SEC REPORT - WEEK 12 Preview
by David Waters
Posted November 18, 2009
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SEC STANDINGS
EAST
- Florida 10-0 (8-0) Eastern Division Champions
- Georgia 6-4 (4-3)
- South Carolina 6-5 (3-5)
- Kentucky 6-4 (2-4)
- Tennessee 5-5 (2-4)
- Vanderbilt 2-9 (0-7)
WEST
- Alabama 10-0 (7-0) Western Division Champions
- LSU 8-2 (4-2)
- Ole Miss 7-3 (3-3)
- Auburn 7-4 (3-4)
- Arkansas 6-4 (2-4)
- Mississippi State 4-6 (2-4)
SEC Championship
December 5, 2009
Florida vs Alabama
Week 12 Preview
Florida International at Florida
Another game for Florida to go through the motions. The offense will look like it did in the Georgia game just because they are playing such an overmatched opponent. Florida needs to get up big and take Tebow out the game and get John Brantley some playing time. You may not see this though. The Florida offense is struggling and don't be surprised if Tebow plays into the third quarter.
Expect to see a lot of young guys on defense, especially linebacker Jon Bostic.
Chattanooga at Alabama
Greg McElroy had one of his best games last week against Mississippi State and that will continue against Chattanooga. McElroy needs to stay in rhythm with Auburn and Florida coming up. This game along with the FIU at Florida is the perfect example that this 12 game scheduling project the NCAA instituted just isn't working. These games are boring.
Mississippi State at Arkansas
Mississipi State still needs one more win to get to a bowl game this season. It's going to be tough as they have to travel to Little Rock and take on Arkansas. Arkansas can win their fourth straight game by beating Mississippi State and send the Bulldogs scrambling to find a win in their season finale against Ole Miss.
Mississippi State still can't pass the ball so the game hangs on whether Arkansas can stop running back Anthony Dixon. Dixon is all the Mississippi State's offense can rely on and Arkansas has had trouble stopping the runs from teams that are committed to doing so.
The Bulldogs' defense will face the best offense they have faced so far this season. Arkansas will have no problem slinging the ball all over the place on the Bulldogs. The Alabama defense had scored just four touchdowns in their previous four games before playing Mississippi State and The Crimson Tide matched that total in the game against the Bulldogs.
Kentucky at Georgia
What Georgia team will show up? Can they continue the inspired play they showed against Auburn or will it be the Bulldogs that we saw against Tennessee and Florida. If it's the latter, Kentucky has a good shot at pulling the upset.
The Georgia defense finally stepped up after giving 14 points away in the first two drives against Auburn. After the 14 points, UGA just gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown and a field goal. For some reason Kentucky's offense is kind of falling off after starting so well after the injury to starter Mike Hartline. The committee project just isn't working as well as it was, and the Georgia defense should have some success on the inconsistencies. But teams have found their offensive groove against the Bulldogs in Tennessee and Florida, so Kentucky should have some chances.
The Georgia offense will be without star wide receiver A.J. Green until the bowl game and now we get to see if the Georgia offense can be consistent with out their main target. The Dawgs finally found their running game against a formidable opponent and look to continue that look this week since Green is no longer in the plans. Washaun Ealey has proven he is the number one back right now and Georgia needs to continue to ride him and keeps these last couple of games close with their running game behind Ealey.
Vanderbilt at Tennessee
Vanderbilt is not going to a bowl game, but they can salvage their season by beating the rival Volunteers. Tennessee is fighting off the field issues and their minds could be somewhere else besides beating a hyped Vanderbilt squad.
Vanderbilt could pull off the upset because of all these factors, but Tennessee has to go back to playing like the early season Vols if the Commodores are to have a chance at the upset. The Commodores can run the ball and play consistent defense, but will have to get more plays from their offense if they want to win.
Tennessee will have no problem in defeating Vanderbilt because the defense was embarrassed last week by Ole Miss' Dexter McCluster and will show up to shut down an inept Vanderbilt offense… if their head are in the game. As long as Crompton doesn't turn the ball over, Tennessee wins comfortably.
LSU at Ole Miss
Battle for the third best team in the SEC. The Cotton Bowl or the Chic-Fil-A Bowl are waiting on the result from this game. Ole Miss finally looked like the Ole Miss we thought they would last week against Tennessee… why? They finally took my advice and just fed and fed the ball to Dexter McCluster. 25 carries, 282 yards, and four touchdowns later the Rebels beat Tennessee 42-17. It might take that kind of effort from McCluster against as Jevan Snead still can't find his niche this season. If Ole Miss' defense can stuff the run against LSU, they can make it a hard time for the return of LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson.
The LSU offense desperately needs Jefferson. We saw last week what he means to the LSU offense as Jarrett Lee started in his place (injury) and went 7-of-22 for 105 yards and just one touchdown against Louisiana Tech. Running back Keiland Williams will probably have to carry the Tigers' offense as Jefferson will probably not being playing at 100 percent.
Everything seems to be pointing to Ole Miss in this one, but that is just when Ole Miss falters.
Questions or Comments? dwaters@wjxt.com
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