Accept it UGA Fans. Mark Richt is a Good Coach.

Take your 10-11 win seasons, at least a New Year's Day bowl game (possibly BCS), and legitimate talks about your team making it to the championship game every year. Enjoy them.

As a fan, you never know how quickly success can come crashing down. Ask any Arkansas fan. Ask any Auburn fan. Ask any Miami fan. Ask any Tennessee fan. Ask any Texas fan.  Ask any Notre Dame fan how hard it is to get back to relevancy. Get the picture?

After the Bulldogs, lead by 12-year head coach Mark Richt, beat their archrival and undefeated No. 2 team in the country, Florida, in the team's biggest rivalry game, talk radio and papers in Atlanta radio have spent entirely too much time devoted to whether Richt should be fired or not.

Richt has run a clean and winning program, and what does he get from his "fan"base? No confidence and a place on the proverbial "hot seat" no matter how much success he has. Six reasons why Georgia fans' arguments are wrong and can give it a break.

1. "Richt can't win with blue-chip talent": Mark Richt has consistently brought in top-tier recruiting classes. He is helped by UGA's history and facilities, how former Bulldogs perform in the NFL, and ultimately his geographic location. The state of Georgia is the fourth best state for high school talent in the country, and Richt has had to fend off bordering state schools from intruding on his territory.

By Rivals.com's or Scout.com's standards, Richt almost all he can do as far as keeping his talent in-state and picking occasional five stars from bordering states. Bulldog fans argue that with this talent Richt should be winning title after title, a weak argument at best.

If you use recruiting as the only predictor of success, Florida State, Notre Dame, Clemson, and Virginia Tech should have been winning national titles for years.

2. "He will never win a national title.": I am sorry to break Georgia fans' hearts, but your program is not exactly used to winning championship after championship. The Associated Press has only awarded two national championships to UGA all time (1942, 1980). That's one more than Maryland and the same number as Minnesota. Let that sink in. Side note: Georgia also has two "Alabama" national championships -- the ones your program claims and no one believes.

The entitled thinking that Georgia should win be winning a championship at least every other year is a new concept brought about by Richt's early success, six 10-win seasons in his first eight years.

Richt should have gotten a shot at the BCS in 2007 when they were Bulldogs were "2004 Auburn"-ed and a two-loss LSU team got to the championship game instead. Georgia, led by Richt went to the Sugar Bowl and demolished Hawaii.

Vince with his star, Herschel.

3. "Dooley did it.": The almighty Vince Dooley did bring a national championship to Athens, riding the shoulders of one of college football's all-time greats, known simply as Herschel in these parts.

What is not as fondly remembered of Dooley is the start of his career. In his first 12 years, he had two 10-win seasons and a 4-5 bowl record. He also had three .500 seasons and compiled an 88-41 win-loss record.

Richt is in his 12th year. While he did have one "atrocious" season (6-7), a losing campaign capped by an Independence Bowl loss to UCF, he has two SEC Championships (just like Dooley) and has won 74% of his games with a win-loss record of 113-39 (better than Dooley). Richt is 7-5 in bowl games (better than Dooley).

Dooley's one national championship did not come until his 17th season at the helm of Georgia football. No way Richt can make it without one for another five years with this fan base, even with 10-win seasons.

4."Richt's players don't fear him.": Maybe they do not "fear" him in the same sense players at Alabama do Saban. However, no players love their coach more than the boys in Red and Black.

Just like Les Miles, Bobby Bowden and Pete Carrol, who have had pretty successful runs in college, Richt's players love to play for him. These coaches and others prove that you do not have to instill fear in your players in order for them to win.

5. "Richt has no control over his players":Put any group of 80, 18-23 year-old, young men in an enabling community that lets them get away with most anything because they play football. Now make said community Athens, with its unbelievable downtown atmosphere and tell me there will not be a few kids who get in trouble with the law. Not happening.

Add in UGA's toughest drug policy in the SEC and you have a mixture that looks like Richt has no control.

If a Bulldog violates the teams' drug policy once the player is suspended for 10% of the games, twice equals suspension for 50% of the season, and three times the player is dismissed from the program.

Only one other SEC school (Kentucky) has penalties for failing one drug test -- and you see how that program is doing. At Alabama, Florida and LSU it takes four violations to be dismissed. Gators who fail their drug tests for marajuana three times lose only 20% of their games. This is unfair approach is one Richt can no go backwards on. Instead he has to fight negative recruiting on this matter and push forward.

So it looks as if Georgia players are in trouble much more than other programs because the other programs are able to keep it on the hush longer as to why a player who appears healthy is not playing.

 6. My ultimate trump card, which leaves Georiga fans speechless, "Who are you going to hire that is going to be better?": Of the 124 schools in the FBS, only five (Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Oregon, and Kansas State) would not consider hiring Richt in place of their current coach not an upgrade. Why? Because he runs a clean program and is seems to always be in the hunt for a national title.

Also Bulldog fans must realize what Nick Saban is doing with "The Process" at Alabama is the only place like it in the county. He is the only person with such coaching talent  and there is not anyone out there close to what he does. 

Saban is Usain Bolt in a 100-meter race and the rest of college football is like Jared Lorenzen trying to catch up. There is only one of him and he is not leaving.

You had a $90 million football surplus last year to use for hires? Great. You are still not luring Saban away from Alabama. Not only that, there is no a coach with Richt's consistency and knack for winning available.

So on the behalf every college football fan, "Georgia fans, give it a break."

The Weekend That Was: "They Are Who We Thought They Were," Fighting Snyders, Willed to Win

We only get 13 Saturdays like this a year -- including your team's bye week and excluding bowl season. This one was one of the more boring ones I can remember. Every team in the top ten won (except for South Carolina who played No. 2 Florida), and there were hardly any nail-biters as they all do so easily. But enjoy them. The number of these precious Saturdays are down to four after this week.

Tough day for Connor Shaw and his Gamecocks

"THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE": As the season goes along, this phrase becomes more aprapos by the week. South Carolina made its way into the top 5 a couple of weeks on the road in some of the toughest SEC stadiums, their flaws were unmasked. Did anyone actually believe they were this good?

Their home win over Georgia was one of the most impressive of the year, but USC's inability to find a consistent run --or pass-- game with quarterback Connor Shaw leaves them with two losses in the league and a long-shot to get back to Atlanta. However, UGA, thanks to its weak schedule, has an opportunity to get back to the SEC Championship for the second year in a row with a win over Florida.

Florida, on the other hand, is a little better than we thought they were, as they have manhandled every team since their fighting out a win over Bowling Green in week two of the season. They have no aerial attack to speak of, but if the Gators can put together just a little bit of offense, their defense will do the rest.

Thanks to poor planning the SEC East race will be decided in this Saturday in the World's Largest Cocktail Party.

Sleep-depived Bill Snyder after Saturday's win.

 FIGHTING SNYDERS CONTINUE TO IMPRESS: Bill Snyder is 73 and coaching at Kansas State. He will win the national coach of the year because at the beginning of the season his squad was projected to win 7-8 games. Through seven weeks he is already there and ranked No. 3 in the BCS poll.

