Rebels Are The Right Team For Cotton Bowl

   Even though Ole Miss roughed up LSU a week ago, you had to wonder if the SEC was sending its most qualified available team to the Cotton Bowl. Even in decline, the Tigers seemed more Dallas-ready than the Rebels.

   Never mind. With Ole Miss mauling Mississippi State on Friday, followed by the Tigers' collapse at Arkansas, it's clear that the Rebels are headed to the proper post-season destination. And LSU should be headed to a bottom-feeder bowl.

   LSU lost its last four league games. The only wins during that stretch were against Tulane and Troy, the latter a comeback from a 31-3 deficit.

   Quarterback problems haunted LSU all season, but this one falls on the defense. The Razorbacks' QB brotherhood of Nathan and Casey Dick rang up 31 points on the Tigers' defense.

   Anybody for Houston Nutt as coach of the year?

   What does that make Les Miles -- bust of the year?

Rebel Swell: Ole Miss Cottons To Big Bowl

The Cotton Bowl is no longer a top-tier postseason game. Still, Ole Miss could not have aspired higher at the dawn of the season.
Now, having stomped on a fallen-and-can't-get-up LSU on Saturday, the Rebels likely will be pickin' Cotton if they handle Mississippi State. Their resume is enhanced by the upset over Florida.
Could you have imagined Ole Miss excelling so quickly under first-year coach Houston Nutt?
Missy State's win over Arkansas reduces the SEC's bowl contenders to nine. Auburn gets the axe if it bows to Alabama.
The Kentucky-Vanderbilt loser will dip to 6-6 but, with bowl berths as plentiful as BCS bashers, probably will squeeze in before the door closes. The Commodores, who took two steps back in a beatdown from Tennessee, would be less than appealing because they would have gone 2-6 after a 4-0 start.
Where do you see your favorite team headed for the holidays?

Take A Breath, SEC Fans -- But Not A Deep One

   It's SEC lite this weekend, with only four games, none of any magnitude. But the three conference matchups carry fetching subplots and all, if the betting public knows its stuff, are anticipated to be close.

   --Vanderbilt, which has beaten Tennessee once in the last quarter-century, ranks as a three-point favorite. In between game-planning, Phil Fulmer has placed calls to colleagues for advice on his next coaching move. Here's some advice: Beat the Commodores and salvage a speck of football dignity from the season.

   Is this Vandy's year to start balancing out this one-sided rivalry?

  --LSU, not long ago in the national title discussion, is a mere three-point fave at home against resurgent Ole Miss. The Tigers' resurrection from near-death against Troy was impressive but it verified that LSU, with spotty QB play and an inconsistent defense, is second tier this year.

   Inconceivable at the start of the season, can the Rebels give LSU a run for the money?

   --Arkansas picked itself up after a dreadful start and is somehow a road favorite in the SEC, if only against Mississippi State (and by one point). Bobby Petrino has steered this young team into position for to contend next year in the SEC West. Well, for third place, maybe.

   Who wins this one?

Rating Non-League Schedules: And The Toughest Goes To ...

   With blather about BCS rankings soon to reach a crescendo, much of the debate deals with teams' schedules outside of their league. The degree of difficulty can be a make-or-break for school vying for big bowls.

   Though the season is far from over, many SEC schools have concluded their non-league agenda. So, let's rate each member's outside-the-family games, from easiest to hardest.

   12.) Kentucky: Louisville (good), Middle Tennessee (OK), Western Kentucky (just out of Division 1, formerly known as 1-AA), AA), Norfolk State (Division I). Too many creampuffs.

   11.) LSU: Troy (decent), Tulane (not), North Texas (maybe the weakest on the top level), Appalachian State (Div. 1, but a good one). Not a single stiff test in the bunch.

  10.) Alabama: Clemson (overrated at start of season), Tulane and Western Kentucky (see above), Arkansas State (weak). Sure miss the Bama-Southern Cal classics.

   9.) Ole Miss: Wake Forest (underachiever), Memphis (OK), Louisiana-Monroe (weak), Samford (Div. 1). The Deacons turned out not to be Demons.

