MSU v Troy

Turn the Page

Here I am, 
On the road again.
There I am, 
Up on the stage. 
Here I go, 
Playin' star again... 
There I go, 
Turn the page. 

Welcome back, faithful followers, to the House of Hooch!  Mr. Hooch's beloved Bulldogs are on the road for the first time this season on Saturday when they travel to Troy, AL, thus we give the nod to Mr. Bob Seger and his timeless classic, Turn the Page.

Hopefully you all got a chance to check out the Recap of Week 2 in the SEC complete with new co-host and soon-to-be internet meta-celebrity, Professor D.  If not, you're missing out, but just click that link and it's all gravy, baby!

Now that we're breaking things up a bit we can get straight into this week's predictions and a preview of MSU v Troy, so let's stop beating around the bush and get to it... 

(Professor D = italics, Mr. Hooch = bold)

LSU v. Idaho

This is another week where I will not be watching LSU beat the crap out of some poor

bloke from out of town.

LSU wins 49 – 10

I wasn't sure Idaho would score a TD... LSU is that athletic across the board.  But then I saw the news out of Baton Rouge about the Tigahs losing 4 players due to academic ineligibility.  This is basically just a shot to their depth, though, so I'll stick with my original prediction...

 LSU 42 - Idaho 9 (3 FG's, and I feel like that's being generous)

South Carolina v. UAB

Still playing the cupcakes.

South Carolina wins 45 – 10

Come on, mom, five more minutes! Just lemme hit the snooze button one more time...

SC 34 - UAB 14

I told them Jaw-juh boys it was Owl season!

Georgia v. Florida Atlantic

Another sleeper. Georgia’s defense won’t give Florida Atlantic a chance as the bulldogs out east will run away with it.

Georgia wins 42 – 7.

I completely agree with my distinguished colleague, Professor D on this, your honor!  I say, I say, I say there is NO WAY Jaw-juh could lose this one!

GA 42 - FAU 7

Arkansas v. Alabama

Good luck Arky. Alabama’s defense is going to have a field day against Arkansas’

running game, and the offense should have their way with Arkansas defense, even if they show

up. Look for this one to get ugly quick.

Alabama wins 42 – 3.

Now available in Razorback Red!

The working motto in Arkansas is now "The beatings will continue until morale improves..."  If Saban decides to ease up late in the third the score might not be TOO outrageous, but... oh wait, this is Nick Saban we're talking about.  Even if he giftwraps the ball for Ark the entire second half his defense could put up 21 points...

Bama 45 - Ark 10

SMU v. Texas A&M

Texas A&M proved itself to be a team to reckon with this year. SMU will find

themselves out paced and out matched. The Aggies will finally get to play a non-SEC team and

really flex some muscle.

Texas A&M wins 38 – 10.

Time to start reppin the SEC, Aggies!  You and SMU were buddies back in your pre-school playground days, but this is big-boy league now, and we play for keeps.

TAMU 42 - SMU 14

Auburn v. ULM

I have no idea. Seriously I don’t even want to try predicting this game because I’m only

going to look stupid when it’s over. Auburn has yet to have a good game, and ULM is coming

off of a huge upset over Arkansas. I think Auburn will throw something together and come out

with a victory at home. If they don’t, it is going to be a long season for the Tigers.

Auburn wins 17 – 14.

There is a truckload of emotion on both sides of the ball here... Auburn is hungry for a win and some vindication, even if it is a directional Louisiana school, because at least then they could claim a victory over a team that beat a fellow SEC West foe.  ULM is riding high, but make no mistake, this is no trap game for them... they're hungry to prove last week wasn't a fluke and they will come out guns blazing and try to expose the porous Auburn defense.  I'm still not sold on the Auburn QB situation, but they've had a lot of 'learning experiences' the last two weeks and I expect things to be a little different this time around.  Still not the cleanest of games, and the natives are definitely getting restless down on the plains, but they will right the ship this week...

Auburn 24 - ULM 17

Ole Miss v. Texas

Sigh. I wish I could pick Ole Miss; I really do. It would look great for such a weak SEC team to beat a top 25 opponent. It would help recover some face lost by Arkansas last week. But Texas is going to run away with this one against an Ole Miss team that has been rebuilding for 3 straight years.

Texas wins 38 – 10 (and that one touchdown won’t be by Ole Miss’ offense)

Texas is too talented all over the field to get tripped up by Ole Miss... that being said, OM has been known to play spoiler before when they were clearly outmatched, so you never really know.  Ultimately I have to go with my gut, though...

Texas 42 - OM 13

Presbyterian's only play... the Hail Mary.

