SEC PREDICTIONS
by David Waters
September 10, 2009
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A look back at Week 1 and look ahead to week 2.
Confidence on a scale of 10.
FLORIDA GATORS
A look back… Pretty much what we thought. John Brantley came in right before half time and looked good throwing two touchdowns. Riley Cooper and Aaron Hernandez were the main receiving targets, needed more production from the younger receivers.
The defense played in about two formations, but still should have not allowed 323 yards to Charleston Southern. It was a game fro the young guys though with mainly freshmen and sophomores playing in the second half.
A look ahead… Troy at Florida - Winner: Florida
Troy went up 14-0 quick against Bowling Green, but then was shut-out the rest of the game and went on to lose 31-14. Bowling Green threw for 339 yards, and you know Tim Tebow and the rest of the Florida offense will exploit it. Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey will continue to just plain out run the Troy defense for a couple of scores.
This will be a game to see of the Florida defense can get a consistent pass rush before Tennessee comes to town. The line had trouble getting to the quarterback last game, and it should have been a cake walk.
- Florida 45 Troy 10 - Confidence: 10
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
A look back… The Bulldog offense just didn't have enough firepower behind Joe Cox and the new running backs. A.J. Green is the only playmaker on the offense and Cox wasn't consistent enough to get the ball to anybody. Richard Samuel and the running backs weren't that bad, but without the passing game the running game could never get going.
The defense did enough to win the game. It didn't let the Oklahoma St. offense go crazy and held them to 24 points, a total that Georgia should have been able to beat.
A look head… South Carolina at Georgia - Winner: South Carolina
The difference in this game will be confidence. South Carolina is coming off a win in an ugly game and Georgia is coming off a loss in an ugly game. Cox will not have to win this game for the Bulldogs because South Carolina is not going to score a lot of points. If the running game can get going and Cox can throw off of play-action, there maybe enough plays to pull this one out.
The defense will have no problem holding down the Gamecock offense, but Spurrier always has something in store for UGA in Athens. Spurrier has never lost in Athens and it is partly because he gets kind of innovative against Georgia. The Bulldogs need to stop big plays from happening, which was the problem last season and on a couple of plays last week.
- South Carolina 16 Georgia 13 - Confidence: 5
KENTUCKY WILDCATS
A look back… It look like Kentucky has found a quarterback. Mike Hartline threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Randall Cobb caught one pass from Hartline and ran another in, showing why he is the main focus of the offense. The offense was able to do whatever they wanted.
A shut-out was not expected and is a confidence boost on the side of the ball that needed it after losing some major talent from a season ago. The defense was discipline and was ready for some trick plays Miami of Ohio tried on them
A look ahead… Bye Week: Louisville 9/19
SOUTH CAROLINA
A look back… The offense couldn't gain any yards, but didn't have the problem of turning the ball over like last season. Quarterback Stephen Garcia didn't make any big plays, but just managing the game was enough to beat N.C. State. The offense needs to find more to hang with the rest of the SEC throughout the year.
The lone touchdown of the game came due to a big play from the South Carolina defense. N.C. State running back Tony Baker fumbled on his first carry of the game and the Gamecock defense recovered it and the offense went on to convert the turnover into points. Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson's defense was just too fast and physical for Wolfpack quarterback Russell Wilson to be the playmaker we saw last season.
A look ahead… South Carolina at Georgia - Winner: South Carolina
This will be a low scoring defensive type of SEC game. It may be hard to believe, but Stephen Garcia will make enough plays to take this game from Georgia. The Bulldogs are susceptible to giving up the big play and Garcia will make a few behind the play calling of Spurrier.
Defense will lead the way in this game. Georgia will need more time to throw than last week at Oklahoma St. and the speed of the Gamecock's defense will be too much. With the loss of Trenton Sturdivant the Georgia offensive line will be reeling even more than last week. South Carolina's defense is better than the Oklahoma St. defense that held UGA to 10 points.
- South Carolina 16 Georgia 13 - Confidence: 5
TENNESSEE
A look back… Lane Kiffin's offense looked better than anything we have seen from the Volunteer offense the last few seasons in Knoxville. The starters and freshmen played into the fourth quarter and racked up 657 yards on offense, with Jonathan Crompton threw for five touchdowns. Freshmen Bryce Brown, Marsalis Teague, and Nu'keese Richardson looked impressive. Defense only gave up 83 yards to Western Kentucky.
A look ahead… UCLA at Tennessee - Winner: Tennessee
The difference in this game will be bringing a freshman quarterback and a revamped offensive line into SEC country. Monte Kiffin's defense will give UCLA all it can handle and the Bruin offense will not be able to do much.
The Bruin defense will keep UCLA in the game. Tennessee's offense is not as good as it looked against Western Kentucky, and it will show. Tennessee will win this game because it will keep the ball on the ground. If the Vols insist on passing the ball like last week, there maybe an upset for the second year in a row.
- Tennessee 20 UCLA 10 - Confidence: 7
VANDERBILT
A look back… Finally Vanderbilt has a semblance of an offense. Yes it was Western Carolina, but Vandy's offense hasn't looked like this regardless of opponent. Two freshmen helped the offense in running backs Warren Norman and Zac Stacy. Norman ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns while Stacy contributed 133 yards. Quarterback Larry Smith was pretty accurate times and is what the Commodores are looking for at the position since he also ran for 66 yards.
