Quick look at this weekend's games in the SEC:
South Carolina (6-3, 3-3) v. Arkansas (1-4, 4-4). Tough one to handicap. Homestanding Arkansas is a 7 point favorite, which seems high. USC has had exactly one bad game, but seems to have fallen out of favor. Arkansas has one quality win (Auburn), but could virtually punch its ticket to the postseason with a win.
Tennessee Tech (5-3) at Georgia (4-4, 3-3) Safe game between the hedges. TT opened its season with Pikeville College.
Furman (4-4) at Auburn (6-3, 3-3) Auburn takes on the Paladins and former Two-A-Days star Max Lerner, now a junior SS.
LSU (7-1, 4-1) at Alabama (8-0, 5-0) Can the Tigers mount any sort of offense against the Tide? If so, this could be a very competitive game. Given the rest of the slate, this is the game of the week in the SEC. LSU can still get into a BCS bowl and has an outside chance at the National Championship game. But is has to start with a win Saturday. Alabama is rock solid, and has had a week off since its wake up call against UT.
Memphis (2-6) at Tennessee (4-4, 2-3) Oh how I wish I could gaze into the crystal ball and see a gigantic, nail splitting toe stub. But I don't. Pity that.
Vandy (2-7, 0-5) at Florida (8-0, 6-0) Vandy was beating Georgia Tech 31-28 with a minute left in the third quarter last week. This is a cause for concern in Wildcat nation. In Gainesville, not so much. The SEC's only dead man walking is about to take a beatdown.
Northern Arizona (5-3) at Ole Miss (5-3, 2-3) Who made the damned schedule this week, anyway?
I will say this, though. The SEC has five games this week against non-BCS conference teams. Though it is unlikely, that is a lot of chances for someone to spit the bit. Lets hope it isn't us.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Late night thoughts and a couple of links
Quick post on a Wednesday night. Interesting week for a UK Football Fan. We are faced with a must win game against what should be an overmatched opponent in EKU. Losing this game would be Catastrophic, but it isn't likely. Assuming we do win, we face what will be one of the most important UK Football games of the decade at Vandy. Sound melodramatic? Not at all. If this team doesn't get to a bowl because it lost to both Vandy and Mississippi State, we will have coughed up nearly all the momentum we've gained over the past three years. This has to happen. Nothing else is acceptable.
This wasn't supposed to be a rebuilding year. A solid O-line, the starter at quarterback, the team's best athlete and two studs at key positions on defense all returned. Next year, we'll be without Trevard, Micah, Maxwell, Connor, Peters, Jorge Gonzales, Zipp Duncan, Jordan Jeffries and more. That may be the rebuilding year. We need the extra practice and momentum a bowl will provide if we have any hope of moving the program forward in the next 2-3 years.
So, the Vandy game is huge. But so it this one. Because if we don't get it, the whole rest of the season is for naught.
Against this backdrop, there are two ways you can go. And a couple of blogs I follow were kind enough to do so. Truzenzuzex over at A Sea of Blue decides to ignore the chances of losing to Eastern and instead focus on whether we can pick up two more SEC wins. On the other hand, Christopher Johns over at KSR says that the EKU game makes him nervous.
I'm kind of in the middle. EKU is the ultimate trap because it seems foregone, our sixth win cannot come until the following week, and Vandy is always a dogfight. Still, the point on ASOB is a good one. We don't have to play, so we can afford to look ahead. And if we don't win this Saturday, the whole thing is shot to hell anyway. So why not.
Personally, I just hope the team and the crowd show up Saturday. More to come.
This wasn't supposed to be a rebuilding year. A solid O-line, the starter at quarterback, the team's best athlete and two studs at key positions on defense all returned. Next year, we'll be without Trevard, Micah, Maxwell, Connor, Peters, Jorge Gonzales, Zipp Duncan, Jordan Jeffries and more. That may be the rebuilding year. We need the extra practice and momentum a bowl will provide if we have any hope of moving the program forward in the next 2-3 years.
So, the Vandy game is huge. But so it this one. Because if we don't get it, the whole rest of the season is for naught.
Against this backdrop, there are two ways you can go. And a couple of blogs I follow were kind enough to do so. Truzenzuzex over at A Sea of Blue decides to ignore the chances of losing to Eastern and instead focus on whether we can pick up two more SEC wins. On the other hand, Christopher Johns over at KSR says that the EKU game makes him nervous.