Vanderbilt v. Presbyterian

Come on Vanderbilt. I’m looking for the Commodores to rebound at home and beat an overmatched Presbyterian.

Vanderbilt wins 21 – 10.

Vandy, you're on notice... the Professor has called you out, and there's only one thing to do.  Kick the habit! (see what I did there?)

Vandy 24 - Presbyterian 14

Kentucky v. Western Kentucky

Kentucky is no Alabama, but the result should be the same for WKU, a loss to the SEC.

This could turn into an upset for Kentucky if they start as slow as they did last week, but the

home crowd just won’t let them fall to this non-conference foe.

Kentucky wins 24 – 17

I agree with the Professor, this could easily blow up in the 'Cats faces if they don't start strong and clean.  Mistake-free football is the key to this one, but WKU will not go quietly into that good night...

Kentucky 21 - WKU 17

Missouri v. Arizona State

This is going to be an important game down the road, as one of the few links between the

SEC and the PAC-12. Missouri will need to provide an SEC level atmosphere to help out there

team, which can’t afford the slow start they got out to against Georgia. This game is definitely

one to watch, but I’m going to go with the SEC (however new the member) over the PAC-12 in

a pick that may come back to bite me.

Missouri wins 30 – 24.

All eyes on you, Mizzou... the new kids on the block in the SEC are definitely under the microscope this season.  The question is can they handle the pressure and take care of the things they need to take care of?  I think the Sun Devils will give Mizzou more of a game than they expect, but the end result should be a 'W'.

Mizzou 35 - AZ State 28

Tennessee v. Florida

This is going to be a good game. Florida won’t have the luxury of just pounding out yards in the second half like they did last week, and Tennessee is team on the rise this year. Look for the home field advantage to swing this one in Tennessee’s favor as an over-rated Florida team finally falls.

Tennessee wins 31 – 17.

This one is hard to call, but the Vols have impressed Mr. Hooch more so than the Gators in their first two outings this season.  I do think it will be a bit closer than the Professor, however...

Tenn 24 - FL 21

Troy v. Mississippi State

Good coaches know how to make a cup cake team look threatening in order to get the team ready for them. If they didn’t, well, remember Maine. Troy has made Dan Mullen’s job a lot easier in that regard. Perusing the schedule for Mississippi State’s future W’s and L’s, Troy seems like an obvious W, but after two games their offense has shown they are not to be taken lightly. In their last game as a team Troy was 50 of 75 passing for 528 yards. The game before that they ran 45 times for 262 yards. That is one impressive offensive machine. Mississippi State will rely on their defensive line heavily to force Trojan quarterback Corey Robinson to make some bad decisions and allow a ball hawking secondary to do its thing and create turnovers. Troy was one dimensional in each of their first two games, zeroing in on the run in the first, and the pass in the second. They will need to be balanced to try and keep Mississippi State’s defense honest. If State can make Troy one dimensional, it could turn into a pretty good day for the bulldogs.

Mississippi State’s offense should perform well against a defense that has been weak all around. If Tyler Russell can be as consistent as he was against Auburn, look for State’s offense to put up good numbers, especially if the O-line continues to improve as a unit. Even if Russell has an off day, the stable of running backs behind a solid middle three linemen for state will be too much for Troy’s defense to handle.

Mississippi State’s defense should get a good test from the Trojan offense, and if they’re properly prepared they should pass. If they’re looking for an easy win, this one could turn into an ugly shoot out. The offense just has to go in and take care of business. This should be a confidence builder for the linemen and the receivers. You’ll notice I’ve ignored special teams for Mississippi State. I’ll wait until we make a field goal to start including them.

Mississippi State finally gets a field goal and wins 45 – 27.

Not much to say that the Professor hasn't already said... It's not exactly David vs. Goliath, but it would take a meltdown of Arkansan proportions for MSU to blow this one.  Dan Mullen won't let that happen... I have to say, though, for Professor D to heap so much praise on the Bulldog defense and then say Troy will put up 27 is a bit odd.  MSU special teams will have a good day at Troy, though, and hopefully work out the kinks in the kicking game... Troy's second TD will come late in the game, when Mullen has taken his foot off the gas and subbed in second and third stringers across the board.

MSU 35 - Troy 14

I’ve picked the SEC to rebound from last week’s losses and suffer only one loss by Ole Miss to a ranked Texas team, understandable in my opinion. I’m counting on Missouri and Vanderbilt to step up and do the SEC proud in their non-conference games, trusting the rest of the teams to just go out and take care of business.

