Last week saw Michael and Jay go a perfect (6-0) while Eddie stunk it up at (3-3). Michael has maintained his lead over Jay at an overall mark of (50-10), while Jay has a decent lead on 2nd place at a record of (47-13) and Eddie pulling up the rear at (44-16). Let's get on with the picks:
Michael McCoy's Picks:
Florida vs Georgia - Florida (upset alert)
Eastern Michigan at Arkansas - Arkansas
Mississippi State at Kentucky - Mississippi State
Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt - Georgia Tech
South Carolina at Tennessee - Tennessee
Tulane at LSU - LSU
Ole Miss at Auburn:
What was once a promising season has been on a downward spiral the last few weeks, but I still think things are salvageable, but it would have to start with a win at home this weekend against Ole Miss. Unluckily for Auburn, it seems the Rebels are finally starting to hit their stride, evidenced by a big win over Arkansas last weekend at home. The Ole Miss defense has been solid all year, but the offense broke out in a big way with a 500 yard performance, including a big day from Jevan Snead, though it's worth remembering that he still threw a couple of picks in the effort. Auburn's defense actually showed last week that it could stop the run a little and apply some pressure to the quarterback, but the secondary was left exposed at times and Jordan Jefferson took advantage. If Auburn can keep up the quarterback pressure against an at times suspect Rebel offensive line and tighten up the coverage a little bit, there may be some turnovers to be had. Dexter McCluster will be the other X-factor on that side of the ball in the running game, especially out of the Wildcat. Auburn must slow him down. Having said all that, most Auburn fans know that the key to any Auburn victory in the coming weeks will be the offense somehow finding its mojo again. Chris Todd is definitely not the same player he was a month ago, for whatever reason, but he hasn't been helped a whole lot either from his offensive teammates. Ben Tate is the only offensive performer who has truly distinguished himself in recent weeks. Maybe it is a case of once one good thing happens, things will take off again from there for this offense. That's the hope, but nothing will come easy against this stingy Rebel defense. I expect some new wrinkles from Malzahn to help shake the cobwebs and get this thing back on track, but surely there has to be a steady dose of #44 to start things off. Then maybe we can get the play-action passing game going once again. I don't think it will be pretty, but I think Auburn will come out inspired and do enough to stay in the game and take this thing to the wire. It could go either way from there, but I'll say Auburn 26, Ole Miss 23.
Jay Skipworth's Picks:
Florida vs Georgia - Florida
Eastern Michigan at Arkansas - Arkansas
Mississippi State at Kentucky - Mississippi State
Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt - Georgia Tech
South Carolina at Tennessee - South Carolina
Tulane at LSU - LSU
Ole Miss at Auburn:
The Rebels offense woke up for the first time all season last week as they throttled Arkansas at home. Now Houston Nutt travels to a place where he’s had success (albeit as the Arkansas coach) against Auburn. The Tigers look nothing like the team that reeled off 5 wins to start the year as the offense has been unable to produce anything consistent, hanging a thin defensive unit out to dry in the process. Jevan Snead and Dexter McCluster will have big games as the Rebels are simply a better team than Auburn right now. Ole Miss 27, Auburn 9.
You can get a more detailed preview of every one of Jay's pick's at his weekly column listed below:
http://blogcritics.org/sports/article/sec-week-nine-previews-and-picks/
Eddie McCoy's Picks:
Florida vs Georgia - Florida
Eastern Michigan at Arkansas - Arkansas
Mississippi State at Kentucky - Kentucky
Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt - Georgia Tech
South Carolina at Tennessee - Tennessee
Tulane at LSU - LSU
Ole Miss at Auburn:
Auburn is reeling after three straight defeats and beating Ole Miss is going to be just as tough as the last three opponents have been. The only thing consistent about the Auburn offense the last three games is that it continues to struggle. I believe that this team can pick it back up as quick as it dropped off.....I just don't see them doing it this week. Ole Miss has a better front seven in my opinion than LSU and LSU gave our line fits all night long. To beat Ole Miss, Auburn will have to commit to running the football and hoping that it opens up the passing game from the dungeon that it's been locked up in. Defense cannot give up the big play and it cannot afford to but Snead back into the 1st round of the draft. I believe that things will improve for Auburn this week, but I believe they will come up on the short side in this game. I'll say Ole Miss 31, Auburn 17.
Feel free to leave your score predictions in the comment section. War Eagle!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
SEC Predictions Week 8
There was no change in the lead as Michael has a nice lead with an overall record of (44-10) while Jay and Eddie trail with both overall records at (41-13). We all went 5-1 last week, but the lone loss hurt badly because it was Auburn. Let's see how we fare this week:
Michael McCoy's Picks:
Arkansas at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Tennessee at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at South Carolina - South Carolina
Louisiana-Monroe at Kentucky - Kentucky
Florida at Mississippi State - Florida
Auburn at LSU:
The last couple of weeks have been rough, but the seven point loss to Kentucky at home probably hurt more than the twenty-one point loss to Arkansas in Fayetteville. Things don't get any easier this week when Auburn travels to Baton Rouge to face LSU, who is coming off their first Saturday night loss in over fifty games. They'll not want to repeat that experience again. Much is made of how off weeks can benefit a team's freshness, but the off week that LSU had is of main concern to me because LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton will have cooked up alot of surprises no doubt to get his struggling offense going. Of course, given the defensive weakness of Auburn up front, LSU would do well to just run the ball straight ahead. The biggest concern heading into this game for Auburn, though, is whether or not the offense can get back on track, specifically in the passing game. Ben Tate is running like a man possessed and looks All-SEC calibre, but Chris Todd's play has fallen off in recent weeks, fueling much speculation about the health of his arm and shoulder. This game will go a long way in telling us what his true status is. If Todd is truly alright, this team, even with a flawed defense, remains capable enough on offense to win most games it plays, including LSU in Baton Rouge. But there are too many question marks for me to expect Auburn to win on Saturday. I think they can, but they'll have to play their best game of the year. LSU's defense is not dominating, but it gets the job done, and while their offense hasn't really clicked yet, they still have the players and athletes to burn any defense. Special teams have been better for Auburn recently, but Trindon Holliday will give Boulware's boys a true litmus test. I think special teams gives LSU good field position all night and they take advantage of a soft defense to win the game, despite another valiant effort from Ben Tate. I'll say Auburn 17 LSU 27.