Kansas State rolled into Morgantown, West Virginia and layed a smackdown on the Moutnaineers, dominating in every phase of the game. They did everything right except for getting coach Snyder in bed before 9 p.m. Word is he was cranky all day Sunday. This was a team that was owned by Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl last year, but instead of letting their entire program go awry, as the Razorbacks have, they have responded and put together the season many thought the Hogs could have pre-April motorcycle ride.

"Seriously, I owe you for the Heisman."

Also of interest, Kansas State's Arthur Brown became the first player to intercept West Virginia's Geno Smith since December 1, 2010. Brown was also the first player to pick off former Baylor quarterback and Heisman trophy winner, Robert Griffin III.

While their schedule lines up nicely for an undefeated finish, the Wildcats must be careful to not become this years' 2011 Oklahoma State, who lost their next-to-last game at Iowa State and were kept them out of the BCS title game.

A WILL TO WIN: Notre Dame, Oregon State, and Texas Tech are what Skip Bayless would call "Tebowing" their way through this season. They are never overly impressive in their victories (minus TTU over WVU), but they just keep winning.

The Irish and the Beavers used fourth quarter touchdowns to secure wins this week, while the Red Raiders took No. 23 TCU to triple overtime before leaving Fort Worth as winners. At some point for these teams the luck has to run out.

One would think the Irish will have to have more than 17 points to defeat Oklahoma this week, Texas Tech will not be able to keep up with Kansas State's offense and defense, and Oregon State will have to get it together before traveling to Stanford in two weeks. Of course, those sorts of things have been said all season and these teams have delivered in unlikely situations over and over again.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

-Tennessee linebacker, and one of my favorites in all of college football, scored his sixth rushing touchdown of the year from the Volunteers' "Beast Package." While it was impressive, it is not the sort of performance you  want to see from your offense, seeing that it was the only touchdown on the night and the defense gave up 44 to Alabama.

The Ducks are flying high (too easy).

-Oregon could have literally named the number of points they wanted to score this week versus Arizona State. The Ducks offense has done this all year and luckily -- but unfortunately for fans outside the Pac-12 -- coach Chip Kelly has called off the dogs and not embarrassed too many opponents more than they should have been.

- Arkansas didn't lose this week. Sure, they didn't play but with the way the Hogs have played this year, you never know. They also opened as a 4.5-point favorite for Saturday's game against Ole Miss.

- Are you ready for a  Orange Bowl featuring Louisville and Duke? It is a possibility. What a great way for the BCS to say "goodbye" on its way out.

-Duke is bowl eligible after beating hated rival North Carolina in some pretty heinous jerseys. This came a day after their Midnight Madness for the basketball team. What a weekend for Duke fans.

The Weekend That Was: Barkley Owned, Another Historic Loss, Irish for Real?, My New Favorite Player, SEC Joke Coaches

While it is the surprises, upsets and a sense of loyalty to a team that draws us to college football, there are a few truths that seem inevitable. A few of those came true this weekend: Virginia Tech begins the year in the top 10 and falls to an inferior team, Alabama beats Arkansas, USC starts in the top 5 and is a national championship favorite and falls, and Notre Dame wins three games and moves up the polls quickly. Now that you have the gist of Week Three in football, let's get to the nitty gritty.

Barkley remains defeated versus Stanford

STANFORD OWNS BARKLEY & CO.: At some point, what Stanford did/is doing will no longer be a fluke. Cardinal coach David Shaw has to get credit. He is Andrew Luck-less and is still pulling off 'upsets' of the No. 2 team in the country. I say "'upsets'" because it should no longer come as a surprise when he is able to beat the California team from the south. Maybe, just maybe, Shaw will be able to sustain some of the success his predecessors (Jim Harbaugh and Andrew Luck) began. I am all up for nerds ruling the football world.

Stanford is a rarity in college football. Not only do they all make 34's on their ACTs but they know who they are and what they can and can not do. They know they run the football well with a huge push from the big uglies upfront, which creates an obvious, enormous mismatch for USC, who is setup to beat the likes of Oregon.

Matt Barkley will graduate having never beaten Stanford, which is incredible when you look at the history of these two programs.

ANOTHER HISTORIC LOSS: Remember the questions I brought up last week after Arkansas blew a 28-7 lead to University Louisiana-Monore? There are more this week. Instead of doing listing those, here is some historical perspective of what a team that was beat by ULM in 2007 (Alabama) did on Saturday in Fayetteville.

The Tide shut out the Hogs at home for the first time since 1966, a 44-0 loss to the Baylor, but that was two years post national championship. It was the worst loss for the Razorbacks since a 70-17 show from the USC Trojans. It was an embarrassing day for Arkansas, and while the weather did not help keep fans in their seat, neither did their play on the field.

Injured Razorback quarterback admitted he thought some of his teammates quit, which is a direct reflection of coaching. There's good reason to be worried as Rutgers comes to Arkansas this week.

If anything, this makes The Game of the Century III (Alabama at LSU) all the more anticipated, and as my old man said, no doubt there is a Pop Tart sale in Arkansas.

Johnson has been "The Beast" for a while.

MY FAVORITE PLAYER IS A VOLUNTEER: Is there anything Tennessee sophomore A.J. Johnson can not do? He was named to the All-SEC freshman team a year ago and now is starting to show out on the offensive side too from the Wildcat formation.

Not only does he make grown-man tackles on defense, but the Volunteer captain scored a rushing touchdown against Florida.

He did the same thing in high school, too.

A Gainesville, Georgia native, he dominated this area for four years like few have and remains a local legend. If he continues on his current path, he will soon be a legend in the Knoxville area as well before making his way to the professional ranks.

NOTRE DAME IS FOR REAL (maybe): The Irish get their fair, and maybe more, share of articles and columns written about them, but anytime you go on the road, in a night game, and defeat a top 10 team, you start getting press for all the right reasons.

Coach Brian Kelley, who was brought over from Cincinnati for his offensive prowess, has started building his program from the defensive side of the ball. Now, other than Alabama and LSU, he may have the top defensive front in the country and the best linebacker in Manti Te'o. Kelley will build his offense no doubt, and if both sides of the ball progress like they seem to be doing, the Irish could be trouble in the future.

HOW QUICKLY CAN CHIZIK BE REPLACED: It's really a three-way race between Arkansas' John L. Smith, Auburn's Gene Chizik, and Kentucky's Joker Phillips to see who will be fired first. Two of the three will definitely be told to seek employment elsewhere come season's end, but Chizik has enough equity built up from a national championship two years ago.

After two dismal performances from his quarterback Kiehl Frazier, these games are much more like what we expected from Chizik when he came from Iowa State. This is what a Chizik team minus a $200,000 quarterback looks like.

That's what a Hilltoppers look like after they get their first SEC win.

KENTUCKY'S BIG JOKE(er): Get it? Their coach's name is Joker and that's what he has made the Wildcats in the eyes of football fans. We have all heard Kentucky fans say the only sport they care about is basketball -- and horseracing. However, there are better ways to let everyone know that other than getting beat by Western Kentucky. Heck, they've only been an official FBS program for four years!

