WEEK 6 PREVIEW: Will Texas and Florida take us back to the Stone Age?
Before I start, here’s a link from a UK Premier League about something that a lot of men suffer from: Depression. “We’re not talking Georgia beat Alabama and now I’m depressed” depression, we’re talking: “I am with 100,000 people and I feel totally alone” depression. And if we see someone like that at our games, we need to talk to them before its too late. I wish the NCAA would do something along the lines of this, but they won’t, because money.
Anyway, here’s something to lighten the mood: My Week 6 picks for the SEC. This week, there aren’t a lot of teams on the schedule, which means that you’ll be getting something the size of Revelation for each game (if you haven’t seen 4,000 words written on Kent State v Oklahoma, you haven’t lived).
1. Texas (-5.5) at Florida: Had both QBs been up to scratch this season, this could have been a Prime Quarterbacking Game. Sadly, neither Arch Manning nor KJ Lagway have distinguished themselves from any pack whatsoever, and they’ll face two very strong defenses. What is goiing to be king in this game is going to be defense. Both Texas and Florida have that in spades. But one mistake or going down 10 points, and The Swamp will be asking Billy Napier to back down and back off. It’s going to be an intriguing situation which might take football back to the dark ages. PREDICTION: Texas by 10 in a game that’s close until a field goal seals it at the death.
2. No.16 Vanderbilt at No.10 Alabama (-11): College Gameday is going to be in Tuscaloosa for the 21st time, and if this was two seasons ago, people would be laughing at ESPN for the making the CGD decision. Well, with Alabama having lost the previous clash to Vanderbilt last year, Vanderbilt unbeaten and in the Top 25 – and Florida State having lost at Virginia last Friday – the powers-that-be are sending Rece and the guys to The Loos. Oh, the game….Sorry, we were meant to talk about that, we’re we? OK, so Vanderbilt is not your younger version’s Vanderbilt. Diego Pavia can cause havoc with his feet, and receiving corps of TE Eli Stowers, WR Tre Richardson, and WR Junior Sherrill are good enough to cause anyone fits. On the other side of the ball, we’re not expecting Vanderbilt to stop Ty Simpson and his band of Merry Friends (Germie Bernard, Ryan Williams and Isaiah Horton), but they will try and slow them down. PREDICTION: Alabama by 14. And it all looks pretty easy.
3. Kentucky at No.12 Georgia (-20): It’s worth noting that Georgia’s having one of the most mediocre start in its history and could well be 0-2. Instead, they battled back to snatch a win at Tennessee, and they were only one stupid decision from taking Alabama to OT. In short, this team is a lot better than the No.12 indicates, but slow starts have meant Gunnar Stockton performing heroics. And we’re not wildly sure how many he will have. Against Kentucky though, it won’t really be a problem. The Wildcats are very poor indeed. They suck at offense (80th in the country) and they suck at defense (83rd). They need something, and we don’t know what it will be. PREDICTION: Georgia rolls, winning by 24.
4. Mississippi State at No.6 Texas A&M (-15.5): This is a weird line. Giving A&M 15.5 points against a sprightly Mississippi State team that nearly beat Tennessee and hasn’t let itself down all season long – as well as having a very solid run game and a QB in Blake Shapen who’s finally finding a good level – seems a long way. Texas A&M’s defense still isn’t very special, and the tea is indisciplined. And they struggled against Auburn in one of the most boring games of the year. So are they backing that Mario Craver buries his alma mater in College Station, and this becomes a juggernaut, even though the defense hasn’t been great all year? PREDICTION: Sure, Texas A&M will win. But it’ll be by 7 in an ugly game.
5. Kent State at Oklahoma (-45.5): The only relatively interesting thing about this one is how Michael Hawkins Jr will play in his first full start after the injury to John Mateer wrecked his season. The only chance that Kent State of keeping the score down is if Hawkins Jr is on the Strugglebus (although we’ve heard the words “A different quarterback” thrown around by the coaches). Kent State might not even score a point against this Oklahoma defense. PREDICTION: OU by 40.