Arkansas State Recruiting: Gus Malzahn’s First Class Taking Great Form

As the offensive coordinator for Auburn less than a year ago Gus Malzahn was helping build a highly ranked recruiting class for the BCS defending national champion Tigers.

Now the first year head coach at Arkansas State is trying to build a highly ranked recruiting class for the defending Sun Belt Champion Red Wolves.

Oh, how times have changed.

Malzahn’s 2011 recruiting class with SEC West power Auburn was ranked No. 7 by Rivals.com and No. 2 by Scout.com. Of the 12 high school players designated for offense, two were considered 5-star prospects- offensive guard Christian Westerman and quarterback Kiehl Frazier. Seven 4-star players were signed along with three 3-star recruits.

With one week left in before National Signing Day, Malzahn has 23 verbal commitments and has the Red Wolves ranked No. 78 in recruiting.

Without a closer look into the ASU recruiting situation, one may feel bad for the new head coach. The rankings do not tell the entire story. Malzahn appears to be building a winner in Jonesboro.

In 2011 Arkansas State finished the recruiting season tied for the 101st best or worst class, depending on one’s outlook, out of 120 Division 1-A college football teams. The Red Wolves signed 24 players in total. 10 of those signees were out of the junior college ranks. None scouted higher than a 3-star.

Arkansas State finished recruiting ranked No. 106 with the third best talent haul in the Sun Belt Conference in 2010.

Do not pity Gus Malzahn. If you are an opposing coach you should fear him.

ASU currently leads the Sun Belt in recruiting per Scout.com, highlighted by six 3-star players who have verbally pledged their college careers to Malzahn. Still a far cry from his time at Auburn but with two scholarship spots left ASU is within current striking distance of named schools like Wake Forest, Iowa State, and Connecticut.

Not impressed yet? ASU is ranked ahead of teams like Kansas State, Kansas, and Memphis; teams with much greater tradition and name power than the defending Sun Belt champs.

Breaking Down the Class

Two junior college transfers should help the Red Wolves defense next season. 3-star defensive tackle Dexter Blackmon, 6’2”, 285 pounds, from Coffeyville, Kansas and middle linebacker Eddie Porter, 6’3”, 235 pounds, from Blinn College.

Blinn College defensive ends John Gandy, 6’0”, 245, pounds and Ishmael Hayes 6’6”, 245 pounds will via for playing time next season. Lawrence Cayou, 6’5”, 265 pounds, from Highland, Kansas is another junior college transfer looking for playing time at defensive end.

ASU took a couple of in-state 3-star players to help out, offensive tackle Jemar Clark, 6’6”, 280 pounds, from McCrory and cornerback Marquis Walker, 6’0”, 170 pounds, from Rison.

What good is a potent offense without a quarterback to run it? Malzahn has two quarterbacks on his list to help build his program around with Jalen Whitlow, 3-star from Prattville, Alabama and Fredi Knighten, 2-star from Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The following is a complete list of the 14 remaining verbal commitments:

RB Kendrick Daniels, 3-star, 5’7”, 150 pounds, Sulphur Springs, Texas

RB Quintavius Burdette, 2-star, 5’10”, 179 pounds, Senatobia, Miss

RB DeKeathan Williams, 2-star, 6’2”, 205 pounds, West Helena, Ark

RB Todd Mays, 2-star, 5’11”, 205 pounds, Olive Branch, Miss

RB Michael Gordon, 2-star, 5’11”, 180 pounds, Camden, Miss

WR Warren Leapheart, Not Ranked, 6’5”, 205 pounds, Morrilton, Ark

WR Bralon Roberts, 2-star, 6’5”, 185 pounds, Dallas, Texas

C Bryce Giddens, 2-star, 6’0”, 265 pounds, Moultrie, Georgia

OG Colton Jackson, 2-star, 6’4”, 250 pounds, Ozark, Ark

OG Michael Flint, 2-star, 6’4”, 303 pounds, Oxford, Alabama

OT Devin Mondie, 2-star, 6’6”, 300 pounds, Olive Branch, Miss

LB Quanterio Heath, 2-star, 6’2”, 200 pounds, Rison, Ark

CB Derek Keaton, 2-star, 5’11”, 165 pounds, Camden, Ark

DT Tevin Bryson, 2-star, 6’4”, 285 pounds, Humboldt, Tenn

National Signing Day is Feb. 1. All commitments are verbal and non-binding. 

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Arkansas Razorbacks: Tyler Wilson Named First Team All-SEC

Tyler Wilson has done something no other Arkansas Razorback has ever accomplished he’s been named first team All-SEC at the quarterback position.

Wilson along with six other Razorback players was named to All-SEC teams Monday. Wide receivers Jarius Wright and Joe Adams were selected first team All-SEC as well. Adams selection was as an all-purpose player for his contributions as a punt returner and wide receiver.

Arkansas second team picks included linebacker Jerry Franklin, punter Dylan Breeding, guard Alvin Bailey, and running back Dennis Johnson; Johnson was an all-purpose selection for his kickoff return abilities and play at running back.

Senior safety Tramain Thomas received an honorable mention. Thomas had five interceptions during the 2011 season tying him for No. 10 in FBS and No. 4 in the SEC.

Missing from the All-SEC lists is senior defensive end Jake Bequette. Bequette missed significant game time and three total games with an early season hamstring injury but still managed to finish the season with eight sacks. Bequette’s eight sacks ranked No. 8 in the SEC.

Jarvis Jones led the SEC in sacks with 13.5, finishing second in college football during the regular season to Whitney Mercilus a defensive end for Illinois.

The following is a list of the All-SEC honorees, their position, their school, and their class:

First Team Offense

QB – Tyler Wilson, Arkansas, Jr.

