SEC RACE HOTTER THAN EVER

It is still early and a lot can happen, but the SEC race looks like it has slimmed down to 4 teams.

The SEC’s divisional races are ratings gold. In the latest edition of the South’s edition of "Must See TV", the SEC West race between Alabama and LSU is barreling down the tracks to November 5th in Tuscaloosa. This game will be out of hand, and no doubt be one of the best games of the year. Both have had their downs, but South Carolina and Georgia are both improving and appear to be on the upswing.


Over in the West...
LSU has been sensational. This team is playing with so much confidence, even their punter is talking trash. Les Miles has to be one of the most entertaining coaches in the history of the game. His players love him, and it is easy to see why. Tyrann Mathieu is making a claim for the Heisman and he's a cornerback, so that gives you a good indication of the talent in Baton Rouge. The QB situation has largely been a non-issue, and LSU's ground game has been solid behind Spencer Ware and Michael Floyd. Both LSU and Bama are body slamming opponents with clinical grade nasty-jaw dropping defense. Looking ahead, LSU heads to Rocky Top, then to Auburn, then has a bye week, and then Tuscaloosa.

Bama has been trotting out, quite possibly, Nick Saban’s best defense ever. They have pitched 2 shutouts they have a legit shot a pitching a couple more. Gameballs to Hightower and the entire defensive secondary at this point. The offense is clicking behind AJ McCarron, Trent Richardson, and Marquis Maze. Trent Richardson is another Heisman hopeful. He's been having a solid year. There are still some games left to play, but The Crimson Tide have to head to Oxford, then to Rocky Top, off week, then host LSU. The Crimson Tide could have a legitimate shot at another undefeated season.

Back in the East...
With South Carolina losing to Auburn back in Week 5, the door is still cracked open for Georgia to hang around. The Gamecocks, behind Conner Shaw (for the moment), look to continue the momentum they harnessed in this past weekend’s game against one the SEC’s most futile teams, Kentucky. They have to hit the road, head over to Starkville and face a damaged Mississippi State team, then an off week, then the Gamecocks go to Rocky Top, to Arkansas, and then host Florida. This could be a rocky 34 days for Carolina fans. With the offense appearing to be on the rebound this Carolina team could be tough to stop. The defense has been stellar this year. Melvin Ingram, Jadaveon Clowney and Marcus Lattimore get the Carolina mid-season game balls.

As for Georgia, they have seen the ship righted on the defensive side of the ball. A few Dawgs get some mid-season game balls: Jarvis Jones, Brandon Boykin, Bacarri Rambo on the Defensive side and Isaiah Crowell and Malcolm Mitchell on the offensive side. Showing tremendous upside, Todd Grantham’s defense is getting that foamy-at-the-mouth look that Georgia fans have been praying for in Athens. The offense for Georgia is showing signs of running smoothly, just not for long. As Georgia came of the second half gates and put up 14 points, they quickly popped the clutch in the second half and kept Tennessee in the game. Let’s give Tennessee credit. Injured, they have one of the best passing attacks around that is on the verge of full tilt. Isaiah Crowell and the return to a legitimate running threat at Georgia, have been the other driving forces in Georgia’s leveling off of the program. Malcolm Mitchell has stepped up in the wake of AJ Green.

Georgia heads to Vandy, then have an off week (which comes in at a big time with Crowell and Mitchell both needing to heal up), then head to The Cocktail Party, host New Mexico State, host Auburn, host Kentucky, and finish the season in Atlanata against GA Tech. The regular season finale has nothing to do with the SEC race, but watching GA Tech's ground game, against Georgia's increasingly stingy defense will be a fun one indeed.

Odds are muddy on Coach Richt bringing home the "W" from Jacksonville and running the table AND The Gamecocks dropping another SEC game, maybe Arkansas on the road. Who knows?

Both SEC matchups are equally interesting to keep an eye one. One matchup, The West, is a race between 2 thoroughbreds. The Dysfunctional SEC East is going to really show us what the 2 teams trying to find their way really have in them. Who wants it?

Look for Garcia to get thrown back into the fire before this one is done and on a big stage.

This is surely going to be fun watch pan out.

HERE COME THE GOOD BOWLS: Part III

New Year's Day! Definitely the best time of the year for college football fans. We've got 6 great looking games to day and an absolutely sexy Rose Bowl game. I can't remember a more compelling match up than this Rose Bowl right here. Let's jump in.

Saturday January 1st

#1 Northwestern vs Texas Tech in the TicketCity Bowl
(1/1) Noon ESPNU
The battle of the 7-5's. This makes back to back New Year's Day bowls for Northwestern. This one is being played in the Cotton Bowl, and it should be a doosy for Texas Tech. Persa is out for Northwestern and he's the heart & soul for that squad. So goes Persa so goes Northwestern. Tubs gets a bowl win for his first year in Lubbock.


#2 Florida vs Penn State in the Outback Bowl
(1/1) 1:00 PM ABC
Now we're talking! It would not be New Year's without JoePa. We get crusty old JoePa, a living legend, and a Coach leaving the game before his time. Story lines abound in this one. I'm curious how Florida will play against a Penn State team that made great strides in righting the ship this year. It was a bumpy road, but if they can find a way to get the ball to #6 Derek Moye, they should be able to move the sticks. Who knows what Florida will do with their QB rotation. Its a circus back there, and its so maddening to watch that Urban had to step back from the program. They say if you got 2 quarterbacks, you don't have 1. I guess, if you got 3 quarterbacks, start shopping for a new coach. Think JoePa will snag a W, and then step aside? Don't hold your breath. He's coaching forever. God bless him. He's press conferences have become the most surreal experiences I can recall. Gators pull out the W, and Urban goes out with a W...for now.