Eddie McC0y's Picks:
Arkansas at Ole Miss - Arkansas
Tennessee at Alabama - Tennessee (Yeah, I called it)
Vanderbilt at South Carolina - South Carolina
Louisiana-Monroe at Kentucky - Kentucky
Florida at Mississippi State - Florida
Auburn at LSU:
Well, Auburn has taken a nose dive the last two weeks and I look for that to stop if the season can be salvaged for a decent bowl. LSU has the most favorable matchups of any of the SEC games that remain except for the fact that we play at Baton Rouge on a Saturday night. If Auburn is indeed allowed to wear the white Jersey's, that will be an automatic win because LSU and purple jersey's don't mix. I look for Chris Todd to show me he still has it and is not hurt as bad as some suggest. If he doesn't do it here, I don't think he can do it in any of the remaining SEC games. This is purely a gut prediction because the matchups still don't favor Auburn in my opinion. If the Auburn offense of the first 5 games shows up, Auburn will win and if it doesn't, then LSU will be printing up Charles Scott for Heisman posters. I'm betting on the Auburn offense breaking out of it's shell. I'll say Auburn 30, LSU 24.
Jay Skipworth's Picks:
Arkansas at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Tennessee at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at South Carolina - South Carolina
Louisiana-Monroe at Kentucky - Kentucky
Florida at Mississippi State - Florida
Auburn at LSU:
Auburn’s offense has gone in the tank the last two weeks and put a thin defense in bad position leading to two straight losses in the conference. LSU’s defense is good, but the offense is a huge disappointment, especially the running game. Conventional wisdom says LSU, at home, will blow Auburn out as the Tigers have snoozed through the last two games. However, the games in this series have been close for many years and I expect nothing less this week. In the end, Auburn can’t stop any team, even a bad offense and LSU can stop teams, especially bad offenses. LSU 17, Auburn 10.
You can view a more detailed rundown of Jay's picks at his BC Column linked below:
http://blogcritics.org/sports/article/sec-week-eight-previews-and-picks/
Let's hope i'm right this week on the Auburn pick. War Eagle!
Michael McCoy's Picks:
Arkansas at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Tennessee at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at South Carolina - South Carolina
Louisiana-Monroe at Kentucky - Kentucky
Florida at Mississippi State - Florida
Auburn at LSU:
The last couple of weeks have been rough, but the seven point loss to Kentucky at home probably hurt more than the twenty-one point loss to Arkansas in Fayetteville. Things don't get any easier this week when Auburn travels to Baton Rouge to face LSU, who is coming off their first Saturday night loss in over fifty games. They'll not want to repeat that experience again. Much is made of how off weeks can benefit a team's freshness, but the off week that LSU had is of main concern to me because LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton will have cooked up alot of surprises no doubt to get his struggling offense going. Of course, given the defensive weakness of Auburn up front, LSU would do well to just run the ball straight ahead. The biggest concern heading into this game for Auburn, though, is whether or not the offense can get back on track, specifically in the passing game. Ben Tate is running like a man possessed and looks All-SEC calibre, but Chris Todd's play has fallen off in recent weeks, fueling much speculation about the health of his arm and shoulder. This game will go a long way in telling us what his true status is. If Todd is truly alright, this team, even with a flawed defense, remains capable enough on offense to win most games it plays, including LSU in Baton Rouge. But there are too many question marks for me to expect Auburn to win on Saturday. I think they can, but they'll have to play their best game of the year. LSU's defense is not dominating, but it gets the job done, and while their offense hasn't really clicked yet, they still have the players and athletes to burn any defense. Special teams have been better for Auburn recently, but Trindon Holliday will give Boulware's boys a true litmus test. I think special teams gives LSU good field position all night and they take advantage of a soft defense to win the game, despite another valiant effort from Ben Tate. I'll say Auburn 17 LSU 27.
Eddie McC0y's Picks:
Arkansas at Ole Miss - Arkansas
Tennessee at Alabama - Tennessee (Yeah, I called it)
Vanderbilt at South Carolina - South Carolina
Louisiana-Monroe at Kentucky - Kentucky
Florida at Mississippi State - Florida
Auburn at LSU:
Well, Auburn has taken a nose dive the last two weeks and I look for that to stop if the season can be salvaged for a decent bowl. LSU has the most favorable matchups of any of the SEC games that remain except for the fact that we play at Baton Rouge on a Saturday night. If Auburn is indeed allowed to wear the white Jersey's, that will be an automatic win because LSU and purple jersey's don't mix. I look for Chris Todd to show me he still has it and is not hurt as bad as some suggest. If he doesn't do it here, I don't think he can do it in any of the remaining SEC games. This is purely a gut prediction because the matchups still don't favor Auburn in my opinion. If the Auburn offense of the first 5 games shows up, Auburn will win and if it doesn't, then LSU will be printing up Charles Scott for Heisman posters. I'm betting on the Auburn offense breaking out of it's shell. I'll say Auburn 30, LSU 24.
Jay Skipworth's Picks:
Arkansas at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Tennessee at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at South Carolina - South Carolina
Louisiana-Monroe at Kentucky - Kentucky
Florida at Mississippi State - Florida
Auburn at LSU:
Auburn’s offense has gone in the tank the last two weeks and put a thin defense in bad position leading to two straight losses in the conference. LSU’s defense is good, but the offense is a huge disappointment, especially the running game. Conventional wisdom says LSU, at home, will blow Auburn out as the Tigers have snoozed through the last two games. However, the games in this series have been close for many years and I expect nothing less this week. In the end, Auburn can’t stop any team, even a bad offense and LSU can stop teams, especially bad offenses. LSU 17, Auburn 10.
