Bleacher Report - Articles by Isaac Scheidt

Creature vs. Creature: Georgia Bulldogs Need an Extra Cocktail This Year

Isaac Scheidt — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:35:01 -0400

Bulldog fans all around the Southeast are stocking up to take their annual pilgrimage to Jacksonville. Some feel the need to bring extra tailgate supplies from the alcoholic beverage aisle in the supermarket with a doubtful prognosis. Take another look before you doubt the Dawgs; Florida may be in for a rude awakening.

The Gators are on a 17 game winning streak with Superman himself in the bid for his second Heisman and a defense that is third in the nation. My counterpart Trey Jones covers the Gators view of the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in his article Creature vs. Creature: A Gator's Take on a Bulldog Beating in Jacksonville .

Despite the obvious talent gap between the teams, the Dawgs aim to stop the bleeding of a 3-16 record in the last 19 matchups against Florida. While Georgia is still atop the all-time series record, the Bulldogs have spent far too long playing the role of younger brother to the giant of the sunshine state.

Let's set things clear for any doubters; this game still constitutes as a rivalry. If Georgia could be guaranteed a win in one game each year, they would always pick Florida. Bulldog fans have never hated the Gators more and a win may not ever be as satisfying as one this year could be.

At the beginning of the season I wrote an article that analyzed the Florida Gators and looked for any cracks in the armor (SEC Scouting Report: How to Beat the Florida Gators ).

Since the dawn of the Tim Tebow era in Gainesville the Gators have lost only six games. Several trends emerged that could provide the game plan Georgia needs to upset their rivals.

The Georgia Game Plan

One common thread to every Florida loss during this span is the presence of a solid run game by the opponent. Georgia can forget about that idea though as they rank dead last in the SEC with 108 yards rushing per game and they are going up against the Gators who are second best in the conference against the rush.

An interesting note about Florida's vulnerability is that teams who stick around have a great chance at knocking them off. Since 2006, Florida is just 2-5 when trailing at any point in the second half. If Georgia can survive the initial surge then there is hope.

Sacks have also been a pitfall for Florida as Tebow becomes very mediocre when he gets rattled. In the Bulldogs' 2007 victory they were able to get to Tebow six times which helped hold him to -15 yards rushing. This year the Florida offensive line has allowed 15 sacks; the same number they allowed all last year.

The last two weeks both Arkansas and Mississippi State have been able to exploit this weakness as Tebow went down nine times. Both games proved to be nail-bitters for Gator fans and Georgia will be looking to continue the trend.

Speaking of Tebow...

While Tebow is unquestionably the best quarterback in the SEC, do we dare admit that he is not performing at the level we are used to from him? Numbers don't lie and while the Gator great will go down as a legend of college football, something is missing from Florida's quarterback this year.

All offseason there was talk of how Tebow was going to improve his passing game and become a greater threat through the air. That prediction could not be further from the truth. So far he has matched his 2008 total interceptions of four while passing for only eight touchdowns compared to 30 a year ago.

With all the Gators' directional schools and junior college opponents taken out of the stats, Tebow's SEC numbers tell all. In conference play the star quarterback has thrown for just 147 yards per game while last year he put up 193 yards through the air on average.

Can Georgia Move the Ball?

It would be unrealistic to assess this weekend's matchup without taking a good look at Georgia's offensive woes. No matter how much the Florida offense may struggle, it will be impossible to win without a strong performance from the Bulldogs offense.

One statistic that stands out is third down efficiency. While Georgia has been good on third down, converting just under 40 percent, the Gators defense has held SEC offenses to just 13-for-62 on third down this season.

With the absence of a running game, a lot of pressure will be put on Joe Cox to move the ball through the air. Look for a lot of quick throws early to compensate for the running game and boost the confidence of Cox.

"Must-Have" Keys for a Win

While there is no exact recipe for an upset, there are trends that emerge and factors pointing the Bulldogs to several must-have components.

A.J. Green Must Have An Impact— Sophomore receiver A.J. Green is the best player on the Georgia offense and he must have a lot of touches. He can work miracles with the ball in his hands and this game is a great platform to showcase his talent.
Joe Cox Must Avoid Turnovers —Without exception, the Dawgs must play mistake-free football and Joe Cox becomes the most important part of that equation. The Florida defense is too good to expect big numbers from Cox but interceptions will be a dagger in the heart.
Defensive Line Must Dominate— The Georgia defensive line has shown spurts of brilliance while also managing to perform with much mediocrity at times. The front four will have to be explosive and get Tebow rattled for the Dawgs to have any shot at slowing down the Gator offense.
Special Teams Must Make A Play— While the kicking game for Georgia is solid, they need a game-changing play in the form of a blocked kick or a return for a score. Look for freshmen Branden Boykin to light the fuse and spark a Georgia victory.

If Georgia manages to excel in these areas they put themselves in a position to upset the Gators and take back bragging rights in the rivalry.

No amount of talent can overcome the hatred that these two teams have for each other, and Meyer and Richt will have their boys ready to play on Saturday.

Who are the SEC's Biggest Flops of 2009?

Isaac Scheidt — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:11:25 -0400

Midterms are the time of the semester when teachers have a pretty good idea of who's going to be falling on the low side of that famous bell curve.

At the halfway point of the 2009 football season, the SEC classroom has several players who have been playing hooky for too long.

Here are a few of the SEC's "best" who have not been living up to the reputation.

Julio Jones - Alabama - Wide Receiver

Last year, Julio Jones came into Tuscaloosa as one of the highest rated freshmen in the league.

The first half of 2009 was good to Jones who scored four touchdowns in his first five games. Since his touchdown against Georgia on September 27, 2008, he has been quiet. Jones went one day short of a year before reaching the end zone again with a touchdown grab against Arkansas.

In six games this year, Jones has crossed the 50 yard receiving mark only once. It is safe to say the Julio Jones is a prime candidate for the SEC's most overrated player of the year.

Charles Scott - LSU - Running Back

During his junior season, Scott bulldozed defenses with 1,174 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns in 2009. While LSU has been a dominant team this year, Scott has failed to be a factor.

In six games, Scott has gained only gained 327 yards rushing and only two touchdowns on the ground. He has failed to cross the 100 yard mark in a game and his yards per carry is down significantly from last year.

Richard Samuel and Caleb King - Georgia - Running Backs

While 2009 wasn't predicted to be a standout year for the Bulldogs, the running game was supposed to carry the team.

There was little fear in Athens because both Samuel and King were highly touted recruits who were both capable of filling in behind Knowshon Moreno.

The running game has been stagnant at best with an SEC worst 108 yards per game.

Together, King and Samuel have only rushed for three touchdowns and less than 500 yards. The tandem that was expected to dominate defenses has been unimpressive and a big part of why Georgia has lost three games already.

For more articles visit ACC SEC Football . "Stand Up For Your Team"

Virginia Tech-Georgia Tech: ACC's Most Crucial Game

Isaac Scheidt — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:12:01 -0400

In a weekend filled with rivalry games, one ACC matchup may be getting overlooked.

Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech both head into Saturday night's game with their seasons on the line and with defining statements to make in a crowded ACC Coastal division.

While the Yellow Jackets suffered a deflating loss to Miami, their ACC title hopes are very much alive. After this week, Georgia Tech has a very manageable schedule with no ranked teams remaining and out-of-conference Georgia as the only real battle.

If the Jackets can hold their own at home, then all they need is another Miami loss for a trip to play in the ACC Championship game.

The Hokies have bounced back from their early-season loss to Alabama and lead the conference with a 3-0 ACC record.

Like their opponent, the rest of their schedule looks promising, with North Carolina as the biggest obstacle between them and an ACC title appearance.

For the Hokies, this game is huge because a win all but guarantees them an appearance in the conference title game.

Currently, Virginia Tech is favored by three points.

On offense, the two teams are very similar, scoring an average of around 33 points per game.

Defense is the key statistic, with Virginia Tech giving up 17.7 points per game and Georgia Tech 26.5.

With this in mind, expect Virginia Tech to not only win but cover the spread. With all respect to the Paul Johnson offense, they do not have the same "surprise" factor that they did last year and the Hokie defense will be ready.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 31, Georgia Tech 24.

For more articles see ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

By The Numbers: Is Willie Martinez's Job Safe At Georgia?

Isaac Scheidt — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:03:05 -0400

With the current struggles of the Bulldogs, many fans are looking for someone's head to roll. Impatience among the Georgia faithful is growing and the heat is being turned up on Mark Richt to make the right decisions regarding his coaching staff.

Another week and another loss has the current spotlight resting on defensive coordinator Willie Martinez. Since taking over the job in 2005 the program has seen the defensive plummet from what was formerly known as one of the SEC powerhouses. The following is a list of some daunting defensive statistics in the Martinez era.

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

14.6 17.1 21.0 25.6 27.8 Points Allowed Per Game

298 264 325 318 358 Yards Allowed Per Game

2 4 3 10 11 SEC Rank On Defense

The numbers don't lie; Georgia's defense has grown steadily worse from year to year.

Currently the defense is giving up nearly twice the points per game that the team was allowing in Martinez's first year. In addition, the yards per game have increased by over 60 yards.

With the increasing talent level in the SEC, it would be easy to dismiss the points and yards as a product of playing against the nation's best offenses. The last statistic is the killer though showing that Georgia has quickly fallen from one of the best defenses in the conference to the bottom of the pile.

Another scary statistic for Georgia fans is one that links SEC Championships to defensive ranking in the conference.

Every team in the last six years to win an SEC title was ranked either No. 1 or 2 in total defense in the conference. Currently Martinez has not been able to produce that caliber of defense leaving the Bulldogs looking out and looking up to the top teams in the conference.