RB – Trent Richardson, Alabama, Jr.

RB – Michael Dyer, Auburn, So.

WR – Jarius Wright, Arkansas, Sr.

WR – Da’Rick Rogers, Tennessee, So.

OL – Barret Jones, Alabama, Jr.

OL – Rokevious Watkins, South Carolina, Sr.

OL – Cordy Glenn, Georgia, Sr.

OL – Will Balckwell, LSU, Sr.

C  - William Vlachos, Alabama, Sr.

TE – Orson Charles, Georgia, Jr.

Special Teams

K – Caleb Sturgis, Florida, Jr.

AP – Joe Adams, Arkansas, Sr.

First Team Defense

DT – Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State, Jr.

DT – Malik Jackson, Tennessee, Sr.

DE – Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, Sr.

DE – Sam Montgomery, LSU, So.

LB – Danny Trevathan, Kentucky, Sr.

LB – Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, Sr.

LB – Jarvis Jones, Georgia, So.

CB – Morris Claiborne, LSU, Jr.

CB – Tyrann Mathieu, LSU, So.

S – Mark Barron, Alabama, Sr.

S – Bacarri Rambo, Georgia, Jr.

Special Teams

P - Brad Wing, LSU, Fr.

Second Team Offense

QB – Aaron Murray, Georgia, So.

RB – Zac Stacy, Vanderbilt, Jr.

RB – Vick Ballard, Mississippi State, Sr.

WR – Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina, Jr.

WR – Rueben Randle, LSU, Jr.

OL – Alvin Bailey, Arkansas, So.

OL – Chris Faulk, LSU, So.

OL – Larry Warford, Kentucky, Jr.

OL – Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State, So.

C – Ben Jones, Georgia, Sr.

TE – Philip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn, Jr.

Special Teams

K- Drew Alleman, LSU, Jr.

AP – Dennis Johnson, Arkansas, Jr.

Second Team Defense

DT – Michael Brockers, LSU, So.

DT – Josh Chapman, Alabama, Sr.

DE – Cory Lemonier, Auburn, So.

DE – Barkevious Mingo, LSU, So.

LB – Chris Marve, Vanderbilt, Sr.

LB – Jerry Franklin, Arkansas, Sr.

LB – Don’t’A Hightower, Alabama, Jr.

CB – Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama, Jr.

CB – Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt, Sr.

S – Antonio Allen, South Carolina, Sr.

S – Eric Reid, LSU, So.

Special Teams

P – Dylan Breeding, Arkansas, Jr.

Offensive Player of the Year

Trent Richardson, Alabama

Defensive Player of the Year

Tyrann Mathieu, LSU

Coach of the Year

Les Miles, LSU

Freshman of the Year

Isaiah Crowell, Georgia

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SEC College Football Preview: Predicting Outcomes for Every SEC Game in Week 11

Last week the SEC accomplished a feat they had never done before, they gave college football fans two games in the same week featuring four top ten teams. This week the excitement is not as great on a national level but there is plenty of intrigue as mid-level teams continue to fight for bowl eligibility.

The matchup of the weekend pits cross-divisional teams No. 24 Auburn at No. 14 Georgia. 5-4 Florida travels to No. 15 South Carolina in hopes of becoming bowl eligible and 4-5 Vanderbilt hosts 4-5 Kentucky in a must win game for both teams.

LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas all play non-ranked teams with Bama traveling to Mississippi State. No surprise that each team’s fan base is praying for a shocking loss for the other’s programs.

Ole Miss welcomes Louisiana Tech in the first of three farewell games for soon to be departing head coach Houston Nutt.

Auburn versus Georgia

The Auburn versus Georgia game will pit the strength of each team against the other, running the ball. Auburn holds an edge here with sophomore running back Michael Dyer.

Dyer is second in the SEC in total rushing yards with 989 and third in rushing touchdowns having collected nine scores.

Bulldog true freshman running back Isaiah Crowell is sixth in the SEC in total rushing yards with 689 despite missing Georgia’s last game due to a suspension.

The pivotal point between the two teams will come down to quarterback play. The edge swings back in Georgia’s favor here.

Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray is second in the SEC in total passing yards having thrown for 2,060. His 23 passing touchdowns leads the SEC. Murray’s eight interceptions is second in the conference to departed Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia.

Tiger quarterback Clint Moseley will make his third career start against a Bulldog defense ranked 7th in the FBS. Moseley threw for 160 yards, his season high, against Ole Miss two weeks ago. He finished the game 12-15 with four passing touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Auburn is coming off a bye thus they should be rested and ready. But Georgia should get some quality contributors back on the field this weekend too when wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell and running back Carlton Thomas return from an injury and suspension respectively.

Between the two teams Auburn is more battle tested having played six teams currently ranked or ranked at one time during the season to Georgia’s four.

Auburn has the 75th rated defense in the country to Georgia’s 7th ranked defense.

Georgia has the momentum riding a seven game winning streak with a solid opportunity to wrap up the SEC East division title.

Final Score

Georgia 28, Auburn 21

Florida versus South Carolina

Revenge game, new rivalry game, whatever you want to call it these two teams will get after each other come Saturday. Both teams have season goals and bragging rights riding on the outcome.

If South Carolina wins they stay alive in the race for the SEC East divisional title. Should they lose, Georgia wins the SEC East and the Gamecocks will have to fight for a better bowl bid and/or play spoiler to in-state rival Clemson during the last weekend of the season.

A win by 5-4 Florida makes the Gators bowl eligible and takes some of the heat off of first year coach Will Muschamp and his infamous offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.

Gamecock quarterback Connor Shaw is expected to play this week after taking a vicious hit from Arkansas defensive end Jake Bequette in last week’s game. Shaw was suffering from concussion-like symptoms after the game.