I'm kind of in the middle. EKU is the ultimate trap because it seems foregone, our sixth win cannot come until the following week, and Vandy is always a dogfight. Still, the point on ASOB is a good one. We don't have to play, so we can afford to look ahead. And if we don't win this Saturday, the whole thing is shot to hell anyway. So why not.
Personally, I just hope the team and the crowd show up Saturday. More to come.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
New Look
Tonight UK Football Fan got an impromptu facelift. The template change was necessary to accommodate "Cover it Live" software I experimented with while "Desparate Housewives" droned on in the background. I'll be doing a couple of live blogs over the next few weeks. I may give it a dry run on a weeknight with the plan to take on the Vandy game on November 14th and assuming people actually log on and chat with me, the Georgia game the following week.
In a related note, my plans to attend the Vandy game with the whole fam were shot by the 12:21 start. Thanks ESPN. At least the broadcast on the SEC Network will be top notch. Or not. Good excuse to check out my live blog for some Scutchesque commentary.
In a related note, my plans to attend the Vandy game with the whole fam were shot by the 12:21 start. Thanks ESPN. At least the broadcast on the SEC Network will be top notch. Or not. Good excuse to check out my live blog for some Scutchesque commentary.
Monday, November 2, 2009
SEC Bowl/Standings projections
Time for me to eat some crow. Last week I came up with my initial Bowl Projections by predicting the outcome for each SEC team's remaining games, setting final records, and slotting the teams accordingly. I then made the fatal mistake of bragging that I went 16-3 on in conference games from this point forward last year.
This past weekend I went a paltry 1-3, missing on USC-UT, Ole Miss-Auburn and of course, Mississippi State-UK. As a result, there is a lot of movement in this week's picks. The big loser from last week? Take a wild guess. UT, on the other hand, really helped themselves out.
Note: I did not change the outcome of any future games based on last weekend's performances. In the future I might do so, couldn't justify it this time. Teams have been up and down from week to week, and none of these outcomes were exactly shocking.
Still, I figure South Carolina and Ole Miss are most likely to fall from their spots here. Conversely Mississippi State could still get to 6-6 and steal a bid, but it will take a huge effort (must win 2 games with Ala, @Ark and Ole Miss remaining)
Finally, there is a lot more guesswork involved in the bowl slotting this week. If the standings shook out this way, things like fan support, geography and sex appeal come into play for everything from about the Cotton on down.
East
1. Florida, 8-0, 12-0
Sugar
2. Tennessee 5-3, 8-4
Outback
3. Georgia 5-3, 7-5
Chick-Fil-A
4. South Carolina 3-5, 7-5
Music City
5. Kentucky 2-6, 6-6
Pizza Web Site Bowl
6. Vandy 0-8, 2-10
Out of the soup
WEST
1. Alabama 8-0, 12-0
National Championship
2. LSU 6-2, 10-2
Capital One Bowl
3. Mississippi 4-4, 8-4
Cotton
4. Auburn 3-5, 7-5
Liberty
5. Arkansas 2-6, 6-6
Independence
6. Mississippi State 2-6, 4-8
Still not bowling
This past weekend I went a paltry 1-3, missing on USC-UT, Ole Miss-Auburn and of course, Mississippi State-UK. As a result, there is a lot of movement in this week's picks. The big loser from last week? Take a wild guess. UT, on the other hand, really helped themselves out.
Note: I did not change the outcome of any future games based on last weekend's performances. In the future I might do so, couldn't justify it this time. Teams have been up and down from week to week, and none of these outcomes were exactly shocking.
Still, I figure South Carolina and Ole Miss are most likely to fall from their spots here. Conversely Mississippi State could still get to 6-6 and steal a bid, but it will take a huge effort (must win 2 games with Ala, @Ark and Ole Miss remaining)
Finally, there is a lot more guesswork involved in the bowl slotting this week. If the standings shook out this way, things like fan support, geography and sex appeal come into play for everything from about the Cotton on down.
