This Week in the SEC

It's been awhile since I've posted some predictions on SEC football. But, tonight seems like a good time for me to get back into the swing of things. So, here we go...

Arkansas goes to The Grove tomorrow and loses to the Ole Miss Rebels by 17, while the Auburn Tigers fare a whole lot better in Knoxville. War Eagles by 13 over the Vols.

Meanwhile, the Vanderbilt Commodores take a journey into the Swamp and leave the sunshine state with an upset victory over my favorite Florida coach, Mr. Will Muschamp and his Gators.

In Athens, the Bulldogs of Georgia host Appalachian State. Injury issues aside, Dawgs celebrate homecoming with a 33-10 win. But, the party is a bit subdued when Kentucky loses to Missouri in Lexington.

South Carolina has the week off and Dan Mullen's Dogs wish they could say the same about themselves. Texas A&M won't need the 12th man in this one. The home team wins 42-14.

And, for the premiere game of the week, Les Miles leads LSU to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to take on the national champions. This will be an epic battle that goes down to the wire. To find out who I expect to win, please follow @RobSealerSports on Twitter. Will post a video soon.

October 8 in the SEC

Here we go with another exciting week of SEC football and (lifts up prayer hands) stellar predictions from yours truly. Here's the skinny.

Ole Miss has a bye, but do the Rebs ever show up for their games?

South Carolina hosts Kentucky. Spurrier's visor won't leave his noggin this Saturday. Lattimore and company will plow past the Wildcats.

Mississippi State goes on the road and takes on UAB. Blazers get Dogged out by Mullen's squad.

Crimson Tide crushes Vanderbilt in Tuscalooza. Commodore fans, don't waste ya gas money. This one was over as soon as it was scheduled. Tide Rolls.

Chizik's champs go to Arkansas and Petrino's Pigs flip the script. Hogs roast Tigers 37-24.

Tennessee welcomes the University of Georgia to Knoxville. Sensational freshman RB Isaiah Crowell runs over Volunteer defenders with such an intensity that they all swear their name is Bill Bates. Dawgs 41- Da'Rick Rogers and UT 27.

Florida travels to Death Valley...the real one. I don't care what the bayou's wildlife and fisheries council says...October is Gator season in Louisiana. Geaux Tigers!!

Footnote of the day: A man always takes accountability for his actions. But it's comforting to know that someone has your back, even when your scrawny azz is dead wrong. A few weeks ago, I took some time off and began to evaluate some things. But, I must join you in wondering...Who is truly to blame for all of my errant predictions? Click on the title of this post.

September 10 in the SEC

Florida- Home vs UAB. Blazers in an upset? Nah. I ain't drankin' crazy juice this week. Gators chomp 'em up.
Kentucky- Home vs Central Michigan. Kats over Chippewas.
Tennessee-Home vs Cincinnati. Tempted to take the road team. But, Dooley's good ole boys outta get the job done up thar in Knoxville. Vols by 14.
LSU-Home vs Northwestern State. No prediction necessary.
Ole Miss- Home vs Southern Illinois. Not too concerned about spelling Mississippi. Rebs by 17.
Vanderbilt- Home vs UConn. Interesting basketball matchup. In regards to football, I'll take the 'Dores.
Arkansas- Home vs New Mexico. Petrino's Pigs over Lobos. What the hell is a Lobo? Rebecca got game and her own dot com.
Auburn- Home vs Mississippi State. Signature victory for Mullen's Dogs.
Georgia- Home vs South Carolina. Dawgs lack the toughness needed to be a contender in the SEC. Gamecocks prevail on the road, as Georgia fans wonder if their defense will ever learn how to tackle opposing players.
Alabama- AT Penn State. Nittany Lions lose by 10. Roll Tide.

These are my picks. What are yours? Feel free to share your comments.

Sports Talk Featuring Durty Bo Dean

Earlier today, I got to talk sports with one of the rising stars in Hip Hop and Rap. And I thought, "Who better to shed some light on Crimson Tide football, than the Alabama Outlaw...Durty Bo Dean?" Here's a brief Q & A session.

Rob: Durty, the Crimson Tide appear headed toward another run at the BCS Championship. But, can Alabama roll through the SEC again? And, who will be the Tide's toughest contenders in the conference?

Durty Bo Dean: Oh yeah, I feel even though Florida lost alot of their top players to the draft, that they are still our toughest challenge in the SEC.

Rob: I agree. The Tide will probably face 'em twice. Once on October 2nd in Tuscaloosa and again in December for the SEC title. Your squad looks strong, as Heisman trophy winner, Mark Ingram returns to the Alabama backfield. So does the talented Trent Richardson. This tandem combined to rush for over 2,400 yards and 25 tds in 2009. Does Alabama have the nation's best running back combination?

Durty Bo Dean: I feel with the combination of speed and power that we do have the best RB combination in the SEC, if not the NCAA. I think Richardson will have a breakout season this year.

