The Cam Newton situation was resolved for the time being. This may not be a very good precedent by the NCAA saying the player is not accountable for his parent’s actions. Seemed like in the Reggie Bush case Bush and USC were culpable because of Bush’s stepfather’s actions of taking around 300 grand. The NCAA is catching some heat about their decision. I want it to be over with, but I do want the NCAA to get to the bottom of this and get to the truth. Cecil Newton’s is Cam Newton’s dad, so it would seem like there is some culpability on Cam’s part. Cam did tell Ms. State basically the money was better at Auburn, so something’s amiss here. We’ll just go with what we’ve got for the time being. I’m sure this is not over with yet. On to this week’s picks.
Record 117-40
SEC Title game
Auburn vs. South Carolina, 3 p.m., CBS:
It’s been well documented what each team needs to do. Steve Spurrier will rely on Marcus Lattimore, Stephen Garcia and Alshon Jeffery and the other receivers. The Auburn defense is tough on the run (10th in nation), so Spurrier may need to go to the air again this time. Maybe he’s going to try to get some short swing passes to Lattimore to keep him a big part of the game and mix in some draws. Auburn’s defense has a huge assignment in containing Jeffery. He’s a superstar, and, like Cam, almost unstoppable. Nick Fairley and company need to get pressure on Garcia to try and neutralize the passing game. Garcia can run, too, so Spurrier may get Garcia in the running game. I think Spurrier wants to run the ball for sure to soften up the Auburn defense for the pass.
SC has the fifth best run defense in the country, but Cam Newton ran for a buck seventy five against them in the fourth game of the season. But the SC defense had a great day against Clemson last week holding a pretty potent offense to seven points. They’re tough against the run and their pass defense has improved. I still don’t think Cam can be stopped completely. If he doesn’t beat you running the ball, he’ll throw and SC is vulnerable to the pass. Cam has that stable full of receivers he can throw to, possession guys like Kodi Burns, Darvin Adams and Phillip Lutzenkirchen (who all he does is score touchdowns), and big play guys like T-Zac and Emory Blake. It’s a highly potent areal attack.
This should be a fun game. South Carolina is a very good football team and Auburn is outstanding on offense and good enough on defense with a dominating player in Nick Fairley. Look for Auburn to do a little bit more and score one more time than the Gamecocks. Auburn can’t afford to fall behind by 21 points or so though. I’m sure it would be nice for Auburn fans if the team can get out of the blocks better. Auburn gets’er done and moves on to Glendale.
Auburn 35, SC 31
Oregon @ Oregon State, 2:30 p.m., ABC
The Oregon offense is just too much for the Beavers. Oregon State is a decent team, but like most teams in the country, can’t hang with this radioactive offense. LaMichael James, Darron Thomas and Jeff Maehl light it up once again as they move on to Glendale to face the Auburn Tigers in what should be an epic offensive battle.
Oregon 48, Oregon State 35
Other games:
Virginia Tech vs. Florida State, 6:45 p.m., ESPN: Ryan Williams and Tyrod Taylor just a little better than Christian Ponder and the Florida State offense.
Va Tech 34, Fl. State 28
Oklahoma vs Nebraska, 7 p.m. ABC: This should be another of these great games. OU has a little more offense than Nebraska with Taylor Martinez kind of banged up,. This is a tough call, but like the Sooners
OU 31, Nebraska 27
(Marcus Lattimore and Gamecocks’ offense will try to outscore Auburn Cam Newton will try to lead his team to Glendale)