54-54-8, something’s gotta give; ‘Bama continues their journey in Starkville

November 15, 2013

The Deep South’s oldest rivalry resumes tomorrow at 2:30 PM CT on CBS as the resurgent and red hot Auburn Tigers face their fierce rival the Georgia Dawgs on the Plains. AU playing great offensive football, particularly running the ball, and Nick Marshall has shown an ability to make big plays in the passing game as well as with his legs. Georgia has been snakebitten this year with injuries, but appears a little healthier. Bama will try to keep the Cow Bells at bay tomorrow night in Starkville at 6:45 PM CT and keep their drive for an SEC title alive and well. Here’s a look at tomorrow’s games along with predictions.

Last week: 12-4; Overall: 88-23 (79%)

Standings are BCS:

Them Dawgs (No.25, 4-2 SEC, 6-3 overall) @ No.7 Auburn (5-1, 9-1)

Jordan-Hare Stadium, Pat Dye Field, Auburn, Al. (87,451)

Time: 2:30 PM CT

Network: CBS

Verne, Gare Bear and “Coerch (at halftime), why are you so bad right now? “

Weather: 65 @ kickoff, 0% rain, wind ESE 9 MPH

Line: AU by 3 1/2

AU playing extremely well and just pounding the ball down opponents’ throats. The Dawgs have been pretty good stopping the run this year, so Nick will probably be forced to do something with his arm. Auburn’s defense has done a nice job this year and is second in the SEC in tackles for loss with 73. Auburn will have to neutralize Aaron Murray and the passing attack. Chris Rumph is a guy to watch on the perimeter along with Michael Bennett, Rontavious Wooten and maybe Chris Conley if he can go. Chris Davis and Jonathan Mincy will be tested on the corners. Todd Gurley is still hobbled by an ankle but will play. His backups, J.J. Green and Brendan Douglas have gotten better. Tight end Arthur Lynch is going to play, he’s practiced all week, and he should be a factor for the Dawgs. Jay Rome is also a highly capable tight end. So Georgia has the offensive artillery to do some damage. Auburn needs to figure out ways to get to Murray and disrupt his timing. I’m looking for a pretty high scoring affair with a key turnover or two deciding the game. Georgia’s won six of the last seven, but I see the team that is playing better football right now getting it done and moving on in their quest for an SEC title.

Auburn 38, Georgia 34

No.1 Alabama (6-0, 9-0) @ Mississippi State (1-4, 4-5)

Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Ms. (55,802)

Time: 6:45 PM CT

ESPN

Brad, Todd, Holly

Weather: 63 @ kickoff, 20% rain, wind, SSE @ 9 MPH

Line: Bama by 24

It’s always hard for the Tide, or any team for that matter to get up the week after a game like the LSU game. But it’s important, so they have to. I expect the Tide to play well and keep the momentum going. ‘Bama should be able to run and pass pretty well though Mississippi State’s defense is pretty decent. The key is I don’t think Dak Prescott and the State offense will be able to do much against the ‘Bama defense, unless they can find a way to get the ball over Deion Belue’s head. Belue is the weakness of the team. Otherwise, ‘Bama should be OK here, though State put up a lot of points against A&M. Like the Tide to win, but for it to be close for a a couple of quarters.

Bama 45, State 14

Florida (3-4, 4-5) @ No.10 South Carolina (5-2, 7-2)

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC (80,250)

7 PM ET/6 CT

ESPN 2

Tess, Matt, and Maria

Weather: 61 @ kickoff, 10 % rain, wind ENE @ 2 MPH

Line: SC by 12 1/2

South Carolina could be in the driver’s seat in the East if they can take care of business tomorrow, Georgia loses to Auburn and MIzzou loses either next week @ Ole Miss or the following week at home against A&M. All three are highly possible scenarios. Will Muschamp got the vote of confidence from AD Jeremy Foley this week and I think the President of the university weighed in on it too. We’ll see how committed they are if the season is even more disastrous after South Carolina this weekend and FSU @ home in two weeks. Florida has really been destroyed by injuries this year, but at the same time, the offense has been pathetic for the last two years. I thought Brent Pease was a good hire for Muschamp, but his offenses are not getting the job done. They’re terrible. Tyler Murphy is not getting it done at quarterback and the offensive line and skilled players are not up to par. The defense is doing their best, but it has to be extremely frustrating to keep going with an offense that’s this bad. All that said, I like the Gamecocks to get the job done here and move on to a possible SEC East title. I picked them before the season to play ‘Bama in the title game, so hopefully that works out. They play host to Clemson in two weeks in what will be a fun and highly entertaining matchup. Gamecocks need to win here and get some help from Auburn, Ole Miss and/or A&M.