While Martinez has his strengths, he is unable to produce the type of defense that Georgia needs if they are going to compete among the best. The Bulldogs are obviously a step or two lower than Florida and until they get back to their roots on defense they will continue to play the role of little brother.

Regardless of how the rest of the season turns out, I expect that Martinez's days are limited in Athens. Look for Richt to replace the defensive coordinator and try to reestablish Georgia as a power defensive team in the South.

ACC Football Buy or Sell List

Isaac Scheidt — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:38:16 -0400

The big picture is starting to shake out in the ACC, as most teams have played enough games to give us perspective on their futures. Several teams are threatening to fall off the map, while a few programs are on the rise.

ACC SEC Football brings you a breakdown of teams in the ACC Buy or Sell List.

North Carolina: Sell

The Tar Heels had high expectations leading into 2009, but their youth at receiver and the inability to spark the offense has hurt them. They have struggled in almost every game so far, and the loss to Virginia proves they are heading south. Things don't get any better either, as their schedule still has Florida State, Virginia Tech, Miami, and Boston College left.

Miami: Buy

The Canes survived a brutal stretch of games and started their season 3-1. The loss to Virginia Tech puts them in a tough position to try to win the Coastal, but they still have potential for a great season. Their schedule gets very easy for a while, and they will put up big numbers in Jacory Harris's bid for a Heisman.

Georgia Tech: Sell

This year has not been good to the Georgia Tech offense in big games when they couldn't be touched in 2008. The defense for the Jackets hasn't been the same either, and they are heading into their two biggest games of the year.

With consecutive road games at Florida State and Virginia Tech, look for Georgia Tech to give up a lot of points. If they don't win at least one of these games, they will put themselves out of contention in the ACC Coastal race.

Boston College: Sell

While this was not supposed to be a big year for the Eagles, they raised a lot of hopes with a big win last week over Florida State. Things don't look promising down the stretch though, as next week holds a road game in Blacksburg, Virginia. Later in the month another road game looms in South Bend against a strong Notre Dame team.

Florida State: Buy

Seminole nation may be in an uproar regarding the future of head coach Bobby Bowden, but when the politics are stripped off, they are a talented team. Their 2-3 record doesn't look good, but the schedule ahead is promising.

After hosting Georgia Tech this weekend, Florida State has a long stretch of games with no ranked opponents until their annual rivalry matchup with the Gators. Look for a strong second half from the Noles.

For more articles, visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

Georgia's Mark Richt: Hot Seat Or Not?

Isaac Scheidt — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:32:13 -0400

A current rumor surrounding Athens, Georgia has given rise to speculation that Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt's job is on the line after a somewhat rough start to the year.

The issue goes much deeper than a couple poor outings in 2009, though; Bulldog nation is tired of playing second fiddle in the SEC East.

Last year Georgia started the season ranked No. 1 in the nation, and everyone thought they were a legitimate contender for a national title. Things went straight downhill as the Bulldogs lost three games, most notably to rival Florida.

The defensive struggles that Georgia experienced last year have spilled over into 2009, and many are claiming that defensive coordinator Willie Martinez should be fired.

Much of the frustration amongst the Bulldog fans is due to something Richt can't control: Last year Georgia suffered 18 season-ending injuries, a fate that would cripple any team.

Two major things need to happen for Richt to maintain his position as head coach of Georgia.

1. Richt needs to prove he can make the hard decision and fire a coordinator if he is not performing.

Many people doubt his ability to be the tough guy he needs to be as a head coach. His personal relationships with both coordinators would make a decision to move along without them very tough. If the defense doesn't improve by the end of the year, Richt will need to pull the trigger and fire Martinez.

2. Georgia needs to outperform Florida on the recruiting scene.

While Richt's Bulldogs have been a consistent top 10 or 15 team in recruiting, the Gators are almost always in the top five. It will be impossible to get any traction on Florida if they are continually falling farther behind in talent.

While this seems far-fetched, the emergence of Florida State and Miami back into the national picture helps Georgia. Recruits in the state of Florida now are considering all three schools as legitimate programs, whereas the past few years has allowed Florida to get the cream of the crop.

One other thing comes to mind that should help Bulldog fans feel more confident about their coach. A saying in any sport regarding coaches is, "Don't fire somebody until you know who you are going to replace him with."

Be honest with yourselves, Georgia fans. Who out there is available and is going to outperform Mark Richt? He is definitely a step behind Urban Meyer at this point, but last time I checked Pete Carroll is the only contender for that position, and he's not leaving sunny Southern California.

Richt has a great program going at Georgia, and it would be a mistake to let him go. He has some steps to take to get the program to a national title, but going with someone else would be taking steps backwards and would put Georgia among the South Carolinas and Kentuckys of the SEC.

For more articles, visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

SEC Power Rankings: Week 6

Isaac Scheidt — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:34:08 -0400

1. Alabama

: Alabama

For the second week in a row the Tide stay atop the SEC Power Rankings. While the scoreboard against Kentucky is not extremely impressive Alabama went up 31-6 and put up 31 points in the second and third quarters alone. Perhaps the most important stat from this game is the consistency from Greg McElroy and Mark Ingram. Saban will be dangerous this year with this great combo as McElroy has passed for nine touchdowns and only one interception, while Ingram broke out with a 140-yard performance and two scores. If Alabama can take care of business next week against Mississippi, they will have a great chance at playing in Atlanta for an SEC title.

2. Florida

: Florida

The Gators catch a break during their bye week as Georgia loses to LSU. Not that they needed it, but now they have even more breathing room and are all but locked in to represent the East in the SEC Championship game. The season's biggest game for the Gators will come next week in a trip to Death Valley to take on a tough LSU team. This has always been a hard venue to get a win at, especially at night, but Florida should be able to take care of business. LSU has yet to face a stout defense and the Gators will be eager to make a statement after the week off.

3. LSU

: LSU

LSU survived a scare in Athens with a 20-13 win. Both teams played tough defense through three quarters and then lit up the scoreboard in the fourth. Charles Scott carried the team that struggled to punch the ball in early. He rushed for 95 yards and two late touchdowns in clutch situations. Scott will have to be very productive when they matchup against Florida next week. While LSU is an impressive 5-0, its record and ranking don't tell the whole story. They have struggled two weeks in a row on the road and have yet to release the dominant offense they were expected to have. Were it not for a goal line stand against Mississippi State and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Georgia late, the Tigers could easily be 3-2 at this point. Regardless, if they can upset Florida next week all is forgiven and LSU will be recognized as a legitimate title contender.

4. Auburn

: Auburn

The other Tigers in the west are also sitting at 5-0 but this team was not supposed to be this good. Auburn has been the surprise team of the SEC with a high powered offense and a great schedule to help them get off to a good start. After four straight home games the Tigers survived their first SEC road test beating Tennessee 26-22. While the score was close, Auburn was ahead 23-6 at one point in the fourth quarter before Tennessee picked up three late scores. The Tigers proved they can move the ball on even the toughest of SEC defenses with 459 total yards of offense. Chris Todd played mistake-free football 218 yards passing and running back Ben Tate rushed for 128 yards and a score. With Arkansas and Kentucky next on the schedule, Auburn could be 7-0 heading into their October 24th matchup at LSU.

5. Georgia

: Georgia

The loss to LSU was emotionally devastating, but the Bulldogs still control their own destiny in the SEC East. (See No Worse For The Ware: Georgia's Road Still Leads Through Florida) Georgia's 3-2 record makes its performance look a lot worse than it is. Defense and penalties plagued them early but they seem to have gotten some control. The penalties have decreased in the last two games and the defense is starting to gain momentum. A rivalry game against Tennessee this week should be a great defensive battle especially as Georgia is finally starting to show the ability to rush the passer. Georgia is still on the radar in the SEC and they are a dangerous team when they get hot offensively.

6. Mississippi

: Mississippi

The Rebels are still developing as a team but they showed signs of life offensively this week in a 23-7 victory against Vanderbilt. Jevan Snead picked a bad time to throw three interceptions as Alabama looms next week. Mississippi has yet to define a lead rusher and while they are getting decent yards on the ground they need someone to step up into the main role. Next week does not look promising as they host Alabama, but the Rebels have a lot of talent and could win if they put all the pieces together. Look for Snead to bounce back and keep it close against the Tide on Saturday.

7. South Carolina

: South Carolina

The Gamecocks could benefit from their schedule more than anyone else in the conference. While they have one SEC loss already they only have two games left against ranked opponents at this time. Granted, those games are against Alabama and Florida, but South Carolina could have a nice looking record by the end of the year. Their defense is only allowing 16.8 points per game and Stephen Garcia is on track to pass for over 2,300 yards this year. The most important statistic for Garcia is his two interceptions to six touchdowns. This comes after throwing eight picks last year and only six passes reaching the end zone. Look out for South Carolina as Steve Spurrier may have found his long-awaited star quarterback to ignite the explosive offense.

8. Tennessee

: Tennessee

The Volunteers have struggled to get their first big win under Lane Kiffin but their defense is one of the best in the SEC. It is obvious that there is a lot of talent in Knoxville but the youth is not ready for big-time SEC games. The Vols struggled to get off to a quick start and only late points against Auburn made the game close. This week will tell a lot about Georgia and Tennessee as both teams have ridden the roller coaster of highs and lows. Both coaches desperately need the win and the Tennessee offense will have to play at their best to get a "W".

9. Arkansas

: Arkansas

The Razorbacks are polar opposites on offense and defense. Arkansas has been one of the most prolific teams on offense with 35.8 points per game. On the flip side they are giving up an SEC worst 29 points per game. It's hard to compete in this conference without the ability to stop opponents. While the Hogs have been impressive early, they cannot have high expectations with Auburn, Florida, and Mississippi lined up all in succession. Five ranked teams still remain on the schedule with three of those games on the road. Look for Arkansas to fall fast through the end of the year mainly due to the inability to get a stop on defense.