While we don't agree on the spread, we have picked the same winners for every matchup this week. Outside of Ole Miss, I'm looking at Missouri or Kentucky to be the teams that throw off my picks, but we shall see...

And that's a wrap for this week's blog!  If you like it then share the link and tell your friends.  If you don't, well, why the hell are you still reading?  Get lost!  Seriously... go. Go home. The blog is over.  

Dankeschön und auf wiedersehen...

Recap: Week 2

In an effort to cater to the ever-decreasing attention spans of our readers and the world at large, Mr. Hooch is going to experiment with breaking up the single weekly submission into a few component parts.  Today's blog is the recap of week 2, so we'll get to that in a moment, but first we'd like to introduce a good friend and new co-host for the House of Hooch blog, Professor D!

Danger!? Does the "D" stand for Danger??
It's Danger, isn't it!?

The Professor is someone who has impressed Mr. Hooch with his database-like brain filled with sports knowledge, and as Mr. Hooch has always enjoyed chatting about various sports with Professor D, he decided it was time to bring him on board and share The Professor with our faithful followers. (He apparently also decided it was time to start referring to himself in the third person...)

So, what does the "D" stand for you ask?  Good question... It could be many things. Doomsday? Dawg? Deceptively Devious Dude?  We're not spilling the beans just yet, so you can speculate all you like... hell, speculate until the next season of Breaking Bad for all we care!  But respect the man's opinions, because they're based firmly on reliable facts and solid observations... also if I can convince him to keep it up, he's keeping a spreadsheet of our weekly predictions, so I might throw that in a later post.

Keep in mind this would normally be out on Tuesday but it's been a rough week for Mr. Hooch so many things are behind schedule.  And so, without further ado, we give you Recap: Week 2.

(Note: Professor D's comments are in italics... my responses/comments will be in bold)


There were good and bad moments last week around the SEC in what I would grade as
a C for the nation’s best conference. We’ll go in order of excitement, from least to most.

LSU 41 v. Washington 3

I considered not even including a comment on game. It was interesting for about… well
no; if you have ever watched LSU play in Death Valley this game was never interesting. LSU didn’t show us anything we didn’t already expect (a beastly running game) and the technical King of the West won easily 41 – 3.

I agree with everything except the "technical King of the West" title, but that's honestly a toss up between LSU and Bama at this point, so not really worth arguing.

South Carolina 48 v. East Carolina 10

Any girl who wears this shirt is
alright in my book...

Yawn. Carolina did what any SEC team should do against a team like East Carolina (I’m looking at you Arkansas). The 48 points put up by S. Carolina’s offense is a good sign for the overall strength of the SEC, but doesn’t tell us much about how good this team is going to be through the year. We’ll have to see if they can compete with Georgia for the Eastern Division later.

This was a bigger spread than I imagined, but the Gamecocks did what needed to be done.  Go Cocks. (Hi, I'm twelve)

Alabama 35 v. Western Kentucky 0

In some people’s minds the true King of the West (and it’s hard to argue with them) also handled their non-conference opponent with ease (not a conference trait this week) but what makes this one a little more interesting is the goose egg where Western Kentucky’s score should be. Alabama will always have a fierce defense under Coach Saban, but a lot of teams in the West were counting on this being a “rebuilding” type season for Alabama’s D (It should be noted that Alabama’s last “rebuilding” season on defense still resulted in a 10 win season). The shut-out suggests the coaching staff is using the team’s slow start, with regard to scheduling, to effectively build up confidence and experience, a scary possibility for everyone with UA on the schedule.

Mr. Hooch agrees with the Professor, Bama's 'rebuilding' years would equate to conference winning seasons in most other conferences... all hail the SEC, baby!

Kentucky 47 v. Kent State 14

This game was a lot closer than the score makes it appear. At one point in the third
quarter Kentucky only led by 3, but an SEC style (except Arkansas) surge in the second half turned it into a beat down. Kentucky still has a ways to go to be considered a threat in the SEC East but Vanderbilt did a nice job pushing Kentucky up from the bottom of the barrel on Saturday.

This one had me worried on my prediction at one point, but the Wildcats stepped up...

Ole Miss 28 v. UTEP 10

Ole Miss is no Mississippi State, and UTEP is… well they might be as good as Auburn…
but anyway, the scores were the same. Ole Miss got off to a 2-0 start to the season, impressive considering how bad they’ve been in their openers the past couple of years. The quarterback play for Ole Miss, often questionable when it wasn’t abysmal recently, saw some improvement as arguably the worst team in the SEC was STILL able to beat its’ non-conference foe. (Really Arkansas…. REALLY?!?!?!?)