   8.) Mississippi State: Georgia Tech (very good), Middle Tennessee (see above), Lousiana Tech (weak), Southeast Louisiana (Div. 1). Big drop-off after the Yellow Jackets.

   7.) Tennessee: UCLA (relative softie in BCS), Northern Illinois (OK), UAB and Wyoming (both pushovers). If not for these, Phil Fulmer might be gone already.

   6.) South Carolina: Clemson (disappointing), North Carolina State (ACC punching bag), UAB (weak), Wofford (Div. 1). Credit to Gamecocks for its par of ACC foes.

   5.) Auburn: West Virginia (very good), Southern Miss (weak), Louisiana-Monroe (weak), Tennessee-Martin (Div. 1). Big drop-off after the Mountaineers.

  4.) Georgia: Georgia Tech (very good), Arizona State (disappointing), Central Michigan (decent), Georgia Southern (Div. 1). When season kicked off, Bulldogs might have been No. 1.

   3.) Vanderbilt: Duke (ascending), Wake Forest (see above), Miami Ohio (weak), Rice (weaker). Credit to Commodores for two ACC schools, though one (Duke) unexpectedly tough.

   2.) Florida: Florida State and Miami (getting better), Hawaii (rebuilding), The Citadel (Div. 1). Two in-state rivalries always puts the Gators near the front.

   1.) Arkansas: Texas (doesn't get harder than this), unbeaten Tulsa (surprise!), Louisiana-Monroe (see above), Western Illinois (Div. 1). Splitting your non-league games is not good.

   Thoughts on the list? Have we overrated anyone? Underrated?

   Overall, it seems as if the SEC has gone soft. Hard to blame schools, given that the league schedule is such a gauntlet. Still, challenging non-conference matchups are few and far between.

   Agree? Or should SEC teams go the easy route?

 

   

A Nutt Job At Ole Miss

    The media build-up to the Ole Miss-Arkansas game was supposed to make us feel sorry for Houston Nutt, who was chased out of Arkansas last season and replaced by the scurrilous Bobby Petrino.

   Not that any neutral fan should pull for Petrino, seeing as how his handling of the midseason abandonment of the Atlanta Falcons is an unforgivable sin.

   But let's not pity Nutt, who signed on Ole Miss' dotted line about the same day he received a hefty buyout from the Razorbacks. Nutt hit the lottery, and he did leave the Razorbacks' cupboard all but bare.

   Who among all you non-Rebels and non-Razorbacks hoped would win this game?

   Having said that, Nutt has made Ole Miss competitive this season -- and likely headed for a bowl.

   Still, nearly all head coaches wear out their welcome. No need to pity them when they get paid a princely sum to move on.

   By the way, any Petrino defenders out there?

   

     

Bobby P-Nutt Angle Enlivens Ole Miss vs. Arkansas

   Though both lost Saturday, Bobby Petrino at Arkansas and Houston Nutt of Ole Miss have their squads on the upswing. The Razorbacks led Kentucky until collapsing at the end, one week following its upset of Auburn. The Rebels scared the beejesus out of Alabama, two weeks after dunking Florida.

   Until then, the game's only theme was Nutt returning to Arkansas, where he fled after last season. At stake now for the winner is the designation of "SEC Team Not To Be Taken Lightly."

   How will the Arkansas contingent welcome home Nutt? Did he depart on good or bad terms?