You can view a more detailed rundown of Jay's picks at his BC Column linked below:
http://blogcritics.org/sports/article/sec-week-eight-previews-and-picks/
Let's hope i'm right this week on the Auburn pick. War Eagle!
Friday, October 16, 2009
SEC Predictions Week 7
After another subpar week of picking games, we all had identical (4-3) records last week, even with Jay making his glorious prediction of the Arkansas upset special. Michael McCoy retains the overall lead with an overall mark of (39-9) while Jay Skipworth and Eddie McCoy pull up the rear tied at (36-12) each. Hopefully things will improve for us and the Auburn Tigers this week. On with the picks:
Michael McCoy Pick's:
Georgia at Vanderbilt - Georgia
Mississippi State at MTSU - Mississippi State
Arkansas at Florida - Florida
UAB at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Kentucky at Auburn:
All things must pass, and so it was with Auburn last week in Fayetteville. We all knew this was a flawed team that may have been punching a little bit above its weight the first five games, but the wheels came off in the first half and Auburn didn't recover until it was too late. All is not lost, though. This is still a team with holes (defense, kick-off coverage), but the offense is still good and this team is still good enough to win a few more games yet. Last week just showed that if the offense comes out flat, the defense won't always be there to pick them up, though they held in there for a little while before the dam busted. For whatever reason, Auburn just wasn't quite ready to play last week, but the performance may prove to be a blessing in disguise. I think the lesson was learned that this team can't take any week off and they better come ready to play every Saturday. I think they'll do that this weekend against Kentucky. Kentucky is a team coming off three tough losses, but more imporantly, they're a team dealing with a number of injuries on offense and defense, the latest victim being QB Mike Hartline, meaning an inexperienced QB will be taking the reigns of the offense this weekend, perhaps even a true freshman. In Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb, however, Kentucky has two of the better all-purpose threats in the SEC. If Auburn doesn't do a better job in tackling, these two can hurt us, especially in the return game. On offense, Gus and the boys should be able to move the ball against the Wildcats and I expect a sharp, focused effort this week on offense. I think Kentucky will still rattle our nerves a little bit with Cobb and Locke, whether on offense or special teams, but I think Kentucky will be too one dimensional on offense to mount a serious challenge to even our thin defense. On offense, things may not move seamless at first given that Kentucky has hung tough the last couple of weeks early on, but I think eventually we will begin to wear them out with the run the way we did with Mississippi State earlier in the season. I'll say Auburn 35, Kentucky 17.
Jay Skipworth's Picks:
Georgia at Vanderbilt - Georgia
Mississippi State at MTSU - Mississippi State
Arkansas at Florida - Florida
UAB at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Kentucky at Auburn:
Auburn got blistered in the early morning sun by Arkansas last week as the Hogs exploited a porous and thin defense for tons of yards and points. Kentucky has played teams tough this year but turnover problems have cost them in several games. The Wildcats will have to go this week (and maybe the rest of the year) without QB Mike Hartline which tips the scales more to Auburn’s favor. At this point, Auburn’s best defense is to keep the offense clicking and moving the ball with the precision displayed in the first five games of the season. The game at home and the loss of Hartline for Kentucky gives an edge to the Tigers who need to get back on track with this win. Auburn 27, Kentucky 13.
As always, you can check out a more detailed pick by pick preview at Jay's BC Column linked below:
http://blogcritics.org/sports/article/sec-week-seven-previews-and-picks/
Eddie McCoy's Picks:
Georgia at Vanderbilt - Georgia
Mississippi State at MTSU - Mississippi State
Arkansas at Florida - Florida
UAB at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Kentucky at Auburn:
Auburn will find out what kind of team it has now that it has to deal with the loss to Arkansas. I believe the Auburn Tigers will build upon the loss and bounce back with a victory against Kentucky. Kentucky has the X factor on offense in that it lost it's starting QB last week and Auburn is having to guess about how they are planning on replacing him and what changes will be made for Kentucky on that side of the ball. I still think Auburn defense will struggle and give up points but I believe the offense will come out and try to just play its game instead of letting Kentucky dictate what it will do. I like Auburn in a high scoring game; Auburn 44, Kentucky 35.
War Eagle and let us know your predictions in the comment section.
Michael McCoy Pick's:
Georgia at Vanderbilt - Georgia
Mississippi State at MTSU - Mississippi State
Arkansas at Florida - Florida
UAB at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Kentucky at Auburn:
All things must pass, and so it was with Auburn last week in Fayetteville. We all knew this was a flawed team that may have been punching a little bit above its weight the first five games, but the wheels came off in the first half and Auburn didn't recover until it was too late. All is not lost, though. This is still a team with holes (defense, kick-off coverage), but the offense is still good and this team is still good enough to win a few more games yet. Last week just showed that if the offense comes out flat, the defense won't always be there to pick them up, though they held in there for a little while before the dam busted. For whatever reason, Auburn just wasn't quite ready to play last week, but the performance may prove to be a blessing in disguise. I think the lesson was learned that this team can't take any week off and they better come ready to play every Saturday. I think they'll do that this weekend against Kentucky. Kentucky is a team coming off three tough losses, but more imporantly, they're a team dealing with a number of injuries on offense and defense, the latest victim being QB Mike Hartline, meaning an inexperienced QB will be taking the reigns of the offense this weekend, perhaps even a true freshman. In Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb, however, Kentucky has two of the better all-purpose threats in the SEC. If Auburn doesn't do a better job in tackling, these two can hurt us, especially in the return game. On offense, Gus and the boys should be able to move the ball against the Wildcats and I expect a sharp, focused effort this week on offense. I think Kentucky will still rattle our nerves a little bit with Cobb and Locke, whether on offense or special teams, but I think Kentucky will be too one dimensional on offense to mount a serious challenge to even our thin defense. On offense, things may not move seamless at first given that Kentucky has hung tough the last couple of weeks early on, but I think eventually we will begin to wear them out with the run the way we did with Mississippi State earlier in the season. I'll say Auburn 35, Kentucky 17.