Ok, I'll eat my crow on this one... I'm still not sold on Ole Miss this season, but at least they took care of business with their OOC foes, unlike last season.  Gotta rep that SEC, son-ah!

Northwestern 23 v. Vanderbilt 13

Vanderbilt looked good last week against South Carolina. They looked like a team ready
to take a step out of the bottom of the barrel in the Eastern Division. Then Saturday happened. They looked awful against Northwestern. The run defense was non-existent in the 4th quarter and the offense failed to wear down Northwestern’s D. Hopefully Vandy can get it together and come out with a strong season under second year head coach James Franklin.

I agree with the Professor, I thought Vandy looked to be poised to take that next step but Northwestern proved to be a bit much for them.  This still didn't hurt as bad as Arkansas, though...

Tennessee 51 v. Georgia State 13

Tennessee took care of business against their non-conference opponent as well (I’m
STILL looking at you Arkansas). The Vol’s showed an impressive offense, passing for over 300 yards and rushing for 2 TD’s and a defense good enough to get the job done. I’m not saying that Tennessee deserves to be ranked ahead of Mississippi State, but I am saying they deserve to be ranked. It’ll take a tougher opponent to really see what this team is made of, but they are looking much improved from the past three seasons.

I was impressed with Tennessee's outing last weekend... they look to be much better than a lot of folks (myself included) were giving them credit for being.  I did not expect this landslide, but it sets up for a good game on Oct. 13th between the Vols and the Dawgs.

Missouri 20 v. Georgia 41

This is another case of the score making the game seem much more one sided than it was.
Missouri started off strong in their SEC debut with big plays and quick players, but
Georgia’s “old man” style of football was just too much for the undersized Tigers. Georgia’s
defense looked as good as expected, especially ESPN’s defensive player of the week Jarvis Jones, but the offense was slow to get moving. Georgia’s heavy hitting offense and defense just wore down the smaller tigers and really pulled ahead in the 4th quarter. Missouri, welcome to the SEC. You’re going to get hit hard, and you’re going to get hit often. It’s time to get a good strength and conditioning coach and learn to hit back.

Texas A&M 17 v. Florida 20

Wow. What a show. This was an impressive game in front of an impressive crowd. Texas
A&M had Florida’s number in the first half with a defense that was as physical as it was fast.
The offense looked impressive under red-shirt freshman quarterback Manziel and the defense was led by Demontrea Moore who seemed to spend more time in Florida’s backfield than Florida’s own running backs. It will take some time to see if Texas A&M’s second half woes are a hold-over from last year’s team, or if the fact that it was their first game finally caught up to them. The Aggies, however, did prove that they belong in the SEC West. To come out against a top 25 team (whether they deserve it or not) with a new coaching staff, new ideology on both sides of the ball, and a new quarterback without having played a game and put on the performance they did? Welcome to the SEC West. You’re going to love it here.

I have no idea why Florida moved up in the rankings this week. They looked like a team
of freshmen straight out of high school in the first half. The offensive line looks to be a real
question mark for this team. Florida had best enjoy the top 25 while it lasts, because in the brutal SEC, being overrated doesn’t last as long as it does out west (I’m looking at you USC).

I agree these were both amazing games, especially considering it was each team's first SEC bout... TAMU and Mizzou both had flashes of SEC-caliber brilliance, but Florida managed to pull out the 'W' in the end, and Georgia hunkered down and, as my man Zaboo would say, TCB'd.  And obviously the Professor and I agree that Florida is not the Florida of old.  It's entirely possible that Tennessee could knock them out of the rankings this weekend...

Arkansas 31 v. ULM 34 OT

Hm... I smell bacon.  That's not good...

If you were wondering why the SEC got a C this week, blame the Razorbacks. And Vanderbilt, but come on, they’re Vanderbilt. I’ll begin with Arkansas’ defense. Or at least I would if I could find them. But seriously Arkansas, ULM amassed 550 total yards of offense.

That isn’t a typo. Passing alone ULM was 42-68 for 412 yards (Auburn beware). All around this defense is not ready to play even Ole Miss, much less anyone else in the SEC. Gone are the days of Arkansas’ explosive offense. Knile Davis couldn’t manage to average 4 yards rushing against ULM and the passing game was only marginally better against even a sub-par defense. Arkansas deserved to drop from the top 25, and the head coach’s refusal to shake hands with ULM’s head coach was downright embarrassing. Have more respect for yourself, your program, and your conference than that. Be a man and shake your opponent’s hand, he sure as hell deserves it after the whooping he just gave you. Arkansas fans should be more ashamed of their coach than their team’s performance, and their performance was bad enough to go buy a paper bag.