Sure you make all SEC fans proud during March and early April, but there is no excuse for this. Bye, bye Joker.

Linsanity vs. Tebowmania: No Real Comparrison

With New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin exploding on to the sports scene in the last week, ESP'Lin' and many other media outlets were too quick to compare the young man to Denver Broncos' quarterback Tim Tebow following the NFL season.

'Lin'sane in the membrane

Again, we as a society have fallen prisoner to comparisons. I will be the first to admit that I am as guilty as the media giants, but why can we not just enjoy their impacts each as its own entity? If you examine more closely at the duo's road to stardom you will notice they have more contrasts than similarities.

Recruitment- It starts early on when looking for the differences in this couple. Tebow was rated as one of the top prospects to come out of high school in years. His recruitment was done early and often, and Tebow had the leisure to choose between two football powerhouses Alabama and Florida, going with the latter. Lin, a California native, was unable to garner enough attention from his hometown school and first choice, Stanford, to merit an athletic scholarship.

College Experience- Tebow won two BCS National Championships, was a Heisman Award winner, two-time SEC Champion and All-American, and named to the All-SEC team three times. He compiled a 48-7 record with the Gators and scored more touchdowns than any previous player in NCAA history. He was the king of college football and is considered by some to ever play at the collegiate level. On the other hand, Lin went to Harvard, where more students have become presidents (5) than played in the NBA (3). More impressive is that Lin graduated with a 3.1 grade-point average and a degree in Economics.

Part of the mania, Tebowing took the nation by storm

Draft- Although he was told "no" by experts over and over during the entire draft process, the Broncos traded three draft picks with the Baltimore Ravens and took Tebow in the first round as the 25th player in the 2010 NFL Draft. Lin was not selected in the 2010 NBA Draft. However, he did earn a contract from the Golden State Warriors, who later cut him. After being claimed off waivers by the Houston Rockets, Lin averaged seven minutes a game in preseason scrimmages. He was cut by the Rockets before the start of the sesaon. The Knicks picked up Lin and sent him the the NBDL, the Association's developmental league. If not for injuries to two starting point guards on the Knicks, Lin would have remained the 12th man on the roster of a sub-.500 season.


Christianity- Tebow is the most polarizing figure in sports because of his well-documented, out-spoken faith. He has taken a stand on many controversial topics. Though not given the same platforms as Tebow  has over the last two seasons, Lin has been given standard answers when speaking about his faith. Lin has been very appreciative to God for his talents during press conferences much like many other athletes after recognition.

Lin is the brightest star in NYC... for now

Individual Production- "All Tebow does is win!" Sure he does have miraculous comeback wins over the Dolphins, Chargers, and Bears and he threw the winning touchdown pass in his first playoff game. However, he had 18 touchdowns and 13 turnovers this season, too. I am in no way trying to discredit his wins and good moments (as I have been so often been accused of), but in football more than any other sport the importance of a solid overall "team" is necessary. Tebow did benefit from a ball-hawking defense and the league's top rushing attack. Since moving to the starting lineup that was missing its two superstars, Lin has led the Knicks to 7 consecutive wins and is averaging 24.4 points and 9.1 assists per game.

Undoubtedly, both athletes have defeated the odds stacked against them and taken advantage of a little good fortune thus far in their young careers, but the sample size is too small. The New York media has helped blow Linsanity out of the water, and more than likely, the madness will cool down, unless we have the next Steve Nash on our hands. Tebowmania will unquestionably crank back up as the NFL's summer workouts begin. Regardless, enjoy their performances, personalities, and let Linsanity be Linsanity and Tebowmania be Tebowmania.

*As someone who loves wit, it was incredibly difficult not to use every Jeremy Lin pun I have heard while writing this. You're welcome.

2012 (Day After) New Year's Day Bowls

It is college football's most famous day of the year. Luckily, 2012's first day offers more than its 2011 counterpart. Some games though not as interesting on the field will offer more story lines away from the gridiron. No matter the quality play, you can find me soaking up the final 24 hours of multiple games in the 2011-2012 college football season in Rome, on a leather coach, in front of a high-definition television, with my old man and plenty of food. So if you need a place to watch or want to watch with two professionals, holla at ya boy.

TicketCity Bowl, Noon on ESPNU

     Houston vs. Penn State- Both programs have lost their head coaches and enter Monday in the midst of a transition period. Kevin Sumlin, the Cougars former head man, is on  his way to the SEC and Texas A&M, whereas Penn State's Joe Paterno was let go after his involvement, or lack thereof in the Jerry Sandusky case. On to those who will decide who wins... Houston quarterback Case Keenum is charged with leading a disappointed Cougar team that is coming off of a Conference USA Championship drubbing at the hands of Southern Miss. Though fighting off-the-field issues, Penn State finished the regular season as the Big Ten's Leader's division co-champion. The Nittany Lions will be without senior quarterback Matt McGloin, who suffered a concussion after fighting with teammates in the team's locker room. With Penn State's quarterback out and unable to help an already porous offense, the Cougars win the first college football game of the year.

Capital One Bowl, 1 p.m. on ESPN

     Nebraska vs. South Carolina- Since Stephen Garcia's dismissal from the team, quarterback Connor Shaw has led the Gamecocks to a 6-1 record with their only loss coming to No. 6-ranked Arkansas. Contrary from the norm, Shaw will not be the most athletic signal-caller under center today, as the Cornhusker's Taylor Martinez passed for nearly 2,000 yards and is second on the team in rushing (837 yards). For Nebraska to head back to Lincoln with a win, Martinez must avoid the USC defensive line rush and complete enough passes to keep them honest. South Carolina's defense is 13th in the nation, allowing only 18.8 points per game. This deep group is athletic enough to keep Martinez and running back Rex Burkhead at bay. Gamecock head coach Steve Spurrier revenges a 62-24 loss in the 1995 Fiesta Bowl loss, where his Florida Gators were handled by the Tommie Frazier-led Huskers, and beats Nebraska.

Gator Bowl, 1 p.m. on ESPN2

Roles may be reversed on Monday

      Ohio State vs. Florida- You know earlier when I mentioned those games that no one really cares about except for the "off-the-field storylines?" Here is a perfect example. No matter who scores the most points, the Buckeyes will be the winners. They have hired former Gator head coach Urban Meyer. Meyer, who was brought to Columbus in hopes of taking OSU back to the national championship, has been hot on the recruiting trail and stolen prospects from conference rivals Michigan and Penn State thus far. Current Florida coach Will Muschamp has struggled through his first year and needs a win to keep Meyer from picking off players from the Gator's 2011 commitment list. Not that it matters but a more experienced freshman quarterback Braxton Miller leads the Buckeyes to victory.


Outback Bowl, 1 p.m. on ABC
     Michigan State vs. Georgia- A rematch of the 2009 Capital One Bowl foes pits two teams coming off of conference championship losses. Spartans quarterback Kirk Cousins will be challenged to find weak spots in a Bulldog defense that ranked third nationally in total defense. Michgan State's nationally fifth-ranked total defense is nothing to forget about and UGA's Aaron Murray will have to effectively pass to open up the ground game for the Bulldog's stable of backs. Murray has the better receivers to pass to (Malcolm Mitchell, Orson Charles and Tavarres King), which eventually will make the difference as the Bulldogs are able to complete longer passes for bigger offensive plays. The game will end closer for the Spartans than last years 49-7 blowout loss to Alabama but the final score will be in favor of Georgia nonetheless. A strong game from the Bulldogs could propel them to start next season in the top five.

