1. Re-evaluating the Rebs
Ole Miss was dreaming of double-digit wins after starting the year off strong with a record of 3-0, which included road wins over Vanderbilt and Texas.
But after falling to Alabama and Auburn on back-to-back weekends, it’s time to regroup and rethink what the Rebels’ record will look like at the conclusion of the 2013 season.
Here’s what I think will happen:
I would like the Rebels to upset Texas A&M this weekend, take a loss versus LSU and blowout Idaho before Ole Miss’ second bye. After some rest, I’m predicting a close win over Arkansas, a demolishment of Troy and a narrow loss to Missouri. Then, I think the Rebs get a tough win versus Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl to close out the year.
So, I’m going with 8-4 right now before a bowl game, but for some reason I think my prediction might be one game too optimistic.
2. Missouri might not actually suck
Don’t look now, but it seems like that whole “Missouri doesn’t belong in the SEC” narrative might’ve been a little bit premature.
The No. 25 Tigers currently boast a perfect 5-0 record, highlighted by a pair of convincing road wins over two respectable opponents in Indiana and Vanderbilt.
What’s gone right after everything went wrong for the Tigers in 2012? That’s simple: Dynamic quarterback James Franklin is finally healthy after suffering through a rash of injuries last year. He’s been hyper effective, tossing 13 touchdowns and only three picks, and the signal caller has received plenty of help from a rushing attack that ranks first in the league.
Next up for the Tigers is a rough three-game stretch that includes a visit to No. 7 Georgia and home games versus No. 17 Florida and No. 14 South Carolina. If the Tigers can win a pair of those contests, then they definitely don’t suck.
3. Green-Beckham also proving he’s not a bust
Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham was the top rated wide receiver in the class of 2012, but his debut season with the Tigers didn’t exactly live up to the perhaps unfair hype.
Green-Beckham, a raw talent coming out of high school, hauled in 28 passes for 395 yards and five touchdowns last year for the Tigers –– a solid, but not spectacular effort. This year, though, the massive receiver has already hauled in 23 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns through only five games of action.
The moral of the story is that sometimes four- and five-star high school phenoms take a little bit of time to develop and don’t always make a huge impact their first year on campus. Green-Beckham, a perfect example of this, is definitely a guy to keep tabs on as the high-flying Tigers’ offense looks to keep things going throughout the 2013 campaign.
4. SEC East favorite Georgia hit hard by injury bug
Before this weekend, I thought Georgia was for sure going to coast its way to another appearance in the SEC Championship game.
That was, however, before the Bulldogs were bit hard by the injury bug. In Georgia’s overtime win over Tennessee, running back Keith Marshall and wide receiver Justin Scott-Wesley suffered season-ending ACL injuries. Wide receiver Michael Bennett also went down with a knee injury and stud running back Todd Gurley likely won’t play against Missouri because of an ankle injury.
That’s a lot of firepower to lose on offense, and because of this, I wouldn’t discount Florida, Missouri and perhaps even South Carolina in the East just yet.
5. Paul’s Week 7 SEC Picks
Alabama vs. Kentucky: Wake me up when the Crimson Tide play LSU on Nov. 9; they don’t play anyone of note until then, or after. The Crimson Tide roll over a hapless Wildcats 45-13.
Arkansas vs. South Carolina: If Jadeveon Clowney plays, the Gamecocks win. If Jadeveon Clowney doesn’t play, the Gamecocks win. Gimme South Carolina 31-24 over the Razorbacks.
Auburn vs Western Carolina: The Tigers destroy the Catamounts 49-21, but Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall doesn’t run for as many yards as he did against Ole Miss (140) last weekend.
Florida vs. LSU: Will Muschamp eats some bad gumbo in Baton Rouge, and the Gators fall 31-21 to Les Miles and the Tigers.
Georgia vs. Missouri: The Tigers upset the Bulldogs 35-28, further proving that they don’t actually suck.
Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M: The Rebels upset the Aggies 42-38. Afterwards, Johnny Manziel self medicates at The Library with Jager Bombs and Ole Miss coeds.
Mississippi State vs. Bowling Green: Dan Mullen and the Bulldogs never really get big wins, but they sure as hell do a good job of beating up on teams like Bowling Green. Give me the Bulldogs 42-21 over the Falcons.
