two weeks from tonight. Probably wouldn’t hurt to get backup Josh Nesbitt a few extra snaps. One other thing: Tech needs to get an early lead and let No. 22 (Tashard Choice) spend the rest of the game with his feet propped up. That lad needs to be well rested on Nov. 1.
2. Can Kentucky do it one more time? This has been an incredibly busy week in Lexington as Kentucky continues to enjoy its win over No. 1 LSU while getting ready for Florida to come to Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday. There are no hotel rooms to be found as members of the national media descend on Lexington to cover the story. The spotlight on Kentucky last week was bright, but expectations were limited against the No. 1 team in the nation. Now the spotlight is brighter and expectations are high. How will UK react?
3. Does Rutgers have some magic left? A year ago Rutgers upset Louisville on a memorable Thursday night game that propelled the Scarlet Knights to an 11-2 dream season. South Florida, which is enjoying the heady status of being ranked No. 2, has to go on the road in a short week. Is tonight where USF stumbles?
4. How big is this game for Houston Nutt? Arkansas is 0-3 in the SEC. After the Hogs play at Ole Miss on Saturday, they still have to play South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi State and LSU. Arkansas will be the underdog in at least three of those games. But if Arkansas loses to Ole Miss on Saturday, does that seal Nutt’s fate? Or has this decision already been made?
5. Will Nick Saban get his signature victory? When you’re the head coach at Alabama, your official stamp on the program does not come until you beat Tennessee or Auburn in a game you’re not supposed to win. Well, Nick Saban gets his first shot at a signature victory on Saturday in Tuscaloosa. Tennessee has a better team with more athletes. But Alabama is playing at home. Saban was hired and paid $4 million to win a game like this.
Auburn can win at LSU
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just one man’s opinion:
1. Auburn has a real shot at LSU: After two tough, physical games that went four quarters (and beyond), LSU has to be a drained football team. LSU still might be the best team in the country but now they’ve got to get back up to play a team in Auburn which has won eight straight SEC road games. I don’t care how talented a team is, it’s hard to get up to play three weeks in a row.
2. Kudos should go to Kentucky: Not for beating LSU last Saturday, even though that was a great win for the school. The UK administration deserves praise because it hung tough and stuck with coach Rich Brooks when the whole world (including me) thought he was gone after his third straight losing season in 2005. Brooks had been a good football coach a long time before he got to Kentucky in 2003. He knows what he is doing. Now Kentucky is reaping the benefits. It’s hard to be patient in college athletics but every now and then it pays off.
3. It’s sad to watch Miami and Florida State in decline: Over the last 20 years I’ve been lucky enough to see all but a handful of Miami-Florida State games. For sheer intensity, there was nothing like it. For so long, the level of play was the best that college football had to offer. On Saturday, for the first time since 1977, neither team is ranked. It’s just sad.
4. Clemson had better watch out: Who is Central Michigan, you ask? The Chippewas are the defending Mid-America champs and have the best quarterback in the league in Dan LeFevour (1,749 yards, 15 TD). Clemson has a much better team but the Tigers had better not take these guys lightly.
5. Every game for Alabama will be a struggle: Other than the opener with Western Carolina (52-6) every game for Alabama has been a struggle. Every game Alabama has left on its schedule, with the possible exception of Louisiana-Monroe (1-5) on Nov. 17, is going to be a struggle. That is this team’s identity. The good news for Alabama fans is that the Tide will win more struggles than it loses
Can South Florida go the distance?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Every team in the Associated Press preseason Top 10 now has a loss. So there is no reason to believe that we’re going to go the rest of the season without some more upsets. If I were still voting in the polls, this would be my top five. Each one still has some stumbling blocks along the way.
1. South Florida (6-0): To those who don’t want the Bulls in the BCS championship game because they are not a “traditional” power, shame on you. This is a team that was good enough to go on the road and win at Auburn and beat West Virginia when it was ranked No. 5. USF has a short week and must go on the road to Rutgers Thursday night. Home games against Cincinnati (Nov. 3), and improving Louisville (Nov. 17) won’t be easy.
2. Ohio State (7-0): The Buckeyes are the champions of Ohio (Youngstown State, Akron, Kent State) but that’s about it. Their 23-7 win at Purdue, when the Boilermakers were leading the Big Ten in scoring, is worthy of note. Ohio State still has to play at Penn State (Oct. 27) and at Michigan (Nov. 17).
