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

First and foremost let me wish a happy birthday to the most sports knowledgeable grandmother I know. Grannie, I hope you have a great one!

Secondly, I am sorry that I was not able to provide a breakdown of the action from last week. I have been working on a huge paper for one of my classes and every time I sat down at the computer writing did not sound like much fun. Nonetheless, I am in Rome this weekend, sitting in front of a fire, and enjoying a warm cup of coffee from an Arkansas Razorback mug. Life is good. Here are the picks for the weekend.

TCU vs. Utah- It feels like everything is against the team from Fort Worth in this one as they have never won a game in Salt Lake. The Horned Frogs from Texas Christian have the best defense in the country so far this season allowing less than nine points a game and only thirteen in their last five games. As the saying goes defense wins championships and it will to day too as TCU wins this game on their way to another Mountain West Conference title.

Alabama vs. LSU- The game to day will be Alabama’s hardest in the stretch before the Iron Bowl. This game could very easily become a slugfest with the defenses that will be playing today. It’s the kind of game that gives the SEC the stigma it has around the country, tough, hard hitting defense with an offense that just needs to score a time or two. The advantage to goes to Alabama because of its running back tandem of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson and the Tide roll today.

Arkansas vs. South Carolina- Here is the upset special of the week. I know it is a little hard to believe I have the Hogs winning, again but I can’t help it and you couldn’t either if you grew up in my house. I do have data to back up my prediction. Ryan Mallet is coming off of record breaking performance last weekend, albeit Vandy. South Carolina has the 105^th rated pass defense in the nation. Granted the Razorbacks lost their best receiver last week in Greg Childs, Mallet has no problem spreading the ball around as he proved last week with completions to eight different receivers. Watch a high scoring game tonight on ESPN as they call the Hogs loud and proud in Columbia tonight.

Arizona vs. Stanford- Another big game for Coach Jim Harbaugh and the Cardinal as they try to separate themselves from the pack, more specifically the Arizona Wildcats, in their quest for the last PAC-10 title ever. I was a little off last week when I said they will be played closely by the Huskies of Washington, winning 41-0. Now I am a believer. They win this game easily with the second best quarterback in the country and Heisman darkhorse leading the way in Andrew Luck.

Other Winners (In Bold)-

Baylor at Oklahoma State- Baylor is still on a high from beating the hated Texas and does not bounce back quickly enough.

Nebraska at Iowa State- No repeat of last year but it is worth it just to see Iowa State Head Coach Paul Rhoads give an emotional post game speech.

Northwestern vs. Penn State- JoePa gets win number 400… Wow.

North Carolina at Florida State

Missouri at Texas Tech

Hawaii at Boise State- Maybe not but you have to believe.

Florida at Vanderbilt

Maryland at Miami (FL)

Wisconsin at Purdue

Washington at Oregon