Florida is also expecting their starting quarterback John Brantley to play after injuring himself against Vanderbilt last week as well.

Florida’s defense is stingy against the run which is what the Gamecocks need to do well in order to beat the Gators. Against the Hogs the Gamecocks were held to 79 total rushing yards.

The Gamecocks entered the Arkansas game only allowing 135.88 passing yards per game. Quarterback Tyler Wilson piled up 299 passing yards with two scores against the vaunted Gamecock defense. What can Brantley do against the same defense especially if safety DeVonte Holloman is not cleared to play for USC?

The Gators are hoping senior running back Chris Rainey will return to the lineup after injuring his ankle against Georgia.

The wheels seem to be coming off for Steve Spurrier and his Gamecock team. Can he keep his team together for three more regular season games?

Florida becomes bowl eligible on Saturday.

Final Score

Florida 24, South Carolina 21

Kentucky versus Vanderbilt

Looking over the SEC schedules before the season started the Wildcats vs. the Commodores game is not one of the games most fans circled. Yet the game holds heavy importance for both teams.

4-5 Kentucky is riding a five-game bowl appearance streak with three games left to play. 4-5 Vanderbilt is looking to go bowling for only the fifth time in the team’s history and the first time since 2008.

Head coach Joker Phillips is in his second year with the Wildcats. James Franklin is a first year head coach for the Commodores. Both coaches are trying to build a solid SEC program and need a win this weekend to keep their bowl hopes alive.

Phillips will call upon true freshman Maxwell Smith (Granada Hills, California) for the third game in a row to lead his team. Smith has played well in the place of injured quarterback Morgan Newton. Newton is healthy enough to play this week but will serve as the team’s second string quarterback.

The missing element from Kentucky’s offense this year has been a passing attack. Smith threw for 283 yards on 19 completions with two touchdowns against Ole Miss last week igniting hope for Wildcat fans that they can finish the season strong.

With the passing game elevated the running game has responded as well. CoShik Williams had a game-high 111 rushing yards on 25 carries finding the end zone twice against the Rebels.

Vanderbilt has continued their maturation process this season. The Commodores were a couple of plays away from possibly beating Georgia, Arkansas, and Florida over their past four games. Franklin’s young team has not learned how to win yet. The SEC East better watch out for this team next season.

Jordan Rodgers continues to impress after taking over for senior quarterback Larry Smith. Rodgers has started the last three games and finished last week’s game against Florida with 297 yards passing, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Commodore running back Zac Stacey was held to 23 rushing yards after back-to-back 100-yard performances against Army and Arkansas.

The game will come down to which defense can make the other team’s offense make mistakes. This heavily favors Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt has the 30th ranked defense in the nation despite not having much support from the offense for most of the season.

Vanderbilt keeps their bowl hopes alive.

Final Score

Vanderbilt 28, Kentucky 17

Alabama versus Mississippi State

After last week’s “game of the century” most college football fans want to see how Bama will respond. Will they have a let-down game or will they come out and prove a point by punishing MSU? Either way LSU and Arkansas will be interested in the final outcome as their season’s final outcome could be made easier with a Bama loss.

On paper this game is a mismatch heavily favoring Alabama

Mississippi State allows 349 yards of total offense per game. Alabama is the top ranked defense holding teams to 187 total yards.

Alabama has the best rush defense in the country averaging 56.33 yards per game, Mississippi State 161.22.

Alabama averages 214 rushing yards per game, MSU 187 yards.

5-4 Mississippi State hosts Bama this week, travels to Arkansas next week, and hosts Ole Miss on the final weekend of the season. This is a tough road to walk down for head coach Dan Mullen trying to get his team to the all important six win plateau.

Final Score

Alabama 38, MSU 7

Louisiana Tech versus Ole Miss

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are one of the more intriguing teams in college football. They easily could have won the four games they lost, Southern Miss 19-17, Houston 34-35, and Mississippi State 26-20 and be undefeated going into the stretch run of their Western Athletic Conference schedule. As it is the Bulldogs need this win against Ole Miss to become bowl eligible.

The game is not without some controversy as embattled Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt resigned on Monday which will be effective come November 26. After losing 12-straight SEC games how will his team respond this week? Will they rally around Nutt or have they already given up on the season?

The Bulldogs are on a four-game winning streak. Look for them to shock a SEC team on the road.

Louisiana Tech 34, Ole Miss 28

Western Kentucky versus LSU

It’s the top ranked team in the nation with one of the best defenses in the nation going up against a 5-4 Sun Belt Conference team that lost 14-3 to Kentucky during the first week of the season.

LSU sleepwalks through this one.

LSU 48, WKU 6

Tennessee versus Arkansas

Tennessee looks to do the near impossible this weekend by knocking off No. 8 Arkansas on the road.

Arkansas responded well to their home surroundings last weekend after playing four of five games on the road. The Hogs easily defeated then No. 10 South Carolina 44-28.

The Vols are coming off a feel good win over Middle Tennessee State, 24-0.

Tennessee’s defense is SEC caliber but the offense is not.

There is an outside chance that Tyler Bray may return for this game. At 4-5 Dooley may sit his starter in hopes of winning their final two games to become bowl eligible. Why risk an injury to Bray with post season hopes hinging on his play during the final two games?

Arkansas’ passing attack has remained solid all year long behind the play of quarterback Tyler Wilson. Wilson leads the SEC in passing yards and his top target, Jarius Wright, leads the SEC in receiving yards with 812 and receiving touchdowns with nine.

The one shining offensive production for the Vols has been wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers. Rogers has assumed the No. 1 wide receiver role after Justin Hunter tore his ACL earlier in the season. Rogers is second in the SEC in receiving yards with 780 and tied for second in receiving touchdowns with seven.

