NCAAF Week 11 Weekend Preview

Thank you, Cam Newton. For weeks, I have been getting blasted for calling you a "poor man's Terrelle Pryor". Well, it seems that I was wrong after all. You're actually a rich man's Terrelle Pryor. Although, I can't say that I'm too surprised that people are coming out of the woodwork now about your situation. Sure, with Auburn fighting for a national championship bid, it seems natural. But you also have to figure that Kenny Rogers felt a little neglected. I mean, come on; how many of you are thinking "Kenny Rogers' Jackass" when you hear that name? I know I do. In all seriousness though, when the FBI gets involved in things, you're usually in trouble, and there is usually truth to the statements being made. Auburn fans, you may want to familiarize yourselves with the name Barrett Trotter.

After two weeks away, I'm back to give you a run-down of the top five games to watch this weekend.

5 Games to Pay Attention To

Georgia at #2 Auburn (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)

If you have been reading my Weekend Preview's throughout this season, then you know that I am a big fan of Georgia's A.J. Green, and not such a big fan of Cam Newton. As I kept saying, Georgia, with Green, is a completely different team. That has been proven correct, as Georgia has done almost a complete 180 from where they were at five games into the season. Granted, they haven't played any outstanding opponents, but their improvement is as clear as day. Auburn will be dealing with the Cam Newton saga, as well as the pressure that comes with being an undefeated team this late into the season. Call me crazy, but this game could be the one that sends college football fans and voters alike into a tizzy.

My Pick: 44-41 Auburn


#23 Texas A&M at Baylor (Saturday, 7 PM EST)

Baylor apparently did not want to be in the top 25, surrendering to Oklahoma State 55-28 less than a week after cracking the Top 25 for the first time since 1993. However, now that they have fallen out of the rankings, I'm sure that they feel it is okay to resume playing like a team capable of winning the Big 12 South. Robert Griffin has been everything that was advertised when he came to the program two years ago. Now, if he can lead the Bears to a win over a Texas A&M team that has been streaky all season (but who also has a capable quarterback in Jerrod Johnson), Baylor can stay in the hunt for a Big 12 Championship game berth. Who would have predicted that three years ago?

My Pick: 38-31 Baylor


#22 South Carolina at #24 Florida (Saturday, 7:15 PM EST)

At first glance, this doesn't look like a particularly intriguing matchup. South Carolina, while knocking off Alabama earlier this season and receiving kudos from fans across the country, has been streaky all season. Florida, while being slightly overrated to start the season, is just a couple of games removed from a three game losing streak in which everyone was wondering (and not all that jokingly) if Urban Meyer would collapse. However, the winner of this game controls their destiny in the SEC East. South Carolina has never been to the SEC championship game, but the confidence in Florida isn't really there for me. I think this game is a toss-up, with the winner still at risk of losing control of the SEC East lead considering how inconsistent both teams have been this season.

My Pick: 30-20 Florida


#17 Mississippi State at #11 Alabama (Saturday, 7:15 PM EST)

"We could have been a contender. We could have been somebody." Maybe that's what Mississippi State is saying after everything that has been revealed about Cam Newton and his father. I'm sure that the Bulldogs are happy with Chris Relf, though. Relf and the rest of the Mississippi team have been a pleasant surprise in the SEC this year, even though they are only 5th in the stacked SEC West. However, even as improved as they've looked this season, beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa will be a tall task for the Bulldogs. Coming off of a loss that squashed any chance of Alabama returning to the national title game, it is unlikely that the Crimson Tide will be caught off guard. However, if the Mississippi State defense can make Greg McElroy commit errors similar to ones that LSU forced last weekend, then they have a fighting chance against the Tide.

My Pick: 34-21 Alabama


#1 Oregon at California (Saturday, 7:30 PM EST)

So, it is a known fact that Cal is never for real in football. Often times they may fool us by starting off well, but then losing many games down the stretch that you couldn't have possibly seen them losing when they were ranked number two earlier in the season. This season, however, Cal did not try to fool college football fans into thinking they were a top team. That is what makes them so dangerous this weekend, in my opinion. At certain times this year, Cal has shown the ability to be strong on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Of course, they have yet to put both together in one game, but the potential is definitely there. With nothing to lose, and becoming bowl eligible if they win, Cal may give Oregon a scare. Since I think we're still in the dark as to whether Oregon is truly the top team in the nation, any team has the potential to give them a scare, and Cal at home is as good as any.