10. Mississippi State

: Mississippi State

The Bulldogs gave away a game this weekend to a Yellow Jackets team that struggled on defense. While Mississippi State put up 487 total yards, five turnovers killed their attack and a weak defense couldn't stop Georgia Tech through the air or on the ground. With a two week break from SEC action, the Bulldogs may be able to regroup and have a stronger second half of the season, but right now things are looking bleak. The Bulldogs have been extremely inconsistent and have to host Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi later in the year.

11. Vanderbilt

: Vanderbilt

The Vanderbilt football team has yet to get a signature win in 2009. The Commodores are only putting up 20 points per game and the passing attack is the worst in the SEC. The defense is the only promising unit on the team with only 15.6 points allowed per game. With several tough games remaining on the schedule, look for Vanderbilt to continue to struggle and start looking to next year soon.

12. Kentucky

: Kentucky

The 38-20 loss to Alabama was a lot worse than the scoreboard shows. Four turnovers stalled the offense and Kentucky didn't score a touchdown until midway through the third quarter. The offense is second worse in the SEC and the defense is third worst. While the Wildcats have just finished the hardest stretch of games any team will face in the conference, they still have two ranked opponents left in the next two weeks. Kentucky has a rough patch ahead but could have a good second half of the year with several easy games down the road.

For more articles visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

No Worse For The Ware: Georgia's Road Still Leads Through Florida

Isaac Scheidt — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:52:45 -0400

It's hard to pull yourself out of bed as a Georgia fan this week. Waking up to a gorgeous day suddenly gets smashed when the memory of the LSU game comes to mind.

As a fan, I can attest that Georgia left a bitter taste in my mouth and I went a few hours without cracking a smile after the game. Taking emotion out of the loss brings a whole new perspective, though, as I realized that Georgia is really not in any worse position than they were before the game.

Now I know for the downtrodden UGA fans out there, this is probably the last thing you want to read as you curse the ref who flagged A.J Green for excessive celebration. It's easy to get caught up in the emotions that come from the fourth quarter roller coaster ride LSU and Georgia gave us yesterday. To see the bigger picture of what this game meant to both teams, we have to look at the SEC as a whole.

Georgia was not expected to compete in the SEC East this year, and they knew heading into 2009 that Florida was their biggest challenge. The Gators are already penciled in for the National Championship game in Pasadena and nobody was expecting much out of the Dawgs. After a few flashes of talent, Georgia is beginning to get attention from the national media.

In order for Georgia to win the East they needed to beat out the Gators either by winning their head-to-head game in Jacksonville or by Florida picking up two losses in SEC play. No person in their right mind can expect that Florida will lose two of their SEC matchups. They have one of the easiest schedules with no Mississippi or Alabama on the schedule and only one true road test, LSU.

With that option gone, Georgia has known all year that they need a win in Jacksonville if they are going to have any shot in the East. While that matchup is an entirely different article, let's say that theoretically the Dawgs can somehow find a way to take care of business and Florida loses.

In this scenario, Georgia simply has to win the rest of their SEC schedule in order to take the East and play for the SEC Championship in Atlanta. This is the only place that the LSU loss hurts them. Now that they already have one loss in the conference, they need four important wins at both Tennessee and Vanderbilt, and late-season home victories against Auburn and Kentucky.

Georgia needs to be careful because the letdown factor from this week could spill over into a poor outing in Knoxville. While Georgia's talent is superior to Tennessee, they need to stay focused on the big picture and forget the loss to LSU.

The Dawgs still control their own destiny in the SEC East and have a great chance to win in every game, with the exception of the Cocktail Party. If Georgia can rebound against Tennessee this week and Vanderbilt next week, they put themselves in a great position. A bye week heading into the Florida game could be the difference maker and with a little luck, Georgia could win the East.

Now I know that's a lot of factors, but keep in mind the Mark Richt's team has a history of finishing strong. With the exception of the Florida game, the last two years Georgia has not lost an SEC game after the first week of October. If that statistic holds true, then the entire season will boil down to one heated game on Halloween afternoon.

For more articles visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

SEC Power Rankings: Week 5

Isaac Scheidt — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:13:38 -0400

1. Alabama

After sitting at number two all year, the Tide move into the number one spot in the SEC Power Rankings with a little help from their friends. Make no mistake, Alabama is stacked this year and their defense made a statement this week by holding Arkansas to only 7 points.

While Florida may be the better team by the end of the year, if these two teams played head-to-head next week, Alabama would have the edge with the injury to Tebow. One thing that Alabama has is the ability to make big plays. Quarterback Greg McElroy has had three straight games with over 70 percent of his passes completed and is averaging over 10 yards per attempt.

2. Florida

While we don’t know the severity of Tebow’s injury, all indications are that John Brantley has the ability to fill the roll and maintain some level of productivity on offense. If Florida keeps playing defense the way they have, they don’t need to score much.

They lead the SEC with 7.3 points allowed per game. The bye week will help the Gators regroup and prepare before heading into the toughest part of their schedule. Look for a strong performance against LSU in two weeks.

3. Georgia

With two unimpressive outings from LSU and Mississippi, Georgia slides up in the rankings. Expectations are low, but Georgia has shown they can win the close ones. Nail-biters in the last three wins were only by six points, on average.

When the offense is hot, UGA can put up big numbers, but their defense is giving up nearly 30 points per game. This week will be a big test with LSU traveling to Athens. If the defense can contain and Joe Cox has a mistake-free game, then it looks promising for the Bulldogs.

4. LSU

This week scared Tiger nation as LSU struggled to put away one of the SEC’s worst teams, Mississippi State. Once again, highly-touted running back Charles Scott was a no-show, as he carried only six times for 15 yards. After nearly 1,200 yards on the ground last year, Scott is only averaging 45 yards per game in 2009.

Another weakness that could be exposed against Georgia is the nearly 200 yards passing they have given up each game. On the positive side, Jordan Jefferson has been a stud with over 700 yards passing and seven touchdown tosses. Look for a great game from him as he tries to exploit the weak Georgia pass defense.

5. Auburn

While their defense isn’t scaring anyone, their offense has been lights-out on a consistent basis. They are averaging 45.3 points per game; almost identical to Florida’s numbers. Auburn has an SEC best 1,060 yards passing and second-best 1,045 yards rushing.

This week is a great test of that balanced attack, as the Tigers face one of the best defenses in the SEC in Tennessee. Look for a big day out of Chris Todd, as Auburn will try to move the ball through the air if Tennessee focuses on taking away the run.

6. Mississippi

We don’t know if the loss to South Carolina was just a hiccup or a true indication of the talent level of the Rebels. One thing is for sure, though; Mississippi has a lot of improvement that needs to be made in two weeks before they face Alabama.

As bad as the final score was against the Gamecocks, it still doesn’t show how effectively the Rebels offense was shut down. Of their 248 total yards, 125 of them came in the fourth quarter and a late touchdown was all that helped them save face. The upcoming game against Vanderbilt should be a good indicator of whether Mississippi can regroup or if they are a flop this year.

7. Arkansas

Despite the loss to Alabama, the Hogs are still a tough group to deal with. Alabama did a good job of defending against the pass and that is the only way to beat Arkansas. The Achilles' heel for the Razorbacks is the lack of defense, with an SEC-worst 32 points per game allowed. The run defense has been fairly solid, but opponents are burning them for 263 yards through the air every game.

Those kinds of numbers are not going to win too many games in the SEC. Arkansas has a tough four-game stretch ahead of them with Texas A&M and Auburn at home, followed by Florida and Mississippi on the road. Don’t expect more than two wins in the next four for the Hogs.

8. Tennessee

The Tennessee defense had somewhat of a lapse this week as they allowed 319 passing yards to Ohio. This is one game that can go in the positive column for Jonathan Crompton, as he threw two touchdowns and only one interception. There are still big question marks for the offense, most notably the eight picks thrown by Crompton.

The defense does have the ability to win them a lot of games, though. Tennessee heads into the toughest stretch of their schedule as they host Auburn and Georgia, take their bye week, travel to Alabama, then face South Carolina at home. If Tennessee can shut down the high-powered offense of Auburn and get a win, it will be a good step towards a bright future in Knoxville.

9. South Carolina

While their Thursday night win was a big one against Mississippi, the Gamecocks are still a long way from being a contender in the SEC. They have good yardage statistics, but their offense has failed to be consistent and have only put up 24.5 points per game; second worst in the conference.

South Carolina is still one of the hardest teams to read because of how high and low their swings have been. They looked very mediocre against North Carolina State in their opener, but in the Georgia game, their offense showed flashes of brilliance. October 17th is the day when expectations will either be confirmed or denied as South Carolina travels to play Alabama.

10. Mississippi State

This week was a great performance from the Bulldogs. They stood toe-to-toe with LSU in every major statistical category except one; turnovers. Three interceptions and a fumble gave LSU a win they did not deserve after the Mississippi State defense shut down the LSU running game.

While the Bulldogs are not going to be competing for a SEC title this year, they have suddenly become scary with a scrappy defense and a good running game. They could be a good sleeper team, as they have five ranked teams still on their schedule. Look for an upset this week as they host a deflated Georgia Tech at home.

11. Vanderbilt

One of the most surprising units in the SEC this year could be the Vanderbilt defense, which has given up only 13.8 points per game. They lead the SEC with only 106 yards passing allowed per game and have already racked up five interceptions.

They could be the next team to upset Mississippi this week, as their defense squares off against Jevan Snead. The Commodore offense has improving to do in the passing game, as they have only scored one touchdown through the air all year.

12. Kentucky

It’s hard being near the bottom of the conference and having to go up against the number one team in the nation. Kentucky couldn’t move the ball Saturday as they accumulated only 179 yards of total offense all day.

