LCB SEC Picks: Games of the Week

South Carolina vs. Georgia -7.5 @ 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2

Langston: The Gamecocks defense looked spectacular last week allowing only 133 yards of offense. But they were playing NC State. They only had three penalties. But they were playing NC State. They only turned the ball over once. But they were playing NC State. Georgia may not be the same team they were last year, but they are certainly better than NC State. Georgia wins but doesn't cover. UGA 13- USC 10

Teach:
Joe Cox played last week with the flu, and this week he's got a busted throwing shoulder; but the fact that this game is between the hedges still gives Georgia an edge. Also, I ate at KFC earlier this week and shook the bucket, filled with greasy bones, like a Yahtzee cup, and all signs pointed toward a 17-10 Bulldog victory, which would continue this match-up's trend of low scoring nailbiters. Since Spurrier became the head coach of the Gamecocks, in 2005, the winner of this game has never scored more than 18 points and the games have almost always been close.

UCLA vs. Tennessee -9.5 @ 4:00 pm on ESPN

Langston: This game is huge for both teams. If the Vols can win, it will validate their shellacking of WKU and give the team a new identity from the teams of years past. If the Bruins win, it will show that they have turned the corner since year one of the Neuheisel era. The team that wins can move confidently into league play, while the other will have memories of last year's failures. The Vols want revenge for last year and there is no way they let UCLA get a freebie for a second straight year. I like the running backs of UT to run all over the jet lagged Bruins and for Crompton to continue his foray into better quarterbacking. Tennessee 35- UCLA 24

Teach:

Personally, I think this game deserves some sort of clever nickname that points out the fact that both of these coaches are quite possibly tremendous [insert name of device used to cleanse female genitalia here]. I don't think there's a team in the SEC that doesn't hate Lane Kiffin right now, but, to be honest, I think a lot of the hate is based on the fear that if he turns out to be a decent coach, then Tennessee will be back and they'll have an obnoxious enough coach to let everyone hear about it. A successful Kiffin could rival Spurrier in his heyday, and even an unproven Kiffin should light a fire under this team. Tennessee lost by a field goal at UCLA last year, but I expect playing the game in Knoxville will allow Tennessee to come away with a 28-20 victory.

UPDATE:

Vandy vs. LSU -14 @ 7:00 on ESPNU:
Deckfight: The official prediction for the LSU-Vandy showdown is LSU 45 Vanderbilt 10.