2011 SEC Non-Traditional Out of Conference Game Predictions

I'm an Auburn homer. I think they'll win every game. I refuse to think otherwise, so if that colors me slightly biased, I'm open about admitting it. I'll also admit that I'm probably not the most reliable go-to guy for betting information involving an Auburn team for the same reason. I picked Auburn to win every game last year. As it was, I just happened to be right, which really bolsters my confidence going into this year.  I did miss five games in 2009 however, but I'm still right most of the time.

That being so, I'm still not usually one to make predictions involving Auburn until the very last minute when I'm forced to do it. However, with the other teams in the conference, I have no such reservations, and with the preseason Coaches Poll out last week soon to be followed by the AP poll, I figure why not cast out my predictions for the out-of-conference (OOC) games of interest that are not standing rivalry games?

Usually crucified for their OOC scheduling, the SEC in recent years has made a consistent effort to take on more BCS teams that we don't play that often--many from outside the south. Bolstered by the addition of one-and-done contests like the Chick Fil A Kickoff Game and the Cowboys Classic, college football itself is making it easier to lure together more attractive non-traditional opponents due to the high national exposure and payouts. Just this year, the SEC showcases three strong opening weekend games: LSU-Oregon in Dallas, Georgia-Boise State in Atlanta, and Ole Miss-BYU in Oxford.

While I said last year that Vanderbilt had the toughest OOC schedule, there's little doubt that LSU wears that crown this year with the opener against Oregon in Dallas and at West Virginia on September 24th. Vandy still has a tough slate with UConn, Army and Wake Forest. And while I generally almost always root for SEC teams in OOC games, I don't think we're going to win them all this year. Here's the Top 10 contests:

Sept 3rd: LSU and Oregon: How does it get better than this? The 3rd and 4th ranked teams in the pre-season, Oregon coming off the narrow national championship game loss and LSU from an 11-2 season and Cotton Bowl beat-down of Texas A&M. It's so hard to start the season without any tune-up contest and immediately play national-caliber competition. A win can propel a team on to great things like Alabama did in 2008 after clobbering Clemson in the Chick Fil A Kickoff Game, or for the reverse, see Clemson's fortunes that very same year. Oregon returns many of their starters as does LSU, but with the loss to Auburn still fresh on their minds and the Tiger's QB fortunes still unproven in my mind, I think Oregon edges this one out in yet another slow motion fashion for the Ducks, 17-14.

Sept 3rd: Georgia and Boise State: After playing with a major chip on their shoulders the last two seasons, going undefeated in 2009 and losing late to Nevada last year to see any hopes of BCS and national championship glory go down the drain, the Broncos come into the Georgia Dome once again looking for national respect--this time in an early season game against a BCS opponent rather than in a bowl game. None on this team were around the last time Boise played in the state of Georgia, a 48-13 drubbing by the very same Dogs in Athens in 2005, but we're sure it'll still be on their minds. Mark Richt and Georgia come into the season hungry to reestablish themselves as contenders in the SEC east and a solid victory over Boise will put them on the right path. Dogs win in a surprisingly hard-fought match, 28-24.

Sept 3rd: BYU at Ole Miss: The newly independent Cougars can have all the SEC scheduling they can handle now that they're leaving the Mountain West after arch-rival Utah got the invite to the PAC 12. BYU has only played SEC teams four previous times, winning only one game--in Provo against Mississippi State. While the Rebels are predicted to compete for last place in the SEC west along with Auburn by all the pundits, conference pride will be on the line. But BYU has much to prove in their new play em anywhere, anytime roll and comes away with a close win 31-27.

Sept 10th: Alabama at Penn State: Predicted to challenge for the national championship this year, The Tide probably circled this game first on their calendar as the necessary hurdle in the early season to clear for a run at the top. With JoPa suffering yet another major physical injury during practice this weekend, and being an empty suit on the sidelines for much of the past few years, you wonder how much fight the Nittany Lions will have in them when the Tide rolls in. There is a lot of respect in this rivalry going back to the great Sugar Bowl games of the 1970s but Alabama rolls big on the road 34-17.

Sept 10th: UConn at Vandy: Coming off their second Big East title in four seasons and subsequent punishing at the hands of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, the Huskies had many people questioning whether the Big East was truly a BCS conference at all anymore. But that was last year and we are talking Vandy. The Dores make a valiant effort but the basketball-traditional Huskies rebound and beat a SEC team at their house 38-13.

Sept 17th: Auburn at Clemson: If there ever was a team that wanted the Auburn monkey off their backs it's Clemson, who haven't beaten their ancient Tiger rivals in sixty years. While taking Auburn to the wire in overtime in 2010 in a game they should have won, many think the Tiger Paws will have their day in Death Valley this year. Not to be so, as Auburn extends their misery for yet another year, 34-28, as the two will meet for the third consecutive year in 2012 in the Chick Fil A Kickoff Game in Atlanta. See you in Hartwell.

Sept 17th: Navy at South Carolina: The Palmetto state will see two fine contests involving their two native sons on this weekend as Navy plays in Columbia. While nobody doubts that Navy will run the ball and have some success against the Gamecocks, there will probably be little the Midshipmen can do to stop the hungry chickens from crowing atop the yard-arm. SC rolls 42-17.

Sept 24th: LSU at West Virginia: After the off-season firing of HC Bill Stewart and the subsequent turmoil within the program that it produced, coupled with the fact that the Mountaineers only really field a high-caliber team about every twenty years or so, further coupled with a possible opening season loss by the Tigers to Oregon, I think the Purple Tigers roll through Morgantown in a fury, 38-13. Chance of couch burning: HIGH. Keep scheduling SEC teams, West Virginia. We might eye you one day in a future mega-conference power expansion grab. You've got too much pluck to be in the damn ACC.