East
1. Florida, 8-0, 12-0
Sugar
2. Tennessee 5-3, 8-4
Outback
3. Georgia 5-3, 7-5
Chick-Fil-A
4. South Carolina 3-5, 7-5
Music City
5. Kentucky 2-6, 6-6
Pizza Web Site Bowl
6. Vandy 0-8, 2-10
Out of the soup
WEST
1. Alabama 8-0, 12-0
National Championship
2. LSU 6-2, 10-2
Capital One Bowl
3. Mississippi 4-4, 8-4
Cotton
4. Auburn 3-5, 7-5
Liberty
5. Arkansas 2-6, 6-6
Independence
6. Mississippi State 2-6, 4-8
Still not bowling
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Post Mortem
I had a nearly perfect day yesterday until about 8:45. Got a workout in, wrote a blog post, ran a couple of errands to stay in the good graces, got the kids dressed up for Halloween, went to a party, handed out candy, watched a pretty good first half of football. Then someone flipped a switch, Anthony Dixon turned into Walter Peyton, Morgan Newton threw a Jared Lorenzen lowlight film pick, and questionable plays were called. A wormhole opened beneath me, and I fell in.
Last night's loss is hard to swallow, more for what it does to our season than anything else. Unlike the earlier loss to USC, where the little things killed us, this was a case of being thoroughly outplayed and outcoached.
UK was outgained from scrimmage 493-308. In fact, MSU gained more yards on the ground (348) than UK did total. We lost the turnover battle 3-2, including the aforementioned pick and a rare mistake by Randall Cobb on a fumbled lateral he didn't fall on.
The Bulldogs beat us by running the same counter play over and over and over. We either couldn't or didn't adjust. This was part of a larger picture of being completely outschemed. Knowing we had to successfully run the Wildcat to win, MSU was clearly ready for it. We didn't adjust by mixing in a few passes. So unsuccessful were we at running the ball from the formation that we abandoned it entirely. This decision could very well have cost us the game.
We trailed 31-24 with a minute left in the third quarter. Mississippi State made only one first down for the rest of the game, yet we managed the clock so poorly that we got only two more possessions. At one point on the final drive we were forced to burn a timeout, which effectively took away our chance at another possession.
In Newton's defense, it is hard to say that the pick he threw on the second to last drive cost us the game. We were on the four yard line, and had he thrown the ball away, we would have likely kicked a field goal. Of course, we never scored again anyway and there is no reason to assume we would have. Also, on second and third viewings, I think Newton was trying to throw the ball away and simply did a poor job of it.
Of course questions are going to be asked. Why wasn't Cobb playing QB when we had first and goal at the 4 in the fourth quarter? Where was the Wildcat on the last drive? These may be valid questions, but they are classic Monday morning quarterbacking.
The most troubling aspect of this game is where it leaves our season. Assuming we beat EKU next week, we will become bowl eligible with a win at Vandy on Nov. 14th. But we are in a completely different position than we would have been had we won this game. Mississippi State now has an outside chance at six wins. If that happens, the SEC could have more bowl eligible teams than slots. Auburn has probably moved ahead of us in the pecking order by knocking off Ole Miss Saturday. Six wins is a ticket to Shreveport or Birmingham or, if everything breaks wrong, home.
There is some good news. Trevard Lindley should be able to return next week for the rest of the season. I suppose there is still a chance Mike Hartline makes it back for Vandy. We need to hope that EKU will be a walkover and Micah, Locke, Cobb etc. can grab some pine early and rest up for the stretch run.
Last night's loss is hard to swallow, more for what it does to our season than anything else. Unlike the earlier loss to USC, where the little things killed us, this was a case of being thoroughly outplayed and outcoached.
UK was outgained from scrimmage 493-308. In fact, MSU gained more yards on the ground (348) than UK did total. We lost the turnover battle 3-2, including the aforementioned pick and a rare mistake by Randall Cobb on a fumbled lateral he didn't fall on.
The Bulldogs beat us by running the same counter play over and over and over. We either couldn't or didn't adjust. This was part of a larger picture of being completely outschemed. Knowing we had to successfully run the Wildcat to win, MSU was clearly ready for it. We didn't adjust by mixing in a few passes. So unsuccessful were we at running the ball from the formation that we abandoned it entirely. This decision could very well have cost us the game.
We trailed 31-24 with a minute left in the third quarter. Mississippi State made only one first down for the rest of the game, yet we managed the clock so poorly that we got only two more possessions. At one point on the final drive we were forced to burn a timeout, which effectively took away our chance at another possession.
