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 29 in the SEC

The two greatest teams in college football, LSU and Alabama, have a bye this week. But, #10 Arkansas travels to Nashville to play the 'Dores in an early afternoon contest. Petrino's Pigs are too powerful for Vanderbilt. Hogs 38, fightin' James Franklins 20.

At 3:30, CBS will broadcast the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party live from Jacksonville, Florida. Mark Richt hopes to improve on his 2-8 record in this contest, but that will be no easy feat. Although his team currently sports an un-gatorlike 4-3 record, Will Muschamp has explosive playmakers in Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, and Trey Burton. With two weeks to prepare, offensive coordinator Charlie Weiss will have some trump cards ready to play on Saturday. For Georgia, talented linebacker, Alec Ogletree returns to a Bulldog defense that brings a few tricks of its own. Don't know which way this game's gonna go, so I'll make this prediction straight from my heart. Dawgs 20, Florida 16.

Both schools from the fattest state in America 6 years running are gonna be in action at 7 PM. In a game worthy of ESPN3, Dandy Dan Mullen will get his first SEC victory of 2011 in Lexington, Kentucky. No offense + issues on the defensive side of the ball doesn't bode well for the Wildcats. Mississippi State is less bad. Dogs 24, Kats 14. Meanwhile, the Ole Miss Rebels will be looking to exchange their conference doughnut for a biscuit in the win column. Ain't gonna happen. The Rebs will be on their way to another loss inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. War Eagle Tigers 31, Rebs 12.

Bringing the conference back to relevance, Tennessee hosts #13 South Carolina at 7:15 on ESPN2. No Lattimore, no Stephen Garcia, no visor atop Steve Spurrier's head. Major upset of the day, as Derek Dooley gets the biggest win of his Volunteer career. Vols 24, Gamecocks 17. You're welcome, Barbara.

These are my picks for the week. Can ya'll do any better? Feel free to leave comments or join me on twitter.

P.S. Click on the title of this post.

October 1 in the SEC

Vanderbilt has a bye this week. The Commodores will be back in action on October 8 when they travel to Tuscaloosa.

Florida hosts the Crimson Tide. This one could go either way, but I'll roll with the home field advantage. Gators chomp 'em up in O.T.

Arkansas vs Texas A&M at Cowboys Stadium. Hogs over Aggies.

LSU is Home vs Kentucky. #1 LSU wallops the Wildcats in Baton Rouge.

Tennessee is Home vs Buffalo. Dooley's vols improve to 3-1.

Ole Miss At Fresno State. Both teams suck but I'll take the Bulldogs at home.

Georgia is Home vs Mississippi State. Richt's Dawgs avenge last year's loss to Mullen's Dogs with a narrow victory.

South Carolina is Home vs the 2010 National Champs. Click on the title of this post to see my take on this one.

Expanding the SEC

There's been a lot of talk lately about Texas A&M and Missouri possibly joining the SEC. To be honest, I have mixed emotions on the topic. I can see where these two programs could expand the conference's TV market and insure that the league remains the nation's best. On the flip side, I don't like change and don't think it's necessary. The SEC plays America's greatest football...hands down. So if it ain't broke, why fix it?

The Pac 10 pumped its azz up to 12 teams for the sake of holding a conference championship game, in hopes that the victor will frequently be granted a title shot. However, the additions of Colorado and Utah aren't enough to conquer the SEC in terms of prestige. So what happens next? Will we actually see the nation's premier conferences bolster themselves to a stupefying 14 to 16 teams, in order to "keep up with the Robinsons?"

If so, I'd rather have a playoff system put in place. What are your thoughts?

Vanderbilt's Impact on "Hot Seat" Coaches

The Vanderbilt Commodores may have just factored into the equation of whether or not Houston Nutt or Mark Richt remain at their respective schools. With a lopsided 30-7 victory over Ole Miss, Vanderbilt just added a little spice to next week's showdown in Oxford, between the Georgia Bulldogs and Mississippi Rebels.

Both teams enter the contest with 1-2 records, which include fan base disgruntling conference losses. Another could spell the beginning of the end for either coach's tenure at his University.

