SEC Football Matchups- October 25

    VS.  

KENTUCKY at FLORIDA: On paper, this looks like a mismatch. I’m going with the paper. Kentucky is ravaged by injuries and an inept offense. Florida continues to impress and, after a midseason shock against Ole Miss, will continue their fresh winning streak at home in the Swamp.    FL  56     UK   17

 VS.  

GEORGIA   at    LSU:  This could be renamed the Battle of the Best, But Struggling SEC Teams. Georgia, although putting up decent offensive numbers, have struggled with special teams. LSU’s strong defensive front will load the box to shut down Moreno and force Stafford to throw. This could work in Georgia’s favor with weapons such as A.J. Green and Massaquoi working against a depleted LSU secondary. LSU’s home field advantage in Tiger Stadium will be a factor, but the QB platoon system struggled against South Carolina. Fortunately for LSU, South Carolina’s running game was (and is) MIA. This will be a close game, but Georgia’s slight edge offensively will carry the Dawgs to a W:   UGA  24  LSU  20.

   VS. 

ALABAMA at TENNESSEE:  If it’s the last weekend in October, it’s Alabama vs. Tennessee. The Tide have been the talk of the SEC this season and face a hostile crowd at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. Bama passed its first road test with a convincing win ‘tween the hedges, but have yet to put together a solid second half. The Vols won their first SEC game last week vs. Miss. State with the defense carrying the Big Orange to victory; however, the offense continues to struggle and with a stout Tide defense rolling into town, not even Phil Fulmer could provide a barricade. The Tide will roll.       ALABAMA   38     UT    10

  VS.  THE BYE WEEK… The Bye Week will put up a fight, but Stephen Garcia will return the forearm shiver he sustained against LSU to pound TBW into submission. Gamecocks in a rout….

SEC Football Matchups-Oct. 11

Another college football Saturday is upon us! The heart of the SEC schedule begins with a trio of huge matchups:

            

SOUTH CAROLINA vs. KENTUCKY– After a strong showing against Ole Miss, the Gamecock offense could be peaking at the right time; however, the ‘Cocks have often struggled at Commonwealth Stadium. Former USC receivers coach Joker Phillips will try to stymie the vaunted USC defense, but the Cocks will ultimately prevail.     SC  30     UK  17

          

TENNESSEE vs. GEORGIA– The Vols have had UGA’s number the past two seasons. The problems for UT: David Cutcliffe isn’t the offensive coordinator this year and Erik Ainge has graduated. The Dawgs, licking their wounds from their Alabama debacle, are out for revenge. Expect Stafford, Moreno, and Green to set single-game records against a hapless Vol defense and an anemic Big Orange offense.      UGA  52      UT 10

        

LSU vs. FLORIDA– Perhaps the game of the year in the SEC. The trash talk has been flying all week with the Tigers defense threatening to take out Tim Tebow.  Fortunately for the reigning Heisman winner and Co., the game is in the Swamp. Expect the Gators to come out fast with LSU making a comeback late in the second half.    UF  31   LSU  28

Gamecocks Battle Ole Miss

South Carolina will take on Mississippi in a key SEC battle on Saturday. The Gamecocks must win this game. Steve Spurrier is giving Chris Smelley the starting nod, though I suspect Stephen Garcia will get significant playing time.

Ole Miss is coming off a huge win over Florida in the Swamp. Houston Nutt has revived the Rebel football fortunes in Oxford. Former USC defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix will match wits with current Gamecock defensive honcho Ellis Johnson. USC enters Saturday’s game with the top-ranked defense in the country.

If Smelley can go interception-free(and save me from pulling my hair out!) while the defense maintains their solid play, the Gamecocks will finally break their six-game SEC losing streak dating back to last season. SC 24  UM  17.