SEC Picks 10/10/09

[RollTide72]

Had a good start to my SEC bets last week. Went 6-0 on sides but 2-3-1 in totals. Will stay away from over/unders and focus on side bets.

Great weekend of SEC matchups with a lot of early kickoffs, then Alabama at Ole Miss followed by Florida at LSU. Can't wait to see what happens!

Vanderbilt at Army
If either team harbors any hope of making it to a bowl game, this is a must win for both squads. Vandy was spanked at home last week by Ole Miss and Army lost a tough game at home to a very bad Tulane team. If you enjoy watching two teams run the ball all the time, then tune in early for this matchup. For passing efficiency, these teams are the two worst in the NCAA ranking next to last and dead last in that category.

The 'Dores won't find themselves as favorites many times this season and will need their offense to step up and put some points on the board this week. Vandy's top two rushers through five games are a pair of true freshmen: Warren Norman (336 yards) and Zac Stacy (236 yards). Stacy missed the Ole Miss with a foot injury. Norman needs 87 yards to move into the team's Top Ten all-time first-year rushers. Stacy will move into the top ten with 187 more yards. As a running back, Norman had 86 rushing yards against Ole Miss, including a long of 48 yards. He amassed 241 all-purpose yards in the game, including 143 yards on five kickoff returns, and 12 yards on two receptions.

The Vanderbilt defense ranks third in the SEC in pass efficiency, fifth in first downs allowed and points allowed, and sixth in fewest total yards. The defense has allowed only eight total touchdowns ? four rushing and four passing ? in its first five games. Chris Marve topped double digits in tackles for the third time this season by posting 11 total stops against Ole Miss. Marve's 9.2-tackle per game total ranks second in the SEC behind Georgia's LB Rennie Curran. Broderick Stewart closed within three of the Vanderbilt quarterback sack record with his second sack of the season ? and 18th of his career.

Norman ranks second in the SEC in all-purpose yardage (150.6 yards), seventh in kickoff return average (26.3 yards) and ninth in rushing (67.2 yards). Placekicker Ryan Fowler is 5-9 on field goals this season, 0-2 over 40 yards. Brett Upson is averaging over 40 yards per punt and has nailed eight punts over 50 yards already this season. He has also placed 12 inside the 20 yard line.

Despite the relatively low rushing output last week, the Black Knights still rank seventh in the nation at 231.0 rushing yards per contest. Freshman QB Trent Steelman is coming off a career-best rushing day. Steelman ran 20 times for 95 yards and Army's lone touchdown against Tulane. It was Steelman's fi fth consecutive start, breaking the Academy record for starts by a plebe quarterback. Patrick Mealy is Army's leading rusher with 303 yards (60.6/game). Mealy has gained the most yards despite ranking fourth on the team with 36 rushing attempts. His 8.4 yards per carry is tied for the second-highest among the top 100-ranked rushers in the nation.

Defensively, the Black Knights are among the top 35 stop units in the nation in both total defense (30th, 299.2 yds/game) and rushing defense (34th, 110.8 yds/game). Junior DE Josh McNary has had at least 2.0 tackles for loss in each of the fi rst fi ve games of the season. Both of his stops against Tulane were behind the line of scrimmage. McNary leads the team with 10.5 tackles for loss, including 4.5 sacks. He ranks fifth in the nation with 2.1 tackles for loss per game. He also added a fumble recovery and a pass breakup opposite the Green Wave.

Sophomore K Alex Carlton made his collegiate debut versus Duke, handling the Black Knights' PAT and field goal duties. In his three games as the Army kicker, Carlton has made 7-of-10 field goals and all six of his extra points. Carlton made a career-high three fi eld goals against Tulane. It was the fi rst time an Army player made three fi eld goals in one game since Matt Parker on Sept. 11, 1999 versus Wake Forest.

Neither team is very good, but Vandy is a more talented team and should be able to leave the Hudson River Valley with an easy "W".

Trends to consider:
Commodores are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Commodores are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.

