A weekly look at SEC football
1. Ole Miss has to hope for a shootout versus LSU
It seems like half of the Rebel defense will be out due to injury when the Rebels and Tigers square off in the Magnolia Bowl Saturday night in Oxford.
That’s not good considering LSU has a pretty damn good offense (No. 6 in total offense in the league to go along with the league’s No. 4 total defense). The one positive for the Rebels is that they seemingly always play their very best against the Tigers of LSU.
But this year, with so many defensive injuries, it would appear that Ole Miss’s only route to victory over the Tigers is to get in a shootout with the Bayou Bengals. That happened last year with an undermanned Rebel squad playing their guts out before falling 41-35 in Baton Rouge. Hugh Freeze is probably hoping for a similar style of game –– albeit with a different result –– on Saturday night in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
2. Mettenberger thriving in year two at LSU
LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger’s career in Baton Rouge was mostly forgettable before coming into his own this year under the tutelage of former NFL offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.
In 2011, Mettenberger attempted only 11 passes, and last season he struggled, throwing only 12 touchdowns and tossing seven picks –– several of which came during critical junctures of games. However, the signal caller has turned things around in 2013. Mettenberger’s accounted for 15 touchdowns and only two picks as he’s finally lived up to the hype.
3. Figuring out the SEC (L)East
Here are my thoughts on the SEC (L)East:
South Carolina: I think the Gamecocks go undefeated the rest of the way in the division. They represent the SEC East in Atlanta.
Missouri: With starting quarterback James Franklin out, the Tigers fall to South Carolina next week.
Georgia: The Bulldogs pick up their second conference loss in a few weeks against Florida.
Florida: The Gators still have to play Missouri, Georgia and South Carolina. They’re too beat up to go undefeated in the league the rest of the way.
4. Johnny Football might be Johnny Heisman again
Johnny Manziels’s busy offseason hasn’t affected his play on the field. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner has thrown for 2,835 yards with 14 touchdown passes and five interceptions. He’s also added 438 yards rushing and five touchdowns on the ground.
If Manziel keeps on producing, he’ll be right there with Oregon’s Marcus Mariota –– the Johnny Football of the left coast –– and a few other when it comes to handing out the sports most sought after individual prize at the end of the year.
5. Paul’s Week 8 SEC Picks
Alabama vs. Arkansas: This is the game where Bret Bielema realizes that the brand of power football he had so much success with at Wisconsin isn’t going to work in the SEC. The Crimson Tide neutralizes the Razorbacks’ run game (read: their entire offense) and claims an easy 56-10 victory over their foe from the Natural State.
Auburn vs. Texas A&M: I’m laughing right now. At who? Everyone who predicted Johnny Manziel’s off-season shenanigans would hurt his play on the field this fall. Auburn’s decent but, well, JFF is playing, so I’ll go with the Aggies 45-35 over the Tigers.
Florida vs. Missouri: The Tigers’ magical, undefeated run continues –– at least for another week –– as backup quarterback Maty Mauck does just enough to help Missouri squeak past the Gators 24-21.
Georgia vs. Vanderbilt: The Commodores have underperformed and the Bulldogs barely have anyone left on offense. This once-promising matchup is now a dud, but I have to pick it, so I’ll go with Georgia 31-24 over Vanderbilt.
LSU vs. Ole Miss: The Rebels have a laundry list of injuries on the defensive side of the ball. That’s not good considering the Tigers, led by suddenly hyper-effective quarterback Zach Mettenberger and stud running back Jeremy Hill, have one of the best offenses in the league. Give me LSU 45, Ole Miss 35.
South Carolina vs. Tennessee: Steve Spurrier didn’t lose much to Tennessee when he coached at Florida, and he’s done the same at South Carolina. The Ol’ Ball Coach continues that trend as the Gamecocks soundly defeat the Volunteers 42-21.