Rose Bowl, 5 p.m. on ESPN

Those "snazzy space-age suits"

     Wisconsin vs. Oregon- Sure the teams on the field are quality squads, but have you seen Oregon's jerseys for the game, in particular their stunning helmets? No doubt six recruits will sign scholarships for the Ducks because of the "liquid metal" look. On the field, the Badgers are two "Hail Mary" passes (Michigan St. and Ohio St.) away from playing a week from Monday in the BCS National Championship. Regardless, 'Sconny is playing and will try to slow down an electric Oregon offense that averages 46 points per contest. Oftentimes a team from the Big 10 is easy to pick against because their size cannot keep up with the speed of the SEC. Not today. Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson makes the difference with his athleticism and the Bagders win on the west coast despite Oregon's snazzy space-age suits.

Fiesta Bowl, 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

     Stanford vs. Oklahoma State- Both the Cowboys and Cardinal were snubbed as one-loss teams with a shot at the BCS National Championship, but on the bright side the winner could end the season at number two in the polls. I am just trying to see the sunshine through the BCS cloud. In what we assume is Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck's final college game he must lead his run-first offense to score more points than Oklahoma State's nearly 50 points per game. The Cowboys use a spread offense attack, the same variety that gave Stanford fits in a 53-30 home loss to Oregon this season. However, with Stanford's offensive style the Cardinal can control the ball and keep the explosive Cowboy attack on the sidelines. Watch for the Pokes to start out slow after being disappointed to be in Glendale, Ariz. and not in New Orleans, but Oklahoma State still comes out on top.

Top Ten College Foot'Bowl' Games

Throw together Christmas, New Years, family and college foot'bowl' games and you have a potent combination for am enjoyable holiday season. So unless you are Oklahoma State, Kansas State or Boise State fans, let's get ready for an wild bowl season.

And to you who favor a playoff season, did the BCS system not to what it was created to do? We have the nation's best two teams playing for the national championship. (Oklahoma State fans... be serious... we have seen the spread offense versus SEC defensive speed more than once and know the outcome.) Sure there are teams that were snubbed of the chance to play in a bigger bowl game, but this is the system we have. So can we all get along while we wait Prince of Peace's arrival? (No doubt He would have a better system...)

In the meantime, here is a list of the ten bowl games I am looking forward to the most this college foot'bowl' season:

1. BCS National Championship Game- Alabama vs. LSU- If the first game was "The Game of the Century" what does that make this one? The most anticipated rematch of all time will decide the national champion, no matter the outcome. When the country's top two defenses were not playing one another they averaged almost 40 points a game. In good news for every other conference, at the end of the night the SEC will finally have a loss in the BCS Championship Game.

2.Fiesta Bowl- Oklahoma State vs. Stanford- Two of the country's top five offenses, and best quarterbacks in Andrew Luck and Dan Weeden, will take the field . The Pokes are a little disappointed they are not in the championship game, but they must be careful of not falling to the same fate the a Alabama squad did when the Tide were crushed by Utah in the 2008 Sugar Bowl.

3. Vizio Rose Bowl- Wisconsin vs. Oregon- Here are two teams, in the "Grandaddy of them all," who get it done offensively by different means. In one corner is Oregon, who uses speed and a spread offense to keep the scorekeepers busy. In the other corner are the Badgers, who line up in the I-formation and use power to wear down opponents. Watch two of the country's top running backs -- UO's LaMichael James and UW's Montee Ball-- go head-to-head.

4. AT&T Cotton Bowl- Arkansas vs. Kansas State- In what amounts to the sixth BCS game, Kansas State is a little disappointed they do not represent the Big 12 in an actual BCS game. Arkansas' two losses this season came at the hands of the two teams in the national championship. The Wildcats defense will be charged in slowing down a Razorback passing attack which averages 307 yards per game, while the Hogs defense has to stop KSU quarterback Collin Klein, who tallied 1,745 yards and 12 scores through the air and 1,099 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns.

5. Outback Bowl- Michigan State vs. Georgia- Both schools are coming off of conference championship losses and looking to end great seasons on a positive note. The Dawgs have won 10 of their last 11 games, while the Spartans won at least 10 games for the second year in a row. MSU needs to redeem itself after their last game against an SEC opponent, a 49-7 drubbing from Alabama last year in the Capital One Bowl. Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio is 0-4 in bowl games.

6. Orange Bowl- Clemson vs. West Virginia- The Orange Bowl is usually the weakest of all the BCS bowls, but the hosts got lucky when the Moutaineers were able to win the Big East so that America was not forced to watch Cincinatti or Louisville in this game. At least WVU has been down this road before and had success. Clemson has been one of the hottest and coldest teams at times this season but handled Virginia Tech for the second time this season and won the Tigers' first ACC Championship in 20 years.



7. Sugar Bowl- Virginia Tech vs. Michigan- Of the two controversial BCS matchups in The Big Easy this year, Alabama vs. LSU is the other, the Sugar Bowl one is the most puzzling. The teams were selected solely because their fans travel better than other, more deserving, teams. The game still has the possibility to be quite entertaining, even if it is the first Sugar Bowl without an AP Top 10 team since 1945. Michigan quarterback Denard "Shoelace" Robinson work is magic is worth your time.

8. Capital One Bowl- South Carolina vs. Nebraska- The Gamecocks have won 10 games in a season for the second time in school history, and the Huskers are coming of a nine-win season in its first year in the Big 10. USC head coach Steve Spurrier may run up the score if he gets the chance. For you history buffs, the Cornhuskers gave Spurrier his most embarrassing loss, a 62-24 affair in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl when "The Ole Ball Coach" was at Florida.

9. Alamo Bowl- Baylor vs. Washington- So you like offense and you want to see the Heisman Trophy winner all in the same game? Sounds like a fun way to spend your New Years Eve Eve Eve. Two of the more explosive quarterbacks in U Dubs' Kevin Polk and the Bears' Robert Griffin III will go head-to-head in this shootout.

10. Gator Bowl- Ohio State vs. Florida- Go ahead and put the over under at 35 on the number of times Urban Meyer's name is thrown around. The former Gator coach is headed to coach the Buckeyes next year after two championship runs in Florida. Meyer has already made his presence known on the recruiting trail. If current head coach, and OSU's next defensive coordinator, Lou Fickell can pull out a win over the SEC the Buckeye bandwagon should fill back up quickly.

*For you college foot'bowl' junkies like myself, here are a few more nuggets that should be fun to watch:

-Kraft  Fight Hunger Bowl- UCLA vs. Illinois- Here is one of those games that opponents of the bowl system have to cringe when they see this matchup. Both schools suffered poor endings (UCLA has a 6-7 record.)  and neither school will have their head coach, as both Rick Neuheisel and Ron Zook have been fired. Try to hold your enthusiasm when watching interim coaches going at it.