Show Your Gold -10

Vandy wins 28-13

 

[RollTide72]

Awbarn at Arkansas
War Eagle meets Woo Pig Sooeee in Fayetteville this Saturday and the Hogs are hungry for their first SEC win of the year. After beating Texas A&M in Dallas last Saturday, Arky is home and ready to make a statement in the SEC West race. How will the Tigers respond and handle their new found success?

Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens share the team lead with 43 tackles each, ranking tied for sixth in the SEC. Both players have also recorded interceptions, while Stevens leads the team with 5.0 tackles for loss and Bynes recorded a safety against Ball State. Antonio Coleman, a first-team preseason All-SEC selection, is off to a strong start to the season. He has 19 tackles including 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception which he returned for a touchdown against Mississippi State and a fumble recovery. Coleman ranks tied for sixth in school history with 17.0 career sacks, and this season, he is tied for eighth in the league in tackles for loss and tied for 10th with 2.5 sacks.

Defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard leads the team with 5.5 tackles for loss this season. His career total (31.5) ranks 12th in school history. Sheppard has led the Razorbacks in tackles for loss each of the last two seasons. Malcolm Sheppard leads all Razorbacks in career sacks with nine. Wendel Davis finished the Texas A&M game with a team-high 11 tackles and leads the squad with 30 on the season. Davis has led the team in tackles in three of four games this season. Jerry Franklin returned a fumble 85 yards in the second quarter of the Texas A&M game. It was his first fumble recovery of the season and third of his career and the first touchdown of his career.

Alex Tejada has been nearly perfect this year. On the season, he is 6-of-6 on field goals and 17- of-18 on extra points. Against Texas A&M, Dennis Johnson returned three kickoffs for 69 yards to bring his career total to 1,233 yards, which moved him into third all-time in school history. Joe Adams also had two kickoff returns against the Aggies for 41 yards.

Chris Todd ranks seventh in the nation in yards per completion (15.19) and eighth nationally in passing efficiency (160.81). Senior Ben Tate, who ranks eighth in Auburn history with 2,499 career rushing yards, averages 108.0 yards rushing per game, which is second in the league and 13rd nationally. He needs just 313 more yards rushing to crack Auburn's all-time top five. Freshman Onterio McCalebb is fifth in the SEC and 43rd nationally, averaging 83.2 yards rushing per game. McCalebb also ranks third in the SEC in all-purpose yards, averaging 145.6, while Tate is fifth (136.6).

Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens share the team lead with 43 tackles each, ranking tied for sixth in the SEC. Both players have also recorded interceptions, while Stevens leads the team with 5.0 tackles for loss and Bynes recorded a safety against Ball State. Antonio Coleman, a first-team preseason All-SEC selection, is off to a strong start to the season. He has 19 tackles including 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception which he returned for a touchdown against Mississippi State and a fumble recovery. Coleman ranks tied for sixth in school history with 17.0 career sacks, and this season, he is tied for eighth in the league in tackles for loss and tied for 10th with 2.5 sacks.

Wes Byrum earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after he set a career-high with four field goals made against the Vols. Byrum also chipped in a pair of extra-points to account for 14 of Auburn's 26 points in the game. Byrum hit 4-of-5 attempts, missing only from 46 yards. The miss was Byrum's first of the year, after connecting on eight straight field goals to begin the season. Byrum is 10-of-11 on field goal attempts this season. Byrum's 22-yard field goal with 39 seconds remaining sealed the victory for the Tigers, giving them a 26-16 lead before Tennessee's touchdown as time expired accounted for the final 26-22 margin.

This has old fashioned shootout written all over it. Both teams can move the ball and lots of points should be scored. I've just got a feeling that Arkansas makes a few defensive stops and is able to sneak out a win in front of the home crowd.

Trends to consider:
AUB are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 conference games.
Underdog is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 meetings.

Woo Pig Sooee +2.5

Hogs win 34-30

 

[gangster]

gl RollTide72

 

[RollTide72]

Will post other game write ups in the morning. Just too tired right now.

Just in case....

Georgia +1.5
Houston +2.5
South Carolina -9.5
Alabama -4
LSU +8

Good luck everyone!