Jay Skipworth's Picks:
Georgia at Vanderbilt - Georgia
Mississippi State at MTSU - Mississippi State
Arkansas at Florida - Florida
UAB at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Kentucky at Auburn:
Auburn got blistered in the early morning sun by Arkansas last week as the Hogs exploited a porous and thin defense for tons of yards and points. Kentucky has played teams tough this year but turnover problems have cost them in several games. The Wildcats will have to go this week (and maybe the rest of the year) without QB Mike Hartline which tips the scales more to Auburn’s favor. At this point, Auburn’s best defense is to keep the offense clicking and moving the ball with the precision displayed in the first five games of the season. The game at home and the loss of Hartline for Kentucky gives an edge to the Tigers who need to get back on track with this win. Auburn 27, Kentucky 13.
As always, you can check out a more detailed pick by pick preview at Jay's BC Column linked below:
http://blogcritics.org/sports/article/sec-week-seven-previews-and-picks/
Eddie McCoy's Picks:
Georgia at Vanderbilt - Georgia
Mississippi State at MTSU - Mississippi State
Arkansas at Florida - Florida
UAB at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Kentucky at Auburn:
Auburn will find out what kind of team it has now that it has to deal with the loss to Arkansas. I believe the Auburn Tigers will build upon the loss and bounce back with a victory against Kentucky. Kentucky has the X factor on offense in that it lost it's starting QB last week and Auburn is having to guess about how they are planning on replacing him and what changes will be made for Kentucky on that side of the ball. I still think Auburn defense will struggle and give up points but I believe the offense will come out and try to just play its game instead of letting Kentucky dictate what it will do. I like Auburn in a high scoring game; Auburn 44, Kentucky 35.
War Eagle and let us know your predictions in the comment section.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
AFIP Tonight, Live from 8-9PM CST
Please join Jay Skipworth, Michael McCoy & Eddie McCoy for another edition of Auburn Football Insider Podcast tonight from 8-9pm CST. We are going to shake up the format a little bit, so we appreciate any feed back you guys have. There is plenty to talk about after the first loss of the season, so I hope you are able to join us. As always, feel free to call into the show at (646) 649-1890.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/AFIP
War Eagle and Thanks for Listening!
Friday, October 9, 2009
SEC Predictions Week 6
Last week was not a good week for any of us in our predictions but our Michael who was (4-3) in last week's action, retains the overall lead with a (35-6) mark followed by a tie between both Jay Skipworth and Eddie McCoy at (32-9) each. This maybe one of the toughest weeks to pick games in the SEC, so we could be headed for another swing. Without further adu, here are our picks:
Michael McCoy Picks's:
Vanderbilt at Army - Vanderbilt
Georgia at Tennessee - Tennessee
Kentucky at South Carolina - South Carolina
Houston at Mississippi State - Mississippi State
Alabama at Ole Miss - Alabama (upset alert)
Florida at LSU - Florida (upset alert)
Auburn at Arkansas:
Auburn went up to Knoxville last weekend and picked up a big win on the road with some authority. The first four games were nice, but those wins all came in the friendly confines of Jordan-Hare Stadium, and the game against the Vols served notice that these Tigers are indeed a much different version from their 2008 counterparts. But things get a lot more difficult on Saturday with an early kickoff in Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Hogs were considered to be a sleeper in the West before the season started, but a couple of tough losses to Georgia and Alabama put an early dent in those hopes. The corresponding rout of Texas A&M last week however should serve notice that Arkansas will not go silently into the night. There are not a lot of secrets with this team, though. They are great on offense, especially in the passing game, and they are suspect on defense, especially in the secondary. On the ground, things are mixed on both sides of the ball. Coach Bob Petrino loves to have a balanced offense and he loves to run to set up the passing game with some play-action, but trouble at the offensive line has meant the running game hasn't really gotten going yet. Ryan Mallet's arm is just that good that a lack of a consistent running game has been largely overcome. On defense, the Hogs have actually done a nice job against the run their last couple of games, but continue to give up big plays in the air. On offense, I look for us to come out a little more aggresive from the start than we did against Tennessee, though we'll still try to establish the run early before taking some shots down field. Special teams remain a concern, but I believe they are getting better, and they'll need to improve even more this week, especially on kick-off coverage, or Arkansas's return game could make it a long day for us. In the end, it's hard to see this game being anything other than a shootout. I could see this game going either way to be honest. The difference I think may lie in that our defense has held up a little better than theirs, though I still expect us to give up some yards and points, and up to this point, our team has shown that bit more of moxy to make the plays down the stretch to win the game. I think it will be a game where holding the other team to field goal attempts will be deemed a victory for the defense, and I think we will do that more than Arkansas does. I'll say Auburn 38, Arkansas 34.
Jay Skipworth's Picks:
Vanderbilt at Army - Vanderbilt
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Kentucky at South Carolina - South Carolina
Houston at Mississippi State - Houston
Alabama at Ole Miss - Alabama
Florida at LSU - LSU
Auburn at Arkansas:
The Tigers at 5-0 are easily the surprise team in the SEC this year. In spite of glaring holes on defense, Auburn has found ways to win mostly through the high-powered offense that keeps the tempo moving and puts points on the scoreboard. Arkansas just puts points on the scoreboard (unless playing Alabama) while the defense has been largely lack until last week. The Hogs defense gave up yards to Texas A&M but found ways to end Aggies drives before they could cash into the endzone. Auburn’s defensive backfield has ability to create turnovers but their coverage skills will be tested greatly this week. Several times last week, Auburn defenders were beat by WRs who simply dropped the ball or the quarterback didn’t make a good throw. That won’t happen this week as Ryan Mallett and company are very talented. Arkansas, for all the defensive issues, has faced solid running teams and performed well enough to put the games in the opposing quarterback’s hands. That will be the Hogs gameplan and it will be on Auburn’s Chris Todd and his gang of receivers to pull this on through for the Tigers. This one has the makings of an early morning shootout and will probably down to which team has the ball last. Arkansas has the playmakers offense to win this one if they can limit the turnovers. Arkansas 35, Auburn 31.
