1. Like I said: Potatoes au Rotten (Idaho isn’t very good)
Ole Miss emerged from a ridiculously tough stretch of games with a respectable 4-3 record and now gets to play a bunch of teams that aren’t very good. That starts with Idaho.
The Vandals, currently 1-6 on the year, are putrid on offense –– they rank No. 94 nationally in that category –– and boast the second worst defense in the country. Things couldn’t get any worse for Idaho, except they can: Vandals coach Paul Petrino will likely be trotting out the team’s third-string quarterback due to injuries. Yikes!
2. Yo, Brett Bielema, your offense isn’t working
Bret Bielema came to Arkansas from Wisconsin, where he won three Big Ten titles largely behind a power running game that consisted of big running backs running behind big fullbacks and big offensive lineman.
Bielema brought that same offensive philosophy to Fayetteville, and it appeared to be working as the Razorbacks started the year 3-0 thanks to the strong running of tailbacks Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. However, since then, Arkansas is in the midst of a five-game losing streak, which can partly be attributed to an extremely one-dimensional offense that lacks a passing game.
In the Razorbacks’ last two games (South Carolina and Alabama), the team accumulated only 121 total passing yards in embarrassing, blowout losses. This tells me that Bielema might need to adjust his offense in the offseason to include more sophisticated passing lest he gets run out of town and back to the Big Ten, where his archaic offense belongs.
3. ESPN’s College GameDay finally to the Grove?
Ole Miss fans have been waiting for years for ESPN’s College GameDay to make an appearance in the Grove. GameDay producers have been hoping for the same thing, but the right opportunity hasn’t presented itself just yet.
That could change on Nov. 23 when the Missouri Tigers roll into Oxford, but both teams likely need to win out until then to make it happen. If that scenario played out, a ranked, 7-3 Ole Miss squad vs. the undefeated champions of the SEC East would be quite the attractive matchup for Kirk Herbstreit and the rest of the GameDay crew.
4. SEC coaches on the hot seat
I don’t think these two coaches are in any real danger of losing their jobs after this season, but their seats sure are warming up.
Dan Mullen: Mullen used to talk a lot of noise –– “This is our State” –– but that’s stopped as his program has begun to decline. It hasn’t helped that hated rival, TSUN, has been kicking his ass both on the recruiting trail and on the field.
Will Muschamp: The Gators went a surprising 11-2 in Muschamp’s first year in Gainesville. That early success is beginning to look like an aberration as Florida has already surpassed its loss total (the Gators are 4-3) from a year ago.
5. Paul’s Week Nine SEC Picks
Alabama vs. Tennessee: “Brick by Brick” is how Butch Jones says he plans on rebuilding the Tennessee football program. On Saturday night, Jones will probably feel like he got hit with a garbage bag full of bricks after the Crimson Tide roughs up the Vols 45-10.
Auburn vs. Florida Atlantic: The surging Tigers improve to 7-1 with a 63-13 over this made-up school from Florida.
Kentucky vs. Mississippi State: The Fightin’ Dan Mullens need this one in order to maintain hopes of bowl eligibility. I think they get it done with a 35-21 win over the hapless Wildcats.
LSU vs. Furman: I’d have sour cream, my least favorite food, injected into my veins before I watched this dud of a matchup. The Tigers, reeling from Saturday’s devastating loss to Ole Miss, bounce back with a 56-7 win over the Paladins.
Ole Miss vs. Idaho: How does one go about coming up with a Grove dish that includes both an Idaho and Halloween theme? That’s easy: Potatoes au Gratin with orange food coloring mixed in. That’s what I’m brining to the Grove, at least. As for the game, give me the Rebels 52-3 over the Vandals.
Missouri vs. South Carolina: “Missouri will wrap up the SEC East with a win over South Carolina in October,” said no one ever. Still, I think the Tigers do just that after a 31-28 win over the Gamecocks.
Texas A&M vs. Vanderbilt: Does Johnny Manziel play after sustaining a shoulder injury in the Aggie’s heart-breaking loss to Auburn? Of course he does –– but only after a few Red Bull and Vodkas. After that pick-me-up, I’m predicting that JFF and Texas A&M knock down the ‘Dores by a score of 42-35.
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