News Article: SEC preview and predictions – Week 6

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SEC preview and predictions – Week 6
By Jess Nicholas
TideFans.com Editor-in-Chief
Oct. 5, 2009

Last week’s record: 5-2 (71.4%)
Season record: 34-8 (81.0%)

As we reach the halfway mark of the SEC season, we find ourselves looking at by far the strongest slate of games so far this season. Georgia faces Tennessee, Florida and LSU tie up in Baton Rouge and Alabama travels to meet Ole Miss. The Predictions Dept. undoubtedly has its work cut out this week.

GEORGIA at TENNESSEE
Georgia has become the SEC’s resident head case, inconsistent week-to-week but with enough talent to beat anyone when all cylinders are firing in order. As for Tennessee, the Volunteers are about one good loss away from coming unglued. The loss to Auburn exposed major-league depth issues on the defensive side of the ball, while QB Jonathan Crompton continues to disappoint and the Vol wide receiver corps pretty much put on a community theater representation of wetting the bed against AU. The major difference between these two teams, aside from a gulf in the talent department, is that Georgia is improving while Tennessee is, at best, stagnant. The Vol defense will make this one close, but Georgia is the far better team and this could be the game that pushes UT football off the ledge for 2009.
Georgia 24
Tennessee 13

ALABAMA at MISSISSIPPI
See our extended preview!

FLORIDA at LOUISIANA STATE
This game opened up with no line in Las Vegas, the result of uncertainty over whether Florida QB Tim Tebow will play or not. With a reasonably healthy Tebow, Florida should win this game despite it being in Baton Rouge. Without him, it’s a tossup. LSU isn’t really overpowering this year, although the Tiger defense appears to be on the right track under new coordinator John Chavis. But Florida without Tebow changes the game completely. Without him, Florida will have to use John Brantley, more of a passing quarterback, and the Gator wide receivers haven’t exactly inspired confidence in 2009. We assume Tebow will play given the nature of the injury and Urban Meyer’s history of using Tebow, Tebow and more Tebow whenever he feels cornered by the opposition. But this will probably be a sloppy game overall.
Florida 17
LSU 10

KENTUCKY at SOUTH CAROLINA
These are the games South Carolina has found a way to lose in recent years. As predicted, the Gamecocks slopped around with in-state Division-IAA foe South Carolina State last week before making the score look ugly late. On the flip side, Kentucky has had awful injury luck under Rich Brooks, and the streak continued in the Alabama game when CB Trevard Lindley, by far Kentucky’s best player, went down with an ankle injury and didn’t return. If Lindley were healthy, this game could be an upset special. But look for South Carolina to pull out a close one.
South Carolina 24
Kentucky 20

VANDERBILT at ARMY
This game will probably be Vandy’s last win of the season unless Tennessee comes totally unraveled. Army is just a bad football team altogether. The real question here is who will score – not score the most, but just score, period. Neither team has any concept of offense.
Vanderbilt 21
Army 7

AUBURN at ARKANSAS
Auburn is 5-0 and ranked, while Arkansas bounced back from its slaying at the hands of Alabama to whip a much-improved Texas A&M team. Fayetteville is a hard place to play for most teams, and Auburn has frequently had trouble with the Razorbacks. But Arkansas’ pass defense is still deplorable, and Auburn’s trick-happy offense can confuse even top defenses, let alone the glorified fire drill that is the Arkansas defense at the moment. Bowl eligibility awaits the Tigers.
Auburn 37
Arkansas 31

HOUSTON at MISSISSIPPI STATE
Houston lost inexplicably to UTEP last week, thus ending its BCS-busting dream and relegating the Cougars to also-ran status once again. Mississippi State’s offense has been making strides, especially on the ground, but the Bulldog defense isn’t likely to be adequately prepared to deal with the kind of offense it will see in this game. Houston could go one of two ways: The Cougars could feel sorry for themselves over the UTEP loss and mope through this game, or they could take out their frustrations on the middling Bulldogs. We’ll bet on the latter.
Houston 34
Mississippi St. 21