What are your thoughts? Is it too early to think this way?

September 17 in the SEC

Georgia- Home vs Coastal Carolina. Dawgs get a much needed win.
Alabama- Home vs North Texas. Tide rolls.
Arkansas- Home vs Troy. Trojans fall.
Kentucky- Home vs Louisville. Kats over Cards.
South Carolina- Home vs Navy. Gamecocks cruise to 3-0 start.
Vanderbilt- Home vs Ole Miss. I'll take the Rebels.
Auburn- @ Clemson. War Eagle Tigers get defeated in "death valley."
Florida- Home vs Tennessee. Big win for Dooley's Vols...Just kidding, Gators win.

Thursday Night:
Mississippi State- Home vs LSU. To see my pick, play the video.

These are my predictions for this week's action inside the SEC. What ya'll got?

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.

September 3rd in the SEC

Vanderbilt- Home vs Elon. Commodores crush 'em by 17.
Tennessee- Home vs Montana. UT wins by at least 20.
South Carolina- Neutral site vs East Carolina. Lattimore leads visors to victory.
Kentucky- plays on Thursday vs Western Kentucky. Kats destroy Hill Toppers.
Ole Miss-Home vs BYU. Mormons win. Shout out to Braves' great, Dale Murphy.
Mississippi State- Also on Thursday At Memphis. Dogs get it done.
Auburn- Home vs Utah State. War Eagle/Tigers start the season 1-0.
Arkansas- Home vs Missouri State. Show me a loss for "MSU."
Alabama- Home vs Kent State. UGLY. Bama by at least 35.
LSU- neutral site vs Oregon. Ducks get quacked.
Georgia- "neutral site" vs Boise State. Dawgs drag Broncos through the Junk Yard.
Florida- Home vs Florida Atlantic. Upset of the SEC season. FAU shocks the swamp men in Gainesville.

You've seen my picks, what do ya'll predict?

New Look Dawgs

I was looking at an SEC Preview Magazine published by Sports Illustrated, when I noticed something subtle. My copy is a regional cover that features WaShaun Ealey. He's wearing the number 24. He'll wear #3 next season. But, that's not the issue. The issue is less than newsworthy. But, being a Bulldogs fan, it interests me. So, here it is...

Ealey ain't wearin' silver britches with his traditional Red jersey. His pants are white with the same design. When it comes to uniforms, fans either love changes or hate 'em. So, I pose this question to the Georgia faithful. Do you care about uniform variations or just wins and losses?

Either way, you can expect to see the Dawgs shelve their silver britches for a home game or two. They'll be wearing the white britches SI features on their magazine. But, that won't matter one bit, if Georgia doesn't win.

Click on the title of this post for a reminder.

Locals Succeed Elsewhere

Ya'll ready to start talkin' football? As I prepare for the upcoming season, I'm amazed at the endless supply of talent that annually flows from the beautiful state of Georgia. Athletes such as Eric Berry (University of Tennessee), Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown (former Auburn Tigers) cut their teeth playing high school football in the Peach State. But, they all went on to have incredible careers beyond Georgia's borders. Oh, and some dude named Chuck Smith (one of the greatest DE to ever wear an Atlanta Falcons uniform) was born and raised in Athens. But, he didn't play for the Dawgs. Instead, Mr. Smith took his skills to Tennessee and had an outstanding career as a Volunteer. The list could go on for miles.

Anyway, here are some lesser known local guys to watch in 2010:
LB #30 Mario Harvey from Forsyth, Ga led Marshall's defense with 117 tackles and 7 sacks in 2009. The rising senior could make his name well known, with a dominant performance against the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 2.

RE #49 Bruce Miller from Canton, Ga led UCF with 13 sacks last season. The rising senior should continue to wreak havoc on Conference USA QBs.

SS #32 Hiram Atwater from Decatur, Ga was the leading tackler for the UAB Blazers in 2009, recording 89 tackles. It's never a good sign when a DB leads your team in this statistic. But, somebody's gotta make plays. And that's what Atwater does best. This rising senior is a tremendous asset for the pedestrian UAB "defense."