In Newton's defense, it is hard to say that the pick he threw on the second to last drive cost us the game. We were on the four yard line, and had he thrown the ball away, we would have likely kicked a field goal. Of course, we never scored again anyway and there is no reason to assume we would have. Also, on second and third viewings, I think Newton was trying to throw the ball away and simply did a poor job of it.
Of course questions are going to be asked. Why wasn't Cobb playing QB when we had first and goal at the 4 in the fourth quarter? Where was the Wildcat on the last drive? These may be valid questions, but they are classic Monday morning quarterbacking.
The most troubling aspect of this game is where it leaves our season. Assuming we beat EKU next week, we will become bowl eligible with a win at Vandy on Nov. 14th. But we are in a completely different position than we would have been had we won this game. Mississippi State now has an outside chance at six wins. If that happens, the SEC could have more bowl eligible teams than slots. Auburn has probably moved ahead of us in the pecking order by knocking off Ole Miss Saturday. Six wins is a ticket to Shreveport or Birmingham or, if everything breaks wrong, home.
There is some good news. Trevard Lindley should be able to return next week for the rest of the season. I suppose there is still a chance Mike Hartline makes it back for Vandy. We need to hope that EKU will be a walkover and Micah, Locke, Cobb etc. can grab some pine early and rest up for the stretch run.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Previews
A couple of links and notes on a lazy Saturday. Tonight is huge. If Kentucky is going to, as Rich Brooks would say, climb the SEC ladder, this is a must win game. The Bulldogs have played several big opponents close, yet they come to Commonwealth with a losing record, an interception prone QB and, well the fact that they are Mississippi State. We are very banged up, granted. But mid-tier SEC teams have to be able to beat Mississippi State at home.
Micah Johnson's status is important. Brooks has said that he is available to play but will not start. This is something coaches do that I've never understood. Yes, he might be well enough to play but not to play the whole game. I get that. But why not start the guy so you can see right away what you will be able to do with him? Not a criticism of Brooks, I am sure that coaches do this for some reason. For what it is worth, Johnson tweeted Thursday that he had no knee pain in practice. (Yeah, I broke down on the Twitter thing. I don't send tweets, but I do follow some strategic people. I suck, I know.)
This week has yielded surprisingly little discussion about our starting quarterback. I guess it is a foregone conclusion that we will go with the three headed monster again. Will Fidler has earned the right to start this game, and I would be more comfortable with he and Cobb at the helm tonight. Newton has a ton of potential, but tonight is not a learning curve kind of evening. Beat Mississippi State and get the freshman more experience next week.
Keep an eye on Danny Trevathan and Sam Maxwell tonight. Without Micah, they'll be tasked with filling up the vacuum of run support. Anthony Dixon and the MSU running attack are potent. Our run defense has not been. We are going to be vulnerable. I have confidence in Ronnie Snead, but he is not Micah Johnson.
For anyone curious, I will be watching the game on TV tonight after hustling the kids home from Halloween goodness. See that kid in that picture up there? You try telling his sister and him that they aren't going trick or treating because daddy is going to a football game. Not happening. If you'll be there tonight, make sure to wear black and cheer loudly for me.
Tonight, I think both teams make plays, and we have trouble stopping the run. A special teams blunder or two could really sabotage a game like this, which should be nip and tuck. In the end, I think Randall Cobb makes one more play than the Mississippi State offense and we get it done. Lets call it Kentucky 24 Mississippi State 21.
A couple of links to take us out:
Today, Chip Cosby has a great article about how big this rivalry has become. Key point: the home loss to Mississipi State in 2007 crushed what could have been an unforgettable season for what I agree was the best team of the Brooks era.
This site's new friends at A Sea of Blue come with a monster post breaking down Mississippi State from every angle. Key point: This game determines whether we have any chance to get above the Music City/Liberty tier of Bowls.
Micah Johnson's status is important. Brooks has said that he is available to play but will not start. This is something coaches do that I've never understood. Yes, he might be well enough to play but not to play the whole game. I get that. But why not start the guy so you can see right away what you will be able to do with him? Not a criticism of Brooks, I am sure that coaches do this for some reason. For what it is worth, Johnson tweeted Thursday that he had no knee pain in practice. (Yeah, I broke down on the Twitter thing. I don't send tweets, but I do follow some strategic people. I suck, I know.)