Rob: That's a good point. The Tide's opposition will be fired up to shut Ingram down. But, Pensacola's Trent Richardson will be a change of pace back, that causes all kinds of issues for opposing defenses. Let's talk about Julio Jones for a minute. In 2009, he only caught 43 passes for 596 yards and 4 scrawny tds. But, senior QB Greg McElroy "Put on a Show" in the SEC Championship Game against Florida. As a result of his maturation, will offensive coordinator, Jim McElwain take more shots to #8 down field in 2010?

Durty Bo Dean: Yeah, alot of people don't know that Jones was injured through half of the season. I think he will come back with something to prove. McElroy definitely proved himself during that Florida game. I think Jim McElwain will definitely open up the offense in 2010.

Rob: That could be scary for Alabama's opponents. Entering his 4th season in Tuscaloosa, Nick Saban has posted a 33-8 record, including a BCS title. And, that's after inheriting a program that nearly passed out under Mike Shula. Is it too early to compare his legacy to that of the legendary coach, Bear Bryant?

Durty Bo Dean: I feel it's a lil' too early. I respect Saban for bringing that power football and defensive intensity back to Alabama, though. I still wanna be sure he's in it for the long haul.

Rob: Well said. Any detractor of Saban's mentions his history of moving on to "greener pastures." In the interest of the SEC, I hope he remains at Alabama for many more years. Moving on, the Georgia Bulldogs decided to "Black Out" the Crimson Tide in 2008. The plan backfired, as Mark Richt's squad went into the half, stunned by a 30 point deficit. What do you think about coaches employing such tactics to motivate their players and fans?

Durty Bo Dean: LOL. I don't think those type of tricks are gonna work against the Tide. Saban has his players too disciplined to fall for that. The best thing for the competition to do is play hard nosed, straight up football, cause we don't back down!

Rob: Alabama is always strong in the trenches. But, former Tide DT Terence Cody is preparing for his rookie season in the NFL. Will Kirby Smart's defense miss his presence in the middle?

Durty Bo Dean: I think we will definitely miss "Mt. Cody." He and Melsin were a very important piece of our championship run. But, Smart and Saban are always prepared and we have alot of talent ready to fill the void.

Rob: I think I know the answer to this question, but I gotta ask it anyway. Will we ever see you rockin' an Auburn Tigers cap in one of your videos? And, what do you dislike most about Alabama's in-state rival?

Durty Bo Dean: Never. I think it's a very good rivalry that does alot for the state of Alabama. No further comment on the Tigers.

Rob: Former Tennessee head coach, Lane Kiffin is facing some serious sanctions at USC. What are your thoughts on the situation?

Durty Bo Dean: Well, I feel that karma is real and he kinda got what he deserved for bailing on Tennessee. Like that, Alabama went through similar sanctions and we bounced back. So, USC just has to build from the situation and take a closer look at their players and staff.

Rob: Well said. Moving on, some of my heroes growing up were Tim Worley, Dominique Wilkins, and Hank Aaron. What athletes did you look up to and who do you admire today?

Durty Bo Dean: Michael Jordan, Emmitt Smith, and Ken Griffey Jr. to name a few. Alot of my heroes were family members who helped raise me. But, sports taught me friendship and teamwork.

Rob: Speaking of MJ, he and I both had alot to say about LeBron's decision to leave Cleveland. We were both critical of his move to South Beach. But, I wonder if we were a bit unfair. What are your thoughts?

Durty Bo Dean: I have mixed feelings. I agree with Jordan and Bird by saying they would never join up, because they wanted to defeat each other. But, it's a different era and I don't think LeBron would have won a ring in Cleveland.

Rob: You're probably right about Cleveland. That city seems to be cursed in the world of sports. Let's get back to football for a minute. What's on your tailgate menu?

Durty Bo Dean: Well, I gotta have some St. Louis style ribs, barbecue shrimp, and a couple of Coronas to wash it all down.

Rob: Sounds good. Whenever you're ready to fire up the grill, let me know. Aside from music and college football, what are some of your other interests?

Durty Bo Dean: Pretty much livin' my life to the fullest, being a good father to my daughter, and trying to see a million dollars before I'm 40 years old.

Rob: Thanks for your time, Durty. I know you're very busy right now. You've got a CD in the works and some promotional opportunities on the horizon. Would you like to share some details with the readers and how can they support Durty Bo Dean?

Durty Bo Dean: Yea I'm wrapping up my album titled "Theme Music" due to release this month. I have a couple of shows booked in Florida to promote the album. For more details, you can go to www.durtybodean.com or just google me.

Rob: Ya'll heard the man. Check him out. You won't regret it.

Open Mike...Clever or Classless?

Not long after shamelessly slandering the University of Georgia's football program, Orlando Sentinel columnist, Mike Bianchi, continues to throw daggers at the SEC. Here's what he had to say about the Crimson Tide:

"In Alabama, cheating is as much a part of the football lore as the houndstooth cap worn by Bear Bryant and that purty dress worn by Mike DuBose's secretary...Roll Tide? Alabama's rallying cry should be, "We Lied!'"