 

[AR182]

good luck with your plays brent....except of course when you are against my plays....:142smilie

 

[RollTide72]

Jawga at UcheaT
Both teams are coming off tough losses at home last week (LSwho over UGA and Awbarn beat UcheaT). The Viles are trying to give Lame Kiffin his first signature win and Dawgs coach Mark Richt knows the natives are restless in Athens. This is definitely an important game for both programs heading into the second half of the season. The Dawgs have won three of the last four at Neyland Stadium and five of the last eight meetings with the Viles. If UGA has any chance at winning the SEC East, this is a must win game.

A.J. Green is currently leading the SEC in total receiving yards (527), receiving yards per game (105.4) and rec. per game (6.0). His 527 yards ranks 11th in the nation. Green has had at least one TD in all of his last three games and is tied for the league lead with five TD receptions this season. Joe Cox led the Bulldogs on an 18-play, 60-yard TD drive that lasted 7:52 versus #4 LSU. This was the most plays during a TD scoring drive for the Bulldogs since they ran 19 plays covering 87 yards against Tennessee (1988). Turnovers have killed UGA. They rank dead last in the SEC and 115th in the NCAA in turnover margin (13 turnovers on offense and only 4 forced defensively). The running game ranks dead last in the SEC and needs to be a factor today if they want to win on Rocky Top.

Junior WLB Rennie Curran leads the SEC with 55 tackles in fi ve games. He is the top returning tackler in the SEC after recording 115 stops in 2008. Curran set a new career high with 16 tackles versus #4 LSU. The Bulldog defensive line features three senior veterans as Jeff Owens returns from a 2008 injury to rejoin Geno Atkins and Kade Weston. Owens registered a career-high seven tackles and Weston set a new personal best with five tackles, including a sack, against #4 LSU. Brandon Boykin had his second career interception and the team's third of the year to go along with four solo stops versus #4 LSU. If Jawga has a weakness it's defending the pass. Fortunately for them UcheaT QB Jonathon Crompton is not very good and they should be able to focus on the Viles running game.

With the graduation of Brian Mimbs, redshirt sophomore Drew Butler took over the punting duties and has done a stellar job. Butler is averaging an NCAA-leading 49.8 yards on 23 punts. Bulldog sophomore Blair Walsh connected on a 37-yard FG to beat ASU as time expired. This was the first game-winning FG for the Bulldogs since Brandon Coutu drilled one from the same distance to beat Vanderbilt in 2007. Boykin set a school record against USC by returning a kickoff 100 yards for a TD. This was the longest scoring play for Georgia in Sanford Stadium history.

n four starts during the 2009 season, Montario Hardesty has produced rushing efforts of 160, 89, 96, 140 and 90 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns, one in each game. He is averaging 115.0 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry. He currently ranks eighth in the nation and atop the SEC in rushing yards per game. He is on pace for 1,380 rushing yards in 2009. Hardesty has reeled off 21 runs of 10 yards or more, including four 20-plus yard treks and a career-long 43-yard touchdown run. Gerald Jones made his case to the be the Vols' No. 1 receiver vs. Auburn, posting career highs in receptions with seven and receiving yards with 75.

While Eric Berry is still the NCAA active career leader in interceptions with 13, he is also first on the team and third in the SEC in tackles with 45, an average of nine per game. He tied his career high with 14 stops vs. Auburn, and has posted three double-digit tackle games this season and seven in his career. Rico McCoy posted a game-high and career-high 16 tackles vs. Auburn. McCoy is currently second on the team with 44 tackles, including two for lost yardage. Chris Walker has emerged as the star of DL, posting two sacks at Florida to give him four on the season. In the Ohio game, Walker registered his first career interception return for touchdown.

After not having to punt in the season opener, Chad Cunningham has kicked 19 times for a 41.2-yard average. He kicked three times for a 49.5-yard average vs. UCLA, which was the best single game average of his career. He also connected on a 57-yard boot vs. the Bruins, which tied a career long. After starting off the 2008 season a shaky one-of-four in field goal attempts, UT placekicker Daniel Lincoln has hit seven of nine attempts early in the 2009 campaign. He converted on a career-long field 49-yard field goal to seal Tennessee's win over Ohio and made a 26-yarder vs. Auburn. He has now made a field goal in four-straight games.