WR #17 Dwayne Harris from Stone Mountain is a rising senior at ECU. Last year, he led the Pirates with 83 receptions for 978 yards and 7 TDs. His 11.8 yards per catch ranked second on the squad. Look for him to exceed the 1,000 yard mark (if healthy) and become one of the top WRs selected in next year's NFL Draft.

RB #27 Mario Fannin from Hampton, Ga could emerge as one of the top tailbacks in the SEC, as he totes the rock for Auburn in 2010. After spending the previous season at WR, Fannin moves into a rotation with Onterio McCalebb in the War Eagle/Tigers' backfield. Although Fannin was second on the team with 42 receptions for 413 yards, he is a much better playmaker at RB. Behind a well seasoned OL, #27 could be poised for his best season on the Plains.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the SEC's 2009 freshman of the year. RB #5 Warren Norman of Stone Mountain, Ga is coming off an electric debut in the Vanderbilt backfield. Norman led the Commodores with 783 yards rushing on 145 attempts, for an average of 5.4 yds per carry. Although he got into the endzone a modest 3 times, Norman added 3 more scores as a kick returner.

I'll wrap this up in a minute. But, here's a few more names you should know...
DT #99 Omar Hunter from Buford, Ga- Florida Gators, RB #31 Kenny Miles of Lawrenceville, Ga and DT #91 Ladi Ajiboye from Riverdale, Ga- both South Carolina Gamecocks, FS# 3 Darren Myles, Jr. hails from Atlanta but plays for the Vols, WR#15 Darius Hanks from Norcross and LT #77 James Carpenter of Augusta roll with the Tide.

SEC '09: What I Don't Wanna See

Here's a brief list of what I don't want to see happen during the 2009 SEC Football season.

#1: I'll kick start this post by actually venturing outside the league a little. Sounds odd, but hear me out. In 2009, I don't wanna see any police brutality vs the fans, anywhere. Following a stunning upset of Virginia Tech last season, ECU fans triumphantly stormed the field. Unfortunately for quite a few Pirates fans, the state troopers decided to conduct themselves in a manner better suited for the UFC. Some of the fans were thrown around like rag dolls and unjustly beaten up. I must say for the record, that I have the utmost respect for all men and women who choose to serve and protect our communities. But in this situation, the cops were out of line. I would hate to see a recurrence of this event, whether it be in the SEC or any other league.

#2: Another Blackout backfire on the Bulldogs. Last season, Alabama coaches stated that UGA was wearing black, because the Dawgs were going to their own funeral. To make matters worse, the Crimson Tide proved those words prophetic. At halftime, the score was 31-0 and Georgia's title hopes were laid to rest inside of a stunned Sanford Stadium.

#3: Urban Meyer proudly clinging to another crystal football. There's no need for me to comment any further on this one.

#4: Eric Berry with the ball in his hands. The latest rumor out of Knoxville, is that #14 and WR Nukeese Richardson are both getting reps at "QB" in the Wild Vol formation. Eric Berry is one of college football's most exciting players. I don't wanna see him touch the rock, any more than he will from his DB position. The kid is electrifying. But, he plays for the bad guys.

#5: Paul Johnson's crazy techsters breaking through Bulldog "tackles." Jonathan Dwyer and Roddy Jones ran right through the Georgia defense and led their Jackets to an upset victory over UGA in 2008. That ain't 'sposed to happen in Athens. Actually, it ain't 'sposed to happen period. Georgia owns gt. That's just how it goes.

#6: South Carolina find a leader at the QB position, who can ignite Spurrier's "Cock N Fire" offense. (Just for the record, I didn't create that terminology. That's what the Gamecocks call it). Anchored by Ladi Ojiboye, Clifton Geathers, and Eric Norwood, the South Carolina defense will be nasty. Is this the year that Spurrier finally elevates his program and makes Sloth Carolina relevant?

#7: Lane Kiffin succeed at Tennessee. Monte's boy comes across as an arrogant little punk. This guy reminds me of a pre-NFL tenured coach named Steve Spurrier. Completely classless. Hopefully, Kiffin will have the same amount of success in Knoxville, as he did out in Oakland.

