Week 9

Ole Mis vs Oklahoma – This game is a high stakes matchup. Both teams are currently ranked and both sit at 6-1. This is crucial for both as the outcome of the game will have SEC and National Playoff implications. Neither team can afford to lose. This should be a clash of styles as Ole Miss brings a high powered, fast moving, dynamic offense and Oklahoma stresses the importance of a strong, hard-nose, defense. As the saying goes, “offenses win games, defenses win championships,” this game is going to put that saying to the test. Ole Miss is coming off a hard loss to Georgia, a game they could have won if they didn’t stall out in the fourth quarter, all they needed was to keep moving the ball downfield and score one more touchdown, if they could have pulled that off, the game was theirs. So why didn’t they, well, two reasons 1) Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss as good as he has been, has not been completely consistent throughout the game. Yes, the Rebel offense goes at 100mph, but in that fourth quarter when QB Chambliss had to be accurate, he wasn’t. Which leads to the second reason, Ole Miss lacks the killer instinct. They just couldn’t muster up enough in the fourth to shut Georgia down and put the game out of reach. It may be a consequence of the offense moving so fast, they were just gassed before the end of the game. The other downside to this type of play is the fact that the defense spends an incredible amount of time on the field and they were just plum worn out before the final bell.

Oklahoma’s offense has been consistent, not overpowering or dominating just consistent, well that is until they played against Texas. It is true that QB John Mateer was coming off hand surgery and truth be told he wasn’t ready and it showed. Last week against South Carolina, QB Mateer didn’t have to carry the team on his shoulders as RB Tory Blaylock had a breakthrough game where he rushed for 101 yards on 19 carries. It appears the Sooners have given the Rebels something else to worry about. OU has staked its claim this year on their defense, it has greatly improved under Head Coach Brent Venables, the most points they’ve given up in a game was against Texas where they allowed 23 points. Their ability to shut down offenses is going to be tested as the Ole Miss offense regularly scores in the 40’s. The one area that OU’s defense has proven to be weak has been mid-range passes, which works in Mississippi’s favor, as QB Chambliss is highly accurate in that area. In a clash of the Titans type game, this is going to be a fun one to watch. OU is coming into the strength of their schedule with Alabama on the slate next, while Ole Miss after this game will be on the downward swing of their schedule. Its hard to see the OU defense completely shutting down the Rebel attack and as we’ve already seen, when the Sooners fall behind, they don’t recover well. If OU can keep this game moving at a slow pace they’ll win, but if Ole Miss gets hot the Rebels ride to victory. Ole Miss is the pick, and yes it has a little to do with my Brother being an Alumni but mostly because of the Ole Miss offense.

Missouri vs Vanderbilt – In another big game that will have SEC Championship and National Playoff implications, the Show Me Tigers take on the Commodores of Nashville. QB Diego Pavia has been electrifying for Vandy, after suffering a tough loss against Alabama, they bounced back by giving the LSU Tigers a sound beating. Vandy does not have a complicated offensive as a matter of fact they like to keep things simple. Move the chains, stay out of third and long situations and let QB Pavia just be himself. He does have a “Manziel” type of play going for him right now, and he also has the cocky attitude that can get him trouble to go along with it. What the Dores also have is a great big tight end in Eli Stowers that when Pavia is in trouble, he just throws the ball into his area and he’s able to make the catch. He has proven to be a huge safety value for this offense. Missouri on the other hand has the defense to match the speed of the Vandy receivers and they have the defensive line that is good enough to keep Pavia in the pocket and prevent him from running. Alabama proved that Vanderbilt can be beaten, just get that Vandy offense to be a little off center and they stall out. Missouri on the other hand has a very efficient offense as well and they started off the season going 5-0, that is until they faced Alabama, but they recovered well by beating Auburn, even if it did take overtime. Mizzou is a complete football team, they are one of just three teams ranked in the top ten nationally in both total offense (486 yards per game) and defense (243 yards per game). They also don’t turn the ball over, they rarely commit penalties, they score an average of 39 points per game, and they have an elite rushing attack lead by RB Hardy that keeps opposing offenses off the field. Right now, Vanderbilt is over loved by the press and they have captured the hearts of the American public, everyone loves to see a perpetual underdog rise up and have the type of season that the Dores are having. But like all Cinderellas midnight always comes and for Vanderbilt, this game is going to be their midnight calling. The Tigers of Missouri are going to take this game, simply because they don’t make mistakes.