Hogs win their sixth game in a row in front of a happy Reynolds Razorback Stadium crowd.

Arkansas 45, Tennessee 17

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2011 College Football: Potential Bowl Bids for All SEC Teams Still Depends on LSU

As the 2011 college football season takes a turn towards the stretch run, many SEC fans and teams alike are prognosticating where their beloved team may go bowling at the end of the season. With the current state of the conference still influx not only does the SEC have a potentially problematic situation on their hands but so does the Bowl Championship Series.

With last week’s “game of the century” matchup between top ranked LSU and then second ranked Alabama behind us, the SEC West divisional race and BCS National Championship game became more focused… or did it?

Alabama dropped one spot from second to third behind Oklahoma State leaving the BCS Championship waters murky. With three points separating the two former top teams in the nation, fans, mainly Alabama fans, are clamoring for a rematch between the Tide and Tigers in the national championship game. But is that what’s best for college football?

LSU is the clear cut top team in the nation with six of their nine wins coming against ranked opponents including PAC-12 and Big East stalwarts, University of Oregon and West Virginia University. The Tigers are not in the clear yet, waiting in the background for LSU is eighth ranked University of Arkansas and unranked Ole Miss.

The Razorbacks have quietly strung together five straight wins after a disappointing loss to the Tide in Tuscaloosa to improve to 8-1 on the season. In their past five games Arkansas has toppled then 14th ranked Texas A&M, 15th ranked Auburn, and 10th ranked South Carolina.

The Hogs running game is slowly coming together, their 2009 All-American kickoff returner is healthy and making a difference, and more importantly their defense is finally recovering from five injuries sustained early in the season.

As the defense has welcomed their starting players back defensive coordinator Willy Robinson has turned up the heat opting to blitz, call stunts, and leave his corners on an island instead of run a basic 4-3 defense without putting any pressure on the opposing offense.

The Hogs last 8-1 start to a season was in 2006 when they finished 10-4 after playing five top ten teams; Southern California, Auburn, LSU, Florida, and Wisconsin.

Should LSU be worried about the Hogs? Yes!

The battle for the Golden Boot Trophy between Arkansas vs. LSU has become one of the best college football rivalries in the nation. The winner will have BCS and SEC title game ramifications and possible national championship claiming rights.

Since 2005 Arkansas and LSU have split their series 3-3 with the Hogs winning three of the last four. 21 total points separates the winning team from the losing team through those six games. Arkansas has the largest winning margin during this stretch, winning by 8 points in 2010. The average margin of victory between the two schools is 3.5 points.

Before LSU tackles another highly ranked team in Arkansas they must travel to Ole Miss November 19, to take on the Rebels and their embattled head coach Houston Nutt. Nutt, who resigned as head coach effective at the end of the regular season on Monday, has a history of winning big games when he is the underdog.

In 2007 while head coach at Arkansas, the unranked Razorbacks beat then top ranked and eventual BCS National Champion LSU 50-48 in three overtimes. In 2008 as the head coach at Ole Miss, unranked with a 2-2 record Nutt took his Rebel team into The Swamp and defeated the fourth ranked Gators 31-30. The following year Nutt beat LSU again to claim the Magnolia Bowl 25-23 in Oxford.

Does Nutt have enough mojo left to pull off one more dramatic SEC conference victory?

A loss by LSU to Arkansas forces a three-way tie for first place in the SEC West between Alabama, Arkansas, and LSU. Under this scenario SEC tie-breaker rules will place the team with the best Bowl Championship Series standings as the representative in the SEC Championship Game.

The tie-breaker rules are as follows:

1. Combined head-to-head record among the tied teams
2. Divisional record of the tied teams
3. Record against the team within the division or against non-divisional team
4. Overall record against non-divisional teams
5. Overall record against all common non-divisional teams
6. Team with highest ranking in the Bowl Championship Series standings after the last weekend of regular season play. If the second of the tied teams is ranked within five or fewer places of the highest ranked tied team. The head-to-head results of the top two ranked tied teams will determine the SEC Championship game team.

A LSU loss to Ole Miss but a win over Arkansas would still have the Tigers in the SEC Championship Game. LSU would be a controversial decision away from playing in the BCS Championship Game with a SEC Conference Title Game win over their would be eighth ranked team of the year.

The controversy would arise if a one-loss LSU team is picked to play in the national championship game over a possibly undefeated Oklahoma State, Stanford, and/or Boise State.

Adding to the confusion of the SEC race is Alabama. Alabama has two potentially tough SEC games remaining even though they should be heavily favored against Mississippi State and Auburn on the road.

Alabama won in Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2009, their first Iron Bowl win at Auburn since 2001. In 2010 Auburn overcame a 24-0 deficit to win 28-27. The 24 point deficit was the biggest point margin either team had faced for a come from behind win in the 75 game history of the Iron Bowl.

Since 2000 Auburn owns an 8-3 record against the Tide. Alabama leads the all-time series 40-34-1.

Nick Saban has won three straight against Mississippi State including last year’s 30-10 victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium. MSU has only beaten Bama 18 times and has lost 73 total games with 3 encounters ending in a tie during their all-time series.

Both scenarios for Alabama to lose appear to be long shots but that’s why they play the games.

Who is the Best in the West?

Should Bama win out and Arkansas defeats LSU who deserves to represent the SEC West in the conference title game?

Looking at the schedules of each team LSU has played the tougher schedule of the three. At the end of the season LSU will have played seven ranked teams with three of those teams being in the top ten at the time of their game.