This week has yielded surprisingly little discussion about our starting quarterback. I guess it is a foregone conclusion that we will go with the three headed monster again. Will Fidler has earned the right to start this game, and I would be more comfortable with he and Cobb at the helm tonight. Newton has a ton of potential, but tonight is not a learning curve kind of evening. Beat Mississippi State and get the freshman more experience next week.
Keep an eye on Danny Trevathan and Sam Maxwell tonight. Without Micah, they'll be tasked with filling up the vacuum of run support. Anthony Dixon and the MSU running attack are potent. Our run defense has not been. We are going to be vulnerable. I have confidence in Ronnie Snead, but he is not Micah Johnson.
For anyone curious, I will be watching the game on TV tonight after hustling the kids home from Halloween goodness. See that kid in that picture up there? You try telling his sister and him that they aren't going trick or treating because daddy is going to a football game. Not happening. If you'll be there tonight, make sure to wear black and cheer loudly for me.
Tonight, I think both teams make plays, and we have trouble stopping the run. A special teams blunder or two could really sabotage a game like this, which should be nip and tuck. In the end, I think Randall Cobb makes one more play than the Mississippi State offense and we get it done. Lets call it Kentucky 24 Mississippi State 21.
A couple of links to take us out:
Today, Chip Cosby has a great article about how big this rivalry has become. Key point: the home loss to Mississipi State in 2007 crushed what could have been an unforgettable season for what I agree was the best team of the Brooks era.
This site's new friends at A Sea of Blue come with a monster post breaking down Mississippi State from every angle. Key point: This game determines whether we have any chance to get above the Music City/Liberty tier of Bowls.
SEC Preview
The plot starts to thicken in the SEC this weekend, as it does in all of college football. A little more on UK tomorrow. Here are a some quick hits on the other SEC games.
12:21 Ole Miss (5-2) at Auburn (5-3)
In handling a game Arkansas 30-17 last week, Ole Miss showed the signs many expeted to see when the season began. Jevan Snead is still throwing picks, though. Auburn is sliding with three straight losses after starting the year 5-0. Now would be a good time to right the ship. The Tigers still have to play Alabama at home and Georgia on the road. For its part, Ole Miss still has a realistic chance at 10-2 and at least a backdoor shot at a BCS Bowl.
3:30 Florida (7-0) v. Georgia (4-3) at Jacksonville, Fl.
The World's Largest Game That Shall Not Be Named. It is an intriguing one. Florida has not played a dominant game since, well, since kicking the crap out of us on September 26th. Georgia has lost two games to very good teams (Okla. St. and LSU) and suffered a head scratching blowout at the hands of Kiffin U. Something tells me Joe Cox and Co. are going to be in this till the end. This isn't a bad team.
7:00 Eastern Michigan (0-7) at Arkansas (3-4)
Think the Razorbacks are safe here. Good thing, because they don't get much slack the rest of the way.
7:30 Georgia Tech (7-1) at Vandy (2-6)
I'd love to think that the SEC is so much better than the ACC that this game will be way closer than it is on paper. I don't. Vandy will be the first SEC team knocked out of bowl contention this weekend.
7:45 USC (6-2) at Tennessee (3-4) in
The Cocks are looking like an elite SEC team but must travel to Knoxville, where they'll face a possibility resurgent UT squad. The Vols shellacked Georgia two weeks ago and were within a blocked field goal of upsetting Alabama last week. Should Tennessee lose, it must close the season 3-1 (and almost assuredly beat the Cats Nov. 28th) to go to a bowl. I cannot call this one. It is the game of the week in the SEC.
8:00 Tulane at LSU
There are worse choices in life than "Am I going stay in New Orleans to watch this game at a bar or drive to Baton Rouge, tailgate and take it all in at Death Valley." If you are an undergrad at Tulane right now please note that I am insanely jealous.
More UK specifics soon.