To make matters worse, the schedule looks gruesome for the Wildcats with three straight SEC games looming against Alabama, South Carolina, and Auburn. After that, the pain may ease with a manageable schedule until the last two weeks of the season. Be prepared for a tough stretch in Lexington.

For more articles visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

Are the Georgia Bulldogs a Sleeper in the SEC East?

Isaac Scheidt — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:24:52 -0400

Every Bulldog fan is thinking the same thing and nobody wants to say it.

"Do the Bulldogs have a chance to win the SEC East this year?"

While we have just dabbled our toes in waters of conference play, Georgia is off to a great start with wins over South Carolina and Arkansas. (See Just Whistlin' Dixie?: Analyzing SEC Contenders and Pretenders for Georgia's place in the conference breakdown.)

As the season continues for Georgia, one giant obstacle stands in their way: the Florida Gators. This insurmountable force showed us last Saturday that they cannot simply name their score before a game and march out and post it on the Jumbotron.

The Gators are still human and they might not be as unbeatable as many people think they are. I will admit that the Georgia defense is not of the same caliber as Tennessee, but the point is Florida is not a team of robots; they will have their ups and downs like every other team.

The Bulldogs' season will be in a make-or-break situation on Oct. 31 when they match up with the Gators. For Georgia to win the SEC East, they will either have to beat Florida or else hope for two SEC losses from the Gators. In all likelihood, the latter will not happen, leaving Georgia with an important game in Jacksonville.

While there is a lot of hype going into the Cocktail Party in a few weeks, one big question looms: Can Georgia make it through the rest of their SEC schedule unbeaten?

With a 2-0 record so far, Georgia has put themselves in a great position. They face four straight SEC games that will define their season after this week's non-conference contest with Arizona State. The Bulldogs play host to LSU before two trips north to Tennessee and Vanderbilt, and then an October finale against Florida.

LSU will be a great matchup as both teams are in fights to surprise the top of their divisions. Tennessee will be a dangerous team because of their defense, but Vanderbilt should be as easy a win as they come in the SEC.

After these four straight games away from home, Georgia has a very manageable schedule remaining with Auburn and Kentucky both traveling to Athens to complete the SEC schedule. On paper, Georgia matches up well with every SEC team on their schedule except Florida.

Bulldog fans have to be excited with the possibilities this year holds, especially considering the low expectations before the season. Georgia has a long road ahead of them, but the journey looks promising as Joe Cox leads a powerful offense into the heart of heated SEC battle.

For more articles by Isaac Scheidt, visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

Coastal Wars: Miami @ Virginia Tech Preview

Isaac Scheidt — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:51:13 -0400

Two of the hottest teams in the ACC square off this Saturday as the Miami Hurricanes travel to Virginia to take on the Hokies. The Canes come into this game on cloud nine after two big wins against Florida State and Georgia Tech in the first half of their brutal four game stretch.

Virginia Tech brings a lot of motivation to the table this week after they barely survived against Nebraska last week. After a loss to Alabama and struggles against the Huskers, the Hokies have a lot to prove in their first ACC test.

On the offensive side of the ball, things look good for Miami as they hope to exploit a weakness in the Hokie pass defense. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris has sliced through defenses with surgical precision. His Heisman bid includes a resume of 656 passing yards and five passing touchdowns in two games. His 184 quarterback rating is an ACC best among starters and his 69.5 completion percentage is also a conference leading statistic.

While Miami is potent on offense is dynamic, it is anything but balanced. Nebraska and Alabama were both able to move the ball effectively against the Hokies mainly through their use of both the pass and the run. It is important that Miami runs the ball effectively to keep the safeties honest and open up passing lanes for Harris.

On the flip side, if Miami is going to attack only through the air, Virginia Tech has a great opportunity to focus the defense on disrupting Harris and the Canes pass attack.

Tyrod Taylor has shown improvement since his mediocre performance against Alabama in the opener. Entering the season, decision making was a question mark for the athletic quarterback with seven touchdowns to ten interceptions.

He has shown more maturity this year with three touchdown passes and just one interception. Taylor does not have to play outside of himself to get a win but he needs to be smart and avoid turnovers to give his team a chance.

An interesting player to watch will be Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams. Despite an aggravation to his ankle last week, he could have a breakout game this weekend.

The freshman has already rushed for 342 yards already and is starting to get more of the bulk of rushing attempts for the team. Between Taylor's scrambling ability and the speed of Williams, the Hokies could have a big day on the ground. If they are able to run the ball effectively that will slow the game down and keep Harris on the bench.

Prediction

Jacory Harris will become a household name nationally with a big performance on the national stage. Taylor will play another decent game but will fail to provide the game changing performance needed for a win.

Miami 24 Virginia Tech 17

For more articles visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

Just Whistlin' Dixie?: Analyzing SEC Contenders and Pretenders for a True Winner

Isaac Scheidt — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:45:28 -0400

We all know that Alabama and Florida are stacked this year and it is pretty obvious Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt are just holding out for a spoiler moment.

The rest of the SEC waters are pretty murky with questions of whether teams like LSU, Auburn, Georgia, and Tennessee are going to compete for anything this year. The jury is in and ACC SEC Football gives you a look at who is legitimate and who is just along for the ride.

Contenders

: LSU

After struggles on the road in Week One, many experts got down on the Tigers, but fast forward a few weeks and that game doesn't look so bad. The LSU defense has given up an SEC third best 11.7 points per game while forcing six turnovers already.

The offense has failed to live up to the hype as they rank dead last in the SEC in total yards. Much of this is due to the lack of productivity from star running back Charles Scott who has run for only 164 yards, gaining only 4.4 yards per carry.

The road ahead of the Tigers may be the toughest in the SEC as they travel to Georgia and host Florida in succession. If they manage to escape those two games and stay relevant in the conference, they also have road games against Alabama and Mississippi looming in November.

LSU has the balance on offense and defense to give a lot of teams trouble. Look for them to give the West a run for their money and possibly show up in Atlanta for the SEC Championship game.

: Georgia

The Bulldogs' season has been very similar to that of the Tigers so far. Struggles in the first week put them behind the eight ball and the offense responded with two great performances against South Carolina and Arkansas.

Joe Cox has shown his maturity with a 70 percent completion percentage and seven touchdown tosses in his last two games.

The receiving corps has played well as A.J. Green continues to baffle defenses and Michael Moore, Orson Charles, and Tavarres King are developing into great second options for Cox.

The only question mark on offense comes at the running back position where Richard Samuel has gotten off to somewhat of a slow start. With the exception of an 80 yard burst against Arkansas, Samuel hasn't really shown the ability to consistently carry the load for the Bulldogs.

Look for the elusive sophomore Caleb King to split more time with Samuel as he began his season with 11 caries for 59 yards against the Hogs.

Two big problems could bite Georgia eventually in a big game. First, their defense has given up an SEC worst 34 points per game and over 400 yards passing per contest.

Second, the Dawgs have been flagged for over 85 yards of penalties per game. These two factors could be very costly in games against Florida and LSU.

If Mark Richt can get the defense and penalties straightened out then Georgia will be a hot team to deal with. They can put up a lot of points extremely fast.

Pretenders

: Arkansas

Arkansas absolutely lit up the Georgia defense this past week as quarterback Ryan Mallett threw for 408 yards and five touchdowns. As amazing as the offense looks, the defense may be among the worst in the SEC by the time the season is over.

They basically gave the game to the Dawgs as they had them down 21-10 in the first quarter. Georgia dug themselves a hole with three turnovers and 93 penalty yards and even with all that help, Arkansas couldn't stop them.

The problem for the Hogs is the competition around them is too good to be blown away by their pass-happy game schemes.

They could be a great spoiler team, but Arkansas is too one-sided to compete for an SEC title this year.

One problem is they have no balance on offense. In two games they have thrown for 855 yards and managed only 221 yards on the ground. That type of offense will be eaten up against teams like Florida and Alabama who can take away the pass and neutralize their potent offense.

: Tennessee

The Vols defense showed up big on Saturday as they limited the Florida Gators to 23 points and only 115 passing yards. The young offense has shown signs of promise in their first three games, but Tennessee cannot survive in the SEC East with Jonathan Crompton at quarterback.

While he is still their best option to win each week, his poor decision making is evident with five touchdowns and seven interceptions so far this year, and none of those touchdowns in the last two games.

The schedule doesn't look very promising for Tennessee after this week. After facing Ohio, the Vols host Georgia before traveling to Alabama, while a late season trip to Mississippi still awaits them.

Their defense will win games for them, but the Tennessee offense has been completely abysmal with seven turnovers. If Tennessee can get hot on offense they will be a tough team to beat, but they are too young to be competitive in the East this year.

Unknown

: Mississippi

This summer the Rebels were a hot team in the opinion of many experts. So far Mississippi has been stellar, beating opponents by a combined score of 97-20 in just two games.

The only problem here is that the opponents were Memphis and Southern Louisiana—not exactly SEC caliber teams. While the Rebels open up conference play against South Carolina this week, we won't have a good feel on this team until October 10 when they play host to Alabama.

: Auburn

Auburn is looking to be the surprise team in the SEC this year with a high powered offense that has produced 42.3 points per game. The Tigers attack has been balanced with 754 passing yards and 791 yards rushing.

The defense has shown signs of weakness but Auburn does lead the SEC in interceptions with eight. The Tigers early schedule sets up nicely to put them in a position to compete for the West title as they host both Alabama and Mississippi later in the year.

For more articles visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

SEC Power Rankings: Week 3

Isaac Scheidt — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:44:52 -0400

1. Florida

While we all were expecting a tremendous day on offense for the Gators, Saturday showed a great defensive matchup between Tennessee and Florida. Tebow did not play his best game but the Gators have no reason to doubt they will ride through the season at the No. 1 spot.