Arkansas has the second toughest schedule having played five ranked teams, as Alabama has as well. The difference between Arkansas and Alabama is the Razorbacks have three top ten foes to Bama’s one.

If Arkansas beats LSU, should that serve as redemption for their loss to Alabama in the fourth game of the season? It should but it will not pass with voters and the BCS computers.

The unfortunate reality is Arkansas is getting passed over week after week. Their computer strength of schedule dropped this week from 14th to 17th after playing 10th ranked South Carolina per TeamRankings.com.

The Big 12 continues to get strength of schedule recognition from the computers even though the conference’s only quality non-conference win was Oklahoma over Florida State.

The Big 12 non-conference losses include Kansas to Georgia Tech, Texas A&M to Arkansas, and Missouri to Arizona State.

SEC teams are not getting the same strength of schedule attention even though they have played a much tougher non-conference schedule. Alabama beat Penn State, LSU beat WVU and Oregon, Arkansas beat A&M, Tennessee beat Cincinnati, and Vanderbilt beat Connecticut.

The SEC’s non-conference loses have not been to poor teams sans Ole Miss and Kentucky. Georgia played Boise State and Auburn took on Clemson. Ole Miss lost to BYU while the Wildcats lost to in-state rival Louisville.

There is still non-conference games left for SEC teams to play. South Carolina has Clemson to play, Florida has Florida State, Georgia has Georgia Tech, and Vanderbilt travels to Wake Forest.

The SEC could have three teams deserving of BCS recognition at the end of the season, unless Alabama or Arkansas lose again. Even if the Razorbacks win out they appear to be left out of the BCS picture this year.

A SEC Bowl Snap Shot

Currently there are six SEC teams that are bowl eligible. LSU 9-0, Alabama 8-1, Arkansas 8-1, South Carolina 7-2, Georgia 7-2, and Auburn 6-3.

Florida is 5-4 with remaining games at South Carolina, versus Furman, and versus Florida State. At worst the Gators should end the season 6-6 making them bowl eligible.

As disappointing of a season 2011 has been for Dan Mullen and Mississippi State, they are still candidates for a bowl berth. At 5-4 the Bulldogs only need one win in their last three games. Getting that last win may prove to be more difficult than any other SEC team on the fence. MSU hosts Alabama, travels to Arkansas, and gets the Egg Bowl at home. Will the Rebels give Houston Nutt a fair well victory?

Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee each have a 4-5 record with three games on the schedule. Of the three teams Kentucky has the longest bowl streak at risk. The Wildcats have made five straight bowl appearances since 2006; a longer active bowl streak than South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. Tennessee has a three-game bowl streak and Vanderbilt is looking for their first appearance since 2008 (Music City Bowl).

Kentucky can play spoiler and advance their own cause when they travel to Vanderbilt this weekend, play Georgia in Athens November 19, and end the season with a home game against the Vols. Which two teams can the Wildcats beat to become bowl eligible?

Tennessee also controls their post season destiny. The Vols have to play Arkansas this weekend but get Vanderbilt at home and play Kentucky at Commonwealth Stadium to finish their regular season.

The oddity is the Vols are the team that will have to upset at least two teams to become bowl worthy. Tennessee is 0-5 in conference play besting only Ole Miss’ record of 0-6.

Tennessee’s head coach Derek Dooley’s saving grace may be the return of quarterback Tyler Bray. Bray tweeted that he expected to return for the Arkansas game this weekend. Dooley may play a strategic hand and hold his quarterback back for the final two games against lesser competition.

Vanderbilt may be the conference and national sentimental favorite to become bowl eligible of the remaining SEC teams. It is hard to cheer against a team that has only made four total bowl appearances throughout their college football existence, 1955, 1974, 1982, and 2008. Their bowl record is 2-1-1. And what a great success story this makes for first year coach James Franklin if the Commodores sneak into a bowl.

The Commodores host Kentucky this weekend, and travel to Tennessee on November 19, and finish up their schedule against ACC foe Wake Forest. Wake is 5-4 and pushing to become bowl eligible as well.

Ole Miss is the only SEC team currently mathematically eliminated from being bowl eligible with a 2-7 record.

A Little Bit of SEC BCS History

The SEC has won five straight BCS National Championships and has the most BCS wins by any conference with 15 in 21 appearances, 7 of those appearances were a result of at-large bids.

Florida, LSU, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Auburn have all represented the SEC in a BCS Bowl Game. Florida has the most all-time wins with five. LSU and Auburn are both undefeated in BCS games having gone 4-0 and 2-0 respectively.

The SEC’s winning percentage of .714 is highest among the six power conference teams. When the media and fans call the SEC the best football conference in the nation, they do it for a reason.

Competition within the conference is fierce when a SEC Title Game berth is at stake. In the 19 year history of the SEC Title game, nine winners have gone on to win the national championship outright or a share of the national championship.

Arkansas, Alabama, and LSU all have legitimate shots at winning the SEC West regular season title. Each team’s goal is to win their division knowing that a possible national championship is riding on the line.

Predicting who Will Go Where

The BCS will take two teams with the highest Bowl Championship Standings after all regular season and conference title games are played.

The following is a list of predicted bowl berths for all SEC eligible teams.

SEC Seed/Team/Regular Season Record/Bowl Game/Location/Seeded Opponent

LSU, 12-1, BCS National Championship, New Orleans, Oklahoma State

Alabama, 11-1, Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, BCS at-large – Stanford

Arkansas, 11-1, Capital One Bowl, Orlando, Big Ten #2 – Michigan State

Georgia, 10-3, Outback Bowl, Tampa, Big Ten #3 – Ohio State

Auburn, 7-5, Cotton Bowl, Arlington, Big 12 #2/3 – Texas

South Carolina, 8-4, Chick-fil-A Bowl, Atlanta, ACC #2 – Virginia Tech

Florida, 7-5, Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Big 10 #4/5 – Penn State

Mississippi State, 6-6, Liberty Bowl, Memphis, C-USA#1 – Southern Mississippi

Vanderbilt, 6-6, Music City Bowl, Nashville, ACC #6 – Virginia

Who is Left Out?