12:21 Ole Miss (5-2) at Auburn (5-3)
In handling a game Arkansas 30-17 last week, Ole Miss showed the signs many expeted to see when the season began. Jevan Snead is still throwing picks, though. Auburn is sliding with three straight losses after starting the year 5-0. Now would be a good time to right the ship. The Tigers still have to play Alabama at home and Georgia on the road. For its part, Ole Miss still has a realistic chance at 10-2 and at least a backdoor shot at a BCS Bowl.
3:30 Florida (7-0) v. Georgia (4-3) at Jacksonville, Fl.
The World's Largest Game That Shall Not Be Named. It is an intriguing one. Florida has not played a dominant game since, well, since kicking the crap out of us on September 26th. Georgia has lost two games to very good teams (Okla. St. and LSU) and suffered a head scratching blowout at the hands of Kiffin U. Something tells me Joe Cox and Co. are going to be in this till the end. This isn't a bad team.
7:00 Eastern Michigan (0-7) at Arkansas (3-4)
Think the Razorbacks are safe here. Good thing, because they don't get much slack the rest of the way.
7:30 Georgia Tech (7-1) at Vandy (2-6)
I'd love to think that the SEC is so much better than the ACC that this game will be way closer than it is on paper. I don't. Vandy will be the first SEC team knocked out of bowl contention this weekend.
7:45 USC (6-2) at Tennessee (3-4) in
The Cocks are looking like an elite SEC team but must travel to Knoxville, where they'll face a possibility resurgent UT squad. The Vols shellacked Georgia two weeks ago and were within a blocked field goal of upsetting Alabama last week. Should Tennessee lose, it must close the season 3-1 (and almost assuredly beat the Cats Nov. 28th) to go to a bowl. I cannot call this one. It is the game of the week in the SEC.
8:00 Tulane at LSU
There are worse choices in life than "Am I going stay in New Orleans to watch this game at a bar or drive to Baton Rouge, tailgate and take it all in at Death Valley." If you are an undergrad at Tulane right now please note that I am insanely jealous.
More UK specifics soon.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Link of the Day
If you don't read anything else today, check out this hilarious column by Drew Franklin at Kentucky Sports Radio about the Mississippi State game. Drew goes out of the yard with this one.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Projected SEC Standings/Bowls
In addition to Bowl projections, I've projected the final wins and losses for each SEC team. I did go through every remaining game on each team's schedule and pick a winner. As always, yes I have a responsible, demanding job and yes, this task took quite some time. But, the point is, these standing present a realistic scenario and everything adds up. I went 16-3 picking conference games from this point forward last year. We'll see how accurate this turns out to be.
Records are SEC followed by overall.
EAST
1. Florida 8-0, 12-0
Sugar
2. Georgia 5-3, 7-5
Chick-Fil-A
3. South Carolina 4-4, 8-4
Outback
4. Tennessee 4-4, 7-5
Music City
5. Kentucky 3-5, 7-5
Liberty
6. Vandy 0-8, 2-10
Momma's home cooking.
WEST
1. Alabama 5-0, 8-0
National Championship
2. LSU 6-2, 10-2
Capital One
3. Ole Miss 5-3, 9-3
Cotton
4. Auburn 2-6, 6-6
Papajohns.com
5. Arkansas 2-6, 6-6
Independence
6. Mississippi State 1-7, 3-9
Home for the holidays.
Some notes on this:
There were tough calls on some games. Some assumptions were: UK beats Vandy and Mississippi State, loses its other games; UT beats USC at home; LSU wins at Ole Miss; USC wins at Arkansas. In fact, a number of South Carolina's games were tough to predict. It also has to play Clemson at home on the last game of the season, a game I've called a win. Obviously, I am picking Alabama to beat Florida in the SEC Championship. I am torn about that, though.
The bowl picks are guesswork in a couple of spots. I don't know that the Independence Bowl would not take Auburn over Arkansas. Assuming things end up exactly how I have them, the Music City and Liberty would probably both mark Tennessee first of the teams not snatched up be better bowls, giving them their choice of which bowl to go to. UK would get the other. I assume UT would pick the Music City, since it is right in the middle of the state, but who knows. Other than that, if this is how these teams finish, these are the places they'll go.
Records are SEC followed by overall.
EAST
1. Florida 8-0, 12-0
Sugar
2. Georgia 5-3, 7-5
Chick-Fil-A
3. South Carolina 4-4, 8-4
Outback
4. Tennessee 4-4, 7-5
Music City
5. Kentucky 3-5, 7-5
Liberty
6. Vandy 0-8, 2-10
Momma's home cooking.
