B&S week 9: game by game previews
COVID problems continue, but six games will be played today to keep our SEC palettes satisfied.
By: The Hammer, Bossman Slim, The Waco Kid
Photo: Perry McIntyre, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s “Peg Leg” Daniels time in Georgia.
Momma, we made it out of the woods (please, God). There are still COVID issues around the conference...but not enough to keep us from a full slate of Saturday football, and hopefully the worst is behind us. It’s not the best slate of games you’ve ever seen, but trust us, it’ll do. It’s not just four “bleh” games, it’s SIX “meh” games (A&M and Ole Miss was postponed). But it’s a full day of SEC football, so serve us up this bland elementary school cafeteria food and watch us indulge like we’re Adam Richmond in Man vs. Food.
Early Games
#6 Florida at Vanderbilt - 12:00 PM ET on ESPN (Florida -31.5)
This one will be over quickly. Kyle Trask is on a mission from God and Swamp apostle Tim Tebow this year to return the Gators to prominence. He is slinging the pigskin all of the place and finds himself squarely in the Heisman conversation. Florida’s defense has not been as impressive but against Vanderbilt, that won’t matter. They’ll be able to contain an inconsistent Commodore offense and the offense should score at will.
And Tim Tebow
The 31.5 point spread says it all. It won't be close, Florida will score early and often and Emory Jones has a good chance to take the majority of snaps in the second half. Easy Gators win in Nashville. If it weren’t for COVID-19, we might even have seen Dan Mullen running around Broadway looking for someone to disrespect Kyle Trask so he could start swinging.
Florida - 48
Vanderbilt - 14
LSU at Arkansas - 12:00 PM ET on SEC Network (LSU -2.5)
Not quite sure how LSU is favored here but my money is on Arkansas. LSU has issues. Both on the field and off. First, Myles Brennan is a long shot to play and without him, their offense is weak and turnover prone. The Arkansas defense feasts on turnovers. Off the field, LSU is dealing with the USA Today sexual assault report. We’ll see if that impacts the game or not but it isn’t a good sign for Coach O or the school. And to top it all off, the Tigers had COVID-19 issues last week which caused the Alabama game to be canceled so it’s unclear who will even be available.
Yet with all those issues, the Tigers find themselves as favorites on the road in Fayetteville. The Hogs are coming off a tough loss to Florida, who just overpowered the Razorbacks defense all night. Good news for Arkansas, LSU’s offense is not close to Florida’s production, and the 2019 record-setting offense is already a distant memory. The Hogs have played tough all year but have not really been able to translate the solid play into a bunch of wins. I think it’s their time this weekend. Give me the Hogs to take down the Bayou Bengals.
Arkansas 34
LSU 28
The Hammer
Midday Game
Kentucky at #1 Alabama - 4:00 PM ET on SEC Network (Alabama -30.5)
Photo: Jason Marcum, SB Nation Sea of Blue
Dave in Tuscaloosa has hardly known what to do with himself the past two weeks with Alabama COVID postponements, switching between sitting on his hands and pacing back and forth on Saturday’s. Thankfully, there’s a prescription for his mental health, and it’s more Alabama football. Our Alabama man previews the Tide and ‘Cats, which you can read a snippet of here:
“The Bama defense has been an area of improvement throughout the season, has climbed to #5 in the conference giving up 22 points per game, and continued improvement is expected after having an extra week to work out the kinks that hampered this talented unit early in the season. The Tide offense is potent and led by our man, quarterback Mac “Daddy” Jones, who is completing 78% of his passes for 16 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. Senior back Najee Harris is having a terrific senior campaign, amassing 14 rushing touchdowns, and the receiving corps led by DeVonta Smith (759 yards and 8 touchdowns) coupled with a dominant, experienced offensive line has created a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. Currently, the Tide offense ranks #2 in the conference, averaging 555 yards and 41 points per game.
Statistics say that Alabama's offense against Kentucky’s strong defense should provide for a good matchup. In order to have a shot at this one, the ‘Cats will have to find ways to get Jones off of his game through pressure, and the defense will need the Alabama offense to be rusty. Perhaps Kentucky can sustain a few drives and get a special teams touchdown or a pick-six to aid their offense, and maybe, just maybe, Alabama will be looking ahead to their annual Iron Bowl clash with Auburn next week.”
See preview for score prediction
Late Games
Tennessee at #23 Auburn - 7:00 PM ET on ESPN (Auburn -10.5)
In a world that makes sense, Auburn picks up an easy win against the Vols, who have struggled all year and can’t find a quarterback. But this is a world that makes absolutely no sense, considering Auburn lost to South Carolina, who just fired their coach, then turned around and routed typical juggernaut LSU as if they were the Americans in the Gulf War. 2020 is upside down.