Ouch.  The truth hurts, and this kills... I don't think you'd find many folks outside of Monroe, LA who were expecting the Warhawks to pull off the upset here, but they sacked up and did what needed to be done.  You'll never catch me rejoicing at an injury, but this definitely takes the Hogs down a notch in the competitive department.  It's going to be a looooong season in Fayetteville, and as Mr. Hooch has a plethora of friends in that neighborhood he must extend his heartfelt condolences... the injury bug can wreck a season in the blink of an eye.


Mississippi State 28 v. Auburn 10

Boy did that feel good to type. Mississippi State played like they had something to prove.
Auburn played like they thought they were facing ULM this week instead of next. First we’ll
talk positive and act like this game was the result of a better than expected State team, and not an atrocious Auburn.

There were many a-smiling faces
in Bulldog country this weekend...

Mississippi State’s offense worked like a well oiled machine. Tyler Russell was efficient and deadly accurate on the move. The offensive line did a good job creating holes for the running game up the middle, something the running backs were quick to exploit, but struggled at times to contain Auburn’s pass rush off the edge. Too many times an Auburn player came unblocked against Russell’s blind side. State finally has a pocket passer, the line needs to step up and protect him a little better. State has a lot of experience at receiver and it shows. These guys have played together for years and with Russell at the helm, they were on display. Nine different receivers caught passes, and not one of them was named Joe Morrow. This is a corps that could be a lot of fun to watch and without one guy to key in on, should give defenses a lot of problems when designing coverage schemes. The running backs were impressive again this week; Perkins shouldered most of the load with ease, but got relief from a stable of young backs who are looking to establish themselves.

Agreed, the OL has to hold off the pass rush and protect Tyler if this offense is going to continue to produce the kind of performance we've seen the first two games.  JSU is one thing, a rebuilding Auburn team is another, but when MSU faces the likes of LSU, Bama and the other middle-tier SEC teams they will need to tighten up.  Tyler will need to get rid of the ball faster, which means receivers need to get open sooner.  Luckily this corps of receivers might be able to pull that off...

The Defense. Oh my what a defense this is, and it doesn’t start with the secondary. This defensive line is top to bottom the most talented line Mississippi State has fielded this century (millennia too by the way). They can put some serious pressure on opposing teams, but are disciplined enough to not let the run game get away from them. This can create some serious dilemma for opposing quarterbacks. Do I run and risk getting leveled by one of those ferocious line backers? Or do I try passing against Jonathon Banks and company? Best choice? Neither. Throw it in the dirt. State’s linebackers looked a little shaky covering short passes against Jackson State, not so against a one-dimensional Auburn. These guys may not be the most talented bunch in the SEC, but they know the game and they know their job. These guys are good, and they will only get better. Finally we come to the secondary, and Jonathon Banks. I separate the two because State fields an impressive secondary even without Banks on the field. That’s right, even without the pre-season All-American FBS interception leading top corner in the SEC, Mississippi State still has a secondary that, thanks to the likes of Slay, Broomfield, and Whitely, should make teams think twice about the pass. Jonathon Banks had two interceptions this weekend against Auburn, and if I remember correctly was only thrown against 3 times. That’s what I call impressive. He also made his presence known up-front, occasionally being called upon to blitz and stop the run.

I'll tell you what you can do with your "big play...."

To quote Harvey Keitel from Pulp Fiction, "Let's not start suckin each others dicks just yet, gentlemen."  The depth on this defense is legit.  The LB's are legit.  The line is legit.  The concern is gameplanning... even the best of defenses can be beaten with good play calling.  I feel good about our man coverage on opponent's wide receivers for the most part, but all it takes is that dreaded "big play" to turn things around.  Banks or Broomfield picking off a poorly thrown pass is huge, but it's equally huge when and if they get beat on man coverage, and a third and long situation turns into a 40+ yard run and 6 points on the board.  The "big play" WILL burn us once or twice this season, there's nothing you can do about that.  The question is will we be able to recover?  That being said I have full confidence in our coaching, so it will all be decided as it should... on the field.

Now that we’re all feeling nice and sunny, let’s face the truth. Auburn is bad, really bad. The only positive on this team is special teams, which really stuck it to Mississippi State on Saturday. The offense was at best one dimensional and at worst playing for the other team. It took three quarters for Auburn to exceed 100 total yards of offense, and by then State was in a semi-prevent defense just waiting for the clock to hit 0. State fans will enjoy this win, as they should, but if the bulldogs do roll into Tuscaloosa 7-0 (no easy task mind you) I caution you against over confidence. Tennessee, not Auburn, will be the only real win to brag about if that should happen, and Alabama looks as tough as ever.