3. Boston College (7-0): The Eagles have two quality wins over Wake Forest (38-28) at home and Georgia Tech (24-10) in Atlanta. Those who doubt BC will soon get their answer. If the Eagles can go to Virginia Tech on Oct. 25 and win, then they deserve their lofty ranking. After that BC sill has to play Florida State, Maryland, Clemson, and Miami.
4. LSU (6-1): Despite the triple overtime loss at Kentucky, I still think the Tigers may be the best team in the country. After two tough, emotional games (Florida, UK), LSU will have its hands full Saturday night against Auburn. If LSU can win, it will get a week off to get ready for the stretch drive that includes Alabama, Ole Miss, and Arkansas.
5. Oklahoma (6-1): The only potential loss for the Sooners is a Nov. 17 trip to Texas Tech. Unless Oklahoma can get some luck, it will be on the outside of the BCS championship looking in because of that 27-24 loss to Colorado on Sept. 29.
Five others to consider:
Kentucky (6-1): After what I saw Saturday (against LSU) I will not doubt this team again. But the ‘Cats will have a tough time beating Florida on Saturday in Lexington.
Oregon (5-1): This is a really good team that could easily be undefeated now. The Ducks host Southern Cal on Oct. 27.
South Carolina (6-1): Sure, it’s a long shot for the Head Ball Coach. But if South Carolina goes 12-1 and wins the SEC championship against that schedule, the Gamecocks deserve to be in the big game.
Virginia Tech (6-1): Notice how everybody has just forgotten about the Hokies? Their only loss was on the road at LSU (48-7). If they beat BC on Oct. 25, it might get interesting.
West Virginia (5-1): The Mountaineers still have the most explosive offense in the country when everybody’s healthy.
South Florida should be No. 1
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five things we learned over the weekend.
1. South Florida actually should be No. 1: I agree with those who have a problem with South Florida being No. 2 in the BCS standings. The Bulls should actually be No. 1. The BCS standings should be about who you play and who you beat. USF beat Auburn on the road and West Virginia at home. Ohio State has played non-conference games with Youngstown State, Akron, and Kent State and its best win to date is over Washington (2-3).
2. It ain’t easy being No. 1: Southern Cal couldn’t handle it at home (against Stanford). LSU couldn’t handle it on the road (against Kentucky). California was in the middle of a game with Oregon State when it learned that LSU had lost and it was going to be No. 1. But the Bears had a brain freeze and ran out the clock to lose 31-28. Now it’s Ohio State’s turn in the barrel. The Buckeyes have tough road games at Penn State and Michigan down the stretch.
3. Kentucky is not a finesse team any more: The Wildcats beat LSU last Saturday because they matched LSU hit for hit, especially in the fourth quarter. LSU pounded Kentucky in the third quarter and the Tigers thought they would wear the Wildcats down like they did Florida. But Kentucky would not wilt. I promise you that LSU is a sore football team today.
4. LSU not out of it: Having said all that, LSU is good enough to win the rest of its games and play for the BCS championship. A 12-1 record in the SEC, which is the only BCS conference with no undefeated teams, should get a lot of respect from the voters. Is it good enough to jump over a 12-0 team from South Florida or a 13-0 Boston College? We’ll see. LSU has got to get past Auburn first.
5. Hawaii does not deserve a BCS bid: Fun team to watch. I like June Jones. Quarterback Colt Brennan will be a pretty good pro. But the Warriors play a ridiculously easy schedule and have trouble every time they come to the mainland. The BCS rules were relaxed in order to give deserving teams (like Boise State in 2006) access to the big bowls. But if a team like Hawaii gets in and gets embarrassed, then it will undermine the intent of the rule.
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.
Georgia should be on upset alert
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just one man’s opinion:
1. Georgia had better be on upset alert: The only team that played as poorly as the Bulldogs last Saturday was Vanderbilt, which never had a chance at Auburn. The Commodores are having quarterback problems so Georgia should march in there and take care of business. But Vanderbilt knows it can play with Georgia after beating them in Athens last season and the Commodores are well coached. Georgia cannot be flat in this game.
