Friday, November 10, 2006
Around the SEC
Okay, class. Here’s a tough one for you: where was the first intercollegiate football game played, who were the participants, and what was the outcome? Here’s a hint: one of those teams took down one of the last unbeatens last night in Piscataway, New Jersey. That’s right, the Scarlet Knights defeated the Louisville Cardinals last night in dramatic fashion to have a say in the national title race and are relevant again in a national context.
That’s great, you say. But this is an SEC site—why should we care? Here’s why: he Scarlet Knight’s huge accomplishment last night of taking down the visiting Louisville Cardinals has huge implications for the national title aspirations for Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas. All one loss teams, each one of them has to win a big game this weekend to begin to make an argument for the number two BCS spot.
Florida has an emotional test when their old favorite son brings a fired-up Gamecocks squad to town. The Ol’ Ballcoach surprised the Gators last year, and Urban Meyer’s team needs to blow the doors off this hungry South Carolina group. There will be some surprises in this game; this much we’re sure of, as dynamic player Syvelle Newton is projected to play—but not at quarterback as some might expect. This week, he’s in a safety spot, which makes the fifth position he’s played as a Gamecock. This is the same Syvelle Newton that made a contest out of both the Tennessee and Arkansas games for Spurrier’s up and coming team. The thinking is that Blake Mitchell, the quarterback that Spurrier started the season with, gives the ‘Cocks a better chance to have success throwing the ball against a suspect Florida secondary. Syvelle Newton therefore becomes kind of a wild card, which Spurrier can play in various ways to crack open a game that Florida needs to win in a big way.
Auburn, likewise, goes down between the hedges in Athens to take on a Georgia squad that desperately needs to show they can beat a good team. After losing to Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Florida, Kentucky (gasp!), and barely getting by a bad Mississippi State team, the Dawgs are nearly as devastated now as Tennessee was last year. Auburn will be looking to make up some style points to get their hat thrown back into the ring for the chance to play for it all. However, if the Bulldogs have a strength it is against the run—which happens to be Auburn’s strength offensively. Auburn will have to find a way to win this one through the air Saturday. The War Eagle needs to stretch its wings Saturday to prove to voters that this Auburn team deserves Auburn has the defense to make freshman quarterback Matthew Stafford a non-factor, and corral the Dawgs’ big tailback Kregg Lumpkin. It remains to be seen if they can put some huge points against a good run defense.
Finally, Arkansas plays host to a decimated Tennessee squad Saturday in Fayetteville. This Arkansas team just might be the best in the SEC. They are the only team to beat Auburn so far this year, and their only loss is an out of conference blowout to USC. With their absolutely mammoth offensive front, and two stellar running backs in Darrenn McFadden and Felix Jones, this group of Hogs will cause huge problems for Tennessee. The Vols’ young defensive line has been very average against the run this year, and with the loss of their best run stopper Marvin Mitchell at middle linebacker, are primed to give up a lot of big plays to the Razorbacks.
On the other side of the ball, redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton gets his first start as Tennessee quarterback Saturday, relieving junior sensation Erik Ainge who is out with two sprained ankles. Robert Meachem, the nation’s third best receiver, as well as standouts Jayson Swain and Bret Smith could be beneficiaries of a well-executed passing game, on an Arkansas secondary that has shown it can be thrown on. The only other really strong passing attack they have faced so far this year, USC, did well through the air. Turnovers will play a huge role in this game. Tennessee has done a nice job of creating turnovers so far this season, but most of those have come as interceptions in the secondary. Those opportunities will be limited Saturday, as Arkansas no doubt will be content to leave the ball in the hands of their capable running backs. The Hogs have only fumbled the ball 10 times this year, and have lost it only 5 times. The deciding factor in this game will be time of possession: can the Vol defense get off the field to rest against a dominant Arkansas running attack? Can the explosive offense get on the field and sustain some drives to keep the Hogs on the sideline long enough to put some points on the board?
