Weekend Preview 2.2

South Florida @ Auburn

Viewer Rating (1-5): Tough call on this one, but I’m going with a 2 because it just isn’t sexy enough. If the upset alert counts for anything, bump it up to 3.

Why you should watch: Just to see if Auburn’s young offensive line ever decides to block anybody. It’s going on one game, and it hasn’t happened yet. Also, as bad as I think Brandon Cox is, he’s not helped out at all by a dearth of talent in the receiving corps. South Florida has pulled some big, big upsets in the past two years and is an up-and-comer in the Big East, but last week’s 15-point win over Division I-AA Elon was BAAA-AAD. Elon has never been good, although second-year coach Pete Lembo (how’d I know the Phoenix’s coach, right? I’m a superstar. I even provide a picture below) is known for reviving programs.

Still, the Bulls defense is normally nasty, so it’ll stay close. Or should.

Who you should watch: For all intents and purposes, the Brad Lester era should begin this weekend. The running back from powerhouse Parkview High in the Atlanta area was suspended for K-State and should provide a punch to the running game if he’s back. I always love watching Cox because he sucks, personally, but I’m demented. It’s hard to not love watching Quentin Groves coming around the end. He needs just one sack to tie Gerald Robinson (1982-85) for first all-time in school history. USF’s linebacking corps has been billed as being pretty salty, but we’ll see against SEC competition.

Who will win: Auburn’s probably going to lose four games this year, and as much as I have been thinking all week this’ll be one of them, I just can’t pull the trigger. USF just didn’t look together last week against a much worse opponent. Whether it was showing anything against inferior competition, who knows? But the Bulls will be fired up this week.

Against the spread: I just don’t see Auburn eeking this one out by a mere touchdown, like it’s favored. It’ll be ugly, but the Tigers will probably win one quick and dirty like last week. And Jen Sterger can go back to pulling for FSU. Yes, this was a shameless excuse to include her picture.

READ OUR BLOG!!

Ghost of Neyland 

Weekend Preview 2.1

Alabama @ Vanderbilt

Viewer Rating (1-5): 3 (4 for Bama fans): This isn’t a marquee matchup by any means (it is the JP LF game of the week, afterall), but it should be a good game as a steadily improving Vanderbilt team hosts Alabama in a game that the Commodores always, without fail, play Bama extremely tough for 3+ quarters before finding a way to lose in the end.

Why you should watch: Well, it’s Bama’s first opponent with a pulse of the season and it’s on the road, inasmuch as a game in Nashville can be called a road game. It will be the first test for the Bama defense which looked good last week, but who wouldn’t? Besides Michigan of course. Plus who doesn’t want to see Steve Martin on the sidelines?

Who you should watch: On the Vandy side, Alabama native Earl Bennett is the best receiver in the SEC. He was responsible for all but 30 or so of Vandy’s receiving yards last week versus Richmond. The matchup between him and Simeon Castille will be fun to watch, but the Commodores do a good job of moving Bennett all over the field to make sure he gets his touches. Last year, Alabama held Bennett to around 40 or 50 yards. Vandy didn’t fare so well against the run last week so expect to see more of speedster Terry Grant, whose running style reminds me of a faster Michael Hart, but probably not quite as strong. I would also expect Applewhite to call some deep passes off play-action this week. That part of the playbook was left in the lockerroom vs. Western Carolina. Another question will be how much Prince Hall and Keith Brown see the field. Both were suspended for last week’s tilt.

Unfortunately, this guy is playing Saturday. And not…….

……this guy.

Who will win: Alabama, and I’ve got a feeling that it won’t be the typical nail biter we’ve come to expect against Vanderbilt

Against the line: The spread was 3.5 at the time of this posting. And normally it’s wise money to pick against the Tide as favorites, but I think the Tide goes to Nashville and TCoB and wins by 10 or more.

Crimson Daddy

Weekend Preview 2.0

South Carolina @ Georgia

Viewer Rating (1-5): 4, Always a good early-season SEC game and the first big East battle of the year from a pair of teams talented enough to contend for a spot in Atlanta.

Why you should watch: A game known for its defensive battles traditionally could take on a decidedly offensive flavor this year. UGA quarterback and keg-aerobics superstar Matthew Stafford has dropped weight and added confidence this year, looking like a poised veteran in last week’s season-opening throttling of Oklahoma State. Also, SC quarterback Blake Mitchell returns after his one-game academic hiatus. Mitchell isn’t quite the gunslinger Darth Visor craves, but he’s not a bad option as a senior. This one might be close if Mitchell is sharp, and we all know how sharp he looks under the neon lights of a jailhouse … Quit droolin’ ladies.

Plus, the winner gets a head start on Tennessee and Florida a week before that monster showdown.

Who you should watch: It’s always fun watching Spurrier on the sideline, especially after he called his team “a bunch of stiffs” after last week’s shaky win over Louisiana-Lafayette. Unbelievably, the ‘Cocks’ defense allowed 252 rushing yards to the Ragin’ Orgerons. That doesn’t bode well considering UGA has Touchdown Thomas Brown and the most exciting young running back you’ve never heard of in Knowshon Moreno.  Of course, anybody who follows recruiting religiously has heard of the New Jersey high school legend who burst onto the scene with 121 yards of total offense last week.

Who will win: Made the mistake of picking against the Bulldogs last week, so it won’t happen again until they lose. They looked really good last week against the Cowboys. We’ll see if they’re for real Saturday, I believe.

Against the line: I’d think Georgia could cover 4.5 in its sleep this week. But I also thought UT would dominate the line of scrimmage against Cal.

Ghost of Neyland