My Pick: 48-38 Oregon


5 More to Flip To

#13 Iowa at Northwestern (Saturday, 12 PM EST)

If Iowa plays like they did last weekend, then Northwestern won't let a win slip through their hands like Indiana did...

#16 Virginia Tech at North Carolina (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)

At the beginning of the season, these teams were a mess. Just another example of the parody in the ACC...

Penn State at #8 Ohio State (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)

I'm not exactly sure why College GameDay is in Columbus this weekend. I guess this game could be interesting...

#12 Oklahoma State at Texas (Saturday, 8 PM EST)

Texas will be competitive in this game. Anyone who thinks that Mack Brown is on the hot seat is crazy.

#21 Nevada at Fresno State (Saturday, 10:30 PM EST)

A couple of WAC teams who, along with Boise State, would be able to hold their own in a bigger conference. One of the more hyped games in the WAC.


The storylines of the weekend have really been played out on SportsCenter the past couple of days. This weekend has the potential to be huge. I'll try get back into my regular schedule of posting once per week; however, if I am unable to, remember that you can still interact by joining the conversation on the "Around The Corn Sports Blog" Facebook fan page. Thanks everyone.



- K. Becks

NCAAF Week 3 Weekend Preview

They called last weekend Monster Saturday in reference to the number of big matchups being played around the country. Although no one has coined a name for this weekend, there are a lot of interesting games this weekend as well. Here is a list of my top five games to pay attention to this weekend, as well as some storylines that I'd like to address.

Top 5 Games to Pay Attention to This Weekend

#12 Arkansas at Georgia (Saturday, 12 PM ET)

Georgia has never started 0-2 in the SEC under Mark Richt, but they have a tough test this weekend if they want to keep it that way. I put Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett on my preseason Heisman watch for a reason; he has the ability to pick defenses apart, even in the most hostile atmosphere. Georgia has had trouble scoring the ball this season, putting just six points on the board in a loss to South Carolina last weekend, which is not a recipe for success against a Razorbacks team known for their offensive firepower. The Bulldogs are missing wideout A.J. Green more and more every week.

My Pick: 31-17 Arkansas


#10 Florida at Tennessee (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)

This is the most interesting matchup this weekend in my opinion. Tennessee looked good against Oregon last weekend for about a quarter and a half, and then went totally flat on offense for the rest of the game. Florida has not been overly impressive on offense this season either, so barring some sort of career day by John Brantley, Tennessee will probably not give up forty-five unanswered to the Gators like they did against Oregon. Florida is 5-0 against the Vols under Urban Meyer, but those wins were during the Chris Leak and Tim Tebow eras. Add the fact that Florida may be a little overrated, and that the game is being played in Knoxville, and we may be looking at the first Top 10 upset of the season.

My Pick: 27-24 Tennessee


Clemson at #16 Auburn (Saturday, 7 PM ET)

The ACC looked awful as a whole last weekend, so this is a game where they can attempt to regain some of the respect they lost. Clemson may be the class of the ACC, but then again, they may not be. Regardless, I think that Auburn is a little bit overrated, much like their SEC counterpart Florida. Cameron Newton is kind of like a poor man's Terrelle Pryor, but unlike Pryor, Newton routinely has to rely entirely on himself to make plays. Auburn will need to be more unpredictable against Clemson if they want to win this game, because Clemson has the playmakers on defense to contain Newton.

My Pick: 34-27 Clemson


#6 Texas at Texas Tech (Saturday, 8 PM ET)

Last time this game was played in Lubbock, Michael Crabtree was able to score a late touchdown to lead the Red Raiders over the Longhorns, which proved to be the only loss Texas would suffer that year. Crabtree is no longer there to help the Red Raiders out, and as usual, Texas Tech has a questionable defense. Currently, Texas Tech averages 43.5 PPG on offense, and they're definitely going to need to score a lot tomorrow night if they want to beat the Longhorns. Even then, it may not be enough. Texas has had some trouble offensively early on in games this year, so Texas Tech will need to hope that happens and take advantage of it. As for the Longhorns, playing catch up against a team like Texas Tech, who can score at will, is not recommended.

