I was horribly wrong. Everything about this week was wrong. A gut feeling. A voracious attempt to portray Auburn as a worthy opponent. The sudden news of the suspensions.
True faith rendered obsolete.
Auburn...- We just weren't ready to play this game. A new quarterback. A shaky offensive line and a new, young starting guard. Our #1 receiver injured. Too many obstacles to overcome along with playing in Baton Rouge against quite possibly the best, deepest LSU team in LSU's history.
- There were plenty of bright spots. Moseley may not be a championship caliber SEC quarterback, and that's unacceptable. But considering that he took over a leadership position on a struggling offense and went out against a ferocious LSU defense, he did okay. He made a few good throws. Ran when needed. Didn't try to hang onto the ball too long.
He had a few bad plays too. Those were expected if the coaches asked him to do too much. Which they had to do. What else could they do?
- Another bright spot was Onterrio McCalebb in the 1st quarter. A 3rd down reception for 25 yards. A 2nd and 9 rush for 20 yards and another rush on 1st down for 10 yards.
And then he didn't see the ball again until the 4th quarter. Not sure why, but OMac did his part.
- The defense was stout for most of the 1st half. Jarrett Lee wasn't completing very much, and their rushing game was stifled for the most part.
But the offense couldn't get the ball moving. And then LSU hit a bomb on what one Auburn player said was a busted coverage.
- But bright spots aren't good enough. They don't matter if you lose, and we lost. One of the worst beatings Auburn has ever experienced.
LSU...- The real deal? Sure. If we have to go with what we see. It still seems to me that the level of competition in the SEC this year is way down.
- Take Auburn for example. This was supposed to be a quality win. As was Florida. As was Tennessee. These are teams that should be respectable opponents and provide some sort of competition. All three were playing backup quarterbacks. All three struggle with penalties. All three struggle with youth and depth issues.
- Don't get me wrong. This LSU team could compete with any SEC champion over the last twenty years. They're very good. So maybe this shouldn't be directed at LSU. It should be directed at the media and the fans and the message board posters.
- LSU and Alabama are very good, but they aren't the best of all time. How could you determine that? By their competition? By blowing out their competition?
- If Auburn 2010, Alabama 2009, or Florida 2008 played the SEC teams of 2011, how would they do? I can't help but think they'd blow out these teams the same way. If Cam Newton and Co. played a quarterback-less Florida team. It'd be 42-14.
- But I guess we aren't allowed to discuss that because we just lost to LSU. Criticizing anything about LSU or Alabama will be seen as being a sour, sore loser.
Houston Nutt...- In case you missed it:
http://olemiss.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1282657- Houston Nutt goes off about how well his team played and how people (more specifically, Neal McCready) predicted Ole Miss to be blown out.
- But Coach Nutt, you still lost. You lost the football game. No one cares about moral victories. No one cares about bright spots. They don't mean anything when you're losing 10 straight SEC games.
Clemson...- Why should this team be left out of the national title discussion?
- For every accolade LSU and Alabama get for their defense, Clemson deserves one for their offense.
- Clemson's lowest point score? 23 @Virginia Tech. Held the Hokies to 3 points. Next lowest? 35 against Florida St and Wofford.
- Clemson is averaging around 40 points a game and around 500 yards a game. They have a dual-threat quarterback, a productive back, and a superstar receiver.
- But they're going to be left out. Not sure why. Blame the schedule, but is Alabama's schedule that much better? Can we say that Auburn, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Miss St, and Vanderbilt are that much better than the teams in the ACC?
THE GAME OF THE CENTURY...- Can the ground open up and swallow both teams? That'd be a great victory for me.
- My gut feeling says Bama. Ha. My gut feeling sucks.
Final Thought...- Once again, this season in the SEC goes down as one of the lamest seasons of all time. No upsets. Nothing too exciting.
We've known for weeks now that November 5th decides the SEC.