Oct 1st: Texas A&M at Arkansas: You would think that the Aggies will be fired up for another shot at an SEC team after losing to both the Hawgs last year in College Station and to LSU in the Cotton Bowl, but Arky will be waiting as well for a shot at their old rivals and wins this big, 45-24. A&M should keep hedging their bets and scheduling SEC teams to keep their name fresh in our minds should you finally bolt from the remnants of the Big 12 to be drafted by us.

Oct 22: Army at Vanderbilt: The Gold Dome Bowl. Don't squint while watching this one or you might not be able to figure out which team is which. I think Vandy should schedule at least one of the service academies each year just for the uniform confusion alone. The Commodores pull rank on the Cadets 24-16, making 2/3rds of the academies 0-2 against our conference this year.

Posted by War Eagle Atlanta

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Five Bold Predictions For The New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles Week Three Game

LeSean McCoy #25 RB

The Philadelphia Eagles lost a heartbreaker in Atlanta to the Falcons, following an exciting comeback performance, and a nice showing from back-up quarterback Mike Kafka. The question going into Philadelphia’s week three game against New York was — Would Michael Vick be recovered from the concussion he sustained against the Falcons? Good news for Philadelphia, as Vick was cleared for practice and is expected to start against the Giants this Sunday.

New York is coming to Philadelphia following a relatively easy win on Monday Night Football against the St. Louis Rams, and are looking to capture an early lead on the division. The rivalry between the Giants and Eagles has heated up substantially in the past few seasons, and this season has been turned to a whole new degree. As last season the Eagles comeback win in the Meadowlands essentially ended the Giants playoff chances, and this game they are coming for revenge.

Here are five bold predictions for the Giants vs. Eagles week three match-up:

5. There Will Be a Number of Turnovers For Both Teams 

In the early goings of the season, both the Giants and the Eagles have struggled with turning the ball over on offense. There have been numerous miscommunications on hand-offs, routes down the field, and even poor blocking, all of which have led to a shockingly high number of turnovers. The Eagles have coughed up the ball in incredibly inconvenient situations, and have managed to give up a defensive touchdown already this season.

The Giants are in a similar situation, as Eli Manning has proven to be incredibly interception happy, and Ahmad Bradshaw has shown that he can be loose with the ball. Both the Eagles and Giants defense will be all-over, and ready to jump on any mistake made by either offense.

4. Philadelphia’s Defense Will Contain Ahmad Bradshaw 

The Eagles rushing defense is the hottest topic in Philadelphia. The Eagles seem to have every single piece together on both the offense and defense, except their linebackers have struggled containing the run. Following last weeks abismal performance from rookie Casey Matthews, he was benched in favor if Jamar Chaney, who started the latter half of last season at middle linebacker.

I feel that the Eagles defense has worked increasingly hard at containing the run, and they will prove this game that they can keep it under control. The move of Chaney back to middle will be huge to the success of the front seven, and it should have an immediate impact on Bradshaw and the Giants running game.

3. Eli Manning Will Struggle Finding Open Receivers

As stated earlier, Manning has had a rough stretch recently. He has been throwing interceptions left and right, and that has not been helped by his lack of receiver depth. There seems to be a curse in New York as every single receiver Manning is getting comfortable with, they go down with injury. The most recent being Domenik Hixon, tearing his ACL last week against the Rams, for the second straight season.

Combine that with Mario Manningham with a questionale status, and Manning is going to have a hard time. Any time a quarterback has to play the Eagles trio of corners, it is never easy, but with the current injuries in New York, it is going to be nearly impossible. Considering that the Giants are now starting Brandon Stokely, that should be some indication of how little Manning has to work with.

2. Michael Vick Won’t Finish The Game 

Last week against the Falcons, Michael Vick was forced to leave the game following a sack in which he fell into an offensive lineman and suffered a concussion. Since then, he has been cleared by team doctors, and also an independent source, and he is reportedly going to start Sunday’s game. The Eagles have had quite a few players suffer concussions, and most have not been able to bounce-back in less than one week.

I have a feeling that Vick will start the game, but he may get pulled due to residing effects of the concussion. The Giants are a physical team, and Vick can only take so many hits after an injury like this. I don’t see how Vick can start and finish a game after getting back into pads, and suffering a concussion less than a week ago.

1. The Eagles Offensive Line Will Look Terrible 

The second most discussed topic this off-season for the Eagles was the offensive line. Despite drafting heavily in offensive lineman, the Eagles still have not improved much from last season. But keep in mind the teams the Eagles have played, (Falcons, Rams), do not have anywhere near the caliber of defensive line that the Giants have. I would venture to say that the Giants have a top-three pass rushing defensive line in the NFL, and will be a true test Philadelphia’s offensive line.

I think this will also be a test that they fail. Considering how poorly the line has done protecting Vick so far this season, I don’t imagine it will turn around much in this game. I am aware that there are technically two starting rookies on the line, but that won’t change the Giants dominating pass rush. Considering the fragile state that Vick is in, with a mediocre offensive line, and an elite pass rush — The Eagles should be worried.

Conclusion: 

The Giants and Eagles always seem to have good games, regardless of who has the better season or better team. It also seems that if the game is not incredibly close and down to the last minute, it will be a blow-out. This is an early season match-up that has not received a lot of attention, but I think it will be one of the best games of the week, and one that will be determined in the fourth quarter. Giants 24 – Eagles 31

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