UcheaT should not be favored against anyone in the SEC with the exception of Vanderbilt. Even though this game has lost a bit of it's luster,the outcome will determine which mid-level bowl the Dawgs will go to in December and might decide if the Viles even go bowling this season. Rocky Top showed signs of life last week against Auburn but as long as Crompton lines up under center they are not a very good team. UGA is a wounded dog, limping into Neyland Stadium today. Kiffin and his boys will try to rattle UGA's cage, but the puppies will make enough plays on offense to pull this one out. Hunker down you hairy dawgs!

Trends to consider:
Bulldogs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a road underdog.
Volunteers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a favorite.

Glory, Glory to Old Georgia +1.5

Bulldogs win 20-14

 

[THE KOD]

ROLLTIDE

I think we should just form a consortium and be done with it.

I am this close to announcing a homer alert.

:0corn

 

[RollTide72]

Houston at Mississippi State
This game had upset special written all over a week ago, but a funny thing happened on the way to Starkpatch... Houston lost to an upstart UTEP team and are no longer a "fly in the ointment" as my buddy Timmy Brando has called them. Meanwhile the fighting Mullens lost at home to Georgia Tech and have dropped three of their past four games.

Houston QB Case Keenum is a throwing machine. He threw for well over 500 yards in last week's LOSS! He will be licking his chops against a weak Bulldog secondary and should be able to throw the ball all over Scott Field. His 51 completions set a new school record that bested David Klinger's total of 48 against SMU in 1990. Keenum's total of 76 pass attempts tied Klinger's record that same day. His total yardage figure of 544 is the highest total for a single game in 2009. The 536 passing yards Keenum recorded also established a new career best. The Cougars are now able to boast that they are the only team in college football with four receivers all averaging over 74 yards per game (Tyron Carrier 88.5, Charles Sims 84.8, James Cleveland 78.0, Patrick Edwards 74.5).

Marcus McGraw posted a career-high 19 tackles, including seven solo stops, against Texas Tech on Sept. 26. He enters the Mississippi State game tied for third in the nation with 11.75 tackles per game. So far after four games in 2009, C.J. Cavness has posted 39 tackles, including 14 stops against Texas Tech on Sept 26 and nine against UTEP on Oct. 3. Jamal Robinson enters the Mississippi State game with 11 total tackles and three pass breakups.

After two-plus seasons Chase Turner's career punting average is 43.6 ypp...a UH record. Because he has averaged fewer than 3.6 punts per game during his career, he is not listed among the NCAA active career leaders. However, his current career average of 43.60 yards per kick would lead all active punters this season. Jordan Mannisto enters the Mississippi State game leading UH in scoring with 37 total points. He has made 19-20 extra-point attempts and has naield 6-of-9 field goals.

Mississippi State's offense has not punted in its last 13 possessions and has only punted five times in its last 29 possessions. MSU has gained 1025 yards (205.0 ypg) on the ground and ranks 22nd nationally and fourth in the SEC in rushing yardage per game. Anthony Dixon has racked up 427 yards in four games this season, good for an average of 106.8 yards per game - 15th highest in the nation and third in the SEC. Dixon has already entered the SEC record book as he is ninth all-time with 739 career rushing attempts and tied for 17th with 33 rushing touchdowns.

In their last four games, MSU has given up 124 points (only 3 to Vandy). Houston is averaging just over 42 points a game. YIKES! Senior linebacker Jamar Chaney and junior K.J. Wright are the team's leaders on defense, and their names appear atop the MSU defense statistics and among the conference leaders in total tackles. Wright has 38 tackles while Chaney has 34 stops. Junior defensive lineman Pernell McPhee had a stellar game against Georgia Tech and now ranks among the conference leaders in tackles for loss. McPhee recorded 11 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble against the Jackets.

Junior Leon Berry had been close to breaking a kickoff return for score, entering last weekend with a 23.3 average. Against Georgia Tech, Berry broke loose on the second kickoff of the day and returned it 89 yards for a score. It was Mississippi State's first kickoff return for touchdown since Fred Reid returned one against Memphis in 2003, a stretch of 69 games and 281 kickoff returns. Berry returned the opening kickoff versus Vanderbilt for a touchdown, but it was called back due to a blocking penalty.

