LCB SEC Picks: Game Of The Week

Arkansas QB and Heisman contender, Ryan Mallett, is still trying to prove to Rich Rodriguez wrong. On August 17th at approximately 6:13 p.m., he finally did it when he threw a football over the Ouachita Mountains.

(1) Alabama v (10) Arkansas @ 3:30 on CBS
Langston: This game has everything you could hope for, from a crushing defense that has given up just 19 points through three games to a offense that scores touchdowns as often as the Oakland Raiders get penalties. But enough about Alabama, the Arkansas Razorbacks are pretty good too. In Ryan Mallett, they have an NFL caliber and Heisman contending QB who will throw early and often. So don't be surprised if he unveils a couple of Alabama's defense's flaws. With Greg Childs, Joe Adams, and D.J. Williams he has the weapons to do it, but it won't be easy. Alabama's defense supposedly weakened by the loss of Rolando McClain, Javier Arenas, and Terrence Cody seem strong then ever. And with their ridiculous stable of backs, they should have no problem controlling the clock. Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson will need to be slowed for Arkansas to have any chance. And even if they do slow down their backs, they still have to deal with Greg McElroy and his receivers. While not as tall a task, still a big challenge. Overall, I don't see Arkansas being able to counter the balanced offense and stonewall defense, with their pass heavy offense and paper thing d. Expect Ryan Mallett to look a lot like Jay Cutler today, sulking on the sidelines as Alabama runs up and down the field. Alabama 27, Arkansas 17.

Teach: Watching Arkansas last week against Georgia, I came to the conclusion that, yes, the Razorbacks are a talented football team, but I also came to the conclusion that they are the kind of team that will not make things easy on their fans, especially when it comes to usurping the SEC's traditional powers.  The Razorbacks will keep it close, maybe even lead for a while, but in the end, the same old story and and the same old song will be heard coming out of Fayetteville.  After all, Ryan Mallett isn't the only quarterback in this game playing at a Heisman level; Greg McElroy, of Alabama, comes into the game with a 71.7 completion percentage and 6 touchdowns to one interception.  So while I believe Alabama will win, the one thing that will go against tradition is the score of this game: do not expect the old fashioned SEC grudge match.  This game will be a shootout that sees the Crimson Tide wash up on the shores of Fayetteville 38-31.

USC RB Marcus Lattimore has 70 carries for 333 yards and 5 touchdowns. However, he has yet to learn the basics of human emotions.

(12) USC v (17) Auburn @ 7:45 on ESPN
Langston: I had a dream the other day where I survived the apocalypse. It was weird to say the least. The oddest part of this dream included SEC football. Despite 99% of the players being killed off by the murderous rampage of the alien robots from Nebulon 8, the SEC soldiered on with 1-on-1 football. It was a pretty awesome dream. This game reminds me of the dream because if there were two teams that relied on one players success more than any other it would be Auburn and USC. The Tigers are absolutely controlled by the success of one Cam Newton. Now, I haven't been able to watch him play too much, but the one thing I always hear about him is that he is a "Big play waiting to happen, and not always in a good way." Meaning at any given moment he could throw a 75 yard touchdown to either team. Basically, he is the result of a generation raised on Madden. If it was up to Cam Newton, he'd be going for it on 4th down on their own 10. If it was up to Cam Newton, he'd throw hail mary's 25% of the time. And if it was up to Cam Newton, after three quarters you could restart if you didn't like the score (Note, some or all of this, may or may not be entirely made up). Cam Netwon is Madden incarnate.

As for the Gamecocks, their future is in the hands of frosh Marcus Lattimore, who was obviously sent here from Nebulon 8 (along with Lebron James, Dwight Howard and Adrian Peterson) to destroy everything in their path. He seems human, but with every broken tackle he gets stronger. Using his legs made of metal from Romulan Omicron to power through the strongest of defenses. The only problem with alien robots of Nebulon 8, they are prone to mechanical failure when stressed. For example, Lebron James or "RK-2356- Fezalleakzvo" has a massive attack in last years playoffs. This specific mechanical failure caused the specimen to go into system restore mode in game 5. This of course led to him forgetting everything he's learned on this Planet and leading us all to "The Decision."

So in this post-apocalyptic World, who wins? Despite their inability to deal with high stress situations, I'll take the robotic running back every day. USC 24, Auburn 17.

Teach: I have a hard time picking with my head and not my heart.  I hate Steve Spurrier, and the fact that the NFL vanquished him and South Carolina spit him back up from the depths of football oblivion hasn't changed that--I hate the man--so if I'm going to pick the man to win big football games, then I'm going to do so with the stipulation that the manner in which they win is an affront to all that Spurrier loves, praises, and adores about his own genius.  The Gamecocks will not defeat the Auburn Tigers by way of aerial assault because they are not a team founded on the principles of twenty-first century warfare.  They do not conduct fly by's with unmanned aircraft that drop bombs as if war were a video game.  No, this South Carolina team, like its mascot, is a flightless bird, forced to dig down in the trenches, forcing Spurrier's ego to latch onto and depend on the gritty might of tanks and jeeps.  This is trench warfare, and as you watch South Carolina ride Marcus Lattimore to victory, do not be surprised if Spurrier looks more and more like General Patton, on the sidelines, making a game and a season that should be about something greater--the rise of South Carolina football--merely a footnote, buried underneath his own shadow.  Gamecocks win 21-17.