#8: Injuries. Although it's a part of the game, I hope to see a much healthier season in the SEC. Last year, Georgia suffered many crucial blows to the depth chart. Forgive me if it sounds like I'm making excuses, but we did not see the real Dawgs in 2008. There are so many talented athletes in the SEC. I hope to see every team compete at it's strongest level in 2009.

#9: Ohio State or Oklahoma "compete" in the BCS Championship Game. These teams have been nothing more than glorified roadkill for elite SEC programs, such as Florida and LSU. Although I strongly despise USC, I'm hoping to see this PAC 10 "power" go into the title game with a flawless resume'. Then...get destroyed by whoever wins the SEC Championship Game. The Trojans are due for a southern styled beat down.

#10: Another 3-2 affair in the Auburn vs Mississippi State series. Defense wins championships, but 5 total points is a bit absurd. Hopefully, someone will at least get into the endzone once on September 12.

What's on Your Mind?

College football fans, there are only 43 days until the 2009 season begins. As Florida and "self motivated" Tim Tebow look to defend the national championship, the Dawgs look to regroup and reload. Ole Miss is 'sposed to be tough, and Mississippi State is... Ms State. Petrino's Pigs are excited about their future with Ryan Mallett at QB. Can the Michigan defector help Arkansas emerge as a force in the SEC West? 'Bama must replace John Parker Wilson and All American tackle, Andre Smith. The Crimson Tide defense outta be nasty, but that wasn't enough to guide LSU through a similar transition in 2008.

So...what's on your mind, ya'll?

Click on the title of this post to see a legendary tribute to Rocky Top.

Know Shaun Part II

College football fans all over America became familiar with Knowshon Moreno, due to his phenomenal two seasons at the University of Georgia. But now that Moreno is a Denver Bronco, where does that leave the Bulldog backfield? Caleb King, Richard Samuel, and Carlton Thomas will be given many opportunities to showcase their talents in 2009. But in the near future, there's another 'Shaun you need to know. Highly recruited out of Emanuel County Institute in Twin City GA, WaShaun Ealey is the future of Georgia football. The true freshman looks to be a natural fit for Mark Richt's offense. Ranked as the #15 RB in the class of 2009, Ealey is the complete package at running back. The former AJC player of the year also has the skills to excel as a blocker in pass protection schemes. He may not make his Bulldog debut until 2010, but SEC fans, you need to know WaShaun Ealey. He'll be the guy your defense can't contain.

Click on the title of this post to view some highlights. Also tried to include an enclosure link. Hope it works.

50 Days: LSU

50 days must seem like an eternity for LSU. That is the distance between the Les Miles led Tigers and their quest for redemption. On September 5th, LSU travels out west to take on a terrible Washington Huskies squad that went 0-12 in 2008. This game is huge for LSU. Why? Because a victory helps to dissolve a bit of the sour taste left over from last season.

Down on the bayou, an 8-5 record is about as palatable as a bowl of rotten jumbalaya. One year removed from winning the national championship, the once mighty Tigers fell to just 3-5 in the SEC. The biggest factor in LSU's sudden demise was poor decision making at the quarterback position. In 2008, Tiger QBs threw a cumulative 18 interceptions. Against Georgia, Jarrett Lee threw two pick sixes to Dawgs linebacker Darryl Gamble. Those two mistakes loomed large, as Georgia defeated LSU by 14 points.

Fortunately for LSU, young QB Jordan Jefferson has emerged as a talented playmaker at the position. After starting just 2 games of the '08 season, Jefferson should be able to make great strides in 2009. "This year I understand the playbook more and I'm able to bring more to the table than last year," Jefferson told the press. If not, highly touted freshman Russell Shephard could get a chance to shine. Either way, LSU is in much better shape at the position than they were in '08. As the Tigers look to re-establish LSU as one of the nation's elite teams, 50 days must seem like a long ways away.