The nation can finally start to get a good look at the Gators as their preseason schedule commences and they head into SEC play.

2. Alabama

The Tide had another big day on offense as they posted a 53 spot on the scoreboard and went for 523 yards on offense. While you can't read to much into the stats, Alabama rushed for 260 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Greg McElroy is evolving nicely into a star quarterback with a two touchdown, 176 yard passing game.

3. Mississippi

There is still a lot to learn about the 2009 Rebels but the offense has been spectacular so far. Jevan Snead threw for 209 yards and three touchdowns and the running game showed up big lead by a 107 yard day by Brandon Bolden.

It will be very interesting to see how Mississippi responds to their first test this weekend when they travel to South Carolina to take on the Gamecocks.

4. LSU

The early season struggles in Washington don't look so bad after this weekend, and LSU looks strong as they head into a matchup with Mississippi State. Charles Scott has still not lived up to the hype averaging only 54.7 yards per game in the first three contests.

While LSU is superior to the Mississippi State talent level, look for a possible let down this weekend as the Tigers may get caught looking ahead to the next two matchups against Georgia and Florida.

5. Georgia

Joe Cox had a career night on offense as he lead the Bulldogs with 375 yards passing and five touchdowns. While Georgia had 530 yards of total offense penalties and turnovers will catch up to them if they don't make changes.

The Bulldogs had three turnovers and 14 penalties which almost led to their first SEC loss. In addition, the defense needs to improve especially against the pass as they gave up big numbers through the air for the second straight week.

6. Auburn

The Tigers got a big win against West Virginia as the offense rolled for a third straight week. Auburn had some trouble on defense as they allowed 509 total yards including 302 passing yards.

The best news of the week was the encouraging performance of senior quarterback Chris Todd who starred in a big game with 284 yards passing and four touchdowns.

7. Arkansas

On the other side of the ball from Joe Cox, Ryan Mallett threw for 408 yards and five touchdowns of his own. The Arkansas offense simply exploded on Saturday, proving they will be a tough win for any SEC team.

The Hogs need to tighten up on defense if they have a chance this weekend at Alabama. Look for a high scoring affair in Tuscaloosa as Mallett and McElroy square off.

8. Tennessee
Despite the loss to Florida, Tennessee moves up in the power rankings with a great display on defense. The Vols held Florida to just 323 total yards on offense and were able to force two turnovers from Tebow.

Big questions still loom at the quarterback position with another mediocre outing by Jonathan Crompton who had two interceptions and no touchdowns.

9. South Carolina

The Gamecocks didn't show much against Florida Atlantic but Steven Garcia continued in his maturation process with 222 yards and one touchdown through the air.

With Mississippi coming to town this weekend, the South Carolina defense will need to adjust or they will be the first SEC victim for the Rebels and the Gamecocks will slide to 0-2 in conference play.

10. Kentucky

In the rivalry game Saturday, the Wildcats escaped with a 31-27 victory over Louisville. Mike Hartline had a good game with 178 yards passing and the game-winning touchdown in the final minute.

Kentucky doesn't have the defense to compete with the top SEC teams, a fact that will be exposed with upcoming back-to-back games against Florida and Alabama.

11. Mississippi State

In one of the worst games you will ever see in the SEC, Mississippi State got a victory at Vanderbilt 15-3. The Bulldogs had a great game on the ground led by a 123 yard performance by Anthony Dixon.

This may have been the breakout game he needed to provide Mississippi State fans with one of the only bright spots in a dark season of football.

12. Vanderbilt

"And the most embarrassing loss of the week goes to...the Commodores!" Vandy showed their true colors as they could only muster 157 total yards on offense and three measly points against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

The only good news for the Commodores is their punter may be on track to setting all-time records Brett Upson punted 11 times for 473 yards. Too bad punting doesn't lead to wins in the SEC.

For more articles and discussion visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

ACC vs. SEC Football: The Middle of the Pack Is Where the Similarities Start

Isaac Scheidt — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:31:39 -0400

One of the greatest debates of all time in the South is the never-ending argument between ACC and SEC football fans. While the SEC has laid claim to the last three National Titles, the ACC is not far behind the best conference in the nation.

One way to analyze the contrasts and similarities of the two conferences is by matching up the teams one through twelve and comparing the talent level and recent statistics in history.

At the top and bottom of the conference, the SEC is superior to the ACC. Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech are at the top of the ACC, but they do not have the talent level to beat teams like Florida and Alabama. The SEC is also dominant at the bottom of the conference when compared to its counterpart. The ACC's worst teams: Duke, Maryland, and Virginia, still lose out to the bottom ones in the SEC: Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt.

The Middle of the Pack

The ACC matches up well with the SEC in the middle of the pack. Teams three through nine in the ACC have the same or better talent level as any other conference in the nation.

For the purpose of this debate see the ACC/SEC Football ACC Power Rankings and SEC Power Rankings. Comparing the middle of the pack in the ACC to those teams in the SEC gives us good perspective on just how close these teams are to each other.

Mississippi, LSU, and Georgia all have similar strengths and weaknesses.

While Mississippi and LSU are expected to dominate on offense this year, all three of these SEC teams have big question marks on defense. Miami, North Carolina, and Florida State match up well with these teams as they all feature strong passing games. These high-powered ACC offenses would give the similarly ranked SEC teams a run for their money if these games were played. They would be a special treat to fans who love to watch the offensive aspect of the game.

In the bottom half of the conferences, Clemson, N.C. State, and Boston College line up against Arkansas, Auburn, and South Carolina. In contrast to the top half of both conferences, the lower side lacks a strong offensive presence.

Clemson and Arkansas have potential to develop into high-scoring offenses while the other four teams struggle to put points on the scoreboard. While we have already seen South Carolina beat N.C. State 7-3, we know that all of these games would be very close matchups.

While the debate rages on between ACC and SEC fans, it is worth noting that the Big-10 and Pac-10 seem to fall below the ACC after the top two teams. After USC and California, the ACC has very comparable talent to the Pac-10 and the same is true of the Big-10 after Ohio State and Penn State are removed.

While there is no doubt that top to bottom the SEC is superior, the ACC is arguable the most talented conference in the range of their middle teams.

For more articles and discussion visit ACC SEC Football.

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Georgia Tech vs. Miami Preview

Isaac Scheidt — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:28:20 -0400

This Thursday features another big game in the ACC, as the Yellow Jackets travel to Miami to take on the Hurricanes. There are big implications towards determining the ACC Champion in a game that marks the first ACC matchup between two AP Top 25 teams; (20) Miami and (14) Georgia Tech.

The Coastal Division is crowded this year, as they hold the top four spots in the ACC Power Rankings: Week Two. The game will be defining for both teams and will go a long way in determining the future Coastal Division winner.

Both teams have shown off their high-flying offenses and all signs point to a shootout in the making.

Georgia Tech put up big numbers on Clemson in the first quarter with an 82-yard scoring run and an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown. The Jackets have a great rushing attack led by Jonathan Dwyer, who has gained 6.4 yards per carry in their first two games.

The Hurricanes will need to be ready for the option early if they aim to stop the streak of two consecutive games in which the Jackets have had long touchdown runs to score first.

The biggest weakness for Tech will be their pass defense that gave up 193 yards through the air to Jacksonville State and 261 to Clemson. Miami has a great chance to exploit that weak spot on Thursday, after sophomore quarterback Jacory Harris threw for 386 yards and two touchdowns on Labor day against Florida State.

Keys To The Game

Miami needs to stop the run early against Georgia Tech and avoid having to dig out of a hole. In addition, the pass offense for the Canes needs to have a big game if they are going to outgun the quick-strike Tech offense.

Georgia Tech will have to play better defense than they did against the Tigers in the second half. They need to score early and put the game away without giving the Miami offense a chance at a comeback.

The X-factor in this game could be turnovers. Tech has turned the ball over five times in two games; two interceptions and three fumbles. Harris also showed a slight crack in the armor with two interceptions against FSU. Each possession will be extremely important and turnovers will be costly in this game.

Prediction

Georgia Tech 36 - Miami 34

Join us during the game in the Georgia Tech vs. Clemson Chat Room. "Stand Up For Your Team"

Week 3 SEC Showdowns

Isaac Scheidt — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:15:43 -0400

After two weeks of warm up games with local high schools teams and directional state schools, SEC fans finally have some true excitement as rivalries heat up in the deep South.

This weekend will features the first test for the No. 1 team in the nation in their SEC opening game as well as two more in-conference battles.

Tennessee @ (1) Florida

We all are aware of the hype Lane Kiffin has put on this game and the implications his mouth has had in motivating the Gators.

Truth is, the hatred in this game didn’t need any more fuel for the fire, and Florida already has all the tools they need for a win, even without Kiffin’s bulletin-board material.

What we’ve seen from Florida so far has been nothing short of a National Championship caliber team. They have outscored their opponents 118-9 while posting 1,287 yards of offense in just two games.

Tennessee played well in their opener but struggled on offense against UCLA, gaining only 208 yards of total offense. The worst part for the Vols was the sudden plethora of turnovers from senior quarterback Jonathan Crompton.

The man threw for five touchdowns in their first game, but two interceptions that day and three this past weekend raise a lot of concerns. Nevertheless, Kiffin has committed to starting Crompton in the Swamp, a decision that could be costly for him.

While we all want to see a close battle on Saturday, the reality is that the Vols will have to wait at least one more year to break their current losing streak against Florida. Tennessee has not won since 2004, and this game doesn’t look promising for Orange nation.

Mississippi State @ Vanderbilt

This game has all the signs of being a classic SEC matchup; two teams that will not score much, will be punting a lot, and could go to overtime.