#3 Alabama vs Michigan State in the Capitol One Bowl
(1/1) 1:00 PM ESPN
A great match up. I am curious which BAMA team will show up. I have a feeling Alabama is frustrated from this year, and I have a feeling the Spartans are walking into a beat down. How will Greg McElroy respond to being body slammed in that Auburn game? He did not look good walking off the field that day, but I think he'll bounce back and be able to hand off to Ingram and Richardson. Hitting Julio on the slant should be open on that D too. Saban is not wanting to go into the off season with a loss. While 9-4 is not too bad, you know he's eyeing 10-3. MSU has won a ton of close games this year, and they done so on grit, hard work, and some good old fashioned trickery. Don't be surprised if the Spartans fake a punt or field goal to stay in the game. Saban gets another bowl victory in the books. I have to send out a Coach of the Year nod to Coach Dantonio. He guided the Spartans to one of their best seasons in the modern era, and he suffered from heart attack after the Notre Dame game victory. Great year, Coach!


#4 Mississippi State vs Michigan in the Gator Bowl
(1/1) 1:30 PM ESPN2
If Rich Rodriquez can pull this one out, Michigan fans and alum might cut him some slack. Nah. They'll be calling for his head rain or shine because he's not a Michigan man. Well let me ask you this Michigan, if he's not a Michigan Man, then why did you hire him in the first place? Seems a bit odd that you'd bring him in, if he did not fit your Primary Job Hiring Criteria. Coaching aside, the kicking game is awful for Michigan. The defense is awful for Michigan, and those are 2 critical components to the game of football. Look for Mississippi State to run it all over this Michigan Swiss cheese defense. Dan Mullen is off to great start.


#5 Wisconsin vs TCU in the Rose Bowl
(1/1) 5:00 PM ESPN
Talk about good looking day of football. This is a the T-Bone Steak you've been waiting for. What a great matchup. Wisconsin is 11-1 and TCU is 12-0. If this game does not get you pumped, something is up. I'm curious how John Clay will run on TCU. I've said all year Wisconsin has one of the best Offensive Lines in the country and how they square up against TCU's outstanding defense is where the game will be won. Andy Dalton and company have an opportunity to go 13-0 and ask "Why not us". That's a debate for another, but this game could be huge in the national historic debate of post season college football. Let's say TCU does win. The "Plus 1" crowd will be chirping. And if TCU does win, I'll be chirping too. More football? Hey I'm in. Badgers style football is what its all about, but I have to say I'm rooting for TCU. Bring on the Plus 1. Remember '04 when Auburn was left standing. If we go back and drop in the Plus 1, we would have had the luxury of seeing undefeated Southern Cal vs undefeated Auburn. How in the world can you not like that match up? Yeah, go horned frogs.


#6 UCONN vs Oklahoma
(1/1) 8:30 PM ESPN
Thank the automatic bowl tie-in's for this one. UConn rolls in with an 8-4 record, and the Sooners are 11-2. Not much to say here, except that the Sooners, if they come like they should, will roll big.

Happy New Year!!!


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Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide Bring Home the Crystal Ball

The Alabama Crimson Tide, led by Nick Saban, Jim McElwain, and Kirby Smart defeated Texas in the National Championship game with a score of 37 - 21.

(Photo courtesy of ESPN)


Unfortunately the fans did not get to see the game we had been waiting for all season as Texas called an option left play very early in the game. Colt is right-handed, so this left his throwing arm exposed to the teeth of Alabama's defense. It did not turn out good for Colt and company as the throwing shoulder was damaged pretty badly. Many thought Colt would come back, but he did not. With a pro career and a big contract looming, Colt did not risk it.

So all eyes turned to 6-4 Freshman from Austin, Garrett Gilbert. He played a good game considering he was up against the best defense in the land.

Early on, Will Muschamp's defense came out looking hot. Alabama attempted a fake punt which failed and resulted in a brief heart attack for the BAMA faithful.

Texas got in the redzone twice, but only came away with a pair of field goals. This would not hold up against BAMA. The first half ended with a crazy play as Texas called a shuffle pass. The play was good in theory and maybe it would have worked with Colt in, maybe it would have worked if they were facing a different defense. Maybe didn't work as BAMA defensive lineman, Marcell Dareus snagged the ball and took it the house on a 28 yard touchdown interception. It was a huge play that left Texas with 3 seconds on the clock before the half.

The score at the half Alabama 24 - Texas 6.

The second half got better as Alabama got conservative chewing up clock. Texas' defense led by Will Muschamp got some stops, and Garrett Gilbert settled down and got the ball to Jordan Shipley. Shipley finished the night with 10 catches for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Texas cut the led to 3 points with time winding down, but Alabama marched it down the field when it had to and stuffed it with a power play to the left with an incredible effort from Mark Ingram. BAMA finished the night with 205 yards on the ground and 4 Touchdowns as both Ingram and Richardson got a pair of TD's a piece on the ground.

Ingram's touchdown put the exclamation on his Heisman Trophy season and marked the victory for Alabama. Alabama was clearly the better team throughout the season and in this game, when it counted the most.

Coach Saban brings in another National Championship, and apparently there are talks in Tuscaloosa about a new statue at Bryant-Denny Stadium’s Walk of Champions plaza.

Congratulations Alabama on a perfect 14-0 season.