2. Auburn at Arkansas is huge for Houston Nutt: The Razorbacks have gotten well the past two weeks against North Texas and Chattanooga. Now it’s time to play big boy football again. We’re nearing mid-October and the Hogs are 0-2 in the SEC. If Auburn goes into Fayetteville on Saturday and makes it 0-3, it is going to get ugly for Nutt.
3. Rich Brooks is worried-and he should be: South Carolina out muscled the Wildcats last Thursday night and now Kentucky (5-1), which was No. 8 in the nation just six days ago, has to play LSU and Florida on consecutive weeks. South Carolina showed the rest of the league that the game plan against Kentucky is to pressure quarterback Andre Woodson. And nobody brings pressure better than LSU.
4. If Florida State beats Wake Forest, look out: If the Seminoles (4-1, 1-1 ACC) win at Winston-Salem tonight, they will be 7-1 when they go to Boston College on Nov. 3. If Xavier Lee keeps playing well at quarterback-and that is a big if-the Seminoles will beat BC.
5. Ole Miss can beat Alabama: The Crimson Tide had to hold on to beat Houston last week and if Ole Miss can summon up another effort like they had against Florida on Sept. 22, Alabama may have to fight for their lives to get out of Oxford with a win. It’s always hard for Alabama not to look ahead to Tennessee, which comes to Tuscaloosa next week.
LSU solid No. 1, but who’s No. 2?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two weeks ago seven out of the top 13 lost. Last weekend four of the top 10 bit the dust. Where does that leave us in the BCS race? Here’s my new top five.
1. LSU (6-0): We’ve had the Tigers up here for a while but now the rest of the country is on board. After beating Florida last Saturday night, it’s hard to figure out where LSU might lose. Auburn comes to Baton Rouge on Oct. 20 and that could be interesting. LSU could play Florida again in the SEC championship game and that would be REALLY interesting.
2. California (5-0): I was tempted to put Ohio State here because, as you know, there is a strong East coast bias among college football writers. At least that’s what my friends on the West coast say. The Bears get points for going on the road to beat Oregon, which I think is a pretty good team. California should be 7-0 when it goes to Arizona State on Oct. 27.
3. Ohio State (5-0): The Buckeyes are playing really good defense, holding Purdue (which was averaging over 45 points per game) to only seven points last Saturday. An Oct. 27 trip to Penn State might be a challenge but the Buckeyes should be 11-0 when they go to Michigan on Nov. 17.
4. Boston College (6-0): The Eagles have been flying under the radar for a while because they haven’t played any high profile games. That is about to change because Saturday they go to Notre Dame, which is a big time game even when the Irish are bad (like they are now), and on Oct. 25 comes a trip to Virginia Tech. If BC is 8-0 after going to Blacksburg, we’re going to have take a serious look at Coach Jags and the Eagles.
5. Oklahoma (5-1): Sorry, South Florida fans. But I still think the Sooners are one of the best five teams in the country. But I am anxious to see how Oklahoma plays Saturday against Missouri, which may be better than a lot of us think. The Sooners always invest a lot into the Texas game. They had better be ready against Mizzou.
Others to watch:
South Carolina (5-1): With road games at Tennessee and Arkansas and a home game with Florida, it’s going to be hard for the Head Ball Coach to go 11-1. But if he did, South Carolina would get a rematch with LSU in Atlanta. Wouldn’t that be fun?
South Florida (5-0): The Bulls play Central Florida on Saturday and then have a short week before a Thursday night trip to Rutgers. Watch out for the Scarlet Knights.
Southern Cal (4-1): There is no explanation for the loss to Stanford. None. Still, this team is loaded and if a one-loss team gets to the big name, the Trojans could be it.
Virginia Tech (5-1): Is it just me or has Frank Beamer done a good job re-inventing his team since a 48-7 loss at LSU? The Hokies just dominated Clemson on the road.
Georgia’s young and they play young
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five things we learned over the weekend:
1. Georgia is a young team and it plays like a young team: Young teams with talent always think they are better than they really are. Georgia is the perfect example. When the Bulldogs beat Oklahoma State in the opener, suddenly all of the problems that existed in the preseason were solved-at least in some minds. So Georgia was not quite ready to play a tough, well-coached team like South Carolina. Beating Alabama on the road and Ole Miss at home did not make Georgia a contender in the SEC East. The Bulldogs were not ready to match the intensity and the toughness of a Tennessee team that didn’t just want to win, they HAD to win. There are no short cuts in the SEC. Georgia’s young players are learning that the hard way.