This one feels like it could be a trap for Auburn - one of those where they come out flat and Tennessee hangs around even if they have no business being in the game. But I don’t think that happens today. This is the tale of two teams going in opposite directions. Auburn has righted the ship (for now) and has an upward trajectory after two straight wins and seemingly finding some solid footing on offense with Bo Nix and Tank Bigsby. Tennessee is moving in the opposite direction and fast, having lost four straight. The Vols don’t have a quarterback. Jarrett Guarantano has been ineffective since his hot start and backups Brian Mauerer and Harrison Bailey have been unimpressive in relief. Jeremy Pruitt has a mess on his hands and his seat is getting warmer by the loss.
Nix will keep his momentum going against Jeremy Pruitt and the Vols.
I think Auburn has found a stride and is finally clicking on offense, and with two weeks to prepare for this down Tennessee team, I think Auburn sticks a foot on the Vols throat today. Bo Nix has another good performance and Tank Bigsby runs for 120+ and two TDs as the Tigers improve to 5-2 and cool Malzahn’s seat down for another week.
War Eagle by 20.
#23 Auburn 38
Tennessee 16
Bossman Slim
Mississippi State at #13 Georgia - 7:30 PM ET on SEC Network (Georgia -25)
Mississippi State should be the next feature for Last Chance U. Previously, East Mississippi Community College became famous for their time on the Netflix series, bringing attention to the Delta by showcasing players from the South that were not given their chances to play Division I football or made mistakes that took that chance away. Starkville is a place where previous top players believed the cowbell could elevate a subpar team into a win. A place where recruits come to improve grades and play for a year, maybe two at the most, and then bolt. During this season we have seen 17 Bulldogs players transfer or opt-out of the season. This is not because of how horrible the State team is - I think it more has to do with the culture and the buying in of a Mike Leach program being run a little differently than SEC West teams of the past.
Leach is bringing a new type of football to the SEC. He introduced an air raid offense into a conference that is used to the ground game opening up the pass which seems to not be sitting well with players. I mean there is a reason that recruits chose to attend an SEC school over an ACC or Big 12 team. They want to get down in the dirt, it is not all about a track meet for these players. If the Pirate wants to survive in this league he needs to adapt and learn what his players want, not just what will produce overnight results. The first week of play worked out well against an over ranked LSU team, but what has it produced since? This is a different kind of ball game and Mikey Mike has not quite figured out how to scheme against it.
That being said, it will be a cold day in hell before Kirby Smart let’s his Dawgs be beaten by a disgraced Big 12 coach. After their loss to Florida, Georgia will come out with everything they’ve got. They will be looking to knock out players, coaches, and anyone else who gets in their way of a playoff berth. No mercy will be shown, and Smart like his mentor Saban, will enjoy every second of dominance in this one. Georgia’s decent offense will put up points, but the Dawgs’ defense will extinguish all hope that Mississippi State may have.
#13 Georgia 48
Mississippi State 13
Missouri at South Carolina - 7:30 PM ET on SEC Network-Alt (Mizzou -6.5)
Photo: Carmen Mandato, Getty Images
South Carolina recently made headlines due to the firing of head coach Will Muschamp. From everything I have read Muschamp was an outstanding person and a players’ coach but it was time for the Gamecocks to move in a different direction. No matter what you bring to the table if you cannot produce over a .500 record in your tenure you are submitting the program to a culture of mediocrity and in the SEC arms race, that is unacceptable. At the end of the day, pure wins and losses wrote Muschamp out at South Carolina.
Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has been named the interim head coach and USC will continue play this weekend when they face East rival Missouri, in a contest that will determine the second to last place teams in the SEC. Honestly, I am excited, this could be one of the better games of the weekend. These are two new coaches in the SEC so they bring a different approach and mentality that we are not used to seeing. Eli Drinkwitz has the Mizzou Tigers competing in games that they should not even show up to. He has already led them to wins over LSU and Kentucky. And Bobo, he did nothing at Colorado State so I don’t think he brings anything to the table but boy does he have a talented team. This will be a good game, not because they are two teams playing for everything, it is just the opposite, these are two teams that have nothing to lose. The most dangerous of teams have nothing to lose because they are willing to win at all cost.
I cannot see a scenario where the offensive talent of Collin Hill, Shi Smith, and Kevin Harris are outscored by a Missouri offense. The Tigers will have to hope that Larry Rountree III can score 4-5 touchdowns to keep up with the Gamecocks, otherwise, this will be over within the first half. The lack of offensive firepower for Mizzou coupled with the desire instilled in a South Carolina team after their leader has been publicly fired will be too much for the wicked worst of the East to overcome. USC maximizes home field advantage and sends the Tigers back to their own Columbia with another loss.
South Carolina 38
Missouri 24
The Waco Kid