*To view highlights of Russell Shepard, click on the title of this post. Sorry, but there's no sound.*

SEC Football

SEC fans, college football is less than 2 months away. Whether you're a Gator, Vol, or Georgia Bulldog, it's easy to get excited about the upcoming season. In Gainesville, the national ('scuse me) champs return their entire defense plus Tim Tebow. Most experts predict a ('scuse me again) repeat for the Florida Gators. But, don't sleep on Texas, who retains the services of insanely accurate quarterback, Colt McCoy, or gauntlet of contenders from the likes of Norman Oklahoma and Southern California. Throw into the mix a couple of SEC powers such as the Crimson Tiders, LSU Tigers, and upstart Ole Miss, and this could be one of the most exciting seasons ever.

In Knoxville, uT fans anxiously await the arrival of sensational RB, Bryce Brown. Lame Kiffin may be an idiot, but the dude can definitely recruit. With his daddy overseeing the Tennessee defense, the Vols should continue to make life miserable on opposing offenses. Defensive back Eric Berry is one of the most talented athletes to ever play the game. He will wreak even more havoc in UT's version of the Tampa 2 defense. The biggest question for UT is, who will step up at QB?

In Athens, Mark Richt is embracing life without Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. He believes that this year's squad will actually benefit from their absence. "I think the media, whether we liked it or not, wanted to portray Stafford and Moreno as the team. You couldn't talk about Georgia without talking about Stafford or Moreno. They are great players, but now that those guys are gone, it's much more of a team situation here," Richt said. The '09 Dawgs will be vastly improved in many aspects of the game, if they can remain healthy. All American caliber DT Jeff Owens returns to bolster the UGA defense. On the other side of the ball, former freshman All SEC offensive lineman, Trinton Sturdivant, comes back from injury. Don't be surprised, if the Joe Cox led Bulldogs creep from the shadows and emerge as a BCS contender. This team is very talented, despite losing it's best offensive weapons to the NFL.

P.S. I tried to post a link to this article. It failed. Click on the title of this post to access the link.

What's on my Mind:

I think I read somewhere that UNC just won their 5th NCAA tournament title. Good for them. I guess they've got some ballers. Now, let's move on to something that actually matters....SEC FOOTBALL. Spring practices have been going on for weeks down in Dixie. This Saturday, Mark Richt's Georgia Bulldogs will be featured on ESPN, as the Red team battles the Black inside of Sanford Stadium at 1:00 eastern time. Admission is free and word on the street is that a ban has been placed on the phrase "Black Out." Keep an eye on RS Freshman Carlton Thomas (RB).

Meanwhile, folks down in Gainesville are dreamin' of a repeat. The '09 Gators will be phenomenal, despite the loss of WR Percy Harvin. With Tebow still at the helm, Florida will likely be the favorite to win next year's BCS Championship Game. I'd like to say their hopes will die in Jacksonville. But...let's be real. The red and black colored glasses are off, maybe even stomped on once or twice in frustration.

Speaking of tirades...The "Ol' Ball Coach" has had a less than stellar coaching career in Columbia, SC. Spurrier's Gamecocks have failed to become a contender in the SEC East, but isn't that to be expected? We're talking about South Carolina. The university is better known for parading Ric Flair around the sidelines, than actually achieving greatness on the football field. Sorry, George Rogers.

Speaking of sorry... Lane Kiffin is an idiot! You didn't hear it first on this blog. You heard it months ago. My mother once told me that a wise man keeps his mouth shut and lets people believe he's intelligent, while a fool opens his mouth and proves his ignorance. Kiffin was reprimanded by the SEC for falsely accusing UF coach Urban Meyer of "cheating" on the recruiting front. Meyer allegedly made phone call(s) to a prospect,while the kid was visiting UT. Who cares? That's allowed under NCAA regulations.

So, how 'bout the SEC West? Saban's Tide rolls 'em all in 09. Young QB Star Jackson doesn't have to put up Heisman numbers. All he needs to do is manage the game, and give the ball to Pensacola's own Trent Richardson. Bama will dominate the west, but will history repeat itself in Atlanta? Who knows? Crazy things can happen in the SEC.