Bottom of the Bowl(s) for Kentucky, Vandy

   With four out of 12 losing-record teams ineligible for bowls, the SEC falls short of filling its nine guaranteed post-season slots. So, Kentucky and Vanderbilt will go bowling -- with less momentum than a bowling ball rolling uphill.

   Kentucky, humiliated Saturday by Tennessee, wasted a 4-0 start to finish 6-6, last in the East. The Wildcats' lone win in their last five games was by one point at home against West cellar-dweller Mississippi State.

   Vandy, drubbed by Wake Forest, opened 5-0 amid speculation that Bobby Johnson was the leading candidate for coach of the year. Oops. The Commodores also limped home 6-6, their only victory in that span against . . . Kentucky.

   Neither deserves much more than the Independence (Shreveport) or Papa Johns (Birmingham). But Kentucky could rise into the Music City (Nashville), which would be unlikely to select the local team.

   Would you Kentucky and Vandy fans prefer to pull the plug on the season and move on to basketball?

   If not, what would be the attainable bowl of your choice?

   

Rain May Make Saturday Predictions All Wet

   Predicted rain across the Southeast on the final Saturday of the regular season could impact games to different degrees.

   --For No. 1, Alabama, its power running game should not be thrown off against Auburn. The Tigers' only winning scenario is a 17-14 type of game, but they would have trouble hitting that total under sunny skies. Weather edge to Alabama.

   Worried, Crimson Tide fans?

   --For Tennessee, showers could put a damper on Philip Fulmer Appreciation Day and help Kentucky, which can get off the bowl fence with a victory.

   Now, for the three intrastate rival games:

   --Georgia Tech, which hardly ever passes, could benefit the most. The Yellow Jackets, who employ a post-modern wishbone offense, would welcome a slippery field against Georgia, which throws the 'skin extremely well.

   --Multi-faceted Florida is unlikely to be affected by any inclement weather, short of a blizzard. That won't happen in Tallahassee against Florida State.

  --With South Carolina, who knows? Steve Spurrier will X-and-O to the death to beat Clemson, but the Tigers have greater incentive assuming they want to remove the interim tag from coach Dabo Swinney.

    Which of the three SEC teams is most likely to stumble against their stately neighbors?

   Then there is the SEC-ACC brain bowl, Vanderbilt vs. Wake Forest. These are smart people, right? So they'll figure out how to cope with rainy conditions.

   One more thing: Can Florida climb higher than No. 2 with a butt-whipping of the Seminoles?

    

    

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?

Vandy Is (Finally) Dandy

   Two-and-a-half cheers for Vanderbilt, which took five games for its sixth win. No big deal to most SEC schools, but a W over Kentucky makes the Commodores (6-4) eligible for its first bowl in 26 seasons.

   Now, 6-6 isn't a sure thing for bowling, but it's probable. Besides, the 'Dores have two shots at a seventh victory, against Tennessee and Wake Forest.

   Does anyone share the feel-goodness ofVandy?

   The Wildcats (6-5) also can pick on Tennessee for No. 7, which means the Volunteers could be stepping-stones for two historically SEC lightweights to extend their seasons.

   Can the Vols rise up and damper things for two of its rivals?  

   

Take a (Short) Breath This Weekend

   The SEC schedule is absent a blockbuster, can't-miss (unless you have a hot date) game. But one is alluring and three others significant.

   --South Carolina's Steve Spurrier returns to the Swamp with a decent bunch whose sole loss in the last six games was to LSU. He will combat Florida's raucous crowds by alternating quarterbacks, allowing the ol' ball coach to convey the play on the sidelines.

   Some staggering statistics speak to Florida's dominance in its past five outings. Here's one you may not have heard: In the first quarters, it's the Gators 80, opponents zero.

   On the subject of stats, the Gamecocks boast the league's primo defense. For Florida, that will be a red cape being waved in front of a bull.

   Do the 'Cocks have a chance?

   --Surprise: Alabama has been whupped two straight by Miss'ippi State. In their past three encounters, the Crimson Tide is without an offensive touchdown. Bama has locked up the SEC West title, but a defeat would shatter its national title aspirations.

   Is there any way Bama can lose?

   --Georgia can push Auburn to the brink of getting shut out from the bowls. The Tigers would dip to 5-6, with Bama left on the schedule. Now that Phil Fulmer is toast Tommy Tuberville is the only SEC coach whose job hands in jeopardy. 

   Should Tuberville be replaced if the Tigers go 5-7, or even 6-6?

   --The prize to the Kentucky-Vanderbilt winner is bowl eligibility, though the loser will get another chance. Each plays Tennessee later.

   Meantime, the Volunteers are idle -- officially. It only seems that they have been the past several weeks.

   Excited about a no-loss Saturday, Vol fans?

   --    

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?

 

   

Coaching Carousel Swinging By Nashville?

