SEC should navigate bowl schedule with success

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http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/12/commentary_sec_should_navigate.html

College football's bowl season is about half over, but it's just beginning for the SEC.

All 10 bowl games involving SEC teams will be played in the next 13 days, starting Thursday night with the Music City Bowl in Nashville and ending Jan. 10 with the BCS national title game between Auburn and Oregon.

So let's get right to the picks -- not including the BCS championship game, which I'll tackle in a later column:

Music City (Dec. 30) -- Tennessee vs. North Carolina

Freshman quarterback Tyler Bray has given the Vols a shot in the arm since breaking into the lineup in early November. Unfortunately for the Vols, North Carolina's defense is pretty stacked even without Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin. North Carolina (-2) 23, Tennessee 17.

Liberty (Dec. 31) -- Georgia vs. Central Florida

Central Florida's most impressive wins this season have come over East Carolina and SMU. Georgia started the season 1-4 and lost to a terrible Colorado team, but the Bulldogs did beat Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia Tech. And the Golden Knights haven't seen anybody like A.J. Green. Georgia (-7) 42, Central Florida 21.

Chick-fil-A (Dec. 31) -- South Carolina vs. Florida State

South Carolina's last two bowl trips have been downright embarrassing, but this is the best team Steve Spurrier has had in Columbia and Jimbo Fisher's work is just beginning at FSU. The Gamecocks will be looking to erase the bad taste of their blowout loss to Auburn in Atlanta. South Carolina (-3) 33, Florida State 27.

Gator (Jan. 1) -- Mississippi State vs. Michigan

No team has come closer to holding Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton in check than Mississippi State, but that was back in September when Gene Chizik and Gus Malzahn were still learning what they had. Michigan's Denard Robinson likely will burn the Bulldogs for big yards, but the Wolverines have no defense. Mississippi State (-4½) 31, Michigan 28.

Outback (Jan. 1) -- Florida vs. Penn State

Beset by injuries all year, Florida has had a month to get healthy and the Gators will want to send Urban Meyer out a winner. Penn State, meanwhile, doesn't have many offensive weapons that scare anyone. Florida (-7½) 24, Penn State 13.

Capital One (Jan. 1) -- Alabama vs. Michigan State

Michigan State is a good, solid, no-nonsense football team with a balanced offense and perhaps the best linebacker in the country in Greg Jones. But the Spartans should have nowhere near the firepower to outslug the Crimson Tide. Alabama (-10) 28, Michigan State 17.

Sugar (Jan. 1) -- Arkansas vs. Ohio State

Yes, Ohio State and Jim Tressel traditionally struggle against the SEC, but Terrelle Pryor didn't play in any of those previous bowl defeats. Ohio State is averaging 220 rushing yards a game and Arkansas is giving up 157. Ohio State (-3) 35, Arkansas 31.

Cotton (Jan. 7) -- LSU vs. Texas A&M

The Cotton Bowl passed over 10-2 Oklahoma State to take home-state favorite Texas A&M. The hungry Aggies may bring half the state of Texas, but the Cowboys would have given the Cotton a better matchup against LSU's defense. LSU (-1) 27, Texas A&M 21.

BBVA Compass (Jan. 8) -- Kentucky vs. Pittsburgh

Whether Dave Wannstedt will coach in this game for Pittsburgh has been an open question since he was forced out earlier this month, and such uncertainty can't be good for the Panthers' preparation. Suspended quarterback Mike Hartline won't play for Kentucky but unfortunately for Pittsburgh, Randall Cobb will. Kentucky (+3½) 24, Pittsburgh 20.

For the season: 86-15 overall, 56-27 against the spread.