As always, you can view a more detailed pick by pick summary from Jay at his BC column linked below:
http://blogcritics.org/sports/article/sec-week-six-midterm-mania/
Eddie McCoy's Picks:
Vanderbilt at Army - Vanderbilt
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Kentucky at South Carolina - South Carolina
Houston at Mississippi State - Houston
Alabama at Ole Miss - Alabama
Florida at LSU - Florida
Auburn at Arkansas:
Auburn got a huge win on the road at Tennessee in front of over 100,000 fans that really helped them gain more confidence in what they are doing. This Auburn teams has some real weaknesses but it also has some real strengths and the biggest strength they have right now is team chemistry / unity. I'm not overly surprised that Auburn is 5-0 at this point in the season, but I am greatly surprised in how they have gone about doing that. Let all the bama media type talk about our opponents record and accuse us of not playing anybody, but the fact is that we have been impressive in the games that we have played in. I believe that Arkansas presents a very serious challenge, more so than Tennessee in my opinion, but I just feel that this team will go into Fayetteville and play a very good game. Arkansas defense has improved over the last couple of weeks, but I think our offense provides a real problem for their defense since we are so balanced. Their secondary allows big plays and I would look for Gus Malzahn to take advantage of that along with the new DB's that they are throwing into the mix this week. In the end, I believe our defense will get more stops than their defense. I like Auburn 45, Arkansas 30.
Let us know your picks in the comment section.
War Eagle!
Michael McCoy Picks's:
Vanderbilt at Army - Vanderbilt
Georgia at Tennessee - Tennessee
Kentucky at South Carolina - South Carolina
Houston at Mississippi State - Mississippi State
Alabama at Ole Miss - Alabama (upset alert)
Florida at LSU - Florida (upset alert)
Auburn at Arkansas:
Auburn went up to Knoxville last weekend and picked up a big win on the road with some authority. The first four games were nice, but those wins all came in the friendly confines of Jordan-Hare Stadium, and the game against the Vols served notice that these Tigers are indeed a much different version from their 2008 counterparts. But things get a lot more difficult on Saturday with an early kickoff in Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Hogs were considered to be a sleeper in the West before the season started, but a couple of tough losses to Georgia and Alabama put an early dent in those hopes. The corresponding rout of Texas A&M last week however should serve notice that Arkansas will not go silently into the night. There are not a lot of secrets with this team, though. They are great on offense, especially in the passing game, and they are suspect on defense, especially in the secondary. On the ground, things are mixed on both sides of the ball. Coach Bob Petrino loves to have a balanced offense and he loves to run to set up the passing game with some play-action, but trouble at the offensive line has meant the running game hasn't really gotten going yet. Ryan Mallet's arm is just that good that a lack of a consistent running game has been largely overcome. On defense, the Hogs have actually done a nice job against the run their last couple of games, but continue to give up big plays in the air. On offense, I look for us to come out a little more aggresive from the start than we did against Tennessee, though we'll still try to establish the run early before taking some shots down field. Special teams remain a concern, but I believe they are getting better, and they'll need to improve even more this week, especially on kick-off coverage, or Arkansas's return game could make it a long day for us. In the end, it's hard to see this game being anything other than a shootout. I could see this game going either way to be honest. The difference I think may lie in that our defense has held up a little better than theirs, though I still expect us to give up some yards and points, and up to this point, our team has shown that bit more of moxy to make the plays down the stretch to win the game. I think it will be a game where holding the other team to field goal attempts will be deemed a victory for the defense, and I think we will do that more than Arkansas does. I'll say Auburn 38, Arkansas 34.
Jay Skipworth's Picks:
Vanderbilt at Army - Vanderbilt
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Kentucky at South Carolina - South Carolina
Houston at Mississippi State - Houston
Alabama at Ole Miss - Alabama
Florida at LSU - LSU
Auburn at Arkansas:
The Tigers at 5-0 are easily the surprise team in the SEC this year. In spite of glaring holes on defense, Auburn has found ways to win mostly through the high-powered offense that keeps the tempo moving and puts points on the scoreboard. Arkansas just puts points on the scoreboard (unless playing Alabama) while the defense has been largely lack until last week. The Hogs defense gave up yards to Texas A&M but found ways to end Aggies drives before they could cash into the endzone. Auburn’s defensive backfield has ability to create turnovers but their coverage skills will be tested greatly this week. Several times last week, Auburn defenders were beat by WRs who simply dropped the ball or the quarterback didn’t make a good throw. That won’t happen this week as Ryan Mallett and company are very talented. Arkansas, for all the defensive issues, has faced solid running teams and performed well enough to put the games in the opposing quarterback’s hands. That will be the Hogs gameplan and it will be on Auburn’s Chris Todd and his gang of receivers to pull this on through for the Tigers. This one has the makings of an early morning shootout and will probably down to which team has the ball last. Arkansas has the playmakers offense to win this one if they can limit the turnovers. Arkansas 35, Auburn 31.