2. It’s time to give Les Miles some love: In some circles the LSU coach has gotten absolutely no credit for the job he has done in Baton Rouge. Anybody could have done, it, goes the logic, with the players that Nick Saban’s staff recruited. Saturday night Miles put his stamp on the program for good with LSU’s come back win over Florida. He took some risks that most coaches would not take in a big-time game and, yes, he got a little lucky. It’s time to recognize that this guy can coach a little bit.
3. We may see Florida-LSU again: The Gators have gotten their hearts broken two weeks in a row but it says something when a team that young can go into an environment like the one I saw Saturday night and play well enough to win. This team is good enough to win the rest of its games and, with a little help, get back to the SEC championship game. Could they beat LSU in a rematch on a neutral field? You bet they could.
4. Something ain’t right at Georgia Tech: When you run for 175 and pass for 309 with no interceptions, you’re not supposed to get beat. We’ve been calling out Taylor Bennett to play better. Well, he played better. Once again RB Tashard Choice gives you everything he’s got. Saturday’s game with Maryland should have never come down to one series of downs and one kick. There are too many mistakes being made on both sides of the ball and the defense is giving up too many big plays. It’s too easy to blame coaching as the source of the problem. Some seniors on this team need to step up.
5. South Carolina can win the SEC East: The Gamecocks will have to win two tough games on the road (Tennessee, Arkansas) and beat Florida at home (on Nov. 10) to do it. But Steve Spurrier’s team has proven to be pretty resourceful. The defense is very good, even with the loss of LB Jasper Brinkley. And Spurrier obviously has a lot more confidence in his new quarterback, redshirt freshman Chris Smelley. As long as the defense keeps playing well, Spurrier will find a way to manufacture enough points to win. If the Gamecocks can get past Vanderbilt on Oct. 20, their trip to Tennessee on Oct. 27 will be huge.
Call me crazy, but Florida upsets LSU
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Auburn’s upset of Florida, Alabama’s loss to Florida State and Oregon, which was in position to beat Cal but fumbled on the one-yard line, gave us a record of 7-3 last week. That makes us 36-14 on the season.
So here once again, and back by popular demand, is the Fearless Friday Forecast:
1. Florida at LSU: Occasionally in this business we are called upon to throw caution to the wind. At times we just have suspend all pretense of common sense and made decisions that have absolutely no basis in logic. This, dear readers, is one of those times. LSU has the nation’s No. 1 defense and they are playing at home. ESPN’s College Game Day will be in Baton Rouge. CBS will show the game in prime time. LSU is No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time since 1959. The Tigers should roll easily in this game. You’re going to call this pick dumb and you’re probably right. But here it is anyway: Florida 24, LSU 20.
2. Georgia at Tennessee: The Volunteers have had an extra week to get ready for what is a very important game for coach Phillip Fulmer. For if Tennessee loses, the Vols drop to 0-2 in the SEC and out are of the conference race just one week into October. All of the intangibles are on Tennessee’s side. But as an old coach once said, intangibles ain’t worth nothing if you can’t stop the running game. Unless John Henderson and Al Wilson are coming back, the Vols still don’t have anybody to slow down the run. And if they commit too many players to Georgia’s running game, Matt Stafford will burn them with the play action pass. Georgia 28, Tennessee 20.
3. Georgia Tech at Maryland: The Yellow Jackets got back on track with a big win against Clemson last week. Now we want to see if they can play another smash mouth game with the Terps, who knocked off No. 10 Rutgers last week. Maryland is No. 8 in the ACC against the run (141.2 ypg) so the Jackets can be counted upon to serve up a lot of running back Tashard Choice. But QB Taylor Bennett is going to have to make a couple of plays before this game is over. He will. Georgia Tech 17, Maryland 10.