-Champs Sports Bowl- Florida State vs. Notre Dame- Both schools entered this season with BCS aspirations but had points during the season they lost games they should not have. The winner of this game will have a leg-up in the polls heading into the 2012 season. If the Seminoles pull out the 'W,' do not be surprised if they are preseason top five next year.

The Weekend That Will Be: Week 9

Georgia vs. Florida- The Gators have tried to make the World's Largest Cocktail Party (let's just call it what it is) interesting by announcing that quarterback John Brantley will be back under center as the starter. They will also bring running back Jeff Demps to Jacksonville. Georgia said they will be without Malcolm Mitchell, who is blossoming into a true go-to target for Aaron Murray. The Dawgs boast a top ten defense and the Florida has hardly been competent on offense, but will having the senior leader back in the huddle make the difference? No. Georgia wins its fourth win in 22 tries against UF.

Michigan State at Nebraska- This game could be over in two hours as much as these teams like to run the football. The Spartans are coming off winning the best game of the season, where a Kirk Cousins Hail Mary pass barely crossed the goal line for a MSU win. State is also traveling to an intimidating Memorial Stadium, which has sold out since the mid-60s, for the first time. Husker quarterback Taylor Martinez will be forced to throw against a tough Michigan State defense in order to win their third Big 10 game. Until Martinez proves that he can throw the football consistently, Nebraska is tough to trust in big games. Sparty wins another.

Oklahoma at Kansas State- All season long the figure heads on the tube have gone against the Wildcats and they have proven them wrong time and time again. But this week the should go with their gut feeling because the Sooners will get the best of them. Under the control of coach Bob Stoops, Oklahoma does not lose again after losing the week before. The Sooner defense was embarrassed last week by Texas Tech and will not let that happen again on national television. Manhattan is one of those quirky places to play a football game on the road, but all quirkiness aside, Oklahoma wins big. Big props to KSU coach Bill Snyder who continues to make something out of little.

Other picks (winners in bold)
Arkansas at Vanderbilt- A slow start last week almost cost the Hogs their hopes of a BCS bowl bid. They will look to jump out early against a talented Commodore secondary.

Baylor at Oklahoma State- If you like points, don't miss this one. The Cowboys have a bigger goal on their mind, beating the Sooners four weeks away.

Ole Miss at Auburn- Will Houston Nutt lose his 11th straight SEC game as the Ole Miss coach? Yep. The Rebels showed hope last week and the future looks brighter.

Stanford at USC- This will be the best two quarterbacks on one field this season. Luck is clearly the better of the two, but the Trojans have the best chance at an upset this week.

Clemson at Georgia Tech- I'll be coming to you live from this game via Twitter. This will be my first time to see Clemson and ACC game in person. A shootout helps Clemson.

South Carolina at Tennessee
Purdue at Michigan
Arizona at Washington
Wisconsin at Ohio State

The Weekend That Will Be: Week 7

Michigan at Michigan State- We will begin to see what the Wolverines and the Spartans (wearing these uni's) are made of this week in their first games against a ranked opponent of the season. This game starts a gauntlet of three games against ranked teams for MSU. The game within a game to watch in East Lansing will be Michigan quarterback against the nation's number one defense. The saying goes, "offense wins games and defense wins championships." I'm not crowning Sparty champion, but I will say they get their fourth consecutive win against Michigan for the first time in 49 years.

Baylor at Texas A&M- They only appeal for me to watch this game is to see how many yards Baylor quarterback and Heisman candidate Robert Griffin III can pile up on the fifth worst passing defense in the Bowl Subdivision. A&M's farewell tour from the Big 12 is not going how the Aggies thought it might. This team was thought to have an outside shot at the national championship and now they are struggling in their own division. Another high-scoring game here, but I am going against my gut (and my grandmother's Bears) and going with the home Aggies.

Arizona State at Oregon- You know it is a weak slate of games for a Saturday when ESPN's College Gameday crew is at a game with an 18-point favorite... Because of their struggles against LSU, people have forgotten about an explosive Oregon offense and sometimes LaMichael James, though  averaging nine yards a carry, overshadows the quarterback Darren Thomas, who has over 1,000 yards and a 15 to 1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Autzen Stadium is another one of those places I will go to someday and watch a ballgame. The Ducks give the Sun Devils their first ever PAC-12 loss.

Florida at Auburn-  A night game at Jordan-Hare, though it pains my father to hear this, is one of the best atmospheres to see a football game, especially if they win. The stadium and crowd will be full of orange and blue. To the game, these two offenses are anything but good. Hopefully, these two offenses will just run the ball. If not, we could see two freshman quarterbacks that are not ready for the big time quite yet. Also, both teams boast stud athletes at running back; Florida with a big-play Chris Rainey and Olympic fast Jeff Demps, and Auburn with thier scat-back Onterio McCaleb and bruiser Michael Dyer. This has been one of the toughest games to pick of the season. Auburn wins at home in a close game. Sounds familiar, huh?

Other picks (winners in bold)
- I am picking the top four teams to win (LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, Wisconsin), and I am going with the over of 120 points for the combined wins. Alabama covers 25 points at halftime.

South Carolina at Mississippi State- MSU's Chris Relf can not throw the football, and USC's Conner Shaw is from around my neck of the woods. I am admittedly pulling for him.

LSU at Tennessee- LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis is having a homecoming of sorts to his former school. The only question is how many negative rushing yards with the Tigers hold the Vols to?

Ohio State at Illinois
Oklahoma State at Texas
Kansas State at Texas Tech
Georgia at Vanderbilt

The Weekend That Will Be: Week 6

Oklahoma vs. Texas- One of the best atmospheres in college football is at the Cotton Bowl during the Texas State Fair, disgusting combinations of fried foods and Big Tex can be found at the Red River Rivalry. In the last two years the Longhorns have held a potent Sooner offense to 311 and 361 yards. This year's OU team is better than a year ago, but it is no doubt that Texas coach Mack Brown know how to play the Sooners. The more experienced Oklahoma team is able to come back home with an easy win.

Florida at LSU- One guy you should feel sorry for this week? Florida freshman starting quarterback Jeff Driskell.Really you should feel sorry for anyone on the offensive staff for the Gators, too. Last week it was the punishing Alabama defense and Saturday they have the Blitzin' Bengals. Simply put, it is cruel and unusual punishment. Do not doubt Florida too quickly. They did beat an eventual national champion LSU with a freshman quarterback in 2003. Granted, Chris Leak had three starts under his belt. Watching Tiger defensive back Tyrann Mathieu create turnovers is reason enough to watch this game when LSU starts to run away with it in the second half.

Auburn at Arkansas- The one game I have been to in Fayetteville was a 9-7 snoozefest filled with field goals in 2007. How times have changed... Defense? Where? Not here. Last year the score was in favor of Auburn 62-45 and this year could be close to that because both teams have struggling defenses. Both teams are also coming off games in which they were not favored to win, but Donald W. Reynolds will be rocking on Saturday night and having DE Jake Bequette back on the field will be the difference for the Hogs.

