Remember a year ago? SEC-newbie Missouri mocked Georgia for playing “old man football,” and everybody in Athens laughed and wondered if by “old man football” Missouri meant blocking and tackling, which often didn’t seem to exist in the Big 12.
Then came the predictable ending: Georgia won and players held up a white board with the words, “Grown Man Football.” Sounded better than, “Get off my lawn.”
Mizzou wisely avoided jokes this season. The Tigers also almost went unbeaten. Their only defeat came after a fourth-quarter unraveling at home against South Carolina turned a 17-0 lead into a 27-24 loss in overtime. Now they’re playing for the SEC title.
They’re not a fluke. They won four games without their starting quarterback. They’re physical, make few mistakes and led the SEC in turnover differential (plus-15) and sacks (37).
There’s really only one reason not to pick Missouri to win the SEC title: The opponent is Team Voodoo.
Auburn’s a fun team to watch, especially if you’re into science fiction. Their past two wins came in improbable ways in the final seconds — a 73-yard deflected touchdown pass against Georgia, a 100-yard-plus return of a missed field-goal attempt against Alabama. There isn’t an available roll of paper within 50 miles of Toomer’s Corner.
I like Auburn for two reasons: 1) Nick Marshall can make plays; 2) I believe in the occult. Auburn wins.
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