Kentucky losses out on their sixth straight bowl game finishing 4-8. Tennessee has too many injuries and poor offensive line play to finish better than 5-7. Ole Miss and their talented underclassmen will have to wait until next year for a chance to become bowl eligible.

Predicting all BCS Bowl Game Berths

Rose Bowl – Oregon versus Wisconsin

Fiesta Bowl – Oklahoma versus Boise State

Orange Bowl – Clemson versus Cincinnati

Sugar Bowl – Alabama versus Stanford

BCS National Championship Game – LSU versus Oklahoma State

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SEC College Football Preview: Outcomes of all Week 8 Games

Outside of seeing three of the top ten teams in the nation play, this is not one of the better weekends for SEC football on paper.

The headline game of the week pits No. 19 Auburn versus No. 1 LSU. No. 10 Arkansas travels to Oxford to take on their former head coach while Tennessee tries to renew their cross-divisional rivalry with No. 2 Alabama.

Kentucky and Vanderbilt go outside of the conference in hopes of keeping their bowl hopes alive and look for their offense when they take on Jacksonville State and Army respectively.

Georgia, Mississippi State, Florida, and South Carolina are on a bye this week.

No. 19 Auburn versus No. 1 LSU

Auburn head coach Gene Chizik and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn must not like Clint Mosely. For the third weekend in a row LSU’s defense will face a first time starter at quarterback when sophomore Clint Mosely takes over for Barrett Trotter under center. Malzahn hopes Mosley can add a passing attack to compliment their potent ground game.

Mosely will take on the top ranked team in the nation on the road, a team that features the fourth best total defense in the nation. Mosely replaced Trotter as the second half starter for Auburn against Florida last week. He finished the game 4 of 7 for 90 yards passing.

What Chizik hopes to gain by starting Mosely against LSU is questionable. Yes, the Tigers need better production under center but are they wise to give a first collegiate start to a quarterback against LSU’s defense?

LSU uses a tandem quarterback rotation with Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson. The Tigers also use a tandem running back set with Spencer Ware and Michael Ford. Early reports are coming out that Spencer Ware failed a drug test and may be suspended for the Auburn game. If the suspensions are enforced, sophomore Alfred Blue would receive more snaps in the Tiger offense in Ware’s absence.

Lee is the starter and the passing quarterback. Jefferson primarily runs the option when he enters the game for the Tigers; Jefferson had three pass attempts last week versus Tennessee.

LSU should have their original 2011 starting offensive line together for the first time since week three at Mississippi State.

Auburn will test the waters with Mosely and add a heavy dose of running back Michael Dyer. Auburn is already a one-dimensional team with Dyer. If Mosely cannot find his receivers this will be a long game for Dyer and the War Eagle running backs.

LSU will stack the box on defense and beg Mosely to beat them with his arm. Having already faced Oregon’s top spread option attack, Auburn’s will not fool the Tigers.

LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, a.k.a. the Honey Badger, is listed as a possible player to be suspended for the Auburn game as well.

LSU is too deep for two starters to cause them to be upset.

Either way LSU wins 48-14.

No. 10 Arkansas versus Ole Miss

Houston Nutt will throw everything at Arkansas including the kitchen sink to try and win this game. Nutt’s back is up against the wall and a victory over Arkansas could take some heat off of his seat. A victory against Arkansas could change the season around in Oxford as it did in 2008.

Six Ole Miss possessions against the Tide were three-and-outs or less. During those six possessions the Rebels lost yards on each drive totaling negative 26 yards.

The Rebels gained 72 yards on the opening drive against Alabama and accumulated 69 yards the rest of the game.

Arkansas better be ready to stop the Wildcat. The Hogs defense saw Auburn’s version of the Wildcat before their bye. Can they stop the Rebels’ version?

Ole Miss is short handed on defense with two starters out and a weak pass defense; DE Joey Dorsey and CB Marcus Temple. The Rebels will have to improve upon their 10 total sacks on the season to keep Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson and his receivers out of rhythm, if possible.

Arkansas has been short handed with injuries on defense. Coming off a bye week with no ranked opponent looming overhead, the Razorbacks will be fresh and ready for Ole Miss. No trap game for the Hogs.

The Hogs will rely on the pass to help the running game and put pressure on Ole Miss as needed. The Hogs lead the SEC in passing yards and are ranked 8th in the nation in passing offense with 2,021 total yards.

Ole Miss packed the stadium last week with 61,792 in attendance when Alabama came to town. That was the fourth-largest crowd at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for an Ole Miss football game.

Ole Miss will keep it interesting but Arkansas passing attack will be too much for the Rebels.

Petrino was embarrassed by Nutt in 2008 and 2009. Don’t look for it to happen this year with a top ten ranking on the line, a possible share of the SEC West title, and a possible BCS bowl berth at stake.

The only thing that keeps the score close is if Petrino chooses to abandon the pass in the second half to further develop the running game as he did against Auburn.

Petrino proves a point as Arkansas wins 52-23. 

Tennessee versus No. 2 Alabama

Is Tennessee up to the task to stop the second ranked Crimson Tide? Last week they faltered at home against top ranked LSU 38-7. This week they have to play a night game in Tuscaloosa.

Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley has the advantage of knowing Nick Saban’s coaching style and techniques. Dooley coached under Saban at LSU and with the Miami Dolphins.