4. Vanderbilt at Auburn: If you’re an Auburn fan, you should be scared to death of this game. The Tigers are coming off a huge upset last week at Florida. The game starts at 11:30 in the morning, local time, and Auburn has a history of missing their wake up call for these games. Vanderbilt is well coached and needs an upset somewhere along the line if it is going to get to a bowl. This could be the spot. Auburn struggles but finds a way to win at home. Auburn 14, Vanderbilt 7.
5. Virginia Tech at Clemson: The season is only five games old and already there is a sense of urgency at Clemson. The Tigers made a million mistakes last week against Georgia Tech and in Virginia Tech are facing the league’s No. 2 scoring defense (15.0 ppg). Virginia Tech will try to shut down the run and hope that Clemson QB Cullen Harper doesn’t beat them. Harper will bounce back from last week’s game and play well. Clemson gets it done at home. Clemson 20, Virginia Tech 17.
6. N.C. State at Florida State: QB Xavier Lee gets his first start of the season for Florida State and here is what inquiring minds want to know: Can Lee, who has a whole lot of talent, keep the job for an entire game? Lee has always been a player who breaks your heart because he’ll follow a great play by one that just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. But given the state of Florida State’s offense, which is pretty shaky, coordinator Jimbo Fisher may have to live with the mistakes for a while. Won’t matter today, though. Florida State 31, N.C. State 10.
7. Miami at North Carolina: The Hurricanes have more talent and should win the game easily, but this one is going to be closer than the experts think. Three of the Tar Heels (1-4) four losses have been by a total of 12 points. And Miami didn’t exactly set the world on fire last week in beating Duke (24-14). Butch Davis says his ties with Miami, where he was once the head coach, are not a factor in this game. Don’t believe that. Miami 28, North Carolina 17.
8. Texas vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas): It’s been a long time since this game created so little buzz. But this is still a huge game because the loser is definitely out of the national championship hunt and probably out of the Big 12 race as well. Texas QB Colt McCoy really got beat up last week and if he plays, he’ll probably be a little gun shy. In fact, Oklahoma will see to that. Oklahoma lost to Colorado last week but they didn’t get dominated physically the way Texas did. That’s why the Sooners have the edge. Oklahoma 27, Texas 17.
9. Ohio State at Purdue: Five of the last six games in this series have been decided by seven points or less. Four of those were by four points or less. Something in this game has got to give. Purdue has the Big Ten’s best offense (45.4 points per game). Ohio State has the league’s best defense (7.2 ppg). Ohio State is trying to position itself should LSU or Southern Cal stumble down the stretch. Go with defense. Ohio State 24, Purdue 14.
10. Wisconsin at Illinois: I’m not sure about much, but I do know this. Any team that gives up 31 points to The Citadel is probably not the No. 5 team in the nation. But thanks to all the upsets last Saturday, that is where Wisconsin (5-0) is ranked as they go to Champaign to play the Fighting Ron Zookers. Illinois beat Penn State last week at home and will pull another upset on Saturday. Illinois 31, Wisconsin 28.
Five burning questions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five burning questions as we head into the weekend
1. How many times will Georgia pass against UT? If you do the math, it shouldn’t be many. In four games, Tennessee has given up 753 yards rushing on 146 attempts, or an average of almost 5.2 yards every time an opponent has run the ball. Take out the Southern Mississippi game (32 carries, 90 yards), and Tennessee has given up 663 yards rushing (221 average) against California (230), Florida (255), Arkansas State (178). Tennessee has had a week off to work on its running defense, but I’m not sure the talent is there to fix the problem.
2. Can Kentucky keep it rolling tonight against South Carolina? This will easily be the best defense Kentucky has faced this season. The Gamecocks lead the nation in pass defense, giving up only 106.40 yards per game. Opponents have completed only 46.21 percent of their passes against South Carolina, which also has six interceptions. South Carolina DC Tryone Nix is good at turning up the heat on quarterbacks but Kentucky’s Andre Woodson (16 touchdowns, 1 interceptions) is special. He threw an NCAA-record 325 passes without an interception until getting picked last week against Florida Atlantic.
3. Is the Fridge really playing smash mouth? Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen has one of the best offensive minds of this generation of coaches. But he beat No. 10 Rutgers last week with a strong running game and a good defense. Keon Lattimore is averaging 106.6 yards per game and Maryland second in the ACC (behind Georgia Tech) in rushing at 176.8 per game. Should be a pretty quick game on Saturday in College Park because both guys want to keep it on the ground.