I just don't see the Bulldog defense stopping Case Keenum today. He should throw for at least 400 yards once again and Houston gets back in the win column. Mississippi State has definitely improved this season, but they will struggle with the Cougars. This is an anti-trend play for me. I love Houston straight up and really love them with the points.

Trends to consider:
Bulldogs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Cougars are 2-5 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
Cougars are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games.

Houston Cougars, Houston Cougars!! +2.5

Air Cougars win 41-21

 

[RollTide72]

ROLLTIDE

I think we should just form a consortium and be done with it.

I am this close to announcing a homer alert.

:0corn

:mj07: :mj07: :mj07:

Normally I don't bet my Crimson Tide because I don't want to find myself rooting to win a bet and not for my team. This happened in our Cotton Bowl win a few years ago against Texas Tech.

The last four years Ole Piss has played the Tide tough and 'Bama has been lucky to win a few of those games. If the Tide can weather the first half in what will be a crazy and rocking Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, I like them to win by almost 10 points. The Tide is focused and will not have a slip up this week.

Best of luck on your plays my friend. :mj06: :mj06:

 

[Cie]

Up early, sir. Me too. heading to Baton Rouge this morning. GL today:toast:

 

[THE KOD]

:mj07: :mj07: :mj07:

Normally I don't bet my Crimson Tide because I don't want to find myself rooting to win a bet and not for my team. This happened in our Cotton Bowl win a few years ago against Texas Tech.

The last four years Ole Piss has played the Tide tough and 'Bama has been lucky to win a few of those games. If the Tide can weather the first half in what will be a crazy and rocking Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, I like them to win by almost 10 points. The Tide is focused and will not have a slip up this week.

Best of luck on your plays my friend. :mj06: :mj06:

..........................................................

I always do the rooting to win a bet thing but thats just me

Alabama willl not slip up today. I am still worried about some games coming up. But lets take the wins one Saturday at a time.

Raining hard here in Georgia . May all your bets have clear weather. I hate when weather affects my plays. Hard to cap games without being a fawking weatherman at times.

If we do the consortium thing, I can use my Big 12 expert thngee I took from Sun Tsu last year. Got to admit I bring alot to the table.

GO BAMA !

 

[RollTide72]

Kentucky at USCeast
Kentucky is in the middle of a brutal schedule that has seen them play #1 Florida and #3 Alabama the past few weeks. Now they travel to Columbia to face an improved Gamecock team that has owned the Mildcats since joining the SEC in 1992. With a trip to Awbarn next week, UK could be staring at an 0-4 start to SEC play. This is yet another important game that will determine where these two teams will be playing in the postseason.

WR Randall Cobb also is a proven all-purpose threat for the Wildcats this season. The sophomore ranks in the SEC's top 10 in receptions per game (2nd - 5.2), punt return average (2nd - 10.8), receiving yards per game (8th - 62.0) and scoring (T-6th - 6.0 ppg). Kentucky has a 8-5 (.615) record with junior Mike Hartline as the starting quarterback. Hartline has completd 60.2 percent of his passes for 653 yards and five touchdowns. His 45-yard touchdown strike to Cobb against Alabama was a season-long.

Trevard Lindley currently has 10 interceptions and 38 pass breakups during his Wildcat career. Seven of his 10 interceptions have been key plays in Kentucky victories, with the eighth pick helping send a game into overtime. The Wildcats linebackers are paced by senior Micah Johnson, who leads the team in tackles with 35 stops. Sam Maxwell ranks tied for fourth in the SEC with teammate Trevard Lindley in passes defended (1.25 per game).

RB Derrick Locke leads the SEC and ranks 10th in the nation in all-purpose yards. He averages 173.0 all-purpose yards per game. He also ranks second in the league and 11th nationally in kickoff returns with an average of 33.9. Lones Seiber became UK's all-time leading scorer with 254 career points after kicking a pair of career-long 49-yard field goals and adding two PATs vs. Alabama.