Dooley has the disadvantage of playing against Saban’s punishing defense and an offense that features the 12th best rushing attack in the nation.  

Bama’s offensive line will create holes for Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy, and Jalston Fowler against Tennessee. LSU ended up with 237 rushing yards against the Vols in Neyland Stadium. The Tide averages 241.57 rushing yards per game.

Alabama has the top rated total defense in the nation. Matt Simms got his first start of the season for Tennessee against LSU last week. This week he gets his second start of the season against Alabama. Has a starting quarterback ever had to face two tougher defenses to start his season?

One more time; night game in Tuscaloosa… good luck Tennessee.

Look for similar results as last week. Bama does not throw much and Saban will not purposely run up the score against Dooley.

Bama’s rushing offense will make the final score look like Saban was out for revenge.

Alabama wins 42-7.

Jacksonville State versus Kentucky

This game could point out how bad Kentucky really is this season. The Wildcats are 2-4 entering the weekend with a light schedule the rest of the way.

If Kentucky wins they still have a shot at making a bowl game this season. If Kentucky loses the season is over for the Wildcats.

Jacksonville State is a Football Championship Subdivision school with a 5-1 record. Their lone loss was to Chattanooga on the road. 

Kentucky ranks last in the SEC in passing yards, 10th in rushing yards, and 11th in total defense. Can the Wildcats assert their will to win over the Ohio Valley division leaders?

The Gamecocks average 31.33 points per game.

Last season Jacksonville State took Ole Miss into overtime in Oxford and beat the Rebels 49-48.

Kentucky is the only BCS team on Jacksonville State’s schedule. Look for the Gamecocks to be pumped up for this one.

Jacksonville State is coach by former Arkansas Razorback coach Jack Crowe (1990-1992).

Kentucky is coming off a bye. Did they prepare for Jacksonville State or for the Mississippi State game next weekend?

For the sake of the SEC and for Kentucky’s pride they need to beat Jacksonville State.

Jacksonville upsets Kentucky at home 21-13.

Army versus Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt’s defense has been SEC caliber all season. The offense has been disappointing.

Last week the Commodores rushed for 200 yards against Georgia and nearly pulled off the upset before losing 33-28. Has Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin finally found some form of an offense?

Army’s defense ranks 70th in the nation allowing 392.83 yards per game.

Vanderbilt’s defense ranks 26th in the nation allowing 329.83 yards per game.

Will Jordan Rodgers or Larry Smith start at quarterback for Vanderbilt? Neither player adds much to the passing attack.

Rodgers is a junior and Smith is a senior. Will Franklin get a head start on next season by taking Smith out of the starting lineup in favor of Rodgers?

Look for Franklin to use both players throughout the game.

If the Commodores are not let down by last week’s loss, look for Vandy to improve to 4-3 on the season.

Vanderbilt wins 28-18.

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College Football Preview: Predicting Every SEC Game in Week 7

Week after week the SEC features great college football match-ups. This weekend is no different as three SEC East teams continue their fight to stay alive for a conference title game berth and two of the top teams in all of college football look to keep pace with each other in the SEC West.

Two teams are on byes this week, Arkansas and Kentucky.

Arkansas travels to Ole Miss next week.

Kentucky hosts Jacksonville State.

No. 15 South Carolina at Mississippi State

Believe it or not, South Carolina versus Mississippi State is the SEC game of the week.

Mississippi State and South Carolina started the season off in similar fashion, with high hopes. MSU’s came crashing down fast while USC still has a shot to right the ship.

The Bulldogs are 3-3 after starting the season ranked 20th. MSU moved up as high as 16th in the nation but quickly lost their way after Auburn shut quarterback Chris Relf down at the goal line on the final play of their game.

The two head coaches, Steve Spurrier and Dan Mullen, find themselves in the middle of a quarterback controversy this week.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier dismissed senior quarterback Stephen Garcia from the team on Tuesday after he reportedly failed an alcohol test. Garcia had lost his starting job to sophomore Connor Shaw for USC’s game against Kentucky last weekend. Garcia had been suspended five times previously by Spurrier.

Another upstart sophomore is pushing an established senior quarterback for playing time in the SEC. This time MSU head coach Dan Mullen has to make some hard choices about who will start and who will sit and how many snaps each quarterback will get in the game.

Chris Relf has struggled much of 2011 after having a solid junior campaign. He is ranked 9th in the SEC in total passing yards (860), 7th in completion percentage (58.1), but has 5 interceptions thrown to four touchdown passes thrown.

MSU quarterback Tyler Russell started the second half against UAB which lead to a 21-3 come from behind win for the Bulldogs. Russell completed 11 of 13 passes for 166 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Relf finished the game 6 of 10 for 46-passing yards.

The in-game battle will be between Mississippi State running back Vick Ballard and USC’s running back Marcus Lattimore. Ballard is fifth in the SEC in total rushing yards with 531. Lattimore leads the SEC with 779 but has 61 more carries on the season than Ballard.

Lattimore appears to be slowing down some. His last three games he’s had one 100-yard effort (102 yards vs. Kentucky). Mississippi State’s linebackers have trouble stopping the run.

Ballard had his first 100-yard rushing game of the season against UAB.

Neither team has a signature win this year.

Both quarterback situations are sketchy at best but USC has the better defense especially with the return of DE Melvin Ingram.

USC wins at Davis-Wade Stadium 35-21.

No. 2 Alabama versus Mississippi

Ole Miss welcomes one of the top defenses in the nation to go against their offense, one of the worst in the nation.

Rebel fans are optimistic that junior quarterback Randall Mackey will be the key to ignite their offense. Mackey was penciled to be the starter for Ole Miss after spring practices but Houston Nutt went with Zack Stoudt and Barry Brunetti to start the season.

