Pre-Dick-Shuns Week Acht

[Snaggletiger]

Gotta’ say, if you love college football, and didn’t like the games this past Saturday, you bettah check yo pulse, cause you may be dead. From Bama having to hang on for dear life, to USC/Penn State deciding it in overtime, to the same for Ole Miss/LSU and Florida/Tennessee, and the Ducks taking down THE Ohio State University.  There were plenty more, but suffice it to say, the remote got some work in this weekend. We’ve got some juicy match ups again on Saturday.

Last week, I was 3 of 4.  I predicted:

Texas over Oklahoma 35-17  (34-3)
Tennessee over Florida  28-21 (23-17)
LSU over Ole Miss  35-31 (29-26)
Kentucky over Vandy 24-20 (Vandy 20-13)

Alabama @ Tennessee: (Bama -3)  Honestly, I have no idea what to think of this one.  Early in the season, both these teams looked scary good at times.  Bama won a wild one with FUGA, then laid the egg at Vandy, and barely pinched one off versus the Cocks.  The Hawgs burst that Vol bubble, and then the Fighting Cheetos jumped on the skruggle bus and eeked one out against Gusty Gaytah.  Although, I still think Florida is a little better than people think. Bama has flaws. The Vols play solid D.  I’m going with Rocky Top.

Tennessee:  24

Alabama:  21


FUGA @ Texas: (UT -4) FUGA does not impress me this year.  Even though the end score wasn’t that close at 31-13, if we had any clue as to how to finish drives, or if we had a QB, we could have taken that game.  FUGA gave up an ass load of points against lowly MSU, despite Kirby trying to take out the Bulldogs QB with a cross body block.  The Horns have looked like the #1 team from the start.  This one is in Austin, and I think with an opponent like FUGA coming in, Texas will be looking to put it’s stamp on the SEC.  I don’t think this one is close.

Texas:  38

FUGA:  21


Auburn @ Missouri: (Mizzou -4.5) Missouri has flat out made a living off barely scraping by the last season and a half.  To their credit, they’ve found a way to pull game after game out dat ass. It all came crashing down this past Saturday, as this was not one of the nail biters mentioned above.  This one was over early and often in Aggie Land at 41-10.  Auburn comes in after a bye week, and hopefully, with some new wrinkles and fresh legs.  As I said, despite putting up some pretty decent yardage numbers all through the season, this team simply can’t finish enough drives.  Whether it be interceptions, fumbles or crucial penalties, they always seem to shoot themselves in the foot.  I say that shipth gets corrected Saturday.  My wishful thinking?

Auburn:  28

Missouri:  24

Fell free to opine, talk amongst yourselves, or generally just bugger off

[wesfau2]

Fading all your picks except TX.

Bama's demise is being prematurely reported and UTenn ain't what we've been sold.

Auburn is going to continue shitting down its leg until further notice. 

[Snakebite]

Fading all your picks except TX.

Bama's demise is being prematurely reported and UTenn ain't what we've been sold.

Auburn is going to continue shitting down its leg until further notice.

Someone I work with was all giddy at the perception that "Bama has fallen".

I responded in kind with, "They'll back their way into the championship game & will win the whole damn thing. Just like Auburn has to prove me wrong by winning, the cousin lovers are going to have to prove me wrong by losing."

This is the miserable truth.  They have been a perennial powerhouse since their 2008 turnaround.  They have a winning culture that instills belief in their players in the biggest moments.  All while our football program has a bad case of the yips in those crucial game changing opportunities. 

Agree with your rebuttal of the tall man's picks.

[Snaggletiger]

Someone I work with was all giddy at the perception that "Bama has fallen".

I responded in kind with, "They'll back their way into the championship game & will win the whole damn thing. Just like Auburn has to prove me wrong by winning, the cousin lovers are going to have to prove me wrong by losing."

This is the miserable truth.  They have been a perennial powerhouse since their 2008 turnaround.  They have a winning culture that instills belief in their players in the biggest moments.  All while our football program has a bad case of the yips in those crucial game changing opportunities. 

Agree with your rebuttal of the tall man's picks.

Non-believers.  You do not understand, therefore; you doubt.  However, my plan will come to fruition, and you will humbly kneel at the feet of Tall Man.

Okay, more like Obese Boy, but you get the picture.

[The Six]

Georgia @ Texas
I will believe Georgia can't go get a game like this when it happens. Take out a quarter and one play late against Bama and they win that game. Yeah, the Mutts don't have the NFL-level defense they've fielded for a few years, but they are still really stout. Texas has played as consistently as any team in the nation so far. Credit is due to the Horns. With all that, I'm taking Georgia to find a way to get the win probably by knocking Quinn into the next year.
 
Alabama @ Tennessee
Tennessee is a fraud. Sorry, not sorry. Bama isn't the Saban-Bama, but they still really good and that offense can flash fry teams if they are invested. After two lousy games, I expect the Tahd to be on full tilt in Rocky Top. I'll believe Bama is dead when I see them in the cold, cold ground.

Auburn @ Missouri
Missouri is better but not by as much as people think. Everyone expects Auburn to find a new way to screw this up and in some ways, that's fair. However, I think coming after a week off, whatever tricks Hugh and co. have will be on display here. I'm taking the Orange and Blue Tigers over the Black & Gold variety in a last ditch of hope for the season. Auburn wins in a slight shocker.

Michigan @ Illinois
Ole Bert's Illini are a tough bunch. All Michigan has left is a stout run game. This is old school football from the Big Ten like we knew it back in the day. I expect a low scoring affair and will go with the Wolverines in a close one.

LSU @ Arkansas
LSU is riding high off the euphoria of driving the stake into Ole Miss last week. They need to pay attention lest Pittman's Hogs (coming off a bye) run them ragged. LSU doesn't have a great defense, still, and the offense can be pressured which is something Arkansas is pretty good at doing this year. Call me crazy, Call me Betty, Call me Al. I'm calling the Hogs in this one.

Notre Dame @ Georgia Tech
Another familiar foes match up for the week and one the Domers have owned (30-6-1 through the years). The Yellow Jackets are improving but Notre Dame's defense is legit (the NIU game not withstanding) and they get enough out of Riley "Should Have Been Ours" Leonard and the run game to shorten contests to their favor. I like Notre Dame here.

[Snaggletiger]

I'm just trying to convince myself on Tennessee.  We've all seen it before.  Just when we hope the wicked witch is dead, she sends those damn flying monkeys.  If you go by recruiting rankings, Alabama is the most talented team in the country.  And, they have Ryan Williams.  Did you know he's only 17? You kind of expect them to turn it on whenever they need it. And despite my hopes and dreams, and consistent prayers, they'll probably be up on the Vols by 35 at halftime.

However, I'm basing my UT pick on three things.

1. Bama skruggled with USF for 3+ quarters.  Got absolutely run by FUGA for a half.  Amazing numbers for an offense that's not that good.  Got bent over at Vandy, and absolutely pulled the Cocks out of that ass in the last few minutes of that game.

2. In every defensive category across the board, Tennessee is in the top 5 in the country. I looked at two different rankings from NCAA.com and ESPN, and Bama is #37 in one, and not in the top 50 in the other. The Vols can play some D.

3. This one is in Neyland.

I think UT has looked sketchy at best on offense, but I'm hoping they can do enough against a defense that's not playing good right now.