Eric Norwood, with six sacks this season, leads the SEC in that category and is tied for seventh in the NCAA. He leads the league and is tied for 38th in the nation with 6.5 total tackles for loss. Norwood is the NCAA's active leader in career sacks and is second in career tackles for loss. Through five games, Devin Taylor has 16 tackles, including a sack and 4.5 for loss. Cliff Matthews' 4.0 sacks this season has already surpassed his career total coming into the season and is second in the SEC behind Norwood.

Stephen Garcia ranks sixth in the SEC in total offense. Garcia has accounted for an average of 217.6 yards per game. He is also fifth in the league in passing average yards per game at 207.0. Senior Moe Brown put together the second 100-yard game of his career against South Carolina State, amassing exactly 100 yards on six catches while scoring twice in the win over the Bulldogs. Brian Maddox is tied for sixth in the SEC with five touchdowns.

Despite a shaky start at NC State, Spencer Lanning jumped into the field goal kicking role in a huge way, connecting on 5-of-5 field goal attempts at Georgia to tie a 19-year-old school record held by Collin Mackie. He has run his streak to 10 straight field goals made, as he hit his only attempt vs. Florida Atlantic, connected on all three attempts vs. Ole Miss, then made his only attempt vs. South Carolina State. He is tied for the league lead with his 10 field goals and is tied for sixth in the nation.

UK must hang on to the football if they are going to have a chance to win. I was at the Alabama game last week and Mike Hartline is not as bad as the UK fans would have you believe... but he is not anything special either. He makes bad decisions when under pressure and facing Eric Norwood is no picnic today. Lots of points to lay in the SEC but I believe that Cocky steps up and lays down the smack on the Mildcats. Midnight Madness can't get here soon enough for my friends in Lexington. Go Cocks Go!

Some trends to consider:
Wildcats are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Gamecocks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
Gamecocks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 conference games.

Gamecocks -9

USCeast wins 31-17

 

[RollTide72]

Up early, sir. Me too. heading to Baton Rouge this morning. GL today:toast:

Safe travels my friend and enjoy the game! :00hour

 

[THE KOD]

:mj07: :mj07: :mj07:

Normally I don't bet my Crimson Tide because I don't want to find myself rooting to win a bet and not for my team. :

..............................................................

you were sweating it out last week in Kentucky

wtf :142smilie

 

[THE KOD]

. Go Cocks Go!
[/COLOR]

.....................................................................


Go cocks, stick Kentucky


:SIB :SIB

nice one ROLLTIDE

 

[THE KOD]

knock knock

door opens - Yes Can I help you

Can ROLLTIDE come out and play

 

[RollTide72]

Alabama at Ole Piss
Well here we go again... another big game in the SEC West for both teams. The Reverend Houston Nutt closed practice earlier this week and has asked the Rebel faithful to wear Blue for today's game. The last time 'Bama played a team that wanted to "color out" a stadium they wasted the UGA Bulldogs in Athens. Be careful what you ask for Coach Nutt. Wish I could be in Oxford today... one of my favorite places to watch the Southern Belles and college football.

The balanced Crimson Tide attack ranks top-four in the SEC in total offense, rushing offense and passing offense. Sophomore RB Mark Ingram is averaging 97.4 yards per game with six TDs, while freshman RB Trent Richardson is adding 60.8 ypg with four scores. With three additional scoring catches, Ingram is the SEC leader in total TDs. Junior QB Greg McElroy is the sixth-most efficient passer in the NCAA, completing 65.6 percent of his passes and averaging 217.2 ypg with nine TDs and one interception.

Alabama tops the conference in rushing defense and is second in total defense. Junior LB Rolando McClain boasts a team-high 35 tackles and is one of four players with at least four TFLs. Senior CB Javier Arenas boasts 26 stops and 3.0 sacks, in addition to leading the SEC in punt returns at 19.0 ypr. Defensive end Marcell Dareus has led the way for the Tide with 3.5 sacks (-25) to rank tied for 54th in the NCAA and sixth in the SEC. UA ranks tied for 11th nationally in sacks with 3.00 per game. The Tide is also 19th nationally in tackles for loss, averaging 7.40 per game. Alabama is ranked 10th nationally in pass defense.

