THE WORLD OF BAX: SEC takes Center Stage

The SEC is back in the spotlight this week. After weeks of Ohio State – USC hype overshadowed most of the rest of college football, conference play begins in earnest in the nation’s most prominent conference and the schedule is quite intriguing. If you are one of the myriad of fans that think the SEC has too much hype, this weekend will definitely be worth watching, as the hype is certainly merited.

Last week, I went 6-3 in my picks, moving me to a decent 14-11 on the year. However, I can do significantly better than that and I expect nothing short of a perfect weekend here. Please note the sarcasm.

Finally, I would like to apologize for the lateness of this weekend’s preview and the lack of analysis for my top 25 from last weekend. A combination of storm difficulties and moving my residence removed me from the internet for a few days and I was unable to put everything up in the manner to which you’ve become accustomed to. That won’t happen again. And now onto football!

Iowa @ Pitt

Saturday, 12:00 PM EST

It’s the guys who play in the Steelers’ stadium against the team that wears the Steelers’ uniforms! That’s right, its time for the Pitt versus Iowa game! While there are a number of really good players in this game, not the least of which is Pitt’s underachieving Shady McCoy, this game really boils down to the coaching staffs. Pitt is led by Dave ‘the Stache’ Wannstedt, whose team has had a week off to try and shake off the doldrums of a very poor looking 1-1 start against MAC foes after beginning the year ranked. Iowa is led by Kirk Ferentz, who despite having quarterback questions has opened the year 3-0 in impressive fashion, including a win last week over rival ISU. Iowa has been a far better team this year and travel distance isn’t a factor in the game, considering that Penn State, a conference foe, is further away than Pitt. Iowa’s solid defense leads them to a big road win.

Iowa 27, Pitt 13

Virginia Tech @ #24 North Carolina

Saturday 330 PM EST

Virginia Tech managed to open up ACC play with a victory despite Frank Beamer’s full-blown youth movement. Sophomore Tyrod Taylor is now the starting quarterback, but he has a long way to go to develop into a star. Meanwhile, UNC absolutely demolished Rutgers last Thursday and suddenly look like a legitimate contender in the ACC. Butch Davis is a great coach and his team is finally finding its legs. Look for UNC to continue its development with a solid home win over a scuffling Virginia Tech squad.

UNC 23, V-Tech 17

#3 Florida @ #22 Tennessee

Saturday 3:30 PM EST

In my preseason SEC preview, I said that I felt that this game would decide the SEC East. Well, after Tennessee’s shocking loss to UCLA, I’m not so sure that holds true anymore but this will still be a huge game. Florida’s offense looks similar to last year’s group (no tailbacks to speak of) and if anything, looks a little less explosive than the 2006 edition. Meanwhile, Tennessee features a very good defense that has the team speed to slow Florida’s offense. Tennessee has last year’s shellacking in Gainesville fresh in their mind and the Vols will look to knock off the Gators in Neyland Stadium. I expect Tennessee to control the ball with a strong running attack and force some turnovers to pull off the upset.

Tennessee 24, Florida 21

 

> Check out the all of the College Sports Fans 2008 college football previews and the 2008-09 college basketball preview today!

Notre Dame at #23 Michigan State

Saturday 3:30 PM EST

Last week was a very solid week for both teams, as Notre Dame took advantage of a laughable SEVEN turnovers by the Michigan Wolverines to knock off their rival and Michigan State capitalized on Javon Ringer’s huge day to beat FAU 17-0 in the rain. Michigan State has a very potent running attack and plays solid defense and is definitely the favorite in this game. I’m not so sure that the Notre Dame outburst of a week ago wasn’t more of the product of a terrible Michigan team than it was that of an explosive Irish offense. I like Michigan State in this game, even though the home team has lost the last seven games in this series.

Michigan State 31, Notre Dame 21

#21 Wake Forest @ Florida State

Saturday 7:00 PM EST

Florida State is playing a D-1A opponent! Hooray! After demolishing two straight D-1AA teams, the Seminoles have to play the ACC’s best team in the young season. Think that there might be a little bit of a step up in competition? However, quarterback Christian Ponder seems to be an upgrade at quarterback over Drew Weatherford from last year and the Seminoles have to be confident after two straight butt-kickings. I liked Florida State in the preseason, but Riley Skinner has been impressive and because of him I have to go with a close win for the Demon Deacons in Tallahassee.

Wake Forest 23, Florida State 21

#11 LSU at #14 Auburn

Saturday 7:45 PM EST

Does anyone else remember the Tennessee-Alabama game from 2005 that ended 6-3? Well, after last week, we could see a repeat of that showing on the Plains this Saturday night. Auburn and LSU will fight it out for the title of SEC West Favorite and both teams feature excellent defenses and average, at best, offenses. In fact, Auburn’s 3-2 win last week over Mississippi State was pretty sad. However, Auburn’s offense, to me, is much more likely to have a solid game against the LSU defense than vice-versa and Tommy Tuberville’s teams usually show well in big games. Auburn wins another defensive battle with ESPN College Gameday in town.

Auburn 16, LSU 10

#9 Georgia @ Arizona State

Saturday 8:00 PM EST

If you had asked me to predict this game before the season began, I would have picked Georgia. If you had asked me last Friday, I’d have been even stronger in my belief that Georgia would defeat the Sun Devils. Then Arizona State inexplicably lost to UNLV and I’m now completely certain that Arizona State is going to get blown out in this game, even after Georgia barely beat South Carolina last week and their offensive line looked like a sieve. Assuming that UGA can handle the time change and dry heat, these two teams aren’t on the same plane talent-wise. If UGA’s offensive line can improve from their dismal showing last week, it will be a long night for the Sun Devils partisans in Tempe.

Georgia 34, Arizona State 20

By Matt Baxendell
CollegeSports-fans.com Staff Writer

Matt Baxendell is collegesports-fans.com’s newest staff writer. If you’d like to join his college football therapy group, email him at matt.baxendell @ gmail.com with all your questions, comments, and anything else you would like to share. Also be sure to check out Matt's 2008 conference previews and college football Top 25 rankings here at CollegeSports-fans.com!

More college football articles from Baxendell:

• College Football Top 25 Rankings after Week #3
• 2008 College Football Week #3 Preview
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• 2008 College Football Week #2 Preview
• College Football Top 25 Rankings after Week #1
• 2008 College Football Week #1 Preview
• College Football Preseason Top 25 & National Title Contenders
• 2008 college football conference previews
• NCAA Football 2009 video game review