SC 35, Florida 20

Kentucky (0-5, 2-7) @ Vanderbilt (2-4, 5-4)

Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, Tn. (40,550)

11:21 AM CT

SEC Network (WTTO-Channel 21 in Birmingham)

Bob, Andre, Cara

Weather: 63, mostly cloudy, 10% rain, wind, S 13 MPH

Line: Vandy by 12

Vandy has now beaten Georgia and Florida in the same year for the first time ever. James Franklin has accomplished a lot of firsts in Nashville in his three years at the helm. The highly emotional coach, he is really getting the job done. His recruiting class is ranked 21st in the country. If he stays at Vandy, he can accomplish some unprecedented things for the highly acclaimed academic university that has been unfortunately maligned over the years because of the lack of success on the football field. That takes a lot away from the many academic and humanitarian accomplishments of a prodigious university. But Franklin has changed the perception of the football program. He said when he came in that the football program was going to reflect the greatness of the university. And he’s doing that. With games against Kentucky (tomorrow) and @ Tennessee next week and Wake at home in two weeks, Franklin has another shot at leading VU to another eight win season and potentially nine with a bowl win. Mark Stoops is trying to build something at Kentucky, which has probably forgotten that there is still some football left with their talented basketball team getting into their season. They like to win big at Kentucky, but unfortunately for Stoops, it’s on the hardwood not the gridiron. So he’s got an uphill battle ahead of him. He’s recruited well, but tomorrow may be a long day for his team. Vandy on a huge high after winning at Gainesville last week. The defense is really coming alive and redshirt freshman quarterback Patton Robinette, he with a perfect 36 on his ACT score in high school, is playing very good football and leading the team well along with the awesome Jordan Matthews at wide receiver and a stellar small in height but powerful in stature, and quick as a hiccup Jerron Seymour at running back. Like the Dores to take care of business this week and continue on their ascendence in the college football and SEC landscape.

VU 34, UK 20

Troy (5-5) @ Ole Miss (6-3)

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Ms. (60,580)

Time: 11 AM CT

ESPNU

Weather: Mostly cloudy, 63 @ kickoff, 10% rain, wind SSE 14 MPH

Line: Ole Miss by 28

The Rebels have gotten back to playing stellar football. The offense is clicking, the defense is figuring it out, and they’re trying to finish with nine victories on the season, as Hugh Freeze leads his team back to challenging for SEC titles in the upcoming years. After Troy, which can be a challenge for heavily favored teams as Troy is competitive, Ole Miss has Missouri at home in a huge game then go to State to finish off the season. Troy is scrappy and plays good offense. Just don’t think they can stop the high octane offense of the Rebels.

Rebels 48, Troy 24

Key national games:

No.12 Oklahoma State (5-1 Big 12, 8-1 overall) @ No.24 Texas (6-0, 7-2)

Darrell K. Royal- Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Tx. (100,119)

Time: 2:30 CT

FOX

Gus Johnson, Charles Davis, EA in the studio

Weather: 79 @ kickoff, partly cloudy, 0% rain, wind S @ 14

Line: Ok State by 3

With all the talk about Mack Brown resigning or getting fired, the Longhorns have gotten right back in the thick of things in the Big 12 and can really make a statement with a victory tomorrow over the Cowboys. With that said, I still don’t trust Brown and the Longhorns. Their defense is very questionable and they barely got by a swiss cheese defense in West Virginia last week, 47-40 in overtime, though the scrappy and potent offensively Mountaineers did beat the Ok State earlier this year, 30-21. But Ok State is a lot better now and I see them winning the Big 12, yes beating Texas and Baylor. It starts tomorrow at Austin as the Cowboys try to get in the BCS bowl conversation. Not the national championship discussion, but a Fiesta Bowl opportunity.

Ok State 41, Texas 35

No.16 Michigan State (5-0, 8-1) @ Nebraska (4-1, 7-2)

Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Ne. (74,000)

2:30 PM CT

ESPN2

Weather: 63 @ kickoff, Mostly sunny, 10% rain, wind SW @ 15

Line: Sparty by 6

The Spartans lead the country in total defense (210 yards per game) they’re third in scoring defense (11.6 ppg), they’re first in pass efficiency defense, and first in rushing defense (43.4 yds per game). Maybe the Big Ten is down a little this year, but those numbers are still impressive. Like the Michigan State defense to get it done again in Lincoln. For some reason I don’t trust Bo Pelini when it counts and I do trust Mark Dontonio.

Michigan State 28, Nebraska 20

No.4 Stanford (6-1 Pac 12, 8-1 overall) @ USC (4-2, 7-3)

LA Coliseum, LA, Caly (93,607)

7 PM CT

ABC

Brent, Herbie, Heather

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 61, no rain, of course, wind S 4 MPH

Line: Cardinal by 4

Stanford is still in the national championship hunt after their huge victory over Oregon last Thursday night, but the Trojans are a major hurdle to Stanford’s aspirations the rest of this season. Stanford is going to have to win out and hope to get some help from some other teams. But they’ve got to take care of business in LA, and it’ll be a challenge. The Trojans are playing very well on offense and the defense is playing inspired. Coach O has’em believing. But I still don’t trust him completely, and I do trust David Shaw and his football team. Quarterback Kevin Hogan is a very good player and he will help this team keep on winning along with the physical, stout defense of the Cardinal. Like this to be close, but see the Cardinal notching the victory.