WEST
1. Alabama 5-0, 8-0
National Championship
2. LSU 6-2, 10-2
Capital One
3. Ole Miss 5-3, 9-3
Cotton
4. Auburn 2-6, 6-6
Papajohns.com
5. Arkansas 2-6, 6-6
Independence
6. Mississippi State 1-7, 3-9
Home for the holidays.
Some notes on this:
There were tough calls on some games. Some assumptions were: UK beats Vandy and Mississippi State, loses its other games; UT beats USC at home; LSU wins at Ole Miss; USC wins at Arkansas. In fact, a number of South Carolina's games were tough to predict. It also has to play Clemson at home on the last game of the season, a game I've called a win. Obviously, I am picking Alabama to beat Florida in the SEC Championship. I am torn about that, though.
The bowl picks are guesswork in a couple of spots. I don't know that the Independence Bowl would not take Auburn over Arkansas. Assuming things end up exactly how I have them, the Music City and Liberty would probably both mark Tennessee first of the teams not snatched up be better bowls, giving them their choice of which bowl to go to. UK would get the other. I assume UT would pick the Music City, since it is right in the middle of the state, but who knows. Other than that, if this is how these teams finish, these are the places they'll go.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Tuesday Reset
A lot to talk about today, which is my way of saying this column will have no central theme.
Lets start with Saturday's game. UK started out just as we all hoped, poised to take care of business. Then the game got, for lack of a better word, kinda weird. Somehow, Cody Wells kept hitting open receivers, getting knocked on his ass, then getting back up to do it again. Our DBs could not make a play in pass coverage, and each of our throwing QBs threw a horrendous pick.
Even the things that went well were weird. John Connor made me wonder if he isn't the best running back on the team. Randall Cobb got interfered with while catching a punt and still ran it back for a touchdown. Rich Brooks went for (and made) two fourth down conversions on our own side of the field. UK desperately just needed to run the clock out on the second half but didn't even try to. Instead, ULM ran nearly the entire third quarter off the clock for us and only managed seven points.
Oh yeah, and ULM got jobbed big time by the clock operator at the close of the first half.
Dichotomies ruled the day. The game was tense but never really in doubt. The Cats did exactly what they had to do but in a manner so unsatisfying it was hard to leave happy. I was freezing cold but the ice in my bourbon and diet coke kept melting.
And then of course, there is The Micah Situation. Watching him limp off in the second quarter I began this internal monologue: "We started the offseason with Micah Johnson, Trevard Lindley and Jeremy Jarmon all back to lead our defense. Jarmon never played a down and is a Redskin, Lindley has missed half the season and there goes Micah who I might not see play again. If this team still gets to 7-5, it is going to be a hell of an accomplishment. It was going to be so sweet but in the end, we effed it all up." (kudos to anyone who comments the movie reference)
Today we learn that Micah has a minor MCL tear and may not be available this weekend. Brooks also reported that Trevard tried to run yesterday, is sore today, and might not be back this weekend as we'd hoped. Hartline is behind where they'd hoped he'd be. Oy vey.
I've softened on the stance I took in the immediate wake of the game. My comment early Sunday morning was that Cobb should be our primary quarterback. There is some logic there since he is clearly the best runner, best thrower and the person the team is most likely to rally behind. In thinking about it more, there are a couple of problems with that. First, he cannot run the ball every down if he plays QB the whole game. He'll die. Secondly, he has proven more effective when used as a change of pace. Still, I am torn.
The point that Cobb is the team's best receiver is not lost on me. However, this seemed more important when Hartline was healthy. The other QBs aren't as capable of getting him the ball, so it isn't as important. For what it is worth, knowing that Cobb will probably take the snaps when we need a score, I think next Saturday should be Will Fidler's turn to start. Newton has struggled, and this game is just too important. Win Saturday, and there will be other chances to spread the wealth. And again, I expect the ball in Cobb's hands when the game is on the line.
While we are here, the last couple of weeks and this past Saturday especially validates the decision to stick with Hartline through the Alabama and Florida losses and on into the USC game. Clearly, Newton was not ready, and as game as he's been, Fidler does not have Hartline's decision making ability.
