Weekly Predictions (11-3-2007)
Well, I went 1-1 again concerning our in-state schools. Clemson beat Maryland, and USC's second half comeback was a few feet wide to the right. Anyway, it is a new week, and I'm looking to get back to going 2-0 in the big feature games. This week I won't be writing a Clemson Tiger breakdown, because they are playing Duke. Instead I'll focus on USC, and I'll make a special write up today.
Starting with USC v Arkansas
Razorbacks (5-3, 1-3)
Arkansas is coming off a 58-10 victory over FIU, and are riding a two game winning streak.
The Razorbacks are led offensively by the tandem of RBs Darren McFadden and (equally potent) Felix Jones. The two have put up a combined 1,853 yards and 19 TDs. The offense averages about 40 ppg on 287.6 rushing yards per game, and 163 yards through the air.
The defense is led by SS Matt Hewitt (71 tackles) and MLB Weston Dacus (70 tackles). On the whole, the defense gives up about 20 ppg, 150 yards on the ground and 177 through the air.
Gamecocks (6-3, 3-3)
USC is on a two game losing streak, both disheartening. QB Blake Mitchell returned to take the reigns of the offense, and hope to keep the spark found in the UT second half going into the rest of the season. The Oline also seems to finally be settled, with OTs Jamon Meredith and Justin Sorensen, OGs Seaver Brown and Heath Batchelor and C Web Brown. RB Cory Boyd leads the offense on the ground, while WR Kenny McKinely is still the go to guy in the offense with no clear complement, even though guys like Dion Lecorn, Freddy Brown, and Jared Cook have stepped up on occasions. The offense is averaging 25 ppg on 121 yards on the ground and 237 through the air.
The defense continues to be led by DE Eric Norwood and S Emmanuel Cook, and now CB Captain Munnerlyn. The D is giving up about 17 ppg, on 169 yards on the ground and 154 through the air.
The Low-Down
Both teams are on streaks, Arkansas on the better of the two. USC is in a must win scenario if they even stand a chance at winning the division. The offense seemed to have found its groove during the second half of Tenn., and will need to carry it into this game. Arkansas is pretty much out of the race for "Best in the West" but that doesn't mean they can't affect who will play in Atlanta for the SEC title game.
My Prediction
USC needs to keep a guy on McFadden at all times, while not forgetting about Felix Jones, who is the overall stat leader, not McFadden. Blake Mitchell will have to keep the ball out of the hands of CBs Jerrel Norton (5 INTs) and Matteral Richardson (3 INTs), while the Oline keeps its eyes on sack leaders Weston and CB Jamar Love. The pass defense shouldn't have to worry to much. WR Marcus Monk made his return last week catching 2 balls for 19 yards. If they can lock him down, then the deep game shouldn't be too big an issue, they just can't give up the big play.
Arkansas will have to run the ball, and try to wear down the USC defense, and keep a USC offense that appears to have found a little stride off the field. Defensively, the 'Backs should be tough, and this may be a low scoring ball game.
The real question is, can USC recover from two crushing losses to Vandy and Tennessee, and can Arkansas continue its winning streak?
My vote is going to USC, since Arkies last two wins came against Ole Miss (last in the East) and FIU. But it will be a close one; those with weak hearts might want to look away for this one.
South Carolina 23
Arkansas 17
I'm going a little out of order this week, so I'll give my predictions for the rest of the SEC and ACC, then hit you guys up with my special write up of the week. Trust me, you won't want to miss it.
Picks for the week:
Wake Forest over Virginia
Clemson over Duke
UNC over Maryland
BC over FSU
VT over GT
Florida over Vandy
Georgia over Troy
Ole Miss over Northwestern
Auburn over Tenn. Tech
UT over UL-L
Previous 9 Weeks: 65-22 (74%)
Week 1: 8-3
Week 2: 9-0
Week 3: 6-3
Week 4: 7-1
Week 5: 7-2
Week 6: 7-2
Week 7: 6-3
Week 8: 8-4
Week 9: 7-4
And for the special pick, I'll give you my thoughts on (if you haven't guessed it yet) LSU v Alabama.
Crimson Tide (6-2, 4-1)
Alabama is coming off a bye week, and look to take control of the SEC West. They are led on offense by QB John Parke Wilson (173-299-5 with 11 TDs on 1,876 yards). The running game is heading mostly by Terry Grant (127 carries for 697 yards and 7 TDs); Glen Coffee (413 yards, 4 TDs) is also used. The big play guy is WR D.J. Hall (50 catches, 764 yards, 5 TDs).