   Bobby Johnson has a substantial head start as SEC Coach of the Year. He is a South Carolina native and a Clemson alum who once coached there. It's only natural that his name would bubble up in speculation about the Tigers replacing Tommy Bowden.

   Vanderbilt is the po' boy of big-time southern football, with resources limited by the Ivy League-ish school and the nature of eclectic Nashville. Johnson might be the sort of coach who welcomes the low-pressure atmosphere, where a bid to any bowl is cause for celebration. 

  Still, if Clemson knocks, wouldn't he have to open the door for a listen?

   At Auburn, Tommy Tuberville is battening down the hatches to keep incoming recruits from backing out. If possible, he should name an offensive coordinator (beyond an interim tag) to signal the high schoolers on whether he intends to stick with the spread offense. Words to that effect don't mean much; only action will.

   Should Auburn be concerned about holding onto its recruiting class?

   And aren't you looking forward to the next gathering of the Bowden boys? Former Auburn coach Terry wrote that brother Tommy deserved to be fired at Clemson. Hey, Bobby, you better sit them at the opposite ends of the table. 

   

Kwazy Kwarterbacks Situation

   When Vanderbilt sends out MacKenzi Adams against Georgia, half of the SEC teams will have changed quarterbacks already this season by coach's decision. Chris Nickson is ailing, but this switch was driven more by performance.

   At South Carolina, Stephen Garcia is Steve Spurrier's QB for a day -- two weeks after the demoted Chris Smelley was named league Offensive Player of the Week.

   At Auburn, not only did Kodi Burns bump aside Chris Todd on the first unit, but the redshirt has been removed from true freshman Barrett Trotter, who was projected to sit until next season.

   It would be fitting if Kentucky's Randall Cobb, who has split time between quarterback and wide receiver because of shakiness behind center with the Wildcats, could figure out how to throw a pass to himself.

   What gives with SEC QBs this season?

   Which do you prefer at Vandy, South Carolina, Auburn and Kentucky?

    

What We Learned, No. 3: Vandy And A Visor Are Hurting

   It was only a matter of time that Vanderbilt, leading the SEC East despite owning the worst combined offensive and defensive statistics in the league, would fall back to earth. Not surprising that it happened on the road, even at so-so Mississippi State. 

  Normalcy thus returns to the division, meaning the Florida-Georgia outcome likely will determine the champ. The Commodores are still a gaudy 5-1 but likely to sink out of the Top 25 before the season's end. Enjoy it while you can, Vandy.

   Do you think the Commodores were overrated at No. 13?

   South Carolina, meantime, is 5-2 but nowhere near a national ranking. Steve Spurrier beat his trademark visor mercilessly -- darn near strangling it -- while the Gamecocks committed four turnovers, missed four field goals and misfired on open passes that he and S.O.S. Jr., the offensive coordinator, called.

   After the game, Spurrier Sr. named Stephen Garcia the starting quarterback next week. Hey, kid, don't buy tickets for the whole family yet. Last week, the Ol' Ball Coach elevated Garcia, then changed his mind a few days later.

   Is Garcia the guy? Can he haul the Gamecocks into the Top 25?

   

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. 1: Vandy Is A Dandy

   A few years back, these eyes watched in Athens as undermanned Vanderbilt ambushed Georgia with a clever game plan from coach Bobby Johnson. Dude can coach, as evidenced by the Commodores' 5-0 record and, more significantly, 3-0 standing in the SEC.

   No, Vandy isn't the nation's 13th best team, as the AP poll would have you believe. The Commodores, after all, have trailed in every game.

  But they deserve to be rated. Besides, who can blame the voter who bumps them up a notch or two on his ballot because they are the feel-good story of the season? This is the school that folded its athletics department into the university administration (in part so it couldn't get away with stuff, as football heavyweights are wont to do.)

   Where is Vandy on your ballot?

   Johnson has even figured out how to juggle two quarterbacks, Chris Nickson and Auburn-beater Mackenzi Adams.

   Go ahead and ship that Coach of the Year Trophy to Nashville. 

   Who, at this stage of the season, can beat him out?  

What We Learned, No. 3: Auburn's Spread Mighty Thin

   Auburn threw a surprise at Vanderbilt, operating in a standard offense during the first quarter. The Tigers scored twice and were stopped at the goal line on their other possession.

   So what does coordinator Tony Franklin do? He reverts to his beloved spread attack. Auburn fails to score the rest of the way.

   Yes, surely the Commodores made adjustments. And surely Franklin figured that, with a comfy lead, he could work on the offense dear to his heart.

   But the results speak loud and clear. Auburn's power running attack was groovin' early. The Tigers should have stayed with it, or at least mixed it in with the spread.

   What should Auburn have done? Stick with what brung 'em a lead? Or commit to improving the spread?