Arenas is quickly sneaking up on the all-time great punt returners in college football history. He has already broken all of the Crimson Tide punt return records, and now has his sights set on the SEC and NCAA records as well. He is the NCAA active leader in career punt returns, yards, touchdowns, returns per game and yards per game. After returning four punts for 59 yards against Arkansas, Arenas is just 152 punt return yards away from breaking Lee Nalley's long-standing SEC record of 1,695 (102 returns for a 14.4 ypr average).

QB Jevan Snead has completed at least one TD pass in 13 consecutive games. Snead has passed for multiple TD passes in eight of the last nine games, including three against Vanderbilt Saturday. Senior WR Shay Hodge notched his second career 100-yard receiving game and first of the year at Vanderbilt with a career-high eight receptions for season-high 122 yards and two TDs, which tied his career high. Hodge's team-high three scoring grabs this year move him alone into second on the Ole Miss all-time TD receptions list with 17. Dexter McCluster led the team in rushing against South Carolina for the first time this year with season highs of 15 carries for 85 yards. Brandon Bolden has led the team in rushing in three of the four games this year.

Junior DE Kentrell Lockett has been credited with at least one TFL in each game and leads the team with 4.5. Lockett also boasts team highs of 3.0 sacks and five QB pressures. Senior CB Cassius Vaughn is the SEC leader in passes defended at 1.50 per game. Vaughn has recorded five pass break-ups and his third career interception and has registered two picks in the last five games, dating back to last season. Johnny Brown tops the team and ranks 11th in the SEC in tackles at 7.2 per game. He is also tied for fourth in the conference in passes defended at 1.25 per game (4 PB, 1 INT).

Senior K Joshua Shene's streak of 88 straight PATs which stands as the second-longest in school history, came to an end at Vanderbilt as his third extra point attempt of the game was blocked. It marked Shene's only missed kick of the year (3-for-3 FGs, 14-for-15 PATs). Ole Miss ranks third in the SEC in kickoff coverage with a net of 45.3-yard average per kick. Senior Marshay Green ranks third in the SEC in PR average at 9.5 ypr ... Green had a season-long 36-yard punt return at South Carolina.

The Rebels struggled for 3 quarters in the opener against a woeful Memphis team and still turned the ball over against Vandy last week. Alabama's defense is just a bit better than those two teams. The Tide's run defense is one of the best in the land and the secondary is not too shabby. Jevan Snead will be under pressure all day and should be good for a pair of interceptions. Greg McElroy will face the best defense he has seen all season, but the Tide is loaded with talent offensively and should be able to move the ball efficiently. Mark Ingram is a true stud and I look for another 100+ yard day from the young RB.

Call me a homer if you want, but I truly believe that if 'Bama was going to have a down game on the road, it was last weekend in Lexington. The Tide was very lethargic in the first half and still lead 21-6 at halftime and won by 18. This is a very talented team and they will not beat themselves. It will take a Herculean effort by the Rebels to win, let alone cover. I see this as a statement game for the Tide and for the first time in five games against Ole Piss, the Tide faithful will not be biting their fingernails deep into the fourth quarter. Once Vaught-Hemingway has settled down after the first quarter, 'Bama will be able to exact their will and pull away in the second half. RAMMER JAMMER!

Go Bama, Roll Tide -4

Alabama wins 27-16

 

[RollTide72]

Floriduh at LSwho
Ladies and Gentlemen, in this corner we have a coach with such a huge ego that he might not be able to fit his head through the gates of the stadium. He also brings the best player in college football with him and arguably the best team in the nation. They are the defending national champs and until someone beats them, they are the number one team (sorry Texas and my fellow 'Bama fans). In the other corner, we have the Mad Hatter and his band of Bayou Bengals. Les Miles is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you will get. Two years ago he went for it 5 times on 4th down which led to the Tigers upsetting the Gayturds. I can't wait for this game to start. I can smell the jambalaya and gumbo already!