Leaving it at that would imply a great defensive rivalry game, but in reality, all those punts are because of bad offense and if overtime comes it will most likely be a 3-3 tie after regulation. These two teams ranked No. 10 and No. 12 on the SEC Power Rankings: Week 2.

Mississippi State is probably the worst team in the SEC, and they have the defense to prove it. They gave up 390 yards on the ground to Auburn a week ago along with a 6.6 yards per carry ratio.

The offense is very one-sided, but running back Anthony Dixon will have a big year and could be the deciding factor in this game.

Vanderbilt is a hard team to judge at this point, but they deserve credit for a hard-fought game in Death Valley last Saturday night. The Commodores may have the most underrated defense in the SEC, but they make up for this strength with a pretty mediocre offense.

On a bright note, Zac Stacy has amassed 222 yards already this season and is the most crucial part of their offense.

While this game will not make many highlight reels, the two running backs, Dixon and Stacy, will be fun to watch as they battle it out on the ground in Vanderbilt.

(23) Georgia @ Arkansas

This game will be the best SEC contest of the weekend in terms of excitement and how much it means to both teams. Arkansas has only played once and has yet to show any measurable attributes while Georgia has two relatively sound tests already.

Bulldog fans are curious which units will show up this weekend. In Stillwater, the defense was impressive, holding Oklahoma State to just 24 points, yet the offense could only put up 10.

This past weekend against the Gamecocks, the offense rolled for 41 points while the defense gave up 37 points by way of 313 passing yards. The Dawgs need to establish some form of consistency this week in order to get a win.

Arkansas features a great tandem of offensive threats in quarterback Ryan Mallett and running back Michael Smith. Their pass-happy system could cause big problems for Georgia as they struggled with the same game plan from South Carolina.

If Georgia can get pressure on the quarterback, that will go a long way to slowing down the Hogs. Arkansas will look to strike early and disrupt the Georgia game plan, forcing them to rely on quarterback Joe Cox.

Finally, if this game comes down to special teams, look out for Georgia in the return game. Last week. they posted a school record 252 kick return yards.

Georgia special teams have always been solid under Mark Richt, and that could be the difference maker this week.

While it isn’t exactly ‘Rivalry Weekend’ ahead of us, enjoy the show as three games within the conference start to shape the SEC picture in 2009.

For more articles visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

ACC Power Rankings: Week 2

Isaac Scheidt — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:27:35 -0400

Another week and another change in the top of the ACC Power Rankings. The top looks better after two big wins by the Tech duos, while the bottom of the pile continues to remind us; “They are who we thought they were!”

1. Virginia Tech

The Hokies got back on track with a 605 yard offensive explosion against Marshall. While Tech showed a stout defense and Taylor had a nice day through the air, the most encouraging thing for the Hokies was their 444 yards on the ground. I’d say they’ve found a way to replace the injured Evans. One more big test awaits them in out of conference play as they host Nebraska this Saturday.

2. Georgia Tech

In their classic style, Georgia Tech and Clemson brought it right down to the wire before kicker Scott Blair saved the Jackets hopes for an ACC title. Tech may be weak against the pass but their offense proved to be solid with 301 yards rushing and 117 through the air.

3. Miami

Despite the bye this week, Miami moves up to the No. 3 spot. Their offense is one of the few in the conference that has the potential to match anyone they line up against. One of their biggest tests on defense will come this Thursday as they battle the Jackets in what should be a great game for the ACC.

4. North Carolina

The Tar Heels showed a lot of grit as they came back from down 10-0 at halftime to squeak by Connecticut. Yates is apparently still shaking off the rust from 2008, but he threw for 233 yards and one score. The UNC running game needs to do a lot better than 33 yards to have a legitimate shot at the ACC crown.

5. Florida State

This is a team that is still trying to figure out who they are, but their offense can light up some teams. They played weak against Jacksonville State, but Ponder threw for 324 yards and, more importantly, no interceptions. If the FSU defense can get pressure on the quarterback, then they will be a tough opponent for anyone.

6. Clemson

Like most teams, the Tigers struggled early with the Georgia Tech offense, but showed a lot of poise, and heart in their second half comeback. Parker had three touchdowns through the air along with 261 passing yards, but Spiller is still bothered by the injury, and will need to be more productive if Clemson wants to have the kind of 2009 fans were expecting.

7. N.C. State

Russell Wilson started his season a week late in 2009, but better late than never, right? He lead the offense with 228 yards passing and four touchdowns while the Wolfpack defense held their opponent to 36 total yards. No, the game was not just played on a PS3. Yes, it was basically a high school team, but we’ll give them some love anyway.

8. Boston College

This could be the hardest team to grade in the ACC because we still don’t know much about them. They had solid numbers, with 223 yards through the air and 126 on the ground, but they haven’t faced any big opponents yet. This weekend’s matchup with Clemson will be a defining game for the ACC Atlantic.

9. Wake Forest

It took a 14 point fourth quarter caped by a last second touchdown run, but the Demon Deacons got their first win against the Stanford Tree-huggers. Skinner was mediocre and the running game has yet to define itself. After giving up 391 yards this week it is hard to put much faith in this defense.

10. Duke

Congratulations to the Blue Devils for cracking the top ten! Enjoy it because a trip to Kansas next week will expose Duke on both sides of the ball. While they won against Army, rumors are flowing that Lewis may not be the starter by the end of the year. This team needs help!

11. Maryland

The Terps put up 236 yards through the air, 123 on the ground, and defend their home turf in a 38-35 showdown! They played who again? So, in reality, Maryland is fortunate to avoid complete embarrassment, but look out this week, as the mighty Blue Raiders from Middle Tennessee State take their shots at outrunning the Turtles.

12. Virginia

The Cavaliers only lost by 16 to the No. 16 team in the country. That’s pretty good. That is until you see that all 14 Virginia points came with under five minutes to play in the game. UVA hadn’t even gotten 100 total offensive yards until late in the fourth quarter. Better luck next week.

Also See: SEC Power Rankings: Week 2

For more articles and discussion visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

SEC Power Rankings: Week Two

Isaac Scheidt — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:32:21 -0400

While the top of the conference remained untested for the most part, several key games helped define a few teams and shake up the power rankings for Week Two.

1. Florida

The men of Troy couldn’t stop the brutal attack of the Gators as Florida rolled on 56-6. Tebow threw for 237 yards and four touchdowns with 71 yards and one score on the ground.

We will begin to see the full strength of the Gator defense next week as they get their first SEC test against Tennessee.

2. Alabama

While the Crimson Tide let the game stay close early, they showed a great run defense while rushing for 275 yards themselves.

The biggest question mark is the pass defense, as they gave up 213 yards through the air to lowly FIU.

Greg McElroy played a great game though with 241 passing yards and a touchdown, giving Tide fans hope for a special year.

3. Mississippi

Because of the early bye week, the Rebels didn’t get a chance to make any impressions.

Still basing a lot on expectations, Mississippi has a great chance to win the West.

We won’t find out much about this team until late September, but until they prove the experts wrong, they stay at No. 3.

4. LSU

The Tigers never really got the offense rolling against Vanderbilt, as they underachieved for the second week in a row.

Charles Scott has not been 100 percent yet, but by the time LSU enters the meat of their schedule, they should have a full arsenal of offensive weapons.

5. Georgia

In a wild game between the hedges, Georgia won a game in which they were outplayed in nearly every statistical category except their 252 kick return yards.

Joe Cox played solid, going 17-of-24 for 201 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.

The biggest question mark for the Dawgs is their ground game, which has yet to get moving this year.

6. Arkansas

Although the Hogs had a bye week, they have a lot of weapons ready to strike in SEC play.

The Razorbacks have a lot to live up to this year, and a home game against Georgia this upcoming week will be a defining game for both teams.

7. Auburn

For the second week in a row the Tigers put up impressive numbers on offense, gunning for 589 total yards, including 390 on the ground.

For the first time in school history they had two consecutive weeks with two rushers over 100 yards. That’s a lot of offense for a team that was supposed to be rebuilding in 2009.

8. South Carolina

Steve Spurrier finally found a quarterback who can run his offense as Stephen Garcia threw for 313 yards against the Georgia Bulldogs.

The special teams lost the game for the Gamecocks, but the sudden breakout game on offense was a ray of hope.

9. Tennessee

The Vol offense forgot to get off the bus this week as they put up only 208 total yards. Next week doesn’t look promising either as Tennessee faces one of the best SEC defenses in Florida.

There is a lot of talent in Knoxville, but the experience is too thin to compete big time this year.

10. Vanderbilt

The defense played well Saturday, holding LSU to just 23 points, but the offense failed to maintain drives.

If Vandy wants to continue to be relevant in the SEC, they need to establish a solid passing game.

This weekend’s matchup with Mississippi State should be a good opportunity to fix the offensive problems.

11. Kentucky

There was no game in Lexington this week, but we don’t need to see much more to know Kentucky will struggle on offense this year.

Mike Hartline is a great quarterback, but the rest of the team looks very thin.

The Wildcats have one more game to try to figure everything out before it’s their turn to get spanked by the Gators in Week Four.

12. Mississippi State

The Bulldogs gave up 390 yards on the ground Saturday...need we say more?

Anthony Dixon will have a solid year for Mississippi State, but that may be the only bright spot in what could be a very long season for them.

Also See: ACC Power Rankings: Week 2

For more articles, visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

South Carolina @ Georgia: Rivalry Trends

Isaac Scheidt — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:26:21 -0400

One of the best defensive rivalries in the South heats up on Saturday night as the South Carolina Gamecocks head into Athens to take on the 21st ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Both teams seem deflated from recent expectations; Georgia falling from the No. 1 preseason ranking last year and South Carolina failing to live up to the Steve Spurrier hype.