Georgia at Tennessee- With South Carolina having serious issues on the offensive side of the ball, this game has become one of those games we will look back to at the end of the year as a difference maker for the Vols or Dawgs. Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray is the most efficient passer in the SEC but he will be going against a Todd Granthum 3-4 defense that continues improve every week. Georgia also boasts the NCAA leader in interceptions in safety Barari Rambo. The Vols need to get a running game going if they want to win; UGA needs Aaron Murray to step up if they want to have a shot. Based on recent history, Tennessee will blow out Georgia in Neyland. To take a line from Lee Corso, "Not so fast, my friend!" Dawgs win.

Other picks (winners in bold)

Georgia Tech at Maryland
Boston College at Clemson
Illinois at Indiana
Air Force at Notre Dame
Michigan at Northwestern
Texas A&M at Texas Tech
Ohio State at Nebraska

The Weekend That Wil Be: Week 5

Nebraska at Wisconsin- If I could could attend one game in the first half of the season, this is the one I would choose (I know... not an SEC game.). One day I'll get up to Camp Randall and jump around between the third and fourth quarters. I have only heard good things, where the people are kind and force you to try their cheese and slabs of meat. Throw in my Big 10 darling and it sounds like a dream weekend trip. The game is supposed to be good, but not in my eyes. Nebraska is the most overrated Top 10 team, and the environment is too much for the Huskers. "On Wisconsin" to victory.

Alabama at Florida- Two years is this was the most heated rivalry in college football, and it seems as if it is on its way back to claiming that spot with coach Will Muschamp at the helm for the Gators. If you have not done your homework, you may not know Florida has the top offense in the SEC. Bama has arguably the best defense with eight projected first and second round prospects for the NFL Draft. The Swamp will be rocking and holds close for a while before the Tide rolls away. Teacher (Nick Saban) beats (Muschamp) relatively easily in a battle of intensity.

Clemson at Virginia Tech- The real question here is if the Tigers can stay focused for the third week in a row, as they travel for their first road contest of the season. Clemson has had its program's biggest two wins in the Swinney era. The host Hokies have not played a big-time game yet this season. Blacksburg is no easy place to travel to and the under-the-radar Virginia Tech team handles a young Tiger squad.

Arkansas vs. Texas A&M- Both schools are coming off losses, have explosive offenses, are old South West Conference members, have played the role of little brother to Texas and next season both teams will play in the SEC. All these reasons are reasons to watch the Southwest Classic from the Jerry Dome in Arlington, Texas. The Aggies will and slow down the Hogs by attacking the Arkansas offensive line with an A&M defense that leads the nation in sacks. The pressure on the quarterback comes at a cost. A&M had 60 pass attempts thrown its way last week and came up with no INTs. Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino likes to throw the rock around a little bit. A&M has not beat an SEC team since 1995 either. Take the Hogs in a mild upset.

Other picks (winners in bold)
Mississippi State vs. Georgia- Battle of the Dawgs will get intense. A loss puts Georgia at two SEC losses and a hard hole to dig out of for any chance at the East title. A loss for MSU will start these Dawgs out at 0-3 and huge disappointment for the season will ensue.

Kentucky at LSU- The last time Kentucky played a No. 1 LSU team? Answer I do not think the Tigers will cover the 31.5-point spread, but finally they relax a little after their tough September.

Auburn at South Carolina- If Auburn can come with any sort of defense they might could win. They do not and Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia has a big game.

New Mexico State at New Mexico- Maybe the worst two offenses and defenses in the game on one field, what a rivalry! Perennially bad teams go at it in this heated match-up.

Notre Dame at Purdue- The Irish show off an explosive offense and have only three turnovers.

The Weekend That Will Be: Week 3

48 yards? After two consecutive weeks of rushing for more than 300 yards to open the season, the Mississippi State offense was able to amass only 48 yards of rushing against the LSU Tigers on Thursday night. LSU made a home in the Bulldogs' backfield with 16 tackles for loss, five sacks and forcing two picks. Of State's 59 non-kicking plays, they did not gain positive yards on 40 percent of them. Chirs Relf looked like a little boy trying to throw an NFL-sized ball. To the MSU's president Mark Keenum, was that worth cancelling a day of classes? I didn't think so either.

Oklahoma at Florida State- Rarely nowadays with a perfect record meaning so much do we get two top-5 regular season match-ups (LSU-Oregon) in one season. The question is whether or not Florida State is 30 points better than last year's team. Both OU and FSU have said they are better than a year ago. The Sooners have not won a true road game on the road versus a top-5 team in 35 years. The winner will have the better of the two quarterbacks. Florida State's E.J. Manuel is not as polished and will not handle the pressure as well as the Landry Jones, the OU quarterback. Sooners will win easily again.

Auburn at Clemson- I am an admitted SEC homer in the worst way and have not picked against a SEC team in a non-conference team yet this season. Clemson gave up 27 points to Wofford, while only pulling out an eight point victory. Also, right now it is hard to pick against the Tigers in orange and blue no matter who they play. The boys from the plains have won 17 straight and have started drinking some of the same water Lucky Les Miles does. The game might be different if it was at night at Death Valley, but it's not. Auburn pulls out a win.

Tennessee at Florida- For the last ten years the Vols and Gators have opened SEC play against each other. Remember when this game had national championship implications? Now these two teams are fighting for an SEC East crown, which is unlikely. Watch Tennsessee quarterback Tyler Bray continue to shine throwing the pigskin around. He is the leading passer in the SEC, but will have a tough test agianst a stingy Muschamp defense. The best part about this game is the SEC on CBS is back for another year and college football gets for real now. As for the play on the field? The Swamp is too much for a young Vol squad.

Michigan State at Notre Dame- I promise I will not save your eyes and time next week if the Fighting Irish start 0-3 and will not write about them next week. I have always been intrigued by ND. They were once a powerhouse but have not been any resemblenance of that in years. The golden domers have an offense that can move the ball but turns the ball over too much and a defense that has looked soft. No BCS bowl this year for Notre Dame. Nor will they get a win agaisnst Sparty in 2011. See you again in Week 5 Irish.

Ohio State at Miami- "The Inelegi-bowl," where more players will be suspended than points scored between the two. Maybe not really, but before the Nevin Shapiro information came out in Miami and Tattoo-gate got the head coach in Columbus fired, this would have been intruiging game for all the right reasons. Luckily for the Buckeyes they had farther to fall and are still ranked in the top 25. The 'Canes would not have been the best team in their division of the ACC either way. Miami gets Jacory Harris its starting quarterback off of suspension, but he has been a turnover machine. OSU wins because of late interceptions.

Other picks (winners in bold):
West Virginia at Maryland- Maryland's new uniforms will not be enough this time to pull out a "W"

Navy at South Carolina- Could be an upset special if the Gamecocks, who have started slow in games, did not do their homework for Navy's offense.

Stanford at Arizona- Closer than the experts think. The Cardinal have yet to be overly impressive

Oklahoma State at Tulsa- There may be 200 points scored here.

Louisville at Kentucky- My first pick against the SEC. The Wildcats have struggled with Western Kentucky and Central Michigan.

Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
Pittsburgh at Iowa
Washington at Nebraska
Troy at Arkansas

SEC East Power Rankings

The East is, dare I say, a "more open competition" than the West. If the ball bounces the right way the top four teams could come away with playing in Atlanta on the first weekend in December.

6.  Vanderbilt- New head coach James Franklin has his work cut out if he wants Vanderbilt not to finish as the last team in the East, which they have not done since 2008. The Commodores have five SEC wins over the past three years. Their mobile QB Larry Smith is rather... sporadic, but has shown glimpses of being capable. The defense has All-SEC talent in CB Casey Hayward, who had six picks a year ago, and LB Chris Marve, the SEC's active leading tackler. The problem is the defense is always on the field because of an inept offense. Franklin has excited the fan base with some unexpected wins in the recruiting game during the offseason though.

Look for another tough year in Nashville for the 'Dores.

5.  Kentucky- "At least there's always Vandy!" This should be the motto of the realistic Wildcat fan. After losing their Mr. Everything, Randal Cobb, to the NFL, their leading rusher and starting QB, the question is how will Kentucky move the ball down the field? LB Danny Travathan, the SEC's leading tackler, is back to lead the Wildcat defense.

Kentucky snapped its school-record five consecutive bowl game streak last season, finished with a losing record, and lost everyone who was anyone on offense. Doesn't basketball start soon?

4. Tennessee- Though they played against teams with losing records, QB Tyler Bray was inserted into the starting role and the offense averaged 33.5 points per game the second half of the season. This season a new receiving corps will have pressure to help Bray. Defensively, coordinator Justin Wilcox will be in his second season and there should be improvement.
Road trips to Alabama and Arkansas and hosting South Carolina and LSU make improving their 6-7 record from a year ago tough, but the Vols will be a better team with a chance to reek some havoc.

3. Florida- Welcome back to the SEC Will Muschamp. Muschamp did well in hiring coordinators. Already a defensive mastermind, he lured Charlie Weis away from the NFL and back to the college game. Weis, who did not have what it takes to be the head coach at Notre Dame, will try and salvage senior QB John Brantley's career in a pro-style offense. The defense is, as is most of the team, is talented but young and inexperienced.
Expect improvement from last season to now, but watch growing pains with  a new coach. The Gators will not stay down long so the rest of the SEC East should enjoy this break.

2. Georgia- Biggest storyline for the 2011 season is how hot Mark Richt's seat is. The Bulldogs start the season with the toughest two first games of any team in the BCS Division with games against Boise State in Atlanta and hosting defending SEC East champion South Carolina. Offensively, Georgia welcomes back the most talented returning quarterback in Aaron Murray. Much will hinge on the running game where the two leading rushers have left the program and the pressure rests on freshman Isaiah Crowell, the number one running back in high school a year ago. This is the second season for the 3-4 defense and the Bulldogs have two legitimate nosegaurds, the position which makes the this defense effective. 

Don't be surprised if Georgia does drop its first two games and still comes away with ten wins.

1. South Carolina- The defending division champs have retained the pieces that led them to the SEC Championship game a year ago. The Gamecocks have freshman phenom RB Marcus Lattimore again, but this year expect to see more of him catching the ball out of the backfield. Getting him the ball will be QB Stephen Garcia (if he can stay away from the bottle). Garcia also has arguably the best receiver in the league in Alshon Jeffery. The defense has added to last years squad in the form of DE Jadaveon Clowney, who by all accounts will be on the field early.
Coach Steve Spurrier has not lost it like many thought he may have. The Ole Ball Coach just needed some playmakers which he has an abundance of now that will make the Gamecocks serious title contenders.

A Few Thoughts

Doesn't it seem like the media is just begging someone from the four remaining teams in the NFL playoffs to trash talk? More time this week has been spent praising the other team by oppenents, or by the media talking about the lack of trash talk. Can we just talk about the game?

Nothing good has happened to the Miami Heat since LeBron James's "karma" tweet in which he made fun of his former team after a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Since the tweet LeBron and Dwayne Wade have gotten hurt and  the team has lost its last 5 games. I guess its true what they say when they say what karma is. Right LeBron?

On another tweeting note Michigan QB, or former Michigan QB, Tate Forcier let the world know via twitter that he would be transferring. Way to be a man about it Tate. Hard to think back but Forcier was the starting QB when former Head Coach Rich Rodriguez won his first four games at Michigan.

Florida beat Auburn 45-40 last night. No, that is not a football score. Florida shot a solid 28% (Auburn- 39%) from the field in the win that kept Auburn defeated (0-4) in SEC play. Florida Coach Billy Donavan has never been beat by Auburn and keeps the streak.

Props to New Jersy Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov for saying he has had enough with the Carmelo Anthony trade drama. Who can blame him for not giving up his team for one player that wouldn't sign an extension on his current contract? It is clear Melo is counting down the days until he can sign with the New York Knicks.

Here is one you could have never seen coming... College Football Conference Rankings The SEC finishes the season ranked number one by ESPN Stats & Information. Ok. Everyone saw that coming and maybe this too but, the Moutain West Conference and the Western Athletic Conference were ranked as tougher conferences. Can we please take a closer look at those conferences that get automatic qualification into BCS games?

2011 New Years Day Bowls

TicketCity Bowl
     Texas Tech vs. Northwestern- Really? The Ticketcity Bowl is a New Years Day bowl game? (I can only imagine trying to explain how the bowl system works to my kids someday.) Northwestern wins in this game coming off of a disappointing season. They have not been the same team since the injury to their starting QB Dan Persa.

Capital One Bowl
     Alabama vs. Michigan State- As I have said before, this is the best non-BCS bowl game, bar none. One of three Big 10 Champions and last year's national champions take the field to help decide the Big 10 vs. SEC debate. Alabama has to still be hurt after how they lost to Auburn and MSU has to be a little let down after not being invited to a BCS bowl game. MSU Head Coach Mike D'Antonio comes from the Nick Saban coaching tree adding some spice to this match up. I see Alabama coming out strong and pulling out a win for their program and the SEC.

Outback Bowl
     Florida vs. Penn State- Urban Meyer vs. Joe Paterno... The most exciting storyline of the whole game is between the coaches. One coached dinosaurs and the other has had tremendous success early in his career, which appears to be over. I see Penn State pulling out a win because their offense is much more versatile than they are given credit. That is a tough statement for this SEC homer to say.

Gator Bowl
     Mississippi State vs. Michigan- Many people are writing off Michigan because Head Coach Rich Rodriguez's uncertain future in Ann Arbor. I am not quite ready to do that yet. Chances are he will be back next year, and the kids playing for him love their coach. Also Michigan QB Denard Robinson will be at full health for the first time since the beginning of the season. As long as he is not injured by the big boys from the SEC he could have a big day. State needs to stop him and limit turnovers to have success. This game will be closer than the experts think. State does these things and wins though, making their fans the most excited in the nation for a nine win season.