The offense is averaging about 32 ppg on 170 yards rushing and 244 yards passing.
The defense is led by a host of players, each pulling their own weight, most notably CB Simeon Castille (42 tackles, 2 INTs), S Rashad Johnson (55 tackles, 4 INTs), LB Roland McClain, and DE Wallace Gilberry (4 sacks, 45 tackles). The D altogether is holding teams to about 21 ppg, on 131 yards rushing and 224 passing yards per game.
Tigers (7-1, 4-1)
LSU is also coming off a bye week, and also are looking to control the West. They are led by QB Matt Flynn, and sparsely playing QB Ryan Perriloux. RB Jacob Hester is probably the big leader (81 carries, 373 yards, 2 TDs). RBs Trindon Holliday and Kieland Williams also plays a big roles in the running game. WR are led by Brandon LaFell, and the returning Early Doucet.
The offense puts up about 34 ppg, on 233 rushing yards and 165 yards through the air.
The defense is the star of this team, with guys like DT Glenn Dorsey (27 tackles, 3 sacks), LB Ali Highsmith (41 tackles, 1 sack), and S Craig Steltz (44 tackles, 3 INTs). On the whole, the unit gives up 21 point per game, 81 yards on the ground, and close to 200 yards through the air.
The Low-Down
This game could be seen as the SEC West title game; both are tied for first, and Auburn is the only other team that can be seen as a threat to contend. Both come off bye weeks, so both should be fresh and ready to go. The underlining story line is, of course, Alabama coach Nick Saban's return to face LSU, his former team.
My Prediction
This will be an interesting game to say the least. Saban coaches against his former team, and against the man that took over for him, Les Miles, who has yet to win a National Title since Saban left, even if that title was just a share.
Alabama will have the advantage of playing at home, instead of traveling to Death Valley. The 'Tide have to pass the ball, while keeping the defense honest with the run. and make sure they have a guy block Dorsey and the blitzing Highsmith. Wilson to Hall is the key to this game. If those two have a big game, then Alabama has a good shot at winning.
LSU has to rely on its tough defense, and strong run game. Hester is the key to get the tough yards, and Doucet has to have a big game for LSU to stand a chance. Also, Les Miles cannot get caught up in his riverboat gambler coaching style, because it may come back to bite him.
Alabama 27
LSU 24
Starting with USC v Arkansas
Razorbacks (5-3, 1-3)
Arkansas is coming off a 58-10 victory over FIU, and are riding a two game winning streak.
The Razorbacks are led offensively by the tandem of RBs Darren McFadden and (equally potent) Felix Jones. The two have put up a combined 1,853 yards and 19 TDs. The offense averages about 40 ppg on 287.6 rushing yards per game, and 163 yards through the air.
The defense is led by SS Matt Hewitt (71 tackles) and MLB Weston Dacus (70 tackles). On the whole, the defense gives up about 20 ppg, 150 yards on the ground and 177 through the air.
Gamecocks (6-3, 3-3)
USC is on a two game losing streak, both disheartening. QB Blake Mitchell returned to take the reigns of the offense, and hope to keep the spark found in the UT second half going into the rest of the season. The Oline also seems to finally be settled, with OTs Jamon Meredith and Justin Sorensen, OGs Seaver Brown and Heath Batchelor and C Web Brown. RB Cory Boyd leads the offense on the ground, while WR Kenny McKinely is still the go to guy in the offense with no clear complement, even though guys like Dion Lecorn, Freddy Brown, and Jared Cook have stepped up on occasions. The offense is averaging 25 ppg on 121 yards on the ground and 237 through the air.
The defense continues to be led by DE Eric Norwood and S Emmanuel Cook, and now CB Captain Munnerlyn. The D is giving up about 17 ppg, on 169 yards on the ground and 154 through the air.
The Low-Down
Both teams are on streaks, Arkansas on the better of the two. USC is in a must win scenario if they even stand a chance at winning the division. The offense seemed to have found its groove during the second half of Tenn., and will need to carry it into this game. Arkansas is pretty much out of the race for "Best in the West" but that doesn't mean they can't affect who will play in Atlanta for the SEC title game.