Yes, Auburn is bad comparatively, but they still have SEC-caliber talent at almost every position.  This wasn't an exhibition game against the Sisters of the Poor, this was a legit SEC west foe, and one that has had our number for far too long.  State can and should relish this win for what it means to the fans and the program, but there's a game against a pesky Troy team on the road looming.  

So, there you have it... a bit rushed in an attempt to make an imaginary deadline, but there it is nonetheless.  In our next installment we will have the preview of the MSU/Troy game, as well as picks from both Professor D and yours truly on the rest of the SEC matchups this coming weekend.  Stay tuned, sports fans!

MSU v Auburn

Eye of the Tiger - Survivor

"Face to face, out in the heat
Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry
They stack the odds 
Still we take to the street
For the kill with the skill to survive"

Welcome back, faithful followers... all two of you!  I wasn't planning on doing a blog for this game, or maybe even this season, but I actually had a request which gave me that last little push of motivation I needed to say "fuck it, let's throw some last minute shit together!"  

Anyway, this week will be a quick and dirty smattering of some random pieces of previous blogs and if it looks like people are digging it I may continue... so without further ado, Let's get to it.

Just a S.E.C, - 

WKU will look as fast as a 3-toed sloth against
Bama...

Bama v WKU - Yawn.... Bama wins walking away, Tide remains number one in the polls, and in other news water is still wet, fire still burns, and Ole Miss still sucks.

LSU v Washington - Unless the Mad Hatter decides to chew on the wrong kind of grass this will be a cake walk.  Honey Badger or no, this is a walk in the park.

GA v Missouri - It's Mizzou's coming out party, or so they hope.  Can Mark Richt keep the eastern Bulldogs from handing the Tigers their first SEC win?  Home field advantage is going to be a nice perk, but I don't think Missouri is ready for the speed of the SEC just yet.  GA wins one that is probably a lot closer than GA fans would like...

Vanderbilt v Northwestern - I almost typed "Who v Who? Who cares?" but I have to credit Vandy for raising the bar with their football program.  Vandy should TCB.

Kent State v Kentucky - It's very tempting to pick Kent State in an 'upset' of the Wildcats, but I tend to shy away from betting against the SEC (unless your name is Ole Miss).  Kentucky wins a squeaker.

LA Monroe v Arkansas - The Hogs will showcase some of their younger talent, and they have a legit pass/run combo between Wilson and Davis.  Hogs in a rout.

Hey guys, remember us!? We were relevant in the 60's!?
Guys..?

UTEP v Ole Miss - Remember that thing I said about betting against the SEC? Yeah, this would be the one... UTEP is a program that can come in and surprise you if you're overlooking them... with Ole Miss' recent history one would hope they wouldn't be this foolish, but this IS Ole Miss we're talking about.  UTEP pulls off the upset, and Colonel RebBear is cryin in the Grove...

GA State v Tennessee - Tenn. has had some losses from what was already a thin team due to various thugnificent factors... GA State may be able to sneak up on them, but the SEC athleticism will even the scales.  Tenn. in a close game.

FLA v TAMU - Florida travels to Texas A&M for the Aggies 'Welcome to the SEC' opener.  FLA is not the powerhouse they once were in the days of Spurrier or even Meyer, but have I mentioned the SEC's speed and athleticism is unparalleled?  Cuz... yeah.  That being said, FLA is not as good as folks are thinking, and this will be a close one.  TAMU picks up a W and rides high into week 3.

E. Carolina v South Carolina - The south will rise again.  'Nuff said.

No Week in Review this week, as I was unable to catch much football being at DragonCon last weekend.  BTW, if you ever get the chance, do it.  Go.  DragonCon is uh-mazing.  This parody should give you a good idea of what it's all about...

Last DragonCon (Katty Perry Parody)

Back to the business at hand...

Keys to the Game -

Offense - 

Everybody is foaming at the mouth to see Tyler Russel sling the ball for 400+ yards, but that's not going to happen unless we establish a run.  Good thing is our OL and our backs are more than capable of doing just that.  The Dawgs will need to pound the run to open up the passing game, and then stretch the field with some deep routes to the likes of Joe Morrow and crew.

Defense -

Auburn struggled a bit against Clemson, which is bound to be the case when you lose the game... but the Bulldogs D can hedge their bets by stacking the box and making Auburn's unproven QB try to beat us with his arm.  With the LB's the Dawgs are packin we should be able to play man on their receivers and shut them down for the most part.  The dreaded big play always looms, but those are the chances you take...