Will he or won't he play? With apologizes to Bill Shakespeare, that has been the question this week all across the Southeast. Tim Tebow has rushed for five touchdowns this season, bringing him to 48 for his career, good for second on the all-time SEC list and just one shy of Herschel Walker. Tebow's career rating of 173.5 currently ranks No. 1 in SEC history (min. 300 completions). Florida's Danny Wuerffel ranks second at 163.6. Tebow's status for the LSU game is unknown after suffering a concussion versus Kentucky. Jeff Demps leads the Gators with four rushing touchdowns, while Chris Rainey tops the team with 225 rushing yards. Florida is led by Riley Cooper and Aaron Hernandez with 15 receptions and two touchdowns each. Cooper has tallied 242 yards and Hernandez 198.

Carlos Dunlap has recorded two sacks, three tackles for loss, two pass breakups and eight tackles (four solo) on the season. Brandon Spikes led the team in tackles at Kentucky with 10, his best output of 2009. Ryan Stamper led the team in tackles against Troy and Tennessee. After posting five against Troy, Stamper racked up a career-high 12 tackles (three for loss) vs. Tennessee to go along with a sack and forced fumble. Ahmad Black racked up a career-high 11 tackles vs. Tennessee. He leads the team with 22 total tackles. UF grabbed two picks each against Tennessee and Kentucky.

Caleb Sturgis, who had never attempted a field goal in his college career, was perfect on three attempts against Tennessee on Sept. 19. He followed that up by drilling two field goals at Kentucky, his first career attempts on the road. Chas Henr has punted five times for a 38.0 average. None of his punts have been returned, and he has placed two inside the 20. Brandon James, with four career punt return touchdowns, recorded his first kickoff return for a touchdown in the season opener against Charleston Southern.

Through five games, LSU is averaging 27.0 points per game and 321.6 total yards - 135.4 rushing, 186.2 passing. QB Jordan Jefferson has connected on 80 of 128 passes for 920 yards, seven touchdowns and just two interceptions. Jefferson is 6-1 as a starter. RB Charles Scott leads the Tigers rushing attack with 274 yards and a pair of TDs. Terrance Toliver leads the Tigers in receiving with 23 catches for 324 yards and two scores, while Brandon LaFell has 23 receptions for 282 yards and five TDs.

LSU CB Patrick Peterson became the second Tiger to return an interception for a touchdown this year when he picked off a pass and returned it 37 yards for a first quarter score against Mississippi State. You don't have to look any further than brothers Chad Jones and Rahim Alem (formerly Al Jones) to see who's been the key to LSU's success on defense this year. Alem is the unquestioned leader of the Tiger defensive front, while Jones is the quarterback in the secondary for the Tigers. Alem, a defensive end, leads the Tigers in both tackles for losses (4.5-19 yards) and sacks (2-12 yards), while Jones, the free safety, is first on the squad in interceptions (2) and he's fifth in total tackles (23). LB Harry Coleman leads the Tiger defense with 34 tackles.

Jones' 93-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter against Mississippi State ranks as the second-longest punt return in school history. Eddie Kennison holds the school record with a 100-yard return against Mississippi State in Tiger Stadium in 1994. By returning a punt for a TD, LSU now has two punt returners on its roster - Jones and Trindon Holliday - who have returned at least one punt for a touchdown during their career.

This is Floriduh's second road game, but their first true road test of the season. The Gayturds are the #1 and #2 ranked offensive and defensive teams in the NCAA (rushing ad scoring on offense, total and scoring on defense). But they have not played any team with a pulse (sorry Mildcat fans). Something tells me that the Mad Hatter has not fully shown what his offense is capable of doing. There has been talk all week that it doesn't matter what time this game kicksoff, but I beg to differ. Death Valley is a tough place to play, let alone win. When the sun goes down on the Bayou and my Cajun friends have been able to "pregame" all day long, Tiger Stadium becomes an almost impossible place to win. This is more of a gut choice for me (and since I've lost 215 pounds it's not that much of a gut anymore) but I think that LSwho keeps it close and covers at home. I'm even tempted to place a little coin on LSwho moneyline. Should be a great game and I can't wait to kick back and watch it all happen.

Bayou Bengals +8.5

Floriduh wins 27-23

 

[rubiconed]

GL Today, and thanks for the write-ups !!! :mj06:

 

[RollTide72]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Good luck on your plays today and let's win some money!!!! :00hour :00hour :00hour