Texas A&M vs LSU-  In the highlight game of the day, the Aggies take on one of their hated rivals the Bayou Tigers. I can already hear the Daughters teeth grinding from across the country. A&M has almost been forgotten about, they are undefeated, and they have a high ranking win over Notre Dame on the road, but their other victories have been against Auburn, Florida and Arkansas which is nice, but now they have to take on a blue blood and go on the road to Baton Rouge and play in Death Valley at night. Welcome to the adult table! However, this might be the perfect time for the Aggies. LSU lost a heartbreaker to Vanderbilt last week, giving them two losses, which basically knocks them out of the SEC Championship and the National Playoffs, unless some type of miracle happens. LSU’s offense just isn’t working like it’s suppose to. The Tigers can move the ball but when they get into the Red Zone or close by, it’s almost as if they forget they’re suppose to score. They haven’t scored more than 24 points a game all season! And A&M has only been held to under 31 points just once. The other advantage for the Aggies is that the LSU defense under HC Brian Kelly has been and still is questionable at best. They do not perform well against a mobile QB and their ability to stop the run has been poor at best. A&M’s strength has been their line play. The Offensive line is one of if not the best in the country. They have been pushing people off the ball almost at will…almost, sometimes they seem to lighten up and take a series or two off instead of just being overpowering. When the offensive line is performing the running attack is almost unstoppable, almost. QB Marcel Reed has had moments and he has had impressive games. Number wise against Arkansas where he complete 280 yards for three touchdowns. He does have a big problem though that could cost A&M a game, as the offense gets closer and closer to the goal line, the glory light in his eyes start to blink faster and faster and he wants to be the hero, so he runs with the ball instead of finding the open receiver, which hasn’t been paying off that well, he wants the glory, he wants the praise, but everyone knows what he is going to do, so they’re ready for it. Even though he has had impressive numbers, he has also been inconsistent with some very wild and iritic throws. Against LSU, who prides themselves on having elite defensive backs Reed is going to have to keep from throwing wild and iritic passes, if he doesn’t it might not turn out well. The other big advantage the Aggies have is that their defense, The Wrecking Crew, has been terrific at the start of the games, they have been dominate and disruptive almost better than anyone else, but they let their foot off the gas, and against Arkansas they let the Razorbacks mount a comeback that could have cost them the game. Texas A&M is a better team than LSU but if they don’t have that killer instinct in them for this game, they could see their victory snatched away from them. Texas A&M is the pick to win this game, the Daughter should be happy by the end of the night.

Short Smokes

Indiana is going to stay undefeated against UCLA because there is no way HC Cignetti is going to allow a let down

Georgia Tech will beat Syracuse but it’s not going to be easy

Virginia is going to enjoy beating the Tar Heels of North Carolina

Memphis and South Florida are an unexpected showdown, USF is going to win

Nebraska vs Northwestern will be a dog fight, but the Huskers will win

Kansas State is in trouble against rival Kansas, pulling for the Wildcats but don’t have much faith in them

Auburn is hurting, and Arkansas is going to add to that hurt

Alabama has a trap game ahead of them in South Carolina, the Crimson Tide better not take this game easy

Iowa State has the ability to beat BYU but they probably won’t

Minnesota seems to have found their second wind, hopefully it stays with them against Iowa

Pitt should have little problems with NC State

Texas Tech is going to ride all over Oklahoma State

Texas at Mississippi State will be interesting, they should win but don’t be surprised when the Bulldogs give all UT can handle

TCU will not be kind to West “By Golly” Virginia

Oregon is going to trounce Wisconsin

Miami is overrated but it won’t matter against Stanford

Louisville is a much better team than people give them credit, so taking down Boston College won’t be a problem

Michigan and Michigan State is a rival game, so previous records don’t matter, the Spartans pull the upset!

Tennessee is in recovery mode, so they have to beat Kentucky

Arizona State will be in a tough game against Houston but it’s in the desert and Houston isn’t ready for that heat

The late game has Colorado facing Utah, which should be a game worthy of staying up late, Utes will more than likely win.