Bottom Line -

It's time.  Hell, it's well PAST time.  MSU has had the Tigers number the last two seasons, including their National Championship season, only to lose by the odd play or bad call.  These Dawgs are hungry for redemption, and this is when they finally get some.

Final Score - 

Wild and Woolly -

MSU 35 AUB 14

Realistic -

MSU 24 AUB 21

MSU v SC

Show Me What I'm Lookin For - Carolina Liar

Save me, I'm lost,
Oh Lord I've been waiting for you.
I'll pay any cost,
To save me from being confused.
Wait, I'm wrong,
I can't do better than this.
I'll pay any cost,
Save me from being confused.

Show me what I'm looking for...
Show me what I'm looking for...
Show me what I'm looking for...
Show me what I'm looking for...
Oh Lord.

Just a S.E.C. -

Have a seat right over here...

Bama v OM - Nick Saban does his best Chris Hansen impression as the Crimson Machine keeps on rolling in what will surely be a rout.  Victor: Bama


UGA v Vandy - The 'Dores give the Dogs more than they expect, but not more than they can handle. Victor: UGA

LSU v Tenn - Neyland Stadium looks like a bad orange on Saturday, with the classic Tennessee colors fading into a purple and gold bruise in the stands as the Tiger fans take over in Tennessee. Victor: LSU

Fla v Auburn - It's the Battle of the Embattled QB's on the Plains this weekend, not to be confused with the Battle of the Backup QB's in Starkville.  Both teams sit at 4-2, but after Saturday Florida will be moving on and up. Victor: Florida



STOP THE PRESSES!!!

Spurrier kicks Garcia off team, Morris out of room, and a puppy for good measure?!?!
(ok, so we made one of those up...)

NCAA clears Auburn/Newtons of any wrong-doing... NCAA also finds that fire is cold, ice is hot, and dudes don't like hot chicks...

Courtesy of LSUFreek, greatest Farker the world has ever known...

Week in Review -

Insert "That Guy" joke of your choice here...

Who should start? That's the question on every Bulldog's lips (and the poll question, look up at the top-right corner) this week as we head into a game with South Carolina.  Chris Relf took the first half against UAB last weekend and produced little offensively.  Tyler Russell was given the second half and the Dawgs offense came alive.  So who will get the start? You can cast your vote, but Dan Mullen isn't telling...

Truth is, there are good reasons to start both.  The offense obviously began to 'click' with Tyler at the helm, but SC's defense is one of the best in the nation at defending both the pass and the run.  Tyler looked solid against UAB, but the SEC is a whole different level.  Chris gives the Dawgs a legitimate run threat, but if he can't connect on passes there will not be much opening up for the run game.  What to do...

My guess?  I think Dan will start Tyler, but if there isn't much production from the offense with Russell behind the wheel then look for Relf to be under center by the 2nd quarter.  But if SC jumps out to a big lead we will be forced to take to the air, and I just don't see Relf taking many snaps in that scenario the way he's been passing, so that would lend itself to Tyler lining up at QB.  It will be interesting, that's for sure...


Keys to the Game -
Both schools have a QB controversy of sorts, with the aforementioned  Relf/Russell combo for MSU being up in the air, while SC's QB situation seems to have resolved itself earlier this week when Stephen Garcia was shown the door after his FIFTH violation... (what happened to three strikes and you're out?)  Both schools are dealing with on-going or recently concluded QB drama, so I would call this a wash as far as the benefits to the opponents go.

MSU's defense has quietly improved as the season has progressed, but can they put it all together on game day against the Gamecocks?  Meanwhile SC's defense is one of the best in the nation, and not what you want to see if you're wearing maroon and white on Saturday...

Offense -

South Carolina's defense is strong against the pass, and pretty good against the run, too.  They also force their fair share of turnovers.  Protecting the ball (no fumbles/int's) is a must.  I would expect Dan and Les Koening to try some bubble screens and option plays with Relf under center, and go to high percentage, short passes and hand-offs when Tyler is in the game.  The offensive line will be a little better if they can avoid any further injuries, which will hopefully give the Bulldog's QB (WHOEVER it is...) time to make a pass, but in order to do so both Relf and Russell must be a step quicker than they were last week.  They will not be afforded as much time Saturday as they were at UAB.


Defense -
The Bulldog's defense has kept them in most of the games this season, whether or not the offense did their part.  I'm still not a big fan of the 7-10 yard cushion that opposing receivers seem to be getting, but it does lend itself to that "bend but don't break" style of defensive play, and that's exactly what they've done.