    

Stop The Presses: Vandy In Mega SEC Game

   No, the ESPN GameDay crew did not break down in Nashville on the way to one of its usual SEC destinations. It's the site of Auburn vs. Vanderbilt, the first SEC game there between top 25 foes since 1984.

   The Commodores, ranked 19th, have so impressed Tigers defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks that he said of their running backs' speed, "You don't see too many white guys like that."

   Vandy has been virtually all-run, so coach Bobby Johnson must diversify against Auburn's vaunted defense. Interesting to see if the locals pack the stadium and prevent the Tigers' traveling army of fans from invading.

     

Changing Light Bulbs In The SEC

A Yankee pal (well, he's an Indiana Hoosier) passed this along. Now, don't take it seriously, SEC faithful. It's just for laughs.

How about some "change-a-light-bulb" jokes for other leagues?

HOW MANY SEC STUDENTS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

At VANDERBILT: It takes two, one to change the bulb and one more to explain how they did it every bit as good as the bulbs changed at Harvard.

At GEORGIA: It takes two, one to change the bulb and one to stabilize the rolling beer cooler the bulb changer is using for a ladder.

At FLORIDA: It takes four, one to screw in the bulb and three to figure out how to get stoned off the old one.

At ALABAMA: It takes five, one to change it, three to reminisce about how The Bear would have done it, and one to throw the old bulb at an NCAA investigator.

At OLE MISS: It takes six, one to change it, two to mix the drinks and three to find the perfect J. Crew outfit to wear for the occasion.

At LSU: It takes seven, and each one gets credit for five semester hours.

At KENTUCKY : It takes eight, one to screw it in and seven to discuss how much brighter it seems to shine during basketball season.

At TENNESSEE: It takes ten, two to figure out how to screw it in, two to buy an orange lamp shade, and six to phone a radio call-in show and talk about how much they hate Alabama.

At MISSISSIPPI STATE: It takes fifteen, one to screw in the bulb, two to buy the Skoal, and twelve to yell, ''Go to hell, Ole Miss." 

At AUBURN: It takes one hundred, one to change it, forty-nine to talk about how they did it better than at Bama and Georgia, and fifty to get drunk and roll Toomer's Corner when finished.

At SOUTH CAROLINA: It takes 80,000 -- one to screw it in and 79,999 to discuss how this finally will be the year that they have a decent football team.

At ARKANSAS: None. There is no electricity in Arkansas

An SEC Six-Pack

   Vanderbilt made it an even half-dozen in the AP Top 25 rankings today by emerging at No. 21.  A 23-17 win over Ole Miss assured the Commodores their first 4-0 start since 1984.

   Same as for LSU, the loss of a starting quarterback (Chris Nickson) to injury did not spell doom. Mackenzi Adams came to the rescue.

   Vandy, 2-0 in the league with an earlier win over South Carolina, speaks to the power of the SEC. When your traditional 98-pound weakling cracks the polls, you can further lay claim to the nation's primo conference.

   How good are the 'Dores? Can they make one of the Big Five sweat? We'll have to wait until Oct. 4 against Auburn. 

Why The SEC is the Baddest-Ass League, Part 47

Thanks (or no thanks) to Kentucky, your finger-lickin' good SEC teams are 21-2 in non-league play. The spoilers: Wake Forest on an ultra-late field goal to shatter Ole Miss, Louisiana Tech on a small-school football clinic at Mississippi State.
Other than the Mildcats in Lexington, the SEC fraternity had it easy, though Vanderbilt was level with Rice at halftime before smelling the roses 38-21. LSU drilled North Texas State 41-3, Ole Miss sleep-walked over Samford 34-10 and Alabama gutted Western Kentucky 41-7.
A harsh spotlight was on Tennessee, tripped up in its previous game by UCLA. The Vols cut back on their "crapload of plays" from L.A., says wide recever Gerald Jones, and beat the crap out of UAB 35-3. UT would love a mulligan against the Bruins, which lost to BYU by something llike 123-0 Saturday. Or so it seemed.
Amid the non-league pushers, one figures to push back next week. Arizona State lures Georgia into the desert.
Concerned about the Sun Devils, Dawg fans?

TV or not TV -- That Ain't the Question

   As CBS enters its eighth season with the coveted 3:30 p.m. (Eastern) time slot for Saturday games, the Birmingham News got out its calculator and compiled number of appearances per school. The clear leader was Florida at 33, followed by Georgia and Alabama (27), LSU (24) and Tennessee (23). The next level drops to Auburn (16) and Arkansas (15), on down to Vanderbilt (one).

   So, we totaled up wins for each CBS favorite over the seven preceding seasons and found the least deserving school by that measure is the Crimson Tide (1.85 wins per CBS appearance.) Georgia (2.29) and Florida (2.21) deserved its exposure, while LSU (2.70) and Tennessee (2.69) were underplayed.

   Which team, other than your own, would you like to watch on any given Saturday?