SEC has busy weekend ahead
Question: If I dedicated my life to finding NicoleSimpson’s real killer, trying to prove the holocaustdidn’t exist or attempting to restore consumer faith inEnron, what would that make me?
Answer: The second dumbest person in the world.
I would slide in just ahead of North Carolina State head coachChuck Amato. On Saturday, the Wolfpack played its most importantgame in decades against third-ranked Ohio State .
They failed miserably. The horrendous play-calling cost them thegame in overtime.
Last week, when I predicted the Wolfpack pulling off the upsetagainst the Buckeyes, I forgot to take into account that PhillipRivers isn’t 15 feet tall and can’t fall forward togain five yards.
This week, while N.C. State fans are left to sit wondering whatmight have been, the rest of the country eagerly anticipates thebest weekend of the college football season so far.
The four best teams in the SEC play each other, Texas A&Mlooks to regain its status as an elite team and other top 25 teamsface potential upsets.
Big Games
Georgia at LSU
This is a clash of titans in the SEC as the highest ranked teamsin both the eastern (Georgia) and western (LSU) divisions faceoff.
LSU’s Keys to Victory:
The Tigers will look to junior quarterback Matt Mauck forleadership; he has torched opposing defenses, throwing eighttouchdowns this year with only one interception. They will alsoneed a big game from up-and-coming running back Shyrone Carey. Lastweek against Western Illinois, Carey rushed 21 times for 124 yards.If LSU can get similar production out of him against the Bulldogs,Baton Rouge will be partying on Saturday night.
Georgia’s Keys to Victory:
Georgia is limping into this game as three starters aresidelined with injury. The most notable of the injuries is toall-SEC candidate wide receiver Fred Gibson, who is suffering froma pulled hamstring. This puts even more pressure on Heisman hopefulquarterback David Greene who will be without his favorite target.Look for Greene to get the ball to junior Reggie Brown who had 104yards receiving last week against South Carolina.
If Greene plays a consistent game, the Bulldogs should pull outthe victory on the road.
Prediction: Georgia: 24, LSU: 10
Tennessee at Florida
The Gators have won 8 of the last 10 in this series and come inas three point favorites. However, the Volunteers have beenimpressive in their wins this year, rushing for an average of 248.5yards per game.
Florida’s Keys to Victory
On defense, the Gators will need to slow down the terrificrunning tandem of Cedric Houston and Jabari Davis. Florida will puteight men in the box and try to make Casey Clausen beat them.
On offense, Florida needs to decide on a quarterback. Whetherit’s the first-year phenom Chris Leak or the solidsecond-year player Ingle Martin is irrelevant; however, they muststick with one. Also, look for the Gators to establish the runearly with their own one-two punch of Deshawn Wynn and Ran Carthon.If the Gators run the ball well they will win.
Tennessee’s Keys to Victory
Since Florida is going to load the box, the Tennessee offensemust prove they can throw the ball downfield. Look for Clausen tofind converted quarterback James Banks early and often. Also,don’t be surprised if the Vols come out with a trick playearly in the game in an effort to stretch the Florida defense.
Defensively, Tennessee will also try and stop the run first andmake one of the inexperienced Florida quarterbacks beat them.Don’t be surprised to see a lot of blitz packages in passingsituations as to disrupt the timing in the Gator quick-strikeattack.
Prediction: Tennessee: 17,
Florida: 27
Texas A&M at Virginia Tech
This game, played tonight, could be a battle of wills as thereis a high probability that there will be torrential downpours as aresult of Hurricane Isabel.
Texas A&M’s Keys to Victory
The Aggie offense starts and ends with big No. 16, ReggieMcNeal. The sophomore quarterback is the catalyst for the entireoffense. So far this season, McNeal has been solid but notimpressive, not coincidentally, so has the entire Aggie team.First-year head coach Dennis Franchione is taking his team intohostile territory. The Hokies have been near unbeatable at homeunder head coach Frank Beamer.
For Texas A&M to have any chance they will need a great gamefrom McNeal as well as freshman running back Courtney Lewis.
Virginia Tech’s Keys to Victory
Speed. Speed. Speed. The cliché in football is that speedkills. If that is the case, then the Aggies are in trouble. Runningback Kevin Jones is a burner who runs a sub 4.3 40-yard dash. Thesame can be said for quarterbacks Bryan Randall and Marcus Vick aswell as two-way performer and Heisman hopeful DeAngelo Hall.
Combining the Hokies’ speed with their outstanding specialteams play (more blocked kicks than any team in the ‘90s) andthe game being played in Blacksburg only spells one thing.
Prediction: Texas A&M: 3, Virginia Tech: 34
Other Notes
This week has the possibility to be full of upsets. Look forBowling Green to give Ohio State all they can handle this week.Florida State could have some trouble at home against a Coloradoteam that is out to prove that last week’s embarrassing lossto Washington State was nothing more than an aberration. In thisweek’s upset special, the Miami Hurricanes will fall short asthey travel to play Boston College.
