{"id":657,"date":"2006-09-02T11:14:18","date_gmt":"2006-09-02T11:14:18","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2006-09-02T11:14:18","modified_gmt":"2006-09-02T11:14:18","slug":"sec-football-preview-week-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.calvertgames.com\/cgblog\/2006\/09\/02\/sec-football-preview-week-1\/","title":{"rendered":"SEC Football Preview Week 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GeorgiaGo Dawgs! There, I had to get that out of my system!<\/p>\n

And before I get started, Chris better not put up any Aggie crap! Navy I can live with, but not A&M.<\/p>\n

Technically I am a few days late, but that could not be helped. As a wizard once said, \u201cI was delayed.\u201d<\/p>\n

I would have picked the fighting chickens over Bulldogs of Mississippi, but it would not be fair for me to take such an easy win after the fact. You know the \u2018ol ball coach has to be seething about his team\u2019s offensive output, which was pretty pathetic. Not as bad as the \u2018dogs, but still awful by Spurrier\u2019s standards.<\/p>\n

Washington State \u2013 (4) Auburn<\/b>
\nThe Tigers will struggle early, but will easily pull away. Look for a stingy, undersized defense to quickly take control of the game. Not sure how good Auburn will eventually look on offense, but I think they will sputter along today; defense and special teams will keep setting the Tigers up for score after score.<\/p>\n

(6) USC \u2013 Arkansas<\/b>
\nI love to hate the hogs. My dad instilled some proper values in me, but they are so easy to dislike. Word on the street (at least what my dad showed me and what I have ready) is that Arkansas thinks they have something for Trojans. Nope. Not going to happy. USC reloads, not rebuilds. USC may not put up 70, but this one is not going to be pretty for the hog faithful. <\/p>\n

Southern Miss \u2013 (7) Florida<\/b>
\nSouthern Miss is one of those underdogs that you always pull for, but they will not come close to matching Florida\u2019s superb talent. It may be close for a while, but I could see the Gators winning by 17+.<\/p>\n

Louisiana-Lafayette \u2013 (8) LSU<\/b>
\nWhy bother? Better competition than what the Dawgs will face, but this one is not going to be close. The Tigers will put up 50 (or more) points; while the Ragin\u2019 Cajuns will struggle to muster 20.<\/p>\n

(9) California ? (23) Tennessee<\/b>
\nOne of my early season predictions a few weeks ago was that California is not a Top 10 team; at least not yet. Rocky Top is poised for a comeback, so I can see this one being an upset special. There I said it; I do not think the Volunteers are all that, and I do not want to pull for the Bears, but I am going to go for Tennessee on a last second field goal.<\/p>\n

Vanderbilt ? (14) Michigan<\/b>
\nOuch. This one is going to be a serious miss match. I think the Commodores may be respectable early, but they will not be able to hold up to the smash-mouth Big 10 style of football. <\/p>\n

Hawaii ? Alabama<\/b>
\nEarly bowl game? Alabama has much to prove after the disappointment of not being ranked in the preseason polls. The Tide has a wonderful defense, so even if the offense does not figure out how to Roll, Roll, Roll, \u2018Bama should have a fairly easy win.<\/p>\n

Memphis \u2013 Mississippi<\/b>
\nThis game could be the SEC Shame of the Week. Memphis will pull off the \u201cupset\u201d \u2013 but it really is not because Ole Miss basically stinks; there is still a lot of rebuilding to be done. Flim fam bim bam? Hotty Toddy, I think not!<\/p>\n

Kentucky \u2013 (13) Louisville<\/b>
\nThe Wildcats are the other choice for the SEC Shame of the Week. This one will be done after 15-minutes; Louisville in a laugher. <\/p>\n

Western Kentucky ? (15) Georgia<\/b>
\nAnother laugher, and probably the worst SEC game on the Week 1 plate. Still, the reason to watch for Dawg fans is how soon we get to see the QB situation play out. 35-3 or something like that; in other words, not even close.<\/p>\n

Other games of note:<\/p>\n

\"TexasNorth Texas \u2013 (3) Texas<\/b>
\nIf this was an NCAA 2007 Football game, North Texas would win, but it is not, so the Mean Green will go down hard and fast. My dad\u2019s Alma Mater (and my usual NCAA Football team) vs. his favorite team. Will be fun to watch for a few minutes before the Georgia game starts, but this is just a tune-up for Texas to get a QB ready for Ohio State.<\/p>\n

(2) Norte Dame \u2013 GA Tech<\/b>
\nI keep reading and hearing that this is going to be a great game, but I have no idea if Norte Dame is really *that* good (too much hype for my liking). If Ball can get the ball to Calvin Johnson several times, and the bumblebees play their typical stingy defense, I smell an upset. I do not like Tech, but I hope they put the Irish on their collective happy ass.<\/p>\n

(11) Florida State \u2013 (12) Miami (FL)<\/b>
\nDoes State have a QB? If the answer is yes, they will run the table this year, but if they do not, it is going to be long season for the Seminoles. I can also see Miami having another \u201cdown\u201d year; at least by their standards. This one will be close, but no wide left (or right) nonsense this year.<\/p>\n

Before I forget,<\/p>\n

The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
\nAll the livelong day.
\nThe Eyes of Texas are upon you,
\nYou cannot get away.
\nTexas Fight, Texas Fight,
\nFor it\u2019s Texas that we love best.
\nGive \u2019em hell, Give \u2019em hell, Go Horns Go!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Finally time for some proper football!<\/p>\n

Go Dawgs! and Hook \u2019em Horns!<\/p>\n

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