Rose Bowl
     TCU vs. Wisconsin- This year's Rose Bowl does not have the same amount of swagger as last year's national championship.  Who ever thought the day would come we would see TCU in the Rose Bowl? I do not think the Horned Frogs will enjoy their stay too much. Much has been made about the size of Wisconsin's offensive and defensive linemen. The fact is line play determines so much of the success of a team and that will stand true tomorrow, too. The Badgers wear out a smaller TCU.

Fiesta Bowl
     Connecticut vs. Oklahoma-  How about the job UConn Head Coach Randy Edsell has done with his Huskies, taking them from a D-IAA school to a BCS bowl game. On the other hand is a team that has experienced recent struggles in their BCS games, including a shot at a national championship. Oklahoma has a chance to exorcise their recent BCS bowl game demons against an inferior opponent. Here we will see experience win, and win big. Oklahoma rolls much like Florida, a much more BCS experienced team, did in last year's Sugar Bowl, dominating the Big East Conference champion, Cincinnati.

College Football Week 11

I would like to start of and thank those that have and are serving our country, especially to those in my family. To me my grandfathers, Gramps and Granddaddy, thank you for what you did,  the lessons you have taught me, stories you have told me, and your service to our country. To all of you reading, if you are reading on Veteran's Day or not, tell someone thank you for putting their life on the line so that you can live the life you do today.

Last week was a down week in the SEC for "big" games but a good week for me in picking winners. Without further delay here is how it is going to pan out this weekend...

South Carolina vs. Florida- The game in Gainesville, Florida is the SEC Eastern Division Championship. The Head Ball Coach returns again to the place where he won his Heisman, National and SEC Championships and you know the fans will be ready for his return with so much at stake. Who better to beat for Steve Spurrier to beat than the Gators to try an clinch the Gamecocks first ever visit to Atlanta? I just don't see it happening. Unless Stephen Garcia, Alshon Jeffery, and Marcus Lattimore can play flawlessly like the Alabama game I think Florida and the home crowd will be too much. South Carolina has never won in The Swamp and the trend will continue for at least two more years.

Georgia vs. Auburn- Like the game above this game could decide the other half of the SEC Championship game. With a win Auburn will make it to Atlanta amidst all the Cam Newton "allegations." The Dawgs have the offense to beat a poor defending Tigers, pass defense is only better than Vanderbilt in the SEC. The question is whether or not they will be able to keep up with Cam Newton. No defense has been able to this year and I don't see that trend changing this weekend. There will not be quite as many points in this one as Auburn's barn burner with Arkansas but get ready for an offensive show.
                    
  - I am expecting a field report from Auburn. My sister will be on site decked out in her finest red and black.

Mississippi State vs. Alabama- State makes their second trip in two weeks down I-20 as they head to  Tuscaloosa. Last week the team attended the funeral of teammate Nick Bell, who died at the age of twenty after a brief bout with cancer, in Birmingham. Both teams will play with heavy hearts. There are several Crimson Tide football players who played high school ball with Bell. State has won their last six games, but Saban lost his last game at LSU. Which is more likely? The Bulldogs win number seven in a row, on the road, at night in Tuscaloosa, as Saban comes off of a loss? Or.. The Tide rolls, at home, at night, after a loss? I will always take the latter.

Utah vs. Notre Dame- Nothing is really appealing about this game so you may ask, Graham, why are you writing about it? It is giving me the chance to talk about Notre Dame football. This is the lowest the storied program has ever been. A recruit at the beginning of the season died. A student helping with practice has died. Next years recruiting class is losing commitments left and right. The Irish have list to Navy 3 out of the last four years. They lost to Tulsa. Bowl eligibility is questionable. What is going on? When it rains it pours and the Irish are going through a hurricane. Brian Kelley's offense can work but in the meantime the Irish need something good to happen, like the upset of No. 14 Utah. No, probably not. The rain just keeps coming with another beat down this weekend.

Penn State vs. Ohio State- Penn State has looked good as of late but the Nittany Lions have also been facing some overall weak defenses. Ohio State has quietly been climbing back up the rankings and with a strong conference and pretty strong out of conference schedule is not completely out a BCS bowl. Terelle Pryor show off some of his dual threat skills and the Buckeyes win easily at home against Penn State.

Other Winners (in bold):

Kansas State vs. Missouri
Oklahoma State vs. Texas
Virginia Tech at North Carolina
Ole Miss at Tennessee
Kentucky at Vanderbilt
Kansas State at Missouri
UTEP at Arkansas
Texas A&M at Baylor
Oregon at California
Stanford at Arizona State
Clemson at Florida State

The Weekend that Will Be

Back again for picks this weekend. I do not have as an exciting weekend planned as I did last weekend, but I am not going to say it won't be a good one. It is too early to tell. But really how good is the feeling of a Friday afternoon and full two days to do whatever you want. I can tell you this, fans in the Rome area go and watch the Wolves play. And for those in the Vicksburg area, go and watch your Vikings play the Gators from the city school, hands down the biggest rivalry in Warren County.

Back to the college game...

Georgia vs. Florida- I have had a hard time putting my finger on both of these teams all year long and consequently making this game one of the hardest to predict. For the first time in 31 years neither team is ranked. Flordia has owned this series, winning 17 of the last 20 meetings and coming off of a bye week head coach Urban Meyer is unbeatable. On the other hand, UGA is playing their best ball of the year and looks like they are playing as well as they can. History doesn't win games. The Dawgs from Athens win.

Missouri vs. Nebraska- Here is one of the big upsets from what will be a crazy Halloween weekend. I know that Missouri has the top ranked defense in college football but I don't see Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez being stopped by another defense like he was against Texas. Nebraska is a tough place to play and Mizzou coming off of the program's biggest win will have a hard time being on the road. Nebraska wins easily.

Michigan State vs. Iowa- Keeping up with the undefeated team losing on the road, Iowa puts away the Spartans. Iowa is a very good team and lost a heart breaker last week at home against my Big 10 crush, Wisconsin. Iowa is one of the most consistent teams in football and just does not lose two games in a row at home. Also the Spartans have not looked good against teams they should have, not have they won a big game. The undefeated magic ends here.

Oregon vs. USC- If you like offense and you like to see the scoreboard rolling this is the game to watch on Saturday. Oregon scores more points than any other team in the nation, 55.1, and the USC defense is giving up over 500 yards a game. The scorekeeper will be tired at the end of this one. USC is a good team with plenty of talent and one of the most hated coaches in college ball. Many reporters are calling this USC's Rose Bowl (USC was banned from postseason play earlier in the season), but I see Oregon ruining the Trojan's party.

Other Winners (in bold):

Auburn vs. Mississippi- Houston Nutt teams get up for games they should get killed in. Could be an upset, but I don’s think the Rebels can pull it off

Vanderbilt vs. Arkansas- Joe Adams and DeQuinta Robinson are out, but look who the Hogs are playing. No worries here. Hogs win big for the alumni back for homecoming.

Baylor vs. Texas- The Bears finally get a chance to beat the vaunted Longhorns

Stanford vs. Washington- Closer than the experts think

Miami vs. Virginia

Michigan vs. Penn State

Kentucky vs. Mississippi State

Clemson vs. Boston College

Tennessee vs. South Carolina