4. Which way will Clemson go? Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Clemson last week at Georgia Tech. Now what happens to Tommy Bowden’s team? Last season Clemson started 7-1 and then fell apart. Now adversity has hit and here comes Virginia Tech to Death Valley on Saturday. Clemson has more offensive weapons and should win the game. But will they?
5. Will LSU live up to the hype? The Tigers are No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time since 1959. There hasn’t been a regular season game in Baton Rouge as big as Saturday’s meeting with Florida in a long, long time. ESPN’s College Game Day will be there and CBS is going to show it in prime time. The whole world will be watching. How will LSU handle the spotlight?
Bonus question. Every now and then I run across something a little off the beaten path of college football. When I do, I’ll throw in a bonus question.
Why is James Carville doing sports talk? He was a political strategist in the Clinton White House, where he was known for his Cajun accent and his ability to argue on just about anything. Now he’s doing sports talk on XM Satellite Radio with Luke Russert, son of NBC’s Tim Russert. According to their publicist Carville, an LSU grad, is old school on the subject of sports. Russert, a senior at Boston College, is new school. The show is “60/20 Sports” at 8 a.m. on Fridays. Carville will also be in Baton Rouge this weekend to do a pre-game show for the Florida-LSU showdown.
This could be Fulmer’s biggest game—ever
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just one man’s opinion:
1. This could be Phillip Fulmer’s biggest game-ever: Not to put any extra pressure on Tennessee as the Vols prepare to host Georgia, but this game looks like one that could define the future of Tennessee football under Phillip Fulmer. A loss at home puts the Vols at 0-2 in the SEC. The folks who are already upset with Fulmer and the direction of the program will have a whole new round of ammunition. The folks who support Fulmer will be looking at a 2-3 football team that still has to play Alabama, South Carolina, Arkansas and Kentucky. I still say that Fulmer will be the head coach at Tennessee next year. But the quality of his life in Knoxville is not going to be helped if the Vols lose to Georgia.
2. Alabama is about where they should be: The Crimson Tide looked like a tired football team against Florida State. After two physically and emotionally draining games against Arkansas and Georgia it had to be tough to play a complete game against a team that had had a week off. I thought going into the season that Alabama would split that four-game stretch of Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Georgia, and Florida State. They will be 5-2 when Tennessee comes to Tuscaloosa on Oct. 20.
3. Auburn had better not relax: The Tigers are coming off their biggest win of the year at Florida. All week people have been telling them they are good-the same people who were dog cussing them two weeks ago. Now they are going to play Vanderbilt at 11:30 in the morning. The team is going to wear throwback uniforms because they are honoring the 1957 national championship team. Vanderbilt is well coached. This is just a warning. Seems like a lot of distractions to me.
4. Florida relies too much on Tebow: Tim Tebow is a wonderful athlete. But he is playing football in the Southeastern Conference and by definition that comes with some risk. He was magnificent Saturday night when he brought the Gators back from 17-3 to tie the game with Auburn. But he carried the ball 27 times against Ole Miss and 19 times against Auburn. The defenses get bigger and meaner each week. Tebow cannot carry the ball 20 times against LSU and not pay some kind of physical price for it. Coach Urban Meyer has to find another option at crunch time.
5. Kentucky’s season will be defined in the next three weeks: The Wildcats go to South Carolina Thursday night and if they win that one-and that’s’ a big if-they get LSU and Florida at home. Do we think they will win them all? Probably not. Could they lose all three? Absolutely. But this team is good enough to do some special things if the defense can get a stop every now and then.
Tough road ahead for Top Five
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here is our new top five, and why it is going to be difficult for any of them (with the possible exception of South Florida) to go undefeated.
1. LSU (5-0): The Tigers are clearly the best team in the SEC but that doesn’t mean they can’t get beat. Last year they were the MOST TALENTED team in the SEC and lost to Auburn and Florida. They may have to play Florida twice (Saturday in Baton Rouge and in the SEC championship game). They have to go to Kentucky and Alabama. And when LSU plays Arkansas something dramatic seems to happen.
2. Southern Cal (4-0): The Trojans got out of Washington with a 27-24 win and still have some big-time road trips left at Oregon (Oct. 20), California (Nov. 10) and Arizona State (Nov. 22).