As always, you can view a more detailed pick by pick summary from Jay at his BC column linked below:
http://blogcritics.org/sports/article/sec-week-six-midterm-mania/
Eddie McCoy's Picks:
Vanderbilt at Army - Vanderbilt
Georgia at Tennessee - Georgia
Kentucky at South Carolina - South Carolina
Houston at Mississippi State - Houston
Alabama at Ole Miss - Alabama
Florida at LSU - Florida
Auburn at Arkansas:
Auburn got a huge win on the road at Tennessee in front of over 100,000 fans that really helped them gain more confidence in what they are doing. This Auburn teams has some real weaknesses but it also has some real strengths and the biggest strength they have right now is team chemistry / unity. I'm not overly surprised that Auburn is 5-0 at this point in the season, but I am greatly surprised in how they have gone about doing that. Let all the bama media type talk about our opponents record and accuse us of not playing anybody, but the fact is that we have been impressive in the games that we have played in. I believe that Arkansas presents a very serious challenge, more so than Tennessee in my opinion, but I just feel that this team will go into Fayetteville and play a very good game. Arkansas defense has improved over the last couple of weeks, but I think our offense provides a real problem for their defense since we are so balanced. Their secondary allows big plays and I would look for Gus Malzahn to take advantage of that along with the new DB's that they are throwing into the mix this week. In the end, I believe our defense will get more stops than their defense. I like Auburn 45, Arkansas 30.
Let us know your picks in the comment section.
War Eagle!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Arkansas Game Preview
This game pits former coordinators on Tuberville staff in 2002 against each other.....(2-2) Bobby Petrino (who wanted the Auburn gig in 2003) vs (5-0) Gene Chizik. What was each able to learn about each other while practicing against each other, probably very little, especially since it was so long ago. This Arkansas team is reminiscent of former Petrino teams at Louisville where they played great offense (especially passing) and hardly any defense and Auburn seems to trend toward the same way, but I do believe the Tigers are a little more stout on the defensive side of the ball than the Hogs. Let's take a closer look at the Arkansas Offense, Defense & Special Teams:
OFFENSE
Arkansas is led by Quarterback Ryan Mallet who was a much heralded recruit who originally signed with Michigan but transferred to Arkansas after Rich Rodriguez became coach at Michigan and was bringing his spread running attack that did not suit Mallet's skills so he decided to transfer back to his childhood favorite team Arkansas just after Bobby Petrino was named head coach. The 6'7" 248 pounder Ryan Mallet has been nothing short of impressive in his short run so far with the Hawgs by leading the #1 passing attack in the SEC and 7th in the Nation. Mallet as a strong arm and does a good job of scanning the field and finding the opening guy. Arkansas has had 9 different receivers catch touchdown passes proving that Mallet loves to spread the wealth. At runningback, the small 5'7" 176 pounder Michael Smith is the returning leader in that department and is averaging only 45 yards per game while the big bruiser 6'3" 220 pounder Ronnie Wingo Jr. is also getting his share of touches and averaging 37 yards per game. The receiving corps may be one of the best in the SEC with three big time targets all averaging in the Top 80 Nationally in Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs along with one of the better tightend's in the league in DJ Williams. The weak link on offense remains the same as last year and that is the offensive line that has continued its struggles from last year by allowing sacks and having a difficult time in generating running lanes. The goal for the Razorbacks will to be able to protect Mallet and get enough rushing to make play-action passes effective. If they do both those things, they should be able to move the ball at will against Auburn.
DEFENSE
While the offense ranks as one of the most deadliest units in the nation, the defense is almost the complete opposite of the scale nationally. The Hogs are giving up over 400 yards of offense each game that gets them a national ranking of 97th out of 120 teams. The Hogs continue to really struggle in defending the pass where they give up 281 yards per game. With that said, the Hogs do return all four of their defensive linemen from last season and DE Malcolm Sheppard has picked up where he left off last season in getting to the quarterback and making plays behind the line of scrimmage. The linebackers return leading tackler from last season in sophmore Jerry Franklin and a unit that is improved from last season but still making way too many tackles down field instead of closer to the line of scrimmage. The defensive backs are by far the weakness of last year's team and this year's team. The secondary lost it's best cornerback in the fall when Isaac Madison went down with an ACL injury and it is pretty much playing a bunch of inexperienced guys that continue to give up big plays. I look for this Arkansas defense to try and do what most have done and shut down the Auburn running game and once again put pressure on Chris Todd to make plays with his arm.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Arkansas special teams has had issues on most fronts except the kickoff return and place kicking. Alex Tejada is the perfect in his 6 field goal attempts while punter Dylan Breeding is struggling to average almost 40 yards a kick. The kickoff return team is exceptional and is lead by Dennis Johnson who averages almost 30 yards a return and the punt return team is just average and is lead by Jerell Norton who averages just over 3 yards per kick. The kickoff Return team has been decent in only allowing just over 20 yards a kick return while the punt coverage team has been horrid in allowing over 11 yards a return. Arkansas would like to not have to punt during the game very much and will probably try to kick it away from McCalebb on kickoffs.
KEYS TO THE GAME
OFFENSE
Arkansas is led by Quarterback Ryan Mallet who was a much heralded recruit who originally signed with Michigan but transferred to Arkansas after Rich Rodriguez became coach at Michigan and was bringing his spread running attack that did not suit Mallet's skills so he decided to transfer back to his childhood favorite team Arkansas just after Bobby Petrino was named head coach. The 6'7" 248 pounder Ryan Mallet has been nothing short of impressive in his short run so far with the Hawgs by leading the #1 passing attack in the SEC and 7th in the Nation. Mallet as a strong arm and does a good job of scanning the field and finding the opening guy. Arkansas has had 9 different receivers catch touchdown passes proving that Mallet loves to spread the wealth. At runningback, the small 5'7" 176 pounder Michael Smith is the returning leader in that department and is averaging only 45 yards per game while the big bruiser 6'3" 220 pounder Ronnie Wingo Jr. is also getting his share of touches and averaging 37 yards per game. The receiving corps may be one of the best in the SEC with three big time targets all averaging in the Top 80 Nationally in Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs along with one of the better tightend's in the league in DJ Williams. The weak link on offense remains the same as last year and that is the offensive line that has continued its struggles from last year by allowing sacks and having a difficult time in generating running lanes. The goal for the Razorbacks will to be able to protect Mallet and get enough rushing to make play-action passes effective. If they do both those things, they should be able to move the ball at will against Auburn.
