Time for another football post. Last week was my worst week so far, but I’m still 26-8 on the season. I never expected Kentucky to beat Ole Miss or MSU to lose to Tulane. Oh well…on to this week’s picks, starting with the NFL.
On Sunday night, we have Denver at New England. New England doesn’t look like the powerhouse of years gone by. Free agency and coaching defections have killed them lately, but as long as Belichick and Brady remain, they’re dangerous. The Broncos have had trouble scoring points this year. Maybe this is the season Mike Shannahan realizes he can’t just drag any bum off the street and stick him behind that offensive line. Jake Plummer, that sound you hear is Jay Cutler warming up, buddy. I see the Pats winning in a game that shouldn’t be that close.
The Monday nighter will be a must-watch for me as the Saints return home to New Orleans. I know it’s only a football game, but the city of New Orleans needs this right now. Nearly 13 months after Katrina, the 2-0 Saints face off against the 2-0 Atlanta Falcons. No way do the Saints lose this. Brees, McAllister & Bush are too much. Saints in a close one.
Now on to the SEC:
I think Arkansas / Bama will be the best game of the week. Most everybody else is beating up on some weak non-confs (except Florida, who gets weak conference foe Kentucky). This truly is a swing game and I could see it going either way. Early on, I picked the Hogs to be a sleeper team in the West. And while they have done little to validate my early confidence in them, I gotta stick with my pick. I say Arkansas over Bama in a tight one, 23-21.
Ole Miss / Wake looks to be a close one, too. Wake comes in 3-0, but these teams look pretty even on paper. I give the slight edge to Orgeron’s Rebs at home.
Auburn / Buffalo looks intriguing. Maybe the Tigers can contain Willis McGahee…oh wait, the Tigers are playing the Buffalo Bulls not the Buffalo Bills. Even sans Kenny Irons, I think the Tigers will somehow muster enough strength to win. Parenthetically, didn’t Auburn learn anything a couple years ago? They have no business playing some MAC cupcake. At least play a MAC powerhouse like Marshall (wink, wink). Anyway, Auburn wins 44-6.
Florida will maul Kentucky in the Swamp. We might actually see if Tebow can throw the ball. I say the Gators beat Kentucky by at least 25.
Georgia should clobber Colorado. If you’re the Buffaloes AD, do you go ahead and fire the head coach NOW? Georgia by 20.
LSU will be out for blood after last week’s loss to Auburn. Poor Tulane. Another SEC beatdown. Bayou Bengals by 30.
South Carolina will get fat against Florida Atlantic. Heck, Vandy should even get off the shnide when they face TSU this week.
And of course, the game I’m most concerned about is the UT / Marshall showdown at Neyland. I’m hoping my Vols will get to lick their wounds a little bit against the Thundering Herd. I’m looking forward to a rout, but my Vols have a way of playing down to their competition (see Air Force). Regardless, I’m looking forward to an awesome day. Sunny and I are taking Joshua to his first UT game! The little man is pretty pumped and so am I! Go Vols!
already & not yet 
does god support the murder we’ve created in iraq?
Ark/Ala was exciting at the end, but not exactly a well played game. Mustain had nearly as many completions to Tide players as he did Hogs. And Tiffen’s kid couldn’t kick it between the posts (I felt horrible for him. seriously.) I’m glad they won, though.The GA/CO finish was pretty good, too.
I hate Bama and glad my boys beat them but I felt bad for that kid too. You think they’ll let him back on campus?I’m glad they let Mustain pass at the end to win it. He needs to play through it.
Greg / Scott,I missed the Bama / Hogs game, but I heard it was quite a doozy. I’m glad the Hogs won since I picked them.Anon,I don’t answer anonymous comments. Leave a name and number and maybe I’ll reply.
hey if you check out my picks on my blog, i had a few upsets i thought would happen, but looks like I was right on the Michigan State one, as of now at least….its close to the end of the game.Scott, such harsh words. Don’t hate Bama. We shouldn’t hate. Roll Tide.
I wish you had been right about Michigan State. I hate Notre Dame.
Scott – Don’t feel sorry for Bama players. Anything short of wishing injury upon them is acceptable. Congrats to the Hogs. Any team that takes down Bama is a friend of mine (until UT plays them, of course).
Attribute Sunny’s comment to me. I posted from her computer, forgetting I was logged in as her. I’d hate for her to be known as a ND hater.
Matt, you’re right. Thanks for the correction. It’s his fault for choosing that school. I don’t know what came over me.
What are the early picks for this week? I am worried about UF vs. ALA with some anger. Any other good games? What happened to MA vs. New Hope?
I don’t know about the rest of you infidels, but I sure wouldn’t want to be the one standing there on Judgement Day with “Notre Dame Hater” stamped across my forehead.
NOR would I want to stand at judgement day saying I hated Bama . . . It was a SAD day for Bama fans! Lee Tiffin – wonder if he had eggs thrown at him on campus? Of course, there comes a time, when the coach needs to let him regain a bit of dignity. . .Why do you folks hate Alabama football so much?