My Pick: 41-31 Texas


#9 Iowa at #24 Arizona (Saturday, 10:30 PM ET)

This is the only game this weekend featuring two ranked teams, so naturally it is one to watch. Iowa has cruised in their first two games, but their first real test will be against the Wildcats, who will test a Hawkeye defense that gives up a Big Ten best 216 yards per game. The Wildcats will need a balanced offensive attack, and cannot rely on Nick Foles to carry to offense. Arizona will need to find a way to contain Iowa's defensive line, or this game could have an end result similar to the 2009 Holiday Bowl, which the Wildcats lost 33-0 to Nebraska.

My Pick: 28-13 Iowa


5 More to Flip To

California at Nevada (Tonight, 10 PM ET)

Cal's defense should be too much for Nevada. Should...

Georgia Tech at North Carolina (Saturday, 12 PM ET)

Both teams are in dire need of this win, if only to instill some confidence, which both have lost a lot of.

East Carolina at Virginia Tech (Saturday, 1:30 PM ET)

Who would have guessed that the Hokies could start the season 0-3?

Air Force at #7 Oklahoma (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)

The Falcons are probably a little too undersized to beat the Sooners, but they looked really good in a win over BYU. This one could be interesting.

Notre Dame at Michigan State (Saturday, 8 PM ET)

Notre Dame has had trouble in East Lansing as of late. Could the Irish go 0-2 against Michigan teams yet again?


Storylines for the Weekend

Georgia's Mark Richt is NOT on the hot seat

I was listening to the Paul Finebaum Radio Network yesterday, and a lot of people were calling in speculating on whether or not Georgia head coach Mark Richt is on the hot seat if he loses to Arkansas this weekend. The answer, quite simply, is no. The Bulldogs have a redshirt freshman starting at quarterback, and are without their star wideout until the fifth game. Once A.J. Green returns and Aaron Murray gets some game experience under his belt, the Bulldogs will turn it around, and probably finish the season on a high note. There are clear reasons why the Bulldogs offense has been bad so far, and Richt isn't one of them.


Don't Stop Living In The Red

You think Boise State's field is bad? If you do, you're really going to get a kick out of this. There's no editing or Photoshop work there. No, that's actually the University of Eastern Washington's field, which will be played on for the first time this weekend. I like Boise's field, but I think that the red could quickly become an eyesore. Also, you won't be able to make the joke that birds dive into it thinking it is water like you can with Boise's field. I wouldn't expect any big name programs to try this any time soon.


Time for the Pac-10 to make a statement

Last weekend, the ACC made a statement, but in a bad way. The Pac-10 has a chance to look really good on the national stage. As far as underdogs are concerned, Arizona is at home against Iowa, Washington is at home against Nebraska, and UCLA is at home against Houston. These are all games that the Pac-10 can realistically win and use as ammunition against critics who believe that the conference is weak. If the Pac-10 doesn't want to become an afterthought as the ACC may have become after last weekend, then they need a big weekend from not only the top of their conference, but from the middle as well.


Thanks to my dad, I now have an easier way for you all to get to the blog. By typing in www.aroundthecorn.com, you will now be directed to the page. It should be much easier for you all to tell people how to get to the blog. I am aware that saying around the corn sports blog dot blogspot dot com is a mouthful, and even harder to remember. As always, thanks to everyone that has ever taken the time to read my work.



- K. Becks

NCAAF: SEC Preview

The college football preview is underway again, after a little weekend break. For those of you that were waiting for the next preview to be on Monday (I said in my Thursday post that Monday would be the next day that I did a preview post), sorry for the delay. However, I did a post about my weekend at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, and I would really appreciate it if you gave that a read as well. It's the post right under this one, if you're wondering.

Overview

Arguments aside, the SEC has been more or less the conference to beat throughout the past decade. The conference has had five BCS national championships, twelve BCS bowl game wins, and the best winning percentage in BCS bowl games during that time span. This year, the debate over which conference is the strongest will re-surface, and this time people may not be blowing hot air. The Southeastern Conference has the reigning National Champions in Alabama, who also boast the reigning Heisman winner in tailback Mark Ingram. However, conferences such as the Big 10 may have closed the gap that has seemed to separate the SEC from the rest of the pack throughout the last ten years. Like always, this year's Southeastern Conference will have powerhouse teams, All-American players, and primetime matchups. Only time will tell if anyone else can keep up with them.