For the record, this is the only cushioning I can approve... 

Remember this defense held #1 LSU to 2 first half field goals and only allowed a touchdown in the 4th quarter.  They line up against the likes of Vick Ballard and LaDarius Perkins every week in practice, so I feel confident they can handle Marcus Lattimore.  I expect either Banks or Broomfield to have a pick-6 this week, and if we can get that and minimize turnovers it could be the difference in this game.

Bottom Line -

You gonna eat that? -Renardo Sidney

Turnovers.  And not the delicious, fruit/cream filled kind... If the Bulldogs want to win they must come out on the winning side of the turnover margin, and find a spark on offense.  The defense should be able to hold SC to 2 TD's and a field goal or two.  The offense will have to make the most of their opportunities if they want to walk away with the W this weekend...



Final Score -

Wild and Woolly -
MSU 35 SC 24

Realistic - 
MSU 17 SC 27

MSU v UAB

From the Ritz to the Rubble - Arctic Monkeys

Pretty self-explanatory title there... and a damn good song, mind you.


Just a S.E.C. -
UK v SC - South Carolina and Steve Spurrier will tap Conner Shaw as their starting QB this time around, attempting to regroup after losing to Auburn last week.  Whoever lines up at QB, this should be a bounce-back game for the Gamecocks.  Victory goes to: SC.

Vandy v Bama - The Tide continues rolling, knocking off Florida in convincing fashion last weekend.  Nary a stumble to be found in this contest, either, from the looks of it... at least for Alabama.  Victory goes to: Bama.

GA v Tenn - Georgia sports losses to Boise State and South Carolina.  Tennessee's lone loss is to Florida.  In a contest of the Eastern also-rans, this will be a better game than you might expect.  Playing in Neyland Stadium gives the Vols the edge.  Victory goes to: Tenn.

The Truffle-Shuffle is so last millennium...

Auburn v Ark - Arkansas barely escaped new-kid-on-the-block-to-be Texas A&M last weekend with a dramatic come from behind victory... and at least one Hawg fan was pretty psyched about that.  Auburn lost a few weeks ago to Clemson but has rebounded, posting a big win over highly ranked South Carolina most recently.  Home field advantage will have the Hogs rolling on, undefeated. Victory goes to: Ark.

Fla v LSU - Florida faces undefeated LSU and a rough double dose of SEC West powerhouses.  Having lost to Bama last weekend, the Gators must travel to Baton Rouge to face a scary LSU team.  Florida will limp away from this one licking their wounds. Victory goes to: LSU.


Week In Review - Last week MSU lost to Eastern division foe Georgia, in what was essentially an un-funny comedy of errors.  Costly turnovers and lack of execution at every position over the course of the game led to the maroon-clad Bulldogs getting in a hole early, thereby forcing MSU to attempt to take to the air, something that has not gone well in recent weeks.  Carmon bouncing around to different spots didn't help solidify anything on the offensive line, either.

Pay no attention to the man behind the hedges!

Also, Nickoe Whitley peed on the hedges (allegedly).  Frankly, I find this a non-issue.  I personally like to 'commune with nature' when I have the opportunity, and I'm sure he was only thinking of the fans when he decided to exhibit a bit of modesty and hide his 'exposure' in the bushes, lest some old blue-hair have a coronary.

Keys to the Game - This week MSU faces a UAB team that they narrowly avoided losing to at home last year.  With the injuries the Bulldogs are saddled with, it's important to get the young guys experience, quickly.  If Dan Mullen can find a permanent spot for Carmon and let him anchor the line, we should see some progress from the O-line, and by extension, the offense.

MSU Recievers: "They look like big, strong hands..."

Offense - Chris Relf and his wide receivers need to have a 'come to Jesus' meeting, like yesterday.  It's 50/50 on bad passes and missed catches...  Then there's the O-line which has been riddled with injuries.  This game will be a great opportunity for the offense to get back on the right track, but it will not be a cakewalk.  UAB played MSU frighteningly close in Starkville last season, and they have something to prove coming into the game 0-4.


Defense - MSU's defense did pretty much all you could ask of them the past few weeks.  Keep in mind, MSU played the defending national champions on the road, and #1 team in the nation at home in back to back weeks.  Their performance has been lacking at times, but they've performed close to expectations for most realistic fans.  The problem for the Dawgs has been the offense and their lack of execution.  For all the heat Chris Wilson has taken (and I've thrown some around myself) they are doing enough to keep MSU in these games.


Final Score -

Wild and Woolly Prediction -
MSU 35 UAB 7

Realistic Prediction -
MSU 27 UAB 17