Bianchi continues throwing stones, stating, "And maybe too, Alabama should get rid of its elephant mascot and replace it with a pig. What better animal to symbolize the dirtiest, stinkiest program in recent NCAA history."

After reading his latest ramblings, I realize that Bianchi is desperate for hits on his site. So desperate, in fact, that he's resorted to playing the heel card. In a twisted way, the concept kinda makes sense. Controversy generates interest and this dude is banking on the fact that he can get under your skin. He may be an idiot, but Bianchi is at least one on a mission.

Since I'm extremely bored at the moment, I've added a link to Bianchi's Bama bashing article. Click on the title of this post to check it out.

Deja Wrong

Alabama fans, you're welcome. I've been wrong on so many picks this year, it ain't even funny. So, why should the SEC Championship be any different? I still can't believe the way UF got manhandled, but who cares? Bowl season will soon be upon us. At this point, it ain't exactly breaking news, but Saban's Tide will face off against Colt McCoy and the Texas Longhorns to decide a National Champion.

Well, what happens if a Brian Kelly-less Bearcats squad gets dismantled by Tebow and the eye gougers from Gainesville? Does the Fiesta Bowl winner stake claim to one half of the National Championship? Based on their rankings (#4 TCU and #6 Boise State), I'd guess that the undefeated Horned Frogs would have the strongest argument. But, TCU would need to route the loss-less Broncos, in order to breed such a discussion.

If this scenario unfolds, it may add some fodder to the "we need a playoff system" debate, but let's be honest. There will be no split National Championship like we saw in 1990, when G Tech and Colorado both claimed the title. Why? Because 1 program will be crowned king of college football and it will be Texas or (drum roll...not really needed) Alabama. Tide fans, you outta be concerned. I'm picking ya'll to beat Texas by 10.

The National Champion will be crowned where? Click on the title of this post.

And remember...Go Dawgs, ya'll!

P.S. How's the 6-1-9 DC? Hope you're havin' a blast out there, dude.

SEC Championship

As the Alabama Crimson Tide prepare for tomorrow's SEC Championship Game vs Florida, they outta beware of deja vu. The victor will once again move on to play in the BCS Championship Game. Unfortunately for 'Bama, they will only be undefeated for one more day. Even worse, their only loss will be to the #1 team in college football. Ok, that's not the bad part. The cruel truth, is that this defeat will plummet the Tide out of National Title contention. Sound familiar? This is 2008 revisited. Well, minus a Florida loss to Ole Miss.

Who do you predict to win this game and why? Also, who will be named MVP of the 2009 SEC Championship Game?

According to Lane Kiffin, "Florida has the better players and Alabama has the better coaches." Call it an educated guess, if you will, but I'm sure Kiffin won't be wishing Urban Meyer any success tomorrow night.

Click on the title of this post for more deja vu. It will show you my pick for MVP of the 2009 SEC Championship Game. Not exactly an earth shattering prediction, but who cares?

Battle for the West

October has just begun, but...on November 8, defending national champion LSU hosts the Crimson Tide and former Tigers coach, Nick Saban. In the atermath, both teams play two inferior conference opponents (Bama: Home vs Miss State and Auburn. LSU: Home vs Ole Miss, then @ Arkansas). This game will be very pivotal in the quest to win the west.
LSU is led by a powerful and dominant defense. So is Bama. The Tigers' offensive line is one of the premier units in the nation. So is Bama's. On special teams, Trindon Holliday is sensational for LSU. Javier Arenas, one of best nation's best return men, is a Crimson Tide highlight reel waiting to erupt. This could be the game of the year in the SEC. IF both squads are undefeated entering this contest, the battle for the west will be the game of the year in all of college football! The victor will be favored in the chase for two very prized championship rings (SEC and NC). If you love college football, DO NOT MISS THIS GAME!

Rushing Tide

Through the first 4 games of 2008, the Alabama Crimson Tide are leading the SEC in rushing, with 236.8 yards per game. The Alabama offense is led by RB Glen Coffee, who boasts an average of 8.6 yards per carry. The Junior from Fort Walton Beach, Florida is coming off a stellar performance against Arkansas. Last Saturday, Coffee ran for 162 yards on just 10 carries versus the Razorbacks defense. Glen had a long run of 87 yards and scored two touchdowns, as Alabama routed Petrino's pigs 49-14. Joining him in the running back rotation are rising stars, Mark Ingram (Junior) and Roy Upchurch (Freshman). Ingram has 263 yards rushing and averages an impressive 6.1 yards per carry. Upchurch has gained 181 yards on 26 attempts, for an average of 7.0 yards per carry. This trio has combined to produce the most explosive rushing attack in the SEC. Throughout the first 4 games of the 2008 season, they have gained 848 yards on the ground and scored 7 touchdowns.
Alabama is playing extremely well in three major aspects of the game. First, they are dominating opponents with a strong rushing attack. Secondly, the Crimson Tide has showcased spectacular special teams play, sparked by the athleticism of Javier Arenas. And finally, the Alabama defense has been stout, fast, and nasty. Opponents beware: The Tide is rising fast!
Bama Vs Arkansas Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z84p4Ectqbc