Thursday, November 25, 2010

SEC Football Blogger

The Battle for the Boot Prediction Pick 2010, LSU vs. Arkansas

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 10:25 AM PST

Knile Davis is going to be the key to all this.

The Battle for the Boot Prediction Pick 2010, LSU vs. Arkansas

While most of the attention is going to be paid to the Iron Bowl and the battle between the preseason #1 and the current #1, any and all sports fans would be wise to consider this game as a part of their viewing fare. Since 2007, the average score of the game has been 37-37. Overtime has been hit twice as well.

This year? A BCS at-large berth will more than likely go to the winner of the game, and LSU has an outside shot at something more than that if the next two weeks go ham so to speak. Vegas has installed Arkansas as a 3.5 point favorite. And as such, they’re going to win, right?

Well, like the Iron Bowl? This game comes down to a main key that seems outwardly obvious. Knile Davis. Without Knile Davis, LSU has the sort of a defense that will make it difficult for a strictly passing offense that Arkansas was in the first month, month and a half of the season.

Then again, the style of offense that LSU has struggled with belongs to an SEC Team with a more Omniback tendency. They handled Alabama, and struggled with Ole Miss. What does this mean? This means that perhaps LSU is going to have a good day defensively. Of course, 27 points for the Razorbacks means the defense has done well. So take that definition loosely.

I don’t believe that LSU’s offensive woes have been solved. Ole Miss is one-half of a football team. And that was clearly obvious after they just let LSU cut them like a sieve after they took the lead for the final time. They’re in better shape than what they were, but until proven otherwise, they are not going to gash the Razorbacks.

They can be run on, the Razorbacks that is. But Chris Reif is a slightly better version of Jordan Jefferson, and it took a bit of luck and pluck for the Bulldogs to force overtime. And one of the underrated stats for the Razorbacks is that they are 9th in the country on 3rd down defense. As such? I’m thinking this won’t be a shootout in the mold of 2007′s 50-49 triple overtime thriller.

I honestly think in terms of on paper talent, Arkansas is the better team. If Knile Davis had emerged earlier? This would have been a team that would have beaten Alabama. That being said? LSU is the more disciplined team.

Sounds strange to say considering one of Les Miles nicknames is Lesticles. But this is going to be a close game. And when you consider that? The team that generates turnovers and faces fewer 1st and 15, 2nd and 19 scenarios is going to take this down. So?

LSU 26, Arkansas 24.

Iron Bowl Prediction Pick 2010, Auburn vs. Alabama

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 11:48 PM PST

Julio Jones has a chance for a big game...If Greg McElroy has the time.

Iron Bowl Prediction Pick 2010, Auburn vs. Alabama

This is it. The game it’s all been boiling down to. 11-0 Auburn at 9-2 Alabama. If you think that people don’t believe that Alabama has a real shot to take this game down? Well, the fact that Vegas currently has Auburn as roughly a 4 point dog is proof that people are thinking upset.

Am I one of those people? Well, no matter how much I’d love to see the Badgers infinitesimally slim national championship chances grow? I can’t trust Alabama.

Not to say that this is going to be one of those games where Auburn’s going to turn on the jets and pull away for a win of a 52-31 ilk, Alabama’s defense is too good for that. But that being said? There’s a big problem with Alabama’s offense that should worry Bama.

And his name is William Vlachos.

A part of the reason why I looked so dumb as to the whole premise of Alabama beating LSU was the performance of LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis. Him being a disruptive force on the defensive line never really allowed Alabama to get untracked offensively. Add to that some trademarked Les Miles trickery? And Alabama disappeared from the national title picture.

In whole, Alabama is poor on the offensive line with any sort of a defender that could generate a pass rush. And with a man who acts as if he enjoys hurting people in Nick Fairley, Vlachos must have success if Alabama is going to stay alive.

Because no matter the consequences of Cecil Newton’s actions? Cam Newton is a force of nature. This season he’s been beyond defensive schemes and talent on several occasions. And when you consider that his nearest Heisman contender has found himself in the same sort of illegal benefit kerfuffle?

This is an opportunity for a signature game. This is an opportunity for a game where Gus Malzahn is going to attempt to take Robert Lester out of the game with a three pronged running attack with as few passes as necessary. And put it this way. If Cam Newton doesn’t get Marcell Dareus to be a responsive Nick Fairley?

Auburn’s one step away from a title shot. Auburn 37, Alabama 31.

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