Team(s) With the Best Shot at a National Championship Bid
Alabama

No surprise here. The best team with the best player from last year is probably a favorite to make it back to the national title game yet again. Quite honestly, the only team that can beat the Alabama Crimson Tide this year is the Alabama Crimson Tide. They have a potential trap game versus Penn State early in the year, and as always Florida and LSU (who the Tide have to play at Death Valley) will not be give-me games. However, with almost all of the essential pieces from last year's title winning team returning on offense and a promising defense, only a lapse in concentration or poor execution can bring the Tide down.

Florida

I'm not completely sold on the Gators, but you can't really ever count out an Urban Meyer coached team these days. Obviously, the biggest hole that the Gators will have to fill is the one left by quarterback Tim Tebow. Although John Brantley is touted as a great replacement, he will have to fill the shoes of Tebow rather quickly, as the Gators have to travel to Knoxville to face Tennessee on September 18th. I'll be surprised if Florida remains undefeated by the middle of October, but you never know.

Watch Out! (Team That Could Surprise)
Georgia

They may not look all that impressive the first few weeks of the season as redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray adjusts during his first few games, but the good news is that he doesn't have to go up against any extremely tough defenses in those games. The Bulldogs schedule is favorable (no game against LSU, at home against Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech), and the defense should be much better than last year. After several years of disappointment, this could be the year that Georgia finally exceeds expectations.

Out-Of-Conference Game To Watch
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (October 9th)

There aren't really any national title implications here, but the star power is definitely there. Ryan Mallet (Arkansas) and Jerrod Johnson (Texas A&M) are two of the best quarterbacks in college football, and both could be strong Heisman candidates by the end of the season. Both of these gunslingers should have a field day against questionable defenses, so the game should be a fun one to watch from an offensive standpoint. This game could end up being one, big highlight reel.

In-Conference Game To Watch
Alabama vs. Florida (October 2nd)

Chances are, both of these teams will be undefeated and probably in the Top 5 when this game is played. Might this be only Part I of II in the Alabama/Florida saga of 2010? Although one team's national title hopes will take a serious hit after the conclusion of this game, the SEC title game may be a chance for the loser to exact their revenge.

Conference Predictions

East Division

1. Florida (11-1, [7-1])
2. Georgia (10-2, [6-2])
3. Tennessee (7-5, [4-4])
4. South Carolina (6-6, [3-5])
5. Kentucky (6-6, [3-5])
6. Vanderbilt (1-11, [0-8])

West Division

1. Alabama (12-0, [8-0])
2. Arkansas (10-2, [6-2])
3. LSU (9-3, [5-3])
4. Auburn (6-6, [3-5])
5. Mississippi (5-7, [2-6])
6. Mississippi State (2-10, [0-8])

Championship Game (Alabama vs. Florida)
Winner: Alabama


Considering that most of my readers are from the Midwest, you'll be happy to know that the next college football preview is the Big Ten Conference.



- K. Becks

I'm Tired Of Hearing About Urban Meyer

I know that I said shoot me an e-mail if you wanted to hear my opinion about the Urban Meyer situation, but now I'm starting to get sick of it. The fact is, the guy will be back in 2011, if not next year. It's not that big of a deal. Even if he isn't the "head coach" in name next season, he will still be involved with the program. I see him taking on a role similar to the one Bill Parcels has in Miami; still making decisions, but not actually wearing the headset on Saturdays.

With that aside, I want to shift the focus back to bowl games. Last night was a little more defensive oriented than I had envisioned, but nonetheless Clemson pulled out a win (thanks to a fumble by Kentucky when they were driving down the field in the 4th quarter).

Today, however, should be a completely different story. Here are my picks for the December 28th bowl games.

AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl
Georgia vs. Texas A&M

I'm not sure if defense is a word that has been used much in College Station this season. The Aggies are last in points allowed in the Big 12, giving up almost 33 PPG. Georgia isn't much better, giving up 26.4 PPG, good for 10th best in the SEC. With that being said, this game should be a shootout reminiscent of the game Texas A&M played against Texas on Thanksgiving weekend. If Aggie QB Jerrod Johnson can move the ball effectively against the Bulldogs defense, then Texas A&M could upset Georgia. However, with losses like 47-19 to Arkansas and 65-10 to Oklahoma, I just don't know if they can stop Georgia, who is no slouch on offense either. I have Georgia for 24 points in the College Bowl Mania game, which may have been a little high, but I'm confident in the Bulldogs. Whomever the winner is, it should be close for the entire game.

Final Score: 42-38 Georgia



- K. Becks