Predictions
Florida 33
South Carolina 37
Auburn 20
Georgia 3
Tennessee 31
Arkansas 38
Okay, class. Here’s a tough one for you: where was the first intercollegiate football game played, who were the participants, and what was the outcome? Here’s a hint: one of those teams took down one of the last unbeatens last night in Piscataway, New Jersey. That’s right, the Scarlet Knights defeated the Louisville Cardinals last night in dramatic fashion to have a say in the national title race and are relevant again in a national context. That’s great, you say. But this is an SEC site—why should we care? Here’s why: he Scarlet Knight’s huge accomplishment last night of taking down the visiting Louisville Cardinals has huge implications for the national title aspirations for Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas. All one loss teams, each one of them has to win a big game this weekend to begin to make an argument for the number two BCS spot.
Florida has an emotional test when their old favorite son brings a fired-up Gamecocks squad to town. The Ol’ Ballcoach surprised the Gators last year, and Urban Meyer’s team needs to blow the doors off this hungry South Carolina group. There will be some surprises in this game; this much we’re sure of, as dynamic player Syvelle Newton is projected to play—but not at quarterback as some might expect. This week, he’s in a safety spot, which makes the fifth position he’s played as a Gamecock. This is the same Syvelle Newton that made a contest out of both the Tennessee and Arkansas games for Spurrier’s up and coming team. The thinking is that Blake Mitchell, the quarterback that Spurrier started the season with, gives the ‘Cocks a better chance to have success throwing the ball against a suspect Florida secondary. Syvelle Newton therefore becomes kind of a wild card, which Spurrier can play in various ways to crack open a game that Florida needs to win in a big way.
Auburn, likewise, goes down between the hedges in Athens to take on a Georgia squad that desperately needs to show they can beat a good team. After losing to Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Florida, Kentucky (gasp!), and barely getting by a bad Mississippi State team, the Dawgs are nearly as devastated now as Tennessee was last year. Auburn will be looking to make up some style points to get their hat thrown back into the ring for the chance to play for it all. However, if the Bulldogs have a strength it is against the run—which happens to be Auburn’s strength offensively. Auburn will have to find a way to win this one through the air Saturday. The War Eagle needs to stretch its wings Saturday to prove to voters that this Auburn team deserves Auburn has the defense to make freshman quarterback Matthew Stafford a non-factor, and corral the Dawgs’ big tailback Kregg Lumpkin. It remains to be seen if they can put some huge points against a good run defense.
Finally, Arkansas plays host to a decimated Tennessee squad Saturday in Fayetteville. This Arkansas team just might be the best in the SEC. They are the only team to beat Auburn so far this year, and their only loss is an out of conference blowout to USC. With their absolutely mammoth offensive front, and two stellar running backs in Darrenn McFadden and Felix Jones, this group of Hogs will cause huge problems for Tennessee. The Vols’ young defensive line has been very average against the run this year, and with the loss of their best run stopper Marvin Mitchell at middle linebacker, are primed to give up a lot of big plays to the Razorbacks. 
On the other side of the ball, redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton gets his first start as Tennessee quarterback Saturday, relieving junior sensation Erik Ainge who is out with two sprained ankles. Robert Meachem, the nation’s third best receiver, as well as standouts Jayson Swain and Bret Smith could be beneficiaries of a well-executed passing game, on an Arkansas secondary that has shown it can be thrown on. The only other really strong passing attack they have faced so far this year, USC, did well through the air. Turnovers will play a huge role in this game. Tennessee has done a nice job of creating turnovers so far this season, but most of those have come as interceptions in the secondary. Those opportunities will be limited Saturday, as Arkansas no doubt will be content to leave the ball in the hands of their capable running backs. The Hogs have only fumbled the ball 10 times this year, and have lost it only 5 times. The deciding factor in this game will be time of possession: can the Vol defense get off the field to rest against a dominant Arkansas running attack? Can the explosive offense get on the field and sustain some drives to keep the Hogs on the sideline long enough to put some points on the board? Predictions
Florida 33
South Carolina 37
Auburn 20
Georgia 3
Tennessee 31
Arkansas 38