DEFENSE
While the offense ranks as one of the most deadliest units in the nation, the defense is almost the complete opposite of the scale nationally. The Hogs are giving up over 400 yards of offense each game that gets them a national ranking of 97th out of 120 teams. The Hogs continue to really struggle in defending the pass where they give up 281 yards per game. With that said, the Hogs do return all four of their defensive linemen from last season and DE Malcolm Sheppard has picked up where he left off last season in getting to the quarterback and making plays behind the line of scrimmage. The linebackers return leading tackler from last season in sophmore Jerry Franklin and a unit that is improved from last season but still making way too many tackles down field instead of closer to the line of scrimmage. The defensive backs are by far the weakness of last year's team and this year's team. The secondary lost it's best cornerback in the fall when Isaac Madison went down with an ACL injury and it is pretty much playing a bunch of inexperienced guys that continue to give up big plays. I look for this Arkansas defense to try and do what most have done and shut down the Auburn running game and once again put pressure on Chris Todd to make plays with his arm.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Arkansas special teams has had issues on most fronts except the kickoff return and place kicking. Alex Tejada is the perfect in his 6 field goal attempts while punter Dylan Breeding is struggling to average almost 40 yards a kick. The kickoff return team is exceptional and is lead by Dennis Johnson who averages almost 30 yards a return and the punt return team is just average and is lead by Jerell Norton who averages just over 3 yards per kick. The kickoff Return team has been decent in only allowing just over 20 yards a kick return while the punt coverage team has been horrid in allowing over 11 yards a return. Arkansas would like to not have to punt during the game very much and will probably try to kick it away from McCalebb on kickoffs.
KEYS TO THE GAME
- Auburn Defense needs to get to Mallet and force him to make quick decision and bad ones at that. They will also need to bottle up Michael Smith who had a big game last year against the Tigers.
- Offense needs to continue to protect Chris Todd and open up running lanes as it has done thru out the year. If the offensive line can do this, it will be a long afternoon for the Razorbacks.
- Auburn needs to win the turnover battle. That could be the difference in the game.
I hope you enjoyed the preview. Feel free to share your thoughts on Arkansas.
War Eagle!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
AFIP Tonight from 8-9 PM CST
Please join Jay Skipworth, Michael McCoy and Eddie McCoy as we discuss the Auburn win over Tennessee, preview the Arkansas game and discuss where Auburn Football is heading this season. As always, feel free to be a part of the show by calling in at (646) 649-1890 or listen live at the below link:
Thanks for listening and War Eagle!
Friday, October 2, 2009
SEC Predictions Week 5
Well Michael is on fire right now by picking the South Carolina upset and also alerting us on the LSU upset alert to roll his perfect record last week to an overall (31-3) mark, yet again extending his lead over Eddie at (28-6) and Jay at (27-7). This weeks schedule could see the gap widen or shrink with all the interesting games on the docket. On with the picks.
Michael McCoy's Picks:
Alabama at Kentucky - Alabama
LSU at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt (upset special)
South Carolina State at South Carolina - South Carolina
Georgia Tech at Mississippi State - Georgia Tech (upset alert)
Texas A&M vs Arkansas - Texas A&M
Auburn at Tennessee:
September has been nice, but it's time to take this show on the road, which isn't always fun in the SEC. The jury is still out on Tennessee (and us for that matter), but this will no doubt be Auburn's toughest test of the year thus far in the hostile environment of Neyland Stadium. At best, it's been a mediocre start for the Vols. The high point has been a relatively close loss in Gainesville while the low points have been a home loss to UCLA and an uninspiring win over Ohio, not to mention the general play of quarterback Jonathan Crompton. He's been the missing link for the Vols up to this point. They play great defense and they can run the ball a bit, but Crompton's interceptions or lack of a viable passing threat have doomed Tennessee in its two losses. That said, the Vols represent some matchup problems for Auburn, especially with their defense. Eric Berry is a gamechanger and much of the rest of the defense can ball as well, though a rash of injuries may undermine things there. Monte Kiffin's defense is designed not to give up big plays, something Malzahn's offense has thrived on of late, so it will be important that Auburn remain patient and establish the running game and take pressure off of Chris Todd and the passing game, though I imagine we'll still take our shots downfield. On defense, Auburn has proved to be a little soft at times and despite the fact that they'll being keying on the run in hopes of forcing Crompton to throw, I think the Vols will still have some success on the ground. Both teams have looked vulnerable on special teams up to this point, so whoever can straighten up things there may gain a decisive advantage, but I expect both units to cancel each other out. I think this young Auburn team will be a little unsettled by the electrifying road atmosphere early on, but they'll battle back as they have all year and Malzahn's offense will start to control things. Still, I think Tennessee's defense and running game keep them in this game until the very end, the difference being one or two less mistakes from Auburn in key moments. I'll say Auburn 24, Tennessee 19.
Eddie McCoy's Picks:
Alabama at Kentucky - Alabama
LSU at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt - Ole Miss
South Carolina State at South Carolina - South Carolina
Georgia Tech at Mississippi State - Mississippi State (Upset)
Texas A&M vs Arkansas - Texas A&M
Auburn at Tennessee:
Being a Chattanoogan native, I almost, not completely, enjoy beating the Vols as much as anybody and this trip is no exception. Tennessee is banged up on defense and is missing a key leader on the field along with being banged up at other positions. I look for Malzahn to have something a little different cooked up for this game along with a faster tempo for this game and I look for Auburn to move the ball efficiently and put some points up on the board while the defense is able to contain the potent Tennessee running game for most of the game. In the end, I like the Tigers to win somewhat comfortably, but mainly put the game away in the 4th quarter as they have done in other games this season. I like Auburn 27, Tennessee 19.