   

   

      

Another Awesome Saturday In The SEC

While wondering if the league's spotty quarterback play will doom its hopes of sending a rep to the BCS Championship Game, here are my thoughts on this weekend's games, listed in chronological order.
--South Carolina at Kentucky. Doubt that the Gamecocks' 31-point explosion at Ole Miss means their offensive headaches are cured. Chris Smelley remains at QB against a stout Kentucky defense that could force Steve Spurrier to go to his bullpen yet again.
--Vanderbilt at Mississippi State: Sure, the 'Dores are unbeaten, but they've built their record on a shaky foundation. They rank last offensively in the league, 10th on defense. Fortunately, they confront a team with a walk-on QB, Tyson Lee, in his second start. Look for another narrow Vandy triumph.
--Tennessee at Georgia: The buzz in Athens all week was the Bulldogs' being the nation's most penalized team. Oh, the horror! The Vols should be so lucky. Their offense is dead in the water. Two players were suspended. They are grateful to get outa town, where the natives are restless, but would prefer another destination than Athens.
--Arkansas at Auburn: An off-the-radar game has drawn the spotlight with Auburn's firing of offensive coordinaor Tony Franklin. Not to be overlooked are the Tigers forcing to employ two freshmen in the secondary. If the Razorbacks are ever gonna win, this is the time.
--LSU at Florida: It's no fun playing Florida under the lights in the Swamp. But the Tigers' formidable defense gets the nod against Urban Meyer's spread offense, which has lost the element of surprise. Florida's title hopes could go up in smoke.

What We Learned, No. 4: Something Amiss In The Swamp

   Yes, Florida gutted Arkansas 38-7, but the Gators figured to put the Razor-hacks away sooner than the fourth quarter after their debacle a week earlier against Ole Miss.

   Tim Tebow, suffering from Heisman hangover, was so subdued late in the game that coach Urban Meyer coaxed him into a mid-air chest bump. Amazing to say that a quarterback guilty of one pick all season has declined, but it's true for Tebow.

   Do you see the same thing I'm seeing with Florida?

   Next up: LSU, which kicked back over the weekend and watched things unfold in its favor (a s0-so Florida, a so-so Alabama, a so-long to Auburn). I don't the Reptiles' chances against the Tigers.

   What's your take on the game? 

From The Frying Pan Into . . .

    Poor Arkansas. In the midst of a treacherous four-game swing, they get a Florida team coming off a home loss to Ole Miss. Coach Urban Meyer practiced the Gators late into Sunday night.

   That might be sufficient preparation for the Razorbacks, outscored 101-24 in the past two weeks by Alabama and Texas. Coach Houston Nutt, who fled for Ole Miss, left Arkansas high and dry with a string of subpar recruiting classes. Bobby Petrino is making do with leftovers.

   The Gators' loss deters them from looking ahead to LSU next week. So this is lousy timing for the Razorbacks, who need a break.

Big, Bad 12: Challenge To The SEC

   From the Great Midwest comes the claim that its Big 12 Conference is superior to the SEC and all others.

   The heartland makes a good case. It boasts four teams among the premier seven in the AP poll, including No. 1 Texas. Like the SEC, half of its dozen teams cracked the top 25. Average Big 12 ranking: ninth. Average SEC ranking: 10th.

   There's no dispute the Big Ten has some bad-ass offenses. Among the nation leaders in passer ratings, its quarterbacks hold down Nos. 2 through 5. Its teams are second, third and fifth in scoring, first in rushing and top two in passing.

   In the leagues' lone head-to-head meeting all regular season: Texas 52, Arkansas 10.

   SEC teams are showing less offensive flash than normal, with Florida, Auburn and South Carolina stuck in second or third gear. The league's reign as defensive dominatrix continues unabated, but when the Big 12 steps to the podium and debates its worth as No. 1 in the nation, it's difficult for the SEC or anyone else to counter convincingly.  

3rd Weekend Lesson: Repeat After Me . . .

    LSU's aspirations of repeating as BCS championships were upgraded Saturday despite a desultory 34-24 win over Mississippi State. The Tigers emerged in the latest polls at No. 3 in AP and No. 2 in USA Today's. As I indicated earlier, Alabama has a better body of work, so I would put LSU at No. 3.

   What do you think: second or third for LSU?

   Just as the Tigers are moving up, so is their running back, Charles Scott, in the Heisman Trophy race. Especially with the candidacies of Florida's Tim Tebow and Georgia's Knowshon Moreno set back by their team's losses, Scott supporters can point to four 100-yard-plus rushing games while anchoring an offense with an undeveloped quarterback.

