The second weekend of SEC football offered just enough crazy to make me really ready to get in to conference play. It also offered just enough upsets and near-but-not upsets to make my picks look really bad.
But I was damned close picking Ole Miss to win and Arkansas to lose, so I feel good about that. And I almost picked Vandy, so I have that going for me.
Things I took away from the week:
- Alabama managed just 99 passing yards and 172 total yards against Tulane and moved up in the polls? Obviously the humans who make those choices don’t actually watch the games. Sure, the Greenies were on the field a lot after giving up two special-team touchdowns, but still. That’s piss-poor and worthy of an Ohio State slide, not a move up.
- Georgia is sitting at No. 45 in total defense and No. 48 in scoring defense after their first two patsy games. That ain’t gonna cut it, even with the inevitable black-jersey-game and coordinated unsportsmanlike conduct stunt thrown in along the line. Florida is No. 12 in total defense and No. 8 in scoring defense after playing Hawaii and Miami (The Real One). Hell, Kentucky is No. 10 and No. 3 after the patsy stretch (yes, Louisville, I called you a patsy). Heck of a Knowshon show on Saturday, but the Dawgs aren’t winning the SEC East, much less the National Championship, with the defense they currently are playing.
- Auburn has their QB in Chris Todd, who went 21 for 31 for 248 yards against Southern Miss. And the War Eagle defense did OK against the pass-happy SoMiss offense. I really wish I had more LSU result data to compare the two teams. But you have to call Auburn solid but not provably exceptional at this point.
- Florida’s 26 – 3 win over Miami showed a lot of kinks in the Gator offense, but their defense looks strong. Urban’s boys will have to start executing better on offense as they move to SEC play, though.
- South Carolina – what can I say? I can’t imagine Vandy is any good, and you have to start thinking this might be Spurrier’s last go-round. Barring a massive change in gameplay, the Cocks will be in for a long season.
- Ole Miss should have beaten Wake Forest. I’m not a believer in Wake, but I was pretty impressed with the Rebels in this game. They may be more interesting than I thought to start the season.
- Arkansas will lose to Texas this weekend, which will make up somewhat for the fact that they had no business winning last weekend (again).
- Kentucky; hey, looking good. I can’t say I’ve paid much attention to their games, but I may have to start.
- Mississippi State has a long way to go and a short time to get there. The win over Southeastern Louisiana is pretty meaningless coming after a loss to La. Tech and with Auburn looming this weekend. I don’t see good things in Sly’s SEC future this season.
For the week – 6-3
For the season – 15-6