3. California (5-0): The Bears scored a huge win at Oregon but have three tough games at Arizona State (Oct. 27), Southern Cal at home (Nov. 10), and at Washington (Nov. 17).
4. Ohio State (5-0): The Buckeyes have quietly played their way into the No. 4 slot but the road is not going to be easy as Ohio State goes to Purdue (Saturday), Penn State (Oct. 27), and Michigan (Nov. 17). What if that date with Michigan turns out to be Lloyd Carr’s last home game? How geeked up will the Wolverines be?
5. South Florida (4-0): The Bulls have beaten Auburn on the road and West Virginia at home. In my book that puts them ahead of a team like Wisconsin. They may have the best chance to go undefeated. As you look down the Big East schedule, I can’t believe they’ll be scared of Rutgers or Louisville. Their toughest remaining game might be a non-conference match-up with Central Florida on Oct. 13. Are you telling me that just 11 years after they started the program, South Florida could be playing for a national championship?
Others to watch:
Boston College (5-0): The Eagles will be 7-0 when they go to Virginia Tech on Oct. 25. They finish with Florida State, Maryland, Clemson, and Miami.
Florida (4-1): The Gators have to beat LSU on Saturday and then run the table to the SEC championship to have a chance.
Kentucky (5-0): If the Wildcats can win at South Carolina Thursday night, they have LSU, Florida, and Tennessee coming to Commonwealth Stadium.
Wisconsin (5-0): The Badgers have to travel to Illinois (this Saturday), Penn State, and Ohio State. They will lose at least two of those games.
We are headed to a BCS mess
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five things we learned over the weekend:
1. We are headed to a BCS mess: If Southern Cal and LSU go undefeated, then the BCS will have a limited amount of controversy. Yes, the South Florida fans will be upset if they go 12-0 and don’t get in. Ditto for Ohio State or Wisconsin or Boston College, etc. But it will be hard to argue that any of those teams is better than an undefeated USC or LSU. But if LSU loses or Southern Cal loses, then we are going to have a big old argument that will make last year’s Florida-Michigan debate seem very tame. I’m looking forward to it.
2. Stacy Searels is coaching them up: With all of those babies on the offensive line, Georgia had to hope that they would grow up in a hurry. They weren’t quite ready for a defense like South Carolina’s on Sept. 8. But they have gotten a little bit better every week. Nobody in the country is doing a better job of coaching his position that Stacy Searels at Georgia. The key to winning on the road in the SEC is the ability to run the football. Auburn proved that again Saturday night at Florida. Keep that in mind when Georgia goes to Tennessee on Saturday.
3. When No. 22 is on the field, Georgia Tech is a good team: Tashard Choice is to Georgia Tech what Darren McFadden is to Arkansas. When he is on the field the offensive line blocks harder and the Georgia Tech team plays with more energy. When he’s not on the field, as was the case at Virginia, things don’t seem to click. But if we know that, so does Virginia Tech, Miami, etc. That means that QB Taylor Bennett has to play better down the stretch.
4. This could be the best SEC East race ever: Going into October, all six teams have one loss or LESS. Kentucky is sitting on top and, after a trip to South Carolina on Thursday, has LSU, Florida, and Tennessee coming to Commonwealth Stadium. Everybody in this division has issues. Kentucky is just okay on defense. Florida’s weakness on the defensive front was exposed by Auburn. Tennessee can’t stop the run. South Carolina lost its best defensive player in Jasper Brinkley. Georgia is starting to figure some things out but is still young. Vanderbilt plays hard but could use another playmaker other than Earl Bennett. This is going to be fun.
5. Tuberville did it again: After Auburn lost to Mississippi State on Sept. 15 to go 1-2, some of the Tiger “faithful” were bemoaning the fact that the program was just falling apart. They looked over at Nick Saban at Alabama, who was getting all the media attention. Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, who was 21-3 in the SEC the past three years coming into this season, was suddenly dumber than a bag of hammers. Tuberville did have some problems on his team and went about looking for solutions. Then they go to Florida and knock off the No. 3 Gators. Tuberville has now won 9 of his last 10 games against Top Ten teams. He sure did get smart in just two weeks.
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