   How great is Scott? Where do you rank him in the Heisman hierarchy?

    

No Razor's Edge Margin Here

   Arkansas takes another shaky step through a frightening four-game gauntlet against No. 7 Texas. A week after their traumatic five-TD loss to then-No. 9 Alabama, the Razorbacks can expect no mercy. The two schools vie for the same high school recruits out of the Lone Star State, and Mack Brown wants to make an impression on any youngsters torn between the two.

   Next up for Arkansas: No. 4 Florida. Then, No. 15 Auburn. Only after that will the Razorbacks get a non-ranked opponent: unbeaten-for-now Kentucky.

   Wonder why Houston Nutt flew the coop for Ole Miss? He saw the schedule, then the "year" column on the roster.

   Those 22 freshmen (including three starters) who Bobby Petrino lifted from the cradle and sent out for duty are growing up fast. Too fast.

Not On Hot Seat, But Hot Under The Collar

   When accomplished college coaches Steve Spurrier and Bobby Petrino returned to the amateur ranks after bombing in the NFL, they were embraced as prodigal sons, back where they belong.

   Maybe so, but the boss men at South Carolina and Arkansas belong in a decompression chamber today as their seasons got shakier on Saturday.

   The Gamecocks won, but only by 23-13 over Wofford, the tiniest Division 1-A school that puts on the pads. Afterward, Spurrier pondered trying what would be his third starting quarterback, Stephen Garcia, next week. "In a rut," is how the ol' ball coach described his offense, even though it rang up 30 first downs.

   What's up with the offensiveguru? Has he lost his touch?

   Arkansas allowed three plays for over 60 yards apiece and threw interceptions left, center and right in the hammering by Alabama. Two narrow wins over creampuffs plus one loss to a tough-as-cheap-steak team adds up to a wretched start.

   Are the football gods getting back at Petrino for skipping out on the Falcons in midseason last year?

   

   

Hate 'em or hate 'em: Woe is Steve and Bobby

   One is a NASCAR-type bad guy in college circles. The other's name is dirt in the NFL.

   Many SEC observers are likely taking glee in the tough times of Steve Spurrier and Bobby Petrino, who face lo-o-o-o-ng seasons without a reversal of fortunes.

   Spurrier has dropped seven of eight games at South Carolina. The culprit this year is offense, where his influence is greatest, given that the accomplished strategist calls three-fourths of the plays. For the most part, he turns over the defense to his coordinator.

   "Blocking and throwing and catching has been our biggest problem," says Spurrier, whose wisecracks and occasional jabs at others suggests he enjoys wearing the black hat. "We haven't had a consistent running attack or a consistent passing attack. How's that?"

   Not good, especially since he views the roster as his most talented yet at the school.

   Worse, the Gamecocks have shelved receiver Kenny McKinley, their main threat, for at least another week with an injury. As consolation, the next opponent is Wofford.

   Then there is Arkansas, which could face four straight Top 10 teams for the first time in NCAA history in a single season. The Razorbacks confront No. 9 Alabama this week, followed by a makeup with No. 7 Texas, then No. 4 Florida and No. 10 Auburn.

   Under new coach Bobby Petrino, who fled the scorned Atlanta Falcons in the middle of last season and probably shut the door on future head jobs in the NFL, the Razorbacks had hoped to rev up for the scary run with blowout wins. But they eked past Western Illinois and Lousiana-Monroe by a combined five points.

   "Change is hard on everybody, and particularly seniors," said Petrino, explaining the slow start. "They've got to work on buying in."

   Outside of their own communities, few tears are being shed for Spurrier and Petrino. Perhaps the pair should look forward to Nov. 8, when one is sure to win. It's Arkansas vs. S.C. in Columbia.

   What are your feelings toward the two coaches? Love to see 'em suffer?

   

He Cheap-Shots! He Scores!

   So Arkansas running back Michael Smith was grounded for Saturday's game against Western Illinois because of "improper use of scholarship textbooks." What, he cracked one open during the season? For shame.