This weekend will bring the season's most important game to date. This is a game that the Cats need if they are going to have a good season. Mississippi State has an even greater sense of urgency. Sitting at 3-5, having played competitively in nearly every game, the Bulldogs absolutely have to have this game to have any shot at a bowl. Alabama comes to town for them next week. Then come two winnable games at Arkansas, then finishing up with Ole Miss at home in the Egg Bowl. They are still in the hunt but barely, and it will have to start for them at Commonwealth on Halloween.
Bowl projections may come as early as tomorrow. Bottom line, the Cats might be part of a mad scrum of 7-5 teams jockeying for positions ranging from Chick-Fil-A goodness all the way to Shreveport/Bossier City hell. Should be interesting.
Lets start with Saturday's game. UK started out just as we all hoped, poised to take care of business. Then the game got, for lack of a better word, kinda weird. Somehow, Cody Wells kept hitting open receivers, getting knocked on his ass, then getting back up to do it again. Our DBs could not make a play in pass coverage, and each of our throwing QBs threw a horrendous pick.
Even the things that went well were weird. John Connor made me wonder if he isn't the best running back on the team. Randall Cobb got interfered with while catching a punt and still ran it back for a touchdown. Rich Brooks went for (and made) two fourth down conversions on our own side of the field. UK desperately just needed to run the clock out on the second half but didn't even try to. Instead, ULM ran nearly the entire third quarter off the clock for us and only managed seven points.
Oh yeah, and ULM got jobbed big time by the clock operator at the close of the first half.
Dichotomies ruled the day. The game was tense but never really in doubt. The Cats did exactly what they had to do but in a manner so unsatisfying it was hard to leave happy. I was freezing cold but the ice in my bourbon and diet coke kept melting.
And then of course, there is The Micah Situation. Watching him limp off in the second quarter I began this internal monologue: "We started the offseason with Micah Johnson, Trevard Lindley and Jeremy Jarmon all back to lead our defense. Jarmon never played a down and is a Redskin, Lindley has missed half the season and there goes Micah who I might not see play again. If this team still gets to 7-5, it is going to be a hell of an accomplishment. It was going to be so sweet but in the end, we effed it all up." (kudos to anyone who comments the movie reference)
Today we learn that Micah has a minor MCL tear and may not be available this weekend. Brooks also reported that Trevard tried to run yesterday, is sore today, and might not be back this weekend as we'd hoped. Hartline is behind where they'd hoped he'd be. Oy vey.
I've softened on the stance I took in the immediate wake of the game. My comment early Sunday morning was that Cobb should be our primary quarterback. There is some logic there since he is clearly the best runner, best thrower and the person the team is most likely to rally behind. In thinking about it more, there are a couple of problems with that. First, he cannot run the ball every down if he plays QB the whole game. He'll die. Secondly, he has proven more effective when used as a change of pace. Still, I am torn.
The point that Cobb is the team's best receiver is not lost on me. However, this seemed more important when Hartline was healthy. The other QBs aren't as capable of getting him the ball, so it isn't as important. For what it is worth, knowing that Cobb will probably take the snaps when we need a score, I think next Saturday should be Will Fidler's turn to start. Newton has struggled, and this game is just too important. Win Saturday, and there will be other chances to spread the wealth. And again, I expect the ball in Cobb's hands when the game is on the line.
While we are here, the last couple of weeks and this past Saturday especially validates the decision to stick with Hartline through the Alabama and Florida losses and on into the USC game. Clearly, Newton was not ready, and as game as he's been, Fidler does not have Hartline's decision making ability.
This weekend will bring the season's most important game to date. This is a game that the Cats need if they are going to have a good season. Mississippi State has an even greater sense of urgency. Sitting at 3-5, having played competitively in nearly every game, the Bulldogs absolutely have to have this game to have any shot at a bowl. Alabama comes to town for them next week. Then come two winnable games at Arkansas, then finishing up with Ole Miss at home in the Egg Bowl. They are still in the hunt but barely, and it will have to start for them at Commonwealth on Halloween.
Bowl projections may come as early as tomorrow. Bottom line, the Cats might be part of a mad scrum of 7-5 teams jockeying for positions ranging from Chick-Fil-A goodness all the way to Shreveport/Bossier City hell. Should be interesting.
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