SEC Week 2
Each week I will provide short capsules and picks for the games involving SEC teams. Here is week two.
UCLA at Tennessee
Last year, UCLA derailed the Vols season with an early upset. It was the beginning of the end of the Phillip Fulmer era and it gave Rick Neuheisel something to grow on with a young team. Tennessee and UCLA looked impressive in the openers against lesser competition. Tennessee’s rushing attack led by Montario Hardesty and super freshman Bryce Brown will give the Vols a decided edge. UCLA will have to answer that rushing attack and counter with some sustained offense in order have a shot in this one. This one might be close early, but expect Tennessee to win it in the second half. Tennessee 31, UCLA 17. This game is televised on ESPN at 4:00 p.m. ET.
South Carolina at Georgia
This is not a game for offensive fireworks. South Carolina struggled to score seven in a winning effort over NC State and Georgia’s offense fell apart in Stillwater as the Dawgs went down to the Cowboys of Oklahoma State. Mounting to the loss of the game was another serious injury to the Georgia line and a pretty shaky performance at quarterback. South Carolina seemed okay on defense and that’s why I will go against the line and take the Gamecocks in the upset. If it goes this way, expect Georgia to be in for a very long season. South Carolina 17, Georgia 7. This game is televised on ESPN2 at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Vanderbilt at LSU
LSU was not impressive in the win over Washington. Maybe it was the long trip, the new defensive coordinator, but whatever it was, the Tigers were out of sync for a large part of that game against a lesser talented opponent. Vanderbilt cruised past Western Carolina and is a team loaded with young talent. I don’t think the Commodores have the firepower to get by LSU, but they might keep it close enough to make it interesting. In the end, talent and depth and the old adage about improving most between week one and two will get LSU over the hump in the SEC opener. LSU 27, Vanderbilt 10. This game is televised on ESPNU at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Article comments
1 - Lynx34
It sounds like a plausible outcome. With both Auburn and MSU coming out looking different than they have in years, it's really hard to tell where it'll go. I could honestly see a blowout in either direction or a close game. There's just that many questions about it. In the offseason, I looked forward to this game more than any other game in the front home streak. The others, we all more or less know what to expect. But this one will be fun. My own personal prediction was 27 to 6, Auburn, but like I said, I can honestly see just about any ending happening.
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
Is there some rule wherein any football South Carolina uses has to be made of titanium?
3 - Dexter Fishmore
We're going to need another Crompton 4-INT special to hang in this one.
By "we," of course, I mean UCLA. I know Suss hates that pronoun usage, but as I have no identity outside of my sports rooting interests, I feel comfortable adhering to it.
4 - Thomas "war_eagle" on AUC
On Auburn...
Attrition is Auburn's nemesis. Do you remember the articles about Auburn's practice format? Auburn harped on "situational" type practices. That means 4th down and ten stuff, red zone stuff, first down stuff, etc. The game of football is comprised of a myriad of situations, and this also includes situational substitution. In other words; Auburn is specializing their personnel to what best suits them, whereby the rotation of the skill positions keep fresh players in the game.
A tired player is more likely to be injured! That's a fact!
To me it looks like Auburn is using situational rotation to help avoid attrition. That's smart coaching! By trying to specialize the role that a particular athlete plays, it helps to avert injury. Auburn's method is a situational approach to the game rather than a game approach to get to the situation, I think I worded that right. CGM has dissected the approach to offense and has done a fine job at paying attention to the details from the inside to the outside.
If CGM's approach to the offense is successful, Auburn will get better every week! With continued hard work, smart practicing, and good leadership at the coaching and peer leadership levels, Auburn will improve game by game. The way the early schedule looks, the chances of improvement look to be favorable for this to happen.