There are a lot of unknowns heading into the game this weekend, but there have been several trends over the past five years that will be interesting to watch. These trends could be early indicators of which team will get an early SEC win.

Offense has been lacking in the series with teams scoring an average of 13.5 points per game over the last five years. Each game during that time period the winning team out rushed the opposition and Georgia's 140 yards rushing in 2007 was the only time the losing team crossed the century mark.

Turnovers have also played a big role in deciding the winner between the Gamecocks and Bulldogs. Since 2004, neither team has lost the turnover battle and survived to win. Twice the teams have been tied in the turnover margin, but the other three games gave victory to the team with fewer mistakes.

The last four years have shown the team scoring first as the winner. All but one of these games have been decided by seven points or less. In addition, only once during this time period has the home team won.

Looking at all these statistical trends, what do they mean for Saturday's game? In reality, most of them mean nothing.

Like every other game played between two SEC teams, only a few of these things really determine the game; running the ball effectively, scoring early, and winning the turnover battle.

Both Georgia and South Carolina have similar question marks on offense that could leave them vulnerable to turnovers. The Gamecocks quarterback still has not proven he can play mistake-free football as turnovers plagued him last year and he threw a pick against N.C. State last week.

On the other side, Georgia shot themselves in the foot last week with two fumbles and an interception. I believe whichever team wins the turnover battle will most definitely win on Saturday.

The running game is the other key that will define the winning team. South Carolina will have to get a lot from Brian Maddox who still has yet to prove he can be an every down rusher. The Bulldogs will look to sophomore Richard Samuel to have a big game behind an experienced offensive line.

Projection

South Carolina
Garcia: 11-19, 130 yards, 1 Touchdown, 1 Interception
Maddox: 23 rushes, 75 yards

Georgia
Cox: 15-25, 145 yards, 1 Touchdown, 1 Interception
Samuel: 25 rushes, 110 yards, 1 Touchdowns

Final Score: South Carolina 10 Georgia 17

Fore more articles visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

Clemson Vs. Georgia Tech: Gameday Keys

Isaac Scheidt — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:46:43 -0400

As the Tigers and Jackets head into the second game of their seasons, both teams are vulnerable. The Thursday night game brings new dynamics to a matchup that already promised to be a good game. With only days to prepare for the opponent, both defensive coordinators are under a lot of pressure to get their teams to game-ready status.

All the talk of this game has centered on the question of how Clemson will prepare for the gimmicky offense of Paul Johnson. ACC teams struggled with Georgia Tech all last year as the Jackets offense is one of the trickiest to understand and defend.

The biggest question mark for Clemson going into this game is whether they will be able stop the running game. As it is with every team that plays Georgia Tech, the only way to beat them is to take away their offense and it starts up front.

If Clemson lets the Jackets rushing attack get rolling they could be in for a long night. Jonathan Dwyer is looking to make a statement on national television, and he is key to how well the Tech offense plays. If Clemson can get quick pressure up front to disrupt the timing of Georgia Tech then they have a chance to pull out a big win.

For Georgia Tech, their biggest challenge will come in preparation for a team that they don't know a lot about. Clemson has changed so much of their coaching staff and revamped the system. The Tigers have a lot of options on offense with Kyle Parker and a plethora of quality running backs. In addition, Clemson only showed the basic playbook last week which leaves the Tech coaching staff without much to study.

It is still unknown how effective C.J. Spiller will be due to a hamstring injury, but theoretically he is not irreplaceable. Clemson had two other backs with over 70 yards rushing in the first game. If Spiller is healthy, Clemson will have a big day on the ground but without their feature back, they make it a lot easier for the Jackets defense to shut them down.

For Clemson, there are two keys; run the ball effectively and don't make mistakes. Six turnovers killed them against Georgia Tech last year, and they can't afford to give away free possessions. They have the talent to run on Tech and if they do, they put themselves in a great position for a win.

Georgia Tech has to establish the run early and sustain the long drives. If the Jackets can get an quick lead and get Clemson out of the running game then it's all over. This game is Tech's to win. If they can take care of business, they will be in a great position to achieve their goal of an ACC Championship.

For more articles and discussion visit ACC SEC Football. (Also join us Thursday night at 7:30 PM for a live chat during the game.) "Stand Up For Your Team"

SEC Power Rankings: Week Two

Isaac Scheidt — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:21:59 -0400

With the opening weekend of college football behind us, several teams have made moves in the power rankings. Week one is typically not as revealing because many teams usually are hard to read early, but several SEC teams have shed light on their future and given reason to either doubt or trust.

Here are the latest power rankings for the SEC.

1. Florida

The Gators showed no signs of weakness and put up PlayStation numbers in their "scrimmage" Saturday. The running game was huge, amassing 369 yards with three players over 75 yards.

2. Alabama

The Tide rolled on Saturday night as the defense held Virginia Tech to 155 total yards and Mark Ingram rushed for a buck-fifty. Nick Saban's team sets up well now for a run at another SEC West Championship.

3. Mississippi

Ole Miss took care of business Sunday afternoon with a very balanced attack on offense. The defense gave up a lot of yards, and Jevan Snead did not play his best, but for the first game of the year, the Rebels looked good.

4. LSU

Despite a slow start on offense and a no-show from star running back Charles Scott, the Tigers played well in a very distant road game. Jordan Jefferson lived up to the hype, but the defense has a long way to go if there is a chance for an SEC Championship.

5. Vanderbilt

The Commodore defense blanked Western Carolina, and the offense went for 620 total yards. The rushing game was the most impressive part and will be needed when Vandy heads into SEC play.

6. Arkansas

In his Razorback debut, Ryan Mallett threw for more than 300 yards and led the offense to 591 total yards. The defense also played well, and while Michael Smith saw limited action, he had several nice gains.

7. Georgia

The Dawgs defense played well enough for a win, but the offense never got off the bus in Stillwater. Georgia ran for only 95 yards behind what is supposed to be one of the best offensive lines in the SEC. The three turnovers didn't help matters either, as Oklahoma State capitalized well off the Bulldog miscues.

8. Tennessee

The new regime of Volunteer nation gave the fans quite a game, putting up 63 points on Western Kentucky with 657 yards of offense and a five-touchdown day for Jonathan Crompton. Tennessee did everything right on Saturday, but they need to prove themselves against a stronger opponent before they move up in the rankings.

9. Auburn

The Tigers also showed well in their new system with 556 yards of offense and more than 250 yards passing from senior quarterback Chris Todd. Like Tennessee, they did their job in week one and have good potential to move up the ladder as the season progresses.

10. Kentucky

On the road, the Wildcats shut out Miami (OH) while posting 45 points on 488 yards of offense. The defense looks promising too, holding rushers to 62 total yards and intercepting the Red Hawks twice, taking one to the house.

11. South Carolina

Steve Spurrier won the early road game but in his least favorite way. The offensive guru could only muster one score against a mediocre NC State defense, but the Gamecock defense was strong, giving up just 133 total yards.

12. Mississippi State

The Bulldogs put up good numbers on Saturday with more than 400 yards on offense, while the defense came up with five turnovers from JSU. State's defense will struggle against the power teams this year, but they played well in week one.

For more articles and discussion, visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team." Also see ACC Power Rankings—Week Two.

ACC Power Rankings: Week Two

Isaac Scheidt — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:18:12 -0400

The ACC played several important games this week, but many teams didn't represent the conference well. With two losses to SEC teams and a Pac-10 beatdown, the ACC Power Rankings were shaken up after just one week.

1. Georgia Tech

Jonathan Dwyer started the year off right for the Jackets with a 74-yard touchdown run within the first 20 seconds of the game. The offense showed off its passing ability with 162 yards through the air while still gaining 335 yards on the ground.

2. Virginia Tech

While the Hokies lost to Alabama, their defense played well early and was able to get two takeaways. Tyrod Taylor raised some questions with his shaky passing, but Alabama may be the toughest defense he sees all year. Virginia Tech still has a great shot at winning the ACC.

3. North Carolina

Against the Citadel, North Carolina showed off a good defense while T.J. Yates threw two touchdowns and the rushing game rolled strong. The Tar Heels were not challenged, but they did everything right and have some defining games coming up soon.

4. Miami

Everybody doubted the Hurricanes on Monday night, but sophomore Jacory Harris led the team to a big win against rival FSU. The offense played to its full potential, but the defense could be a stumbling block down the road.

5. Florida State

Despite the early season loss to Miami, the Noles have the most talented team in the Atlantic division. Christian Ponder is a great leader, and were it not for one bad pass to end the game, he could have easily vaulted his team into the top three in the conference.

6. Clemson

There are still a lot of unknowns about the Tigers, but if Saturday was any indication of their future, they might have finally settled in on a quarterback. If C.J. Spiller can get healthy, he will give his team a big boost.

7. Boston College

Like Clemson, the Eagles did everything right on Saturday but still need a big test to prove they can win the division. All signs looked good in a 54-0 rout of Northeastern. Boston College established a balanced attack they'll need against tough defenses.

8. North Carolina State

While the Wolfpack showed up without their offense on Thursday night, they are a much better team than they showed. Look for Russell Wilson to shake off the rust and start to find his groove for the rest of the year.

9. Wake Forest

Four turnovers killed the Demon Deacons on Saturday in a game they should have won. Riley Skinner didn't exactly show the poise of a senior with three interceptions, and the defense has questions to answer before they can compete with the top teams in the conference.

10. Maryland

After getting waxed on the road by a very good Cal team, Maryland proved their offense is nothing to fear. The defense couldn't stop anything, giving up 542 total yards and allowing several big plays.

11. Duke

The Blue Devils proved they are their same old selves. Despite having one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC, they still found a way to lose. Thaddeus Lewis threw for 350 yards and two touchdowns, but Duke's late touchdown was the only thing that made this game even look close.