Mackey completed eight passes for 214 yards and one touchdown in their last game against Fresno State. Mackey also had ten incomplete passes against the Bulldogs, a team allowing 392.5 yards per game.

Scat back Jeff Scot rushed for a career-high 138 yards against Fresno State.

Alabama’s offense:

19th best rushing attack in the nation averaging 217 yards per game with 18 touchdowns.

Bama’s total offense is second best in the SEC at 434.8 per game.

The Tide features the 4th best passing game in the SEC averaging 226.80 yards per game.

Scoring at a rate of 37.67 points per game is 22nd best in the nation.

Alabama’s defense:

Top scoring defense in the nation allowing 7 points per game.

Third best total defense in the nation, 191.33 yards per game.

Best rushing defense in the nation by holding teams to 39.83 yards per game.

4th best pass defense in the nation limiting opponents to 151.50 yards per game.

Common opponent: Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt 30, Ole Miss 7.

Alabama 34, Vanderbilt 0.

Linebacker C.J. Mosley returns from an elbow injury suffered against Arkansas. 

Life does not get better for Houston Nutt. Ole Miss losses another one 38-7.

Florida versus No. 24 Auburn

A reoccurring theme in the SEC is quarterback play or lack thereof. Auburn head coach Gene Chizik is sticking by his struggling junior quarterback Barrett Trotter and Florida cannot keep a quarterback healthy enough to play.

Quarterbacks John Brantley and true freshman Jeff Driskel (Oviedo, Florida) both injured their ankles against Alabama. Florida head coach Will Muschamp made a game time decision to not start Driskel against LSU in favor for another true freshman quarterback, Jacoby Brissett (West Palm Beach, Florida).

The game will come down to who can stop the run. Florida has the 4th best rushing attack in the SEC (194 per game) and Auburn has the 3rd best (204 per game).

Florida’s rush defense is 32nd in the nation. Auburn’s is 103rd allowing 201.83.

Auburn and Florida did not play each other last season.

Auburn has more stability at quarterback but Florida may have more raw talent under center.

Florida holds Dyer to 115 rushing yards and Chris Rainey finds the holes to keep the Gators on the field.

Jeff Demps was limited to two carries last week in Baton Rouge due to an ankle injury. His playing time will be a game time decision.

Florida 21, Auburn 18.

Georgia versus Vanderbilt

First year head coach James Franklin has already passed expectations at Vanderbilt. He has eclipsed last year’s win total and scored a SEC conference victory against Ole Miss. More importantly the Commodores have been competitive.

The final score in their past two games may not reflect the abilities of his team, at No. 12 South Carolina 3-21 and at No. 2 Alabama 0-34, but their defense is playing tough and they are young. Franklin is laying ground work for a strong Commodore team next season if they can find any offense.

Georgia has turned their season around after two straight home losses to fifth ranked Boise State and twelfth ranked South Carolina. The Bulldogs are on a four game winning streak and tied with the Gamecocks for first place in the SEC East.

Georgia head coach Mark Richt started true freshman running back Isaiah Crowell after the South Carolina loss and the Bulldogs offense has responded.

The Bulldogs have the 4th ranked total offense in the SEC (2,435 yards) while averaging 405.80 yards per game. Crowell is fourth in the SEC in total rushing yards with 573 after seeing limited action in the first two games of the season.

Georgia’s starting quarterback Aaron Murray now has a complement to his passing abilities. Murray is third in the SEC in total passing yards with 1,327, second in passing touchdowns (13), and fourth in quarterback rating (150.2). Murray’s tendency to take a sack (SEC worst 13) and throw interceptions (6) has got to improve against the opportunistic Commodore defense.

The Commodores lead the SEC with 14 interceptions. Three of those picks have been returned for touchdowns.

Georgia has the sixth best defense in the nation.

Vanderbilt has the 117th worst offense in college football, 244.40 yards per game.

Vandy quarterback Larry Smith has missed time in the last two games due to injuries. Smith could have returned against Alabama last week but Franklin played Jordan Rodgers the rest of the game.

Georgia gets a bye next week before playing Florida in Jacksonville. The Bulldogs will not get caught up in a trap game.

Georgia has enough offense to beat Vandy’s determined group. Georgia wins 21-7.

No. 1 LSU versus Tennessee

Another SEC team, another starting quarterback injured. Tennessee’s Tyler Bray broke the thumb on his throwing hand last week against Georgia. Now LSU will face their second straight game against a quarterback making their first start of the season.

Senior quarterback Matt Simms takes over for Bray. Simms was the starter last year before injuries and solid play by Bray in the final five games of 2010 resulted in him losing his starting job.

Simms threw for 1,460 yards and eight touchdowns last season against the hardest part of Tennessee’s schedule: Oregon, Florida, LSU, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina.

Simms almost pulled off an upset win against the Tigers last year in Baton Rouge. Simms was 12 for 23 for 121-yards passing with five sacks, no touchdowns, and zero interceptions in last year’s meeting. Their performance last season has the Vols excited about their chances this week.

The difference in last year’s Vols team and this year team is a running game. Tauren Poole has not clicked with the offensive line yet this season. Poole had 109 yards rushing against the Tigers in 2010 to pace UT’s offense.

Poole left last week’s game with an injured hamstring in the first quarter. His status for this week is a game time decision.

LSU has the fifth best defense in the nation.

Tennessee was held to negative 20 yards rushing against Georgia.

LSU escaped with a last second 16-14 win in 2010 against the Vols. Don’t look for LSU to take Tennessee lightly this year nor ruin a chance to play for the BCS National Championship by looking ahead to Auburn.

LSU methodically breaks down Tennessee for a 48-3 win. 

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