My Prediction
USC needs to keep a guy on McFadden at all times, while not forgetting about Felix Jones, who is the overall stat leader, not McFadden. Blake Mitchell will have to keep the ball out of the hands of CBs Jerrel Norton (5 INTs) and Matteral Richardson (3 INTs), while the Oline keeps its eyes on sack leaders Weston and CB Jamar Love. The pass defense shouldn't have to worry to much. WR Marcus Monk made his return last week catching 2 balls for 19 yards. If they can lock him down, then the deep game shouldn't be too big an issue, they just can't give up the big play.
Arkansas will have to run the ball, and try to wear down the USC defense, and keep a USC offense that appears to have found a little stride off the field. Defensively, the 'Backs should be tough, and this may be a low scoring ball game.
The real question is, can USC recover from two crushing losses to Vandy and Tennessee, and can Arkansas continue its winning streak?
My vote is going to USC, since Arkies last two wins came against Ole Miss (last in the East) and FIU. But it will be a close one; those with weak hearts might want to look away for this one.
South Carolina 23
Arkansas 17
I'm going a little out of order this week, so I'll give my predictions for the rest of the SEC and ACC, then hit you guys up with my special write up of the week. Trust me, you won't want to miss it.
Picks for the week:
Wake Forest over Virginia
Clemson over Duke
UNC over Maryland
BC over FSU
VT over GT
Florida over Vandy
Georgia over Troy
Ole Miss over Northwestern
Auburn over Tenn. Tech
UT over UL-L
Previous 9 Weeks: 65-22 (74%)
Week 1: 8-3
Week 2: 9-0
Week 3: 6-3
Week 4: 7-1
Week 5: 7-2
Week 6: 7-2
Week 7: 6-3
Week 8: 8-4
Week 9: 7-4
And for the special pick, I'll give you my thoughts on (if you haven't guessed it yet) LSU v Alabama.
Crimson Tide (6-2, 4-1)
Alabama is coming off a bye week, and look to take control of the SEC West. They are led on offense by QB John Parke Wilson (173-299-5 with 11 TDs on 1,876 yards). The running game is heading mostly by Terry Grant (127 carries for 697 yards and 7 TDs); Glen Coffee (413 yards, 4 TDs) is also used. The big play guy is WR D.J. Hall (50 catches, 764 yards, 5 TDs).
The offense is averaging about 32 ppg on 170 yards rushing and 244 yards passing.
The defense is led by a host of players, each pulling their own weight, most notably CB Simeon Castille (42 tackles, 2 INTs), S Rashad Johnson (55 tackles, 4 INTs), LB Roland McClain, and DE Wallace Gilberry (4 sacks, 45 tackles). The D altogether is holding teams to about 21 ppg, on 131 yards rushing and 224 passing yards per game.
Tigers (7-1, 4-1)
LSU is also coming off a bye week, and also are looking to control the West. They are led by QB Matt Flynn, and sparsely playing QB Ryan Perriloux. RB Jacob Hester is probably the big leader (81 carries, 373 yards, 2 TDs). RBs Trindon Holliday and Kieland Williams also plays a big roles in the running game. WR are led by Brandon LaFell, and the returning Early Doucet.
The offense puts up about 34 ppg, on 233 rushing yards and 165 yards through the air.
The defense is the star of this team, with guys like DT Glenn Dorsey (27 tackles, 3 sacks), LB Ali Highsmith (41 tackles, 1 sack), and S Craig Steltz (44 tackles, 3 INTs). On the whole, the unit gives up 21 point per game, 81 yards on the ground, and close to 200 yards through the air.
The Low-Down
This game could be seen as the SEC West title game; both are tied for first, and Auburn is the only other team that can be seen as a threat to contend. Both come off bye weeks, so both should be fresh and ready to go. The underlining story line is, of course, Alabama coach Nick Saban's return to face LSU, his former team.
My Prediction
This will be an interesting game to say the least. Saban coaches against his former team, and against the man that took over for him, Les Miles, who has yet to win a National Title since Saban left, even if that title was just a share.
Alabama will have the advantage of playing at home, instead of traveling to Death Valley. The 'Tide have to pass the ball, while keeping the defense honest with the run. and make sure they have a guy block Dorsey and the blitzing Highsmith. Wilson to Hall is the key to this game. If those two have a big game, then Alabama has a good shot at winning.
LSU has to rely on its tough defense, and strong run game. Hester is the key to get the tough yards, and Doucet has to have a big game for LSU to stand a chance. Also, Les Miles cannot get caught up in his riverboat gambler coaching style, because it may come back to bite him.
Alabama 27
LSU 24
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