SEC REPORT - WEEK 6 Preview
by David Waters
Posted October 08, 2009
===========================================================================
Florida at LSU
Will he play or won't he? Of course that's the question after Tim Tebow suffered the concussion heard around the college football world against. The No. 1 Gators travel to Baton Rouge to take on No. 4 LSU, who is coming off a late hard fought win over Georgia.
More than likely Tebow will play, but if he can't, redshirt sophomore John Brantley will go for the Gators. We all know what Tebow brings to the table, but if Brantley goes he can bring a more accurate passing game. How he handles Baton Rouge at night, in his first start, is the question. LSU has a 32-game winning streak in Saturday night home games. The LSU defense has struggled stopping the run this season, and that's what the Gators have excelled at so far. Florida is averaging almost 308 rushing yards per game, but that's with Tebow in the game. If Brantley goes, he doesn't pose the same threat to run that Tebow does, so more will be put on Florida's running backs to get the job done. If Florida runs the ball well, the Gators will cruise to a victory.
The numbers of LSU's offense must have the Gators salivating going into Saturday's night game. The Tigers gained 368 yards of offense against Georgia last week and that is their highest output of the season. The rushing attack is only averaging 135.4 yards a game, while the passing game is only bringing in 186.2 yards a game. The Tigers are finding ways to win ball games, but this is by far the best defense the Tigers have seen so far this season. Expect to see a lot more pressure and blitzing by the Gators as LSU has allowed 13 sacks already this season.
The Gators must run the ball from the start if they want to make this game as easy as the rest of the season has been. Playing at night in Baton Rouge is no easy task, especially when you are the No. 1 team coming in and the Tigers are undefeated as well. No matter the quarterback, the Gators rushing attack will get enough done to keep the Gators undefeated.
Alabama at Ole Miss
Ole Miss has looked far from the team everyone thought would challenge for the SEC West crown. That can all change with a big win over the Crimson Tide from Alabama. The Rebels defense has been just fine, but it's the offense behind a struggling Jevan Snead that is surprising. Alabama will be the best defense Ole Miss will see all season. Rebels head coach Houston Nutt needs to get more creative, like he can, to pull the upset against the nation's best looking team.
Do-it-all playmaker Dexter McCluster for Ole Miss needs to be more involved in the Rebels play-calling. He has the ability to take over a game, even against Alabama. McCluster has the ability to stretch the Tide's defense and slow down the attacking style they like to play. Alabama linebacker Rolando McCalin will be opposite a wild-cat McCluster and must keep him under wraps.
If Ole Miss is to win this game though, they need better play from quarterback Jevan Snead. Snead has thrown for nine touchdowns, but also five interceptions against not the best competition. The offensive line of the Rebels must give Snead time to throw, if not, go see the South Carolina game to what happens to Snead if he is constantly under pressure.
Speaking of offensive lines, Alabama's has been dominant in every phase of the game. Quaterback Greg McElroy has exceeded expectations because he has had all day to find his receivers and pick apart defenses. But McElroy is not the reason the Tide have been so dominant, the rushing assault behind Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson have pummeled opponents up to this point. The defensive line of Ole Miss has the potential to give Alabama some fits. Greg Hardy leads the deep, and very experienced line that rotates players in and out all game long. Hardy also needs to be in McElroy's face all game. He will, but not enough.
Alabama will have trouble with Ole Miss, if Houston Nutt gets creative, but the Tide running game will pull it out late.
Tennessee at Georgia
Which Tennessee and Georgia teams will show up? Both teams are coming off a loss, and the rest of the season hinges on this game.
Georgia needs to find a running game. Stick with one guy and go with him. The blocking could be better and the running could be better, but stick with Caleb King, Richard Samuel, or Washaun Ealey and see what they bring to the table on a consistent basis. Tennessee's defense struggled against the run last week against Auburn, but the Georgia style of offense plays into Tennessee's advantage. The Georgia offense has been very predictable lately, and that all comes from not getting yards in early downs by running the ball. The match-up that everyone will be watching is Georgia receiver A.J. Green and Tennessee safety Eric Berry. Will Berry get a chance to lay a lick on Green or down Green just run right by him?
Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton looked better against Auburn, but still doesn't do enough to win games. Running back Monterio Hardesty will be the focus of the Volunteers' offense, as he seems to be the only play-maker they have. Georgia knows this and have no problem stopping the run, and will force Crompton to beat them… He won't.
Auburn at Arkansas
Get ready for an offensive shoot-out. If one of the defenses can make plays and force turnovers, that team will win.
The Arkansas defense finally decided to show up this season last week against Texas A&M. The Hogs were in the backfield all game long and if they can duplicate that success against Auburn's Chris Todd, they have figured only half of how to beat Auburn. Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb lead an Auburn rushing attack that will give Arkansas fits as they average 254 yards per game. Arkansas has already played Alabama, but the Tigers have a more balanced attack than the Tide.
This will also be the best offense Auburn has faced so far this season. Auburn has not seen a quarterback that can throw and stretch a field like Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett. Plus running back Michael Smith had a field day against the Tigers last season. The difference in this game will be that Auburn will force a couple of turnovers to pull this one out late. Arkansas has not won at home in this series since 2001.
Vanderbilt at Army
Look for a Vandy team that will look a little sharper this week as they travel to West Point to take on Army. The Commodores are going to be the better team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. It is the offensive side of the ball where the Commodores need to pick up the consistency. Penalties were also a problem against Ole Miss. After the Army game, Vanderbilt plays some tough SEC games, so cleaning up its act is a must before diving into those games.
Kentucky at South Carolina
The South Carolina offense is better this season, but head coach Steve Spurrier is still waiting for that same outburst the Gamecocks got against against Georgia. South Carolina is ranked in the lower half of the SEC in most offensive categories, but going against Kentucky might help some of those problems. The Wildcats have had trouble stopping the run this season, especially the last two weeks against Florida and Alabama. While Spurrier would like to get the air raid going, running the ball is going to be the way to beat Kentucky.
While South Carolina wold like to pass the ball, Kentucky needs to pass the ball. Quarterback Mike Hartline needs to pass the ball to get his confidence back up after the last two weeks of getting pounded by Florida and LSU. It won't be much easier against the defensive line of South Carolina. Eric Norwood leads the SEC with six sacks and looks to be in Hartline's face all day.
Steve Spurrier will stay undefeated against Kentucky, and look to get the Gamecocks their 11th straight win over the Wildcats.
Houston at Mississippi St.
Who knew Dan Mullen could bring in offensive success so quick to Starkville? The Bulldogs have scored 24 or more points in four of the last five games. Running back Anthony Dixon will be the main focus of the of the Bulldog offense as he will pound and bruise Houston all game long. While wide receiver Chad Bumphis has been a stable receiver, the Bulldogs need to get the ball to him more and let him run wild. He can be the do-it-all playmaker Mullen is looking for against a Houston defense that gave up 581 yards last week. Bumphis had a good game against Georgia Tech last week when he hauled in six passes for 123 yards and one touchdown and ran in another.
Speaking of Houston's last game, it was their first loss of the season in a disappointing 58-41 loss to UTEP. After big wins against Oklahoma St. and Texas Tech and now a loss, how will the Cougars bounce back? Quarterback Case Keenum will shoulder the Cougars offense as he has completed 68-percent of his passes for 1,695 yards, 13 touchdowns, and only two interceptions as well as running for three more touchdowns. The Bulldogs' secondary has been rocky all season, but hasn't really given up all that many yards (190). Mississippi State hasn't faced a passing attack like Houston's yet this season. Houston wins a close one.
|
