My predictions were 6-1 last week with the only mistake being in the Ole Miss-Kentucky game. Kentucky's freshman quarterback Maxwell Smith made his first start and gave Kentucky needed improvement in the passing game, throwing for 283 yards and two touchdowns leading them to a 30-13 win. Overall, I'm having a decent season. I improved to 66-10 on the year after Week 10, and I am currently ahead of both ESPN SEC bloggers. Without the three non-SEC games that I predicted I am 64-9. In comparison, ESPN's Chris Low is 61-12 and Edward Aschoff is 63-10. Let's hope I can keep the lead this week.
On to Week 11...
Game of the Week
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| Sophomore QB Clint Moseley is the key to Auburn's success against Georgia |
Georgia's defense has been impressive as of late, but the level of competition it has been going up against is debatable. Aaron Murray has been hot lately as well, throwing for ten touchdowns in his last three games. However, the biggest question mark and factor in this week's outcome will be the performance of Auburn's sophomore quarterback Clint Moseley. As he goes, so do the Tigers. Auburn won't be able to run the ball at will on the Bulldogs' stout run defense and will have to rely on Moseley to play well and threaten UGA through the air. Moseley looked decent against LSU when he was given time to throw and improved against Ole Miss completing 12 of 15 passes, four going for touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Emory Black was back from injury against Ole Miss after missing the past three and a half games and made a dramatic difference in the success of Auburn's passing offense. Blake racked up five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. He gives the Tigers the ability to stretch the field that they greatly missed in his absence. I think Moseley will build on his Ole Miss performance and lead Auburn to a close victory. Also, don't forget that head coach Gene Chizik is undefeated at Auburn in games decided by four points or less. He will add another win to that column this weekend.
Prediction: Auburn 24-21
The Others
Florida at #13 South Carolina (12:00 PM, CBS): South Carolina needs a victory this weekend to insure that it doesn't get knocked out of the race for the SEC East division title. Florida is coming off a game where the Gators were able to just squeak by Vanderbilt. Both teams have struggled on offense as of late. South Carolina's QB Connor Shaw suffered a concussion last week against Arkansas and Florida's QB John Brantley is not 100% right now. This game will come down to who plays better on defense, and there is no doubt that South Carolina is the answer to that question. South Carolina will be able to pull out the victory with tough defensive play.
Prediction: South Carolina 24-17
Tennessee at #8 Arkansas (6:00 PM, ESPN2): Tennesse has really struggled on offense since Tyler Bray went down with an injury against Georgia. The Vols were able to beat MTSU 24-0 last week, but simply do not have the firepower to match up against a potent Arkansas offense. Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson is coming off one of his best games of the season throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns against a good South Carolina defense. One of Tennessee's biggest weaknesses is its secondary, and that will be a big problem when facing an Arkansas passing attack that is ranked 9th best in the nation.
Prediction: Arkansas: 31-10
Kentucky at Vanderbilt (12:21 PM, SEC Network): Kentucky got their first SEC win of the season against Ole Miss last week and looked to be somewhat improved on offense. Vanderbilt has played a number of close games in the SEC this season, but just hasn't been able to quite get over the hump. Junior quarterback Jordan Rodgers has been playing well, and he will get his first SEC win as a starter this week.
Prediction: Vanderbilt 28-20
#3 Alabama at Mississippi State (7:45 PM, ESPN): Alabama is going to be angry after losing its grip on a BCS National Championship berth last week. I expect their defense to come out and be the suffocating unit we have come to know over the course of this year. Mississippi State will most likely try to replicate part of LSU's game plan by running the option to the outside with dual threat quarterback Chris Relf. LSU had success getting to the perimeter against Alabama's big linebackers, and MSU's personnel suits that style of offense as well. However, that will not be near enough.
Prediction: Alabama 31-13
Louisiana Tech at Ole Miss (7:30 PM, CSS): Ole Miss announced this week that head coach Houston Nutt will not be retained after the season. As a result, this game could go one of two ways. Either they will be completely inspired to win for the coach that recruited them to come to Ole Miss, or they will be totally distracted by the announcement of his imminent dismissal. My guess is the former. Ole Miss will win, but it will be close.
Prediction: Ole Miss 28-24
Western Kentucky at #1 LSU (7:00 PM, ESPNU): LSU may have clinched a spot in the National Championship by defeating Alabama, but they do have one more difficult test in the final game of the season against Arkansas. However, they should cruise until then as they have Western Kentucky and SEC bottom-feeder Ole Miss over the next two weeks.
Prediction: LSU 44-6
*All Times Eastern
Lucas's Week 10 Record: 6-1
Lucas's Season Record: 66-10
Ready to read the jump on Boise and there campaign as well as Stanford? You could almost post Boise's schedule and that should be enough (if posting LSU's next to it). Just want to see what you give Boise and Stanford
ReplyDeleteStanford deserves to be there in the end if they go undefeated. Although I could easily see them losing this week. Oregon presents a big match up problem for them. I don't think Oklahoma State will be undefeated at the end of the season. I almost think at this point if Boise is one of only two undefeated teams left that they should play LSU. Let them get slaughtered and then we will never have to have this conversation again.
ReplyDeleteOh man, I knew it would happen sooner or later, but those navy and orange colored glasses got you this week. I liked your picks, your record is unmatched around the SEC this year, but before I turned on the computer knew that whatever you picked for that game, I was betting against you.
ReplyDeleteI disagree completely. I had plenty of reason to choose Auburn over Georgia. Georgia had not beaten anybody worth writing home about, and Auburn won in South Carolina, something Georgia failed to do. I have picked against Auburn twice already this year and will pick against them once more, so I think I do a good job of limiting the "orange and navy" colored glasses you speak about. And how could you know that you were going against what I picked for this game before ever reading them? Are you telling me if I would have picked Georgia (which I was very close to doing by the way) you would have then picked Auburn? Give me a break. Just because you had a gut feeling about Georgia doesn't mean I was unjustified in my prediction. If you'll notice, I picked a three point spread, and there was no reason for me to drastically pick one way or the other because Georgia had not proven anything until that point. So I would say you are off base on your statements.
ReplyDelete