Jay Skipworth's Picks:
Alabama at Kentucky - Alabama
LSU at Georgia - LSU
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
South Carolina State at South Carolina - South Carolina
Georgia Tech at Mississippi State - Georgia Tech
Texas A&M vs Arkansas - Texas A&M
Auburn at Tennessee:
Auburn feels like the Rodney Dangerfield of the SEC as they have lit up the scoreboard in every game of their 4-0 start. Truth of the matter is Auburn has scored loads of points on teams with mediocre to bad defenses. The Tigers defense (usually a strong point) has allowed three mediocre and one good offense to roll up yards and points. Tennessee has looked good in one win over a bad opponent, mediocre in another over a mediocre opponent, bad in one loss (UCLA), and promising in another (Florida). This is the first road game of the year for Auburn and will be the best defense they have seen so far. Tennessee’s passing offense is just not good but they have an adequate enough running game. Neither team has a real edge in special teams. This Vols defense will be the best Auburn has seen so far, but they can't do it alone. Plus, the loss of linebacker Nick Reveiz will give Auburn the opportunity to wear Tennessee down late in the game. That reason along with the chance for Auburn's defense to force a turnover from the Tennessee offense gives Auburn the edge in this one. Auburn 24, Tennessee 20.
You can find a more detailed review of Jay's picks at his column linked below:
http://blogcritics.org/sports/article/sec-week-five-previews-and-predictions/
Everyone that is going to be in Knoxville, make sure you show up for Tiger Walk and make it the best ever for a road game!
War Eagle!
Michael McCoy's Picks:
Alabama at Kentucky - Alabama
LSU at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt (upset special)
South Carolina State at South Carolina - South Carolina
Georgia Tech at Mississippi State - Georgia Tech (upset alert)
Texas A&M vs Arkansas - Texas A&M
Auburn at Tennessee:
September has been nice, but it's time to take this show on the road, which isn't always fun in the SEC. The jury is still out on Tennessee (and us for that matter), but this will no doubt be Auburn's toughest test of the year thus far in the hostile environment of Neyland Stadium. At best, it's been a mediocre start for the Vols. The high point has been a relatively close loss in Gainesville while the low points have been a home loss to UCLA and an uninspiring win over Ohio, not to mention the general play of quarterback Jonathan Crompton. He's been the missing link for the Vols up to this point. They play great defense and they can run the ball a bit, but Crompton's interceptions or lack of a viable passing threat have doomed Tennessee in its two losses. That said, the Vols represent some matchup problems for Auburn, especially with their defense. Eric Berry is a gamechanger and much of the rest of the defense can ball as well, though a rash of injuries may undermine things there. Monte Kiffin's defense is designed not to give up big plays, something Malzahn's offense has thrived on of late, so it will be important that Auburn remain patient and establish the running game and take pressure off of Chris Todd and the passing game, though I imagine we'll still take our shots downfield. On defense, Auburn has proved to be a little soft at times and despite the fact that they'll being keying on the run in hopes of forcing Crompton to throw, I think the Vols will still have some success on the ground. Both teams have looked vulnerable on special teams up to this point, so whoever can straighten up things there may gain a decisive advantage, but I expect both units to cancel each other out. I think this young Auburn team will be a little unsettled by the electrifying road atmosphere early on, but they'll battle back as they have all year and Malzahn's offense will start to control things. Still, I think Tennessee's defense and running game keep them in this game until the very end, the difference being one or two less mistakes from Auburn in key moments. I'll say Auburn 24, Tennessee 19.
Eddie McCoy's Picks:
Alabama at Kentucky - Alabama
LSU at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt - Ole Miss
South Carolina State at South Carolina - South Carolina
Georgia Tech at Mississippi State - Mississippi State (Upset)
Texas A&M vs Arkansas - Texas A&M
Auburn at Tennessee:
Being a Chattanoogan native, I almost, not completely, enjoy beating the Vols as much as anybody and this trip is no exception. Tennessee is banged up on defense and is missing a key leader on the field along with being banged up at other positions. I look for Malzahn to have something a little different cooked up for this game along with a faster tempo for this game and I look for Auburn to move the ball efficiently and put some points up on the board while the defense is able to contain the potent Tennessee running game for most of the game. In the end, I like the Tigers to win somewhat comfortably, but mainly put the game away in the 4th quarter as they have done in other games this season. I like Auburn 27, Tennessee 19.
Jay Skipworth's Picks:
Alabama at Kentucky - Alabama
LSU at Georgia - LSU
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
South Carolina State at South Carolina - South Carolina
Georgia Tech at Mississippi State - Georgia Tech
Texas A&M vs Arkansas - Texas A&M
Auburn at Tennessee:
Auburn feels like the Rodney Dangerfield of the SEC as they have lit up the scoreboard in every game of their 4-0 start. Truth of the matter is Auburn has scored loads of points on teams with mediocre to bad defenses. The Tigers defense (usually a strong point) has allowed three mediocre and one good offense to roll up yards and points. Tennessee has looked good in one win over a bad opponent, mediocre in another over a mediocre opponent, bad in one loss (UCLA), and promising in another (Florida). This is the first road game of the year for Auburn and will be the best defense they have seen so far. Tennessee’s passing offense is just not good but they have an adequate enough running game. Neither team has a real edge in special teams. This Vols defense will be the best Auburn has seen so far, but they can't do it alone. Plus, the loss of linebacker Nick Reveiz will give Auburn the opportunity to wear Tennessee down late in the game. That reason along with the chance for Auburn's defense to force a turnover from the Tennessee offense gives Auburn the edge in this one. Auburn 24, Tennessee 20.
You can find a more detailed review of Jay's picks at his column linked below:
http://blogcritics.org/sports/article/sec-week-five-previews-and-predictions/
Everyone that is going to be in Knoxville, make sure you show up for Tiger Walk and make it the best ever for a road game!
War Eagle!
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