SEC PICKS: 9/19/09

Last Week: 5-1
Overall: 5-1

WEST VIRGINIA/AUBURN
Auburn has an OFFENSE this season! Well, at least according to the statistics. All joking aside, Auburn has improved. The Tigers have been fun to watch (in the second half) and are certainly more efficient than the 2008 team. However, in both games this season the Tigers have “fallen flat” during late portions of the first half. Not many people are addressing the Auburn first half collapse that has occurred in both games this season. If the Tigers have another first half “nap” against a quality opponent they may not be able to wake up in time to save the game. West Virginia without quarterback Pat White is certainly a different West Virginia team. However, the Mountaineers are certainly a quality opponent. From a personal standpoint this is unquestionably an “are you for real” contest. Auburn is certainly better but let’s not forget, the Tigers began last season 3-0 and even 4-1 before the hay wagon tipped over. In a close one…

WINNER: WEST VIRGINIA

LOUISVILLE/KENTUCKY
The Big East meets the SEC in this classic in-state rivalry. Both teams are 1-0 on the season and by many common observations, Louisville is certainly not the “power team” they were a few years ago. I’ll go with the SEC in this one.

WINNER: KENTUCKY

NORTH TEXAS/ALABAMA
Alabama has some injuries, but it won’t make any difference against the Mean Green. Julio Jones “could” play and Roy Upchurch is “questionable,” but at the end of this game the only “question” will be the margin of victory. Alabama improves to 3-0 as SEC play is just around the corner.

WINNER: ALABAMA

TENNESSEE/FLORIDA
Unless the entire world knows something about this game I don’t…this will not even be considered a game. Lane Kiffin is in for a rude awakening and he’ll be praying for Sunday if this contest goes as many expect. Look for Urban Meyer and the Gators to send “Rocky Top”...to a “Rocky Bottom”…

WINNER: FLORIDA

LA-LAFAYETTE/LSU
What more can anyone say about this game? In a word…nothing!

WINNER: LSU

FLORIDA ATLANTIC/SOUTH CAROLINA
I wouldn’t be shocked if this game is close for longer than expected. However, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Gamecocks put up 50. It will all depend on which South Carolina team shows up to play. Story of Spurrier’s Carolina career, eh?

WINNER: SOUTH CAROLINA

MISSISSIPPI STATE/VANDERBILT
Is this a clash of the titans, or what? Probably “or what” if you want the opinion held by many. I’ll take Vandy in a slugfest that not many will pay to watch.

WINNER: VANDERBILT

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA/OLE MISS
The only thing that can stop Ole Miss in this contest is the flu! Almost 20 percent of the Rebels contracted the flu before or after the Memphis game on Labor Day weekend. By all reports most (if not all) the players have recovered and this will certainly spell doom for the opposition. This game will be whatever Ole Miss wants it to be…

WINNER: OLE MISS

GEORGIA/ARKANSAS
Georgia looks like a pig in slop! Oh wait…isn’t that Arkansas? Georgia has shown me very little this season and could easily have been 0-2 entering this contest with the Razorbacks. It may be an upset to some…but I’ll take the Hogs on Saturday.

WINNER: ARKANSAS