LCB SEC Picks: Games of the Week

Georgia v (12) Arkansas @ 12:00 on ESPN

Teach: Last week, South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore ran all over, through, and around the Georgia defense for 182 yards, and while his talent sparked feelings of helplessness in the way that only a dynamo can, the inability of Bulldawg defenders to wrap up, when tackling, was also largely to blame.  Sadly, this problem has become a bit of a tradition in Athens the last few years, no matter who the defensive coordinator is.  In his first major college football game, redshirt freshman Aaron Murray looked more than capable of being a big time quarterback, completing two thirds of his passes, without any interceptions, and maybe if Washaun Ealey hadn't fumbled away a scoring opportunity the rest of the SEC would be forced to take notice.  The other problem for the Georgia offense is that they are still without their best player AJ Green and that will not change today, which will make Murray's task of keeping pace with Ryan Mallett and Arkansas' offense more difficult.  I believe the game will be close through three quarters and then the Bulldawgs will simply run out of steam or continue to look for the big hit, rather than wrap up.  Arkansas wins, in Athens, 28-17, and UGA is doomed, in the SEC East, with an 0-2 start.  

Mississippi State v (15) LSU @ 7:00 on ESPNU
Teach: What to make of Mississippi St.?  Last year, they racked up three conference wins, against Vandy, Kentucky, and rival Ole Miss.  They lost to LSU last year 30-26 in one of their more competitive SEC games; all their other conference losses were by double digits, including a 49-24 loss to Auburn.  This year, they only lost to the blue and orange Tigers by a field goal.  Is it a sign of a stronger team?  Could be.  They've got a new coach (in his second year), which always causes alumni to poke out their chests with eternal optimism, but some things are greater than the lives of individual men, like Mississippi State's mediocrity: LSU wins 28-14, keeping pace with the rest of the teams in a loaded SEC West.


Clemson v (16) Auburn @ 7:00 on ESPN
Teach: How can one take anything baring the label ACC seriously anymore?  They're the Blockbuster of college football conferences, rapidly closing down shop, at the hands of Netflix and Redbox upstarts.  It is truly pathetic, and I don't see how anyone could buy stock in one of their teams going up against any team from one of the real BCS conferences.  Versatile quarterback Cameron Newton, who has thrown for 322 yards and rushed 241 yards, while averaging seven yards a carry, in two games this season will lead the Tigers to victory over the other tigers 21-17.