Friday, September 21, 2012

Week 4 - Games to Keep an Eye On

Anyone familiar with what crazy looks like?

Its really hard to describe it, but you know when you see it. Webster's Dictionary just updated it and you'll notice a fresh picture of John L. Smith., Arkansas' Head Coach. Please check this video and let me know if you think otherwise.

Yeah something is not right there. Word on the street is Arkansas will have a new Head Coach by Christmas, and my money is Tommy Tuberville. Born and raised in Arkansas, SEC tested and approved, he's got the inside track to me, but stranger things have happened before.

Week 4 is here and without further adieu here are this week's Games to Keep an Eye On:


Oregon State at UCLA (3:30 PM)

  • First off both of the these teams are much improved from last year
  • For UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel out and Coach Mora in this is a noticeably improved squad
  • Mainly their QB situation looks much better with Freshman, Brett Hundley 
  • And their ground game is looking improved as well with Senior, Jonathan Franklin holding his own
  • UCLA ripped up Nebraska a couple weeks ago 36-30
  • Oregon State beat a down Wisconsin program last week by 3 and while I think the program looks better, I still think The Beavers are just PAC-12 middle of the pack material, as the Wisconsin win is mis-leading (The Badgers are down this year)
  • Look for UCLA to win this by 2 touchdowns
(Photo courtesy of Stephen Dunn)


Missouri at South Carolina (3:30 PM)
  • This is the CBS Game of the Week
  • Missouri's first SEC road test and it will be an amped up and an unfriendly Carolina crowd which will be very unwelcoming come kickoff
  • The Tigers coming into town with Spurrier still sipping on champagne from his 200th win and Marcus Lattimore going into the Carolina records books as the all-time RB with the most TDs in school history (43) passing legendary George Rogers.
  • Look for Carolina's defense to hold court at home at give the offense some good field position
  • Question many South Carolina fans are asking with what the future holds for the QB position, and those are not great questions to be asking as October looms
  • Conner Shaw is going to get the start, but with a deep should bruise on his throwing shoulder combined with a coach that calls a ton of deep downfield plays and a sometime shaky offensive line, you get the idea - Shaw could get banged up and pave the way for upstart Sophomore, Dylan Thompson
  • Many Carolina fans think he's the future and this is typical vintage Spurrier having 2 QBs to work with
  • Missouri is no slouch and they have a pretty good squad
  • Look for Dorial Green-Beckham to get some passes thrown his way. He's a freshman that is just waiting to standout and turn it loose. AT 6-6, 220 he's hard to miss. If Mizzou can pull it off on the road, DGB will be key. Be on the lookout for the home run ball
  • Tailback Kendial Lawrence will get some touches but Carolina's defensive front should be fine there
  • Carolina will be without D.J. Swearinger for a helmet to helmet hit last week and this will have an impact. DJ is one of best players in the Carolina secondary
  • Carolina could be in for an upset, but I like The Gamecocks at home with Spurrier on the big stage and Lattimore to handoff too
  • Carolina wins this one by 10
(Photo courtesy of Bill Greenblat)




LSU at Auburn (7:00 PM)

  • Brian Van Gorder's presence in Auburn will have a positive impact on The Plains but not in time to handle LSU when they come to town tomorrow night
  • Statistically LSU is right where they should and Auburn is on the verge of dropping off the map
  • Auburn is plagued by QB issues with Kiehl Frazier. He's currently got just 2 TDs and a whopping 5 interceptions, and 2 losses this season (and we're just 3 games into the season)
  • Auburn's defense is bad too. Basic fundamental tacking is off. BVG will get that tuned up in due time, but LSU will have a its way with Auburn tomorrow night
  • LSU's defense is loaded 
  • LSU's ground game is no joke
  • Plus they actually have a down-field passing Quarterback - something that was really and very apparently missing last season. Yep Zach Mettenberger is going to a star for LSU. This is his first road test and he might be a little shaky but he'll come out with a W
  • Keep an eye on the LSU offensive line and the ground game. Kenny Hilliard and Alfred Blue are going to light it up. Together they've combined for 573 yards and 8 Touchdowns, and they've been used sparingly
  • I like LSU by 17 
(Photo courtesy of 247)



Michigan at Notre Dame (7:30 PM)

  • All the Notre Dame haters stop reading!
  • Notre Dame under Brian Kelly is getting back on the scene, and under the bright lights of an NBC nationally televised game tomorrow night, they will get another W and advance to 4-0 and a Top 10 ranking
  • Give it up to Manti Te'o he is the real deal.He's an All-American and boy does this guy have heart. He recently lost his grandmother and his girl friend (both passed away recently) and the entire stadium is paying respect and tribute to thier captain this weekend. Students will be wearing leis to show their support. He had a monster game last weekend against Michigan State after he just received the news.
  • Look for him to take it out again - this time on Denard Robinson 
  • Look for Bob Diaco to take a page from Alabama, who laid down the blue print for how to stop The Wolverines from doing what they want - get Denard out in space
  • Look for Myrtle Beach standout Evertt Golson (QB) to have a good game along with Cierre Wood at RB
  • If Michigan is going to have a chance, Denard is going to have to have a monster game (something he is very capable of having) and The Wolverine secondary is going to have to shut it down
  • I like The Irish by 10
(Photo courtesy of Sam Wolson)


Vanderbilt at Georgia (7:45 PM)
  • No love is lost between these 2 programs after last year's chippy game if you missed it - in short - there were a number of take-out-their-knees shots taken by Vanderbilt, Georgia fought back
  • At the end of the game it got really testy when Vandy Head Coach Franklin stepped up to the wrong man in Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham and state troopers had to intervene- VIDEO
  • Last year's shouting match aside, Georgia has been pretty darn good even with a number of guys on the bench due to mary jane issues.
  • Georgia has been propelled by a defense that is tightening up every week. Jarvis Jones is having another All-American year
  • D Line is another strong suit for Georgia with Abry Jones, Cornelius Washington, John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers - all have upped their game from last year
  • Malcolm Mitchell is guy to also keep your eye. He should be playing both sides of the ball in the lost art of iron man football
  • Look for Vandy to put a good fight but ultimately get road graded as reports out of Athens Coach Grantham was blessing out the Defense for not playing good enough
  • Somebody is going to get it come Saturday night and I've got a good feeling its not going to be The Dawgs
  • Keep an eye on the Georgia backfield (Todd Gurley, Keith Marshall) behind a constantly improving O Line
  • Take Georgia to win by 3 touchdowns and an amped up home crowd
(Photo courtesy GeorgiaDogs.com)


And now for the Game of the Week - the marquee matchup...

Clemson at Florida State (8:00 PM)
  • You're not going to want to miss this one
  • Sammy Watkins, Tajh Boyd, and Andre Ellington are one of the best trios in the ACC
  • Problem with Clemson is the defense - very suspect if you keep a close eye on them
  • I'm not sure they are up to the task considering of the FSU weapons
  • FSU's defense on the other hand is 2nd best in the country good
  • FSU also has a season QB in EJ Manual 
  • RB Chris Thompson is averaging a whopping 14.1 yards a carry!
  • And with a pair of talented wideouts in Kenny Shaw and Kelvin Benjamin it looks as though the Noles are back
  • I like FSU in this one with an off the richter scale crowd tomahawk choppin at The Doak
  • Noles by 14
(Photo courtesy of Melina Vastola)