A look ahead… Vanderbilt at LSU - Winner: LSU
Vanderbilt won't be a push over in this game. LSU look like there defensive woes from last season continued against Washington. There are yards to be had for the Vandy offense, but Larry Smith must be able to throw the ball. Vanderbilt is not good enough to win as an one-dimensional offense.
The Commodore defense is better than what LSU faced against Washington. Vanderbilt has won games they were not supposed to the last couple of years because of playing great defense. The Vandy front seven should be able to handle the LSU running game a good bit, but not the whole game.
- LSU 27 Vanderbilt 14 - Confidence: 8
ALABAMA
A look back… Alabama brought SEC football to the Georgia Dome for the second year in a row with a bruising ground game and tough run-stopping defense. Greg McElroy looked the part in that he can be a reliable and sometimes a playmaking quarterback. Running back Mark Ingram rushing for 150 yards against the Virginia Tech defense, that will be great in the ACC. Bama did have too may special teams and penalty mistakes to keep the closer than it really was.
A look ahead… Florida International at Alabama - Winner: Alabama
Not even going to be a close game. Another SEC game where young players will get plenty of playing time. It is a look to see if Alabama can clean up its act from a week ago.
- Alabama 45 FIU 7 - Confidence: 10
ARKANSAS
A look back… Ryan Mallett came right in and set an Arkansas passing record with 447 yards through the air. The Razorbacks started the game with a 91-yard kick off return from Dennis Johnson. The backups received plenty of playing time, while the defense only gave up 205 yards.
A look ahead… Bye Week: Georgia 9/19
AUBURN
A look back… In what was supposed to be a close game, I picked the exact score in my Week 1 preview last week. Auburn won 37-13 and amassed 556 yards of total offense, something we didn't see last year. Chris Todd looked comfortable under center as he threw for 255 yards and one touchdown, but the big surprise come from the ground game piling up 302 yards. The defense did what is was supposed to do only giving up 245 yards and forcing two turnovers.
A look ahead… Mississippi St. at Auburn - Winner: Auburn
New coach spread vs new coach spread. It should be safe to say we won't get the 3-2 final score we got last year. Both offenses look about the same in their debuts last week, but Auburn has the better defense, and just a little more playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. The crowd will be riled up for Chizik's SEC opener and the Tigers will run the ball well enough to pull it out.
- Auburn 23 Mississippi St. 17 - Confidence: 7
LSU
A look back… Tigers camp is not too happy with the performance on Saturday against Washington. The trip to Washington was troublesome as the defense could never get its legs under them, reminding a lot of Tigers' fans of last season's troubles. Huskies quarterback Jake Locker threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns, showing that John Chavis' arrival at defensive coordinator has not yet paid off.
The offense looked good behind the play of quarterback Jordan Jefferson as he threw to receiver Terrance Tolliver four times for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Charles Scott only got 12 carries for 52 yards, but look for that to rise in the coming weeks.
A look ahead… Vanderbilt at LSU - Winner: LSU
The Vandy game looks a little more important now that the Tigers didn't look great against Washington. This is another measuring stick game for both teams, LSU will face a better defense in Vanderbilt, but the Commodores offense is not as good as Washington's. Look for Charles Scott and the LSU running game to get going against Vandy, if not the Tigers will have problems scoring points in the SEC.
Defense is where the big questions lie with LSU. If they have trouble stopping Vandy's attack, there will be panic in Baton Rouge.. Commodores' quarterback Larry Smith can make plays, but doesn't have much help at receiver, but Tiger fans need to be worried about the freshmen running backs that were very productive last week.
- LSU 27 Vanderbilt 14 - Confidence: 8
OLE MISS
A look back… Jevan Snead threw two interceptions, but recovered to throw two touchdowns in a rout of Memphis. This game was a little closer than the 41-24 final, but it seemed Ole Miss would make the plays and they finally did. Dexter McCluster is this year's version of Percy Harvin, and he was all over the field making plays. Rebels' safety Johnny Brown made 15 tackles, one interception, and recovered a fumble for a defense that had trouble stopping the Memphis run game.
A look ahead… Bye Week - SE Louisiana 9/19
MISSISSIPPI ST.
A look back… What??? Offense in Starkville? Using two quarterbacks, the Dan Mullen era started by scoring 45 points and using speed to do it. Freshman receiver Chad Bumphis could be the playmaker Mullen needs to make this offense dangerous for opponents, as he had a great reverse field touchdown early in the game. Quarterback Chris Relf, when he was in, completed 7-of-10 passes for 75 yards and ran for 82 yards on 12 tries and a score. Relf and Bumphis are a real good nucleus for Mullen to work with. The defense looked impressive forcing five turnovers.
A look ahead… Mississippi St. at Auburn - Winner: Auburn
As good as the Bulldog offense was last game, to be considered a better SEC team they need to look impressive against Auburn. All the wrinkles were implemented against Jacksonville St. and needs to carry over. Look for Relf to get more playing time, but Mullen insists on playing two quarterbacks. Along with the return of Anthony Dixon, the Bulldog offense could give Auburn's defense fits with players at the skill positions.
- Auburn 23 Mississippi St. 17 - Confidence: 7
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