Wednesday, October 27, 2010

SEC Football Blogger

Florida vs. Georgia Prediction Pick 2010

Posted: 27 Oct 2010 05:18 PM PDT

A trap game. In that he'll run a lot of 24 trap.

Florida vs. Georgia Prediction Pick 2010

That’s right, it’s time for the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, a.k.a. the only sellout Jacksonville’s gonna see this year. It’s not exactly as gravitas filled in previous years, but let’s be honest. We’re in a week where you can’t argue for a bigger game for the average fan, even where both teams are closer to .500 than ranked.

And like I said in my previous post, the return of A.J. Green has been huge for UGA. It’s been worth about a yard per play, 55 yards per game, and 14 points overall. Now they also got the comfort and ease of Vanderbilt and Tennessee so these numbers are slightly inflated. But A.J. is back, and he’s making things easier for the offense.

Why is this so important? Because this is why it seems like such an uphill climb for Florida to win this game. Georgia may allow about a half a yard more per play, but that’s a byproduct of them being comfortably to far ahead of their opponents in all of their wins.

Georgia’s run game still isn’t great. But they’re allowing under three yards per carry. Dives and speed options are not going to get it done. Jeff Demps seems as if he’s going to be back. And he’s got a chance to spring one. But that being said? Georgia has only allowed 15 trips to the red zone and Florida is going to have to chain together first downs.

And even when they get there? They have to come out with points. About one out of three times? They’ve ended up with nothing. They need to find a way to get Trey Burton untracked if they wish to make with the red zone scoring.

Florida’s defense is going to have to intercept Aaron Murray twice as well. It’s not as if they can’t generate a big play on defense, but not to belabor a point, but they’ve got 14 giveaways. And if I may channel Dan Dierdorf? Florida absolutely has to win the turnover battle.

The third thing? Justin Houston. He has to be stopped. It’s not going to be an easy thing either. He’s tied for the national sack lead and he was able to get a couple of sacks off of an underrated Wildcat O-Line.

So? Can Florida keep the streak alive? Short answer? No. Murray will go 17 for 25 and throw two touchdowns. Washaun Ealy will run for one. Add a field goal and?

Georgia 24, Florida 13.

SEC Power Poll (Week 9)*

Posted: 27 Oct 2010 07:05 AM PDT

Sad Crompton is Still Sad.

SEC Power Poll (Week 9)*

Through eight weeks of the season, we’re in a pretty secure place in regards to the strength or weakness of the respective teams in the SEC. Some spots will be obvious. (Alabama is a top team? No!). Some spots not so much. (Where exactly did I put Florida behind?)

And why am I doing this? It’s a slow week in terms of on-paper power matchups.

1) Auburn (On my home blog I put down three logistical reasons why they are going to beat Alabama. Put it simply, Cam Newton plus Alabama gives up a lot of sacks and plays of 10+ yards. If Newton is healthy, Alabama’s not going to win. LSU’s defense is legitimately great, and Newton made them look foolish.)
2) Alabama (Alabama is currently 105th in sacks allowed. LSU is a team that can exploit that. But in terms of Yards per play margin? Alabama is still the very best in the SEC. But the offensive line is fundamentally flawed and they still can’t generate a pass rush.)
3) LSU (If this team didn’t have the equivalent of the Conquistadors as their quarterbacks? They’d be great. The defense is still strong despite the cybernetic power of Cam Newton. And they have two weeks to prepare for a signature revengance game.)
4) South Carolina (They don’t need Marcus Lattimore this week. Honestly. Derek Dooley seems to have gone insane from how terrible that the team he inherited. And in the SEC East, style points do not matter. Win 24-7. Save him up.)
5) Arkansas (The only thing that will limit Arkansas the rest of the year is Arkansas. I know, it’s a trite cliche, but the fact of the matter is that this team has played with a general amount of quality. I’d consider their play 3rd best in the SEC. But they’ve played #1 and #2.)
6) Mississippi State (Raise your hand if you thought 8 wins would be in Starkville’s future? You are so clearly a liar. These guys are the most improved team in the SEC.)
7) Georgia (The reasons for their redemption? Simple. A.J. Green plus an easier schedule. Does this week tell you more about the rebirth? Potentially. I’ll tell you later.)
Kentucky (Not Florida? One may ask. And I’ll tell you why. Since they played, who won a game? Most definitely not Florida. A scrappy loss to Auburn and a win versus Sakerlina is most definitely greater than getting Croomed.)
t9) Florida (Just not very good this year. They don’t have the Les Miles magic to swing out of their offensive malaise either. The bottom tier bowl games are hyped to ask Florida to come out. There will be a war between the Music City Bowl and the Liberty Bowl to get the Gator chomp.)
t9) Ole Miss (Terrible defense plus an average SEC Offense equals Ole Miss likely needing an Egg Bowl win to get a bowl berth. And I’m not inclined to say the right reverend gets it done.)
11) Vanderbilt (Allowing more yards per play than generating them. Three wins may still yet be possible? But yeesh. That Eastern Michigan game is the only good thing they’ve got statistically.)
12) Tennessee (Derek Dooley’s untactful statements in regard to his team belie a true point. Like the Volunteers, the Nazi’s could play with anybody in the first half of World War II. And in the second half, they try to kill as many people who rolled up on the river to watch the game as possible before the Americans come to save the day.)