12. Virginia

And at the bottom of the totem pole are...the Cavaliers. Not that any team could really come back from a seven-turnover game, but the Virginia offense was basically horrible. The team got more yardage from William & Mary penalties than they did from their starting quarterback, a sign that it will be a long year in Charlottesville.

For more articles and discussion, visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team." Also see SEC Power Rankings—Week Two.

Georgia Bulldogs Loss Inexplicable

Isaac Scheidt — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:46:49 -0400

The Georgia Bulldogs still can’t explain the 24-10 loss to Oklahoma State in Stillwater. For months fans read about the great offensive trio of Zach Robinson, Dez Bryant, and Kendall Hunter, as well as the porous defense that allowed almost 400 yards per game in 2008.

On paper, Georgia played great. Anyone would have assumed a win for the Dawgs if you had told them they would hold the OSU offense to 307 yards with only 135 passing yards. The game plan worked; holding Bryant to just 77 yards receiving, and keeping breakout running back Hunter out of the end zone.

Despite the favorable statistics, the Bulldogs found a way to beat themselves on Saturday. Georgia had three costly turnovers; two fumbles and an interception, giving Oklahoma State good field position several times.

In addition, the Dawgs had three interception opportunities in the first half that should have been picks but all three were dropped. Georgia was not able to take advantage of any of the mistakes that the Cowboys made putting a lot of pressure on their offense.

In his 2009 debut, UGA quarterback Joe Cox was nominal completing 15 of 30 for 162 yards and one touchdown. The senior also threw an interception and fumbled a ball in the fourth quarter.

In his defense, Cox was struggling from flu-like symptoms but his protection was solid and he still was not able to lead the team on scoring drives after the opening possession.

The defense for the Dawgs was solid until the final minutes of the second quarter when Oklahoma State scored 10 points in a span of 2:28 (one of those scores was due to a Bulldog freshman Carlton Thomas fumble in Georgia territory). Flashbacks of last year haunted fans as the game progressed and the Georgia run defense leaked more and more.

Cowboy running backs picked the team apart with 172 rushing yards. While the front four were able to get the job done early, the lack of depth on the defensive line was evident as the game progressed. The hurry up offense of the Cowboys left the defense gassed and unable to stop the run.

Georgia had every opportunity to stay in the game but they were not able to sustain drives and get touchdowns, going 4 for 12 on third downs. OSU racked up 106 free yards for the Bulldogs on 15 penalties but Georgia was not able to capitalize.

The offense has a lot to learn if Georgia is going to compete with teams like LSU and Florida in the SEC. After the game, Cox admitted that the defense did their part and he did not do his.

Even though this is the first loss to start a season in the Richt era, the Dawgs have proven several good things. First, Richard Samuel showed promise taking 20 carries for 87 yards as a downhill runner. In addition, the offensive line has proved that they are one of the best in the SEC with all the experience from the young group last year.

Look for Georgia to regroup and improve on offense next week as they face the Gamecocks. Also, the defense should have a chance to build confidence going a shaky South Carolina team that only scored one touchdown against N.C. State.

For more articles and discussion visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

Georgia Bulldogs | Saturday Keys: The Battle In The Trenches

Isaac Scheidt — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:14:16 -0400

The Bulldogs open the season with one of four Week 1 matchups between ranked teams. Georgia (13) will take on Oklahoma State (9) in a highly-anticipated game between two teams with big hopes for the coming year.

Oklahoma State is trying to prove that they are among the top-tier teams in the Big 12. They aim to solidify their reputation through their great offense centered on four key players.

Running back Kendall Hunter leads the way to the tune of 1,555 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns in 2009. Quarterback Zac Robinson and wide receiver Dez Bryant are huge threats through the air, while left tackle Russell Okung puts it all together.

All four players are All-American candidates and could cause big problems for the Dawgs on Saturday.

The key to beating the Cowboys comes in the trenches as Georgia will dictate their destiny through their line play.

The Bulldogs' defense has a challenge going against the Oklahoma State offensive line that gave up only 15 sacks all year in 2008, a statistic that ranked them tied for 13th in the nation.

One of the biggest weaknesses for Georgia last year was the ability to get pressure on the quarterback from the front four. If Willie Martinez has to resort to blitzing as his only way of rushing Zac Robinson then he will pick the secondary apart.

To make matters worse, sophomore defensive end Justin Houston will miss the opening game due to a violation of team rules. While the rest of the defensive ends on the team have talent, Roderick Battle is the only senior and there are only two juniors.

This young group will either be exposed early or will rise to the occasion and get the pressure needed without having to blitz.

The most effective defense Georgia can have on Saturday is a good offense. If they can run the ball and keep the Cowboys' star-studded offense on the sidelines they have a good shot at winning.

With a first-year starter at quarterback and an inexperienced group of running backs, the Georgia offensive line needs to dominate every snap and they have the talent to do so.

With so many injuries last year on the line, several young players got a chance to develop early in their collegiate careers. At least seven of the linemen have started multiple games, and the versatility of the players is a huge advantage.

Because so many positions were vacated by injury, many backups were asked to play other positions. This will allow Georgia to have one of the deepest and most experienced lines in the nation in 2009.

Watch the trenches to see if Georgia can slow down the Cowboys' offense by putting pressure on Zach Robinson and not allowing him to sit in the pocket. To win the stable of young running backs for Georgia will have to run the ball 30 plus times with effective blocking up front.

If the Bulldogs can play up to their potential in Stillwater on the lines then they have the makings for an upset win to start the season.

For more articles and debate visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

Future Faces of ACC-SEC Football Battle It Out in Georgia

Isaac Scheidt — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:23:56 -0400

Saturday night near Atlanta, Georgia, North Gwinnett High School hosted the Progressive Football challenge featuring many players who are emerging into the national spotlight. Several of them have offers or have already committed to ACC and SEC schools.

Central Gwinnett vs. Byrnes

The early game featured the Central Gwinnett Black Knights against the No. 1 team in the nation, the Byrnes Rebels from South Carolina. It looked like an upset early as Central Gwinnett’s Al Mayes turned a routine run play into a 66 yard touchdown.

From there the wheels came off the tracks for the Black Knights as they gave up 43 straight unanswered for a final score of 43-7.

Marcus Lattimore

The star of the show was Byrnes senior running back Marcus Lattimore who had 133 yards and three rushing touchdowns. The five star recruit had this to say about his performance and his outlook on prospective colleges.

“I’m just going out there and trying to play as hard as I can and not worry about all that…Byrnes is the main goal right now. I know I have to think about it [college] and I have visits coming up.”

Lattimore has two of those visits in October, one to Penn State and one to Oregon. His top five schools right now are Auburn, UNC, Oregon, Penn State, and South Carolina.

When asked if his teammates' decisions would affect his he said, “I would really like to play with my teammates.” But he also said he has to pick the best situation for himself.

The two other standout players for the Byrnes Rebels are Corey Miller and Brandon Willis. Miller has already committed to Florida State and Willis has yet to decide between the wide range of ACC and SEC schools who have shown interest.

Miller said this about the prospect of getting Willis to FSU with him. “I’m working on him day in and day out. In the end I think he’s going to end up with me. ”

Corey Miller

Willis commented, “I would love to play with him. Who’s to say I won’t be at Florida State….pretty soon I’ll make a decision.”

He also listed his current top five list of schools as California, FSU, Tennessee, UNC, and UCLA. Willis also had this to say about the possibility of playing on the West coast. “I’m not scared to travel and I want to see what they have to offer.”

It is likely the two will end up playing together in college. They have a very good relationship but Miller admitted it was hatred first when Willis took Miller’s starting role as a sophomore.

“He came in and kind of frustrated me. I didn’t like him at first. I didn’t like him at all…but it’s all about competition with us.”

While we wait to hear the decision from Willis, the Byrnes Rebels can enjoy one of the best combos of rushing attacks in the nation.

North Gwinnett vs. Pratville

The nightcap between the Bulldogs of North Gwinnett and the visiting Pratville Lions was a thriller. Both defenses played tough through the first half with the lone touchdown coming with only six seconds before the break.

The Bulldogs junior quarterback C.J. Ozomah led the team on a long scoring drive to take a halftime lead of 7-0. The Lions had only three total yards of offense at the break and didn’t even cross the 50 until midway through the third quarter.

After a third quarter field goal by Pratville the Bulldogs answered back with a 20 yard touchdown pass to take a 14-3 lead. Late in the fourth the Lions finally finished a drive and converted a two point attempt to get within three.

The Lions were not able to convert on their final opportunity to score as the Bulldogs shut the door on any hopes of a comeback.

Nick Perry

Five star safety Nick Perry, felt he could have played better to help his team win as he had a quiet night. The Alabama commit said that he is looking forward to playing for the school he has been a fan of his whole life.

The Lions star quarterback Sam Gibson had a rough night. He summed it up nicely.

“A lot of offensive linemen weren’t picking up blocks.”

The five star commit to LSU never was able to get comfortable in the pocket which shut down the offense. While Gibson has a quick release with bullet speed passes, his line failed to give him the opportunity to showcase that talent.

When asked about his relationship with teammate and future rival Perry he said, “I stay with him all the time, always over at his house, every day I ride to school with him. He’s like my brother.” Gibson also said that it is “something to look forward to” when he will be playing against Perry in the future.

Interestingly, North Gwinnett’s two starting tackles, Ja’Wuan James and Austin Shepherd have both committed to Alabama. They were both key to buying time for their young quarterback.

James had this to say about the game.

“Everybody doubted us. Even some of the people in our own community. They thought it was going to be a blowout.”

He also commented on his relationship with Shepherd saying, “Me and Austin compete. We make each other the best that we can.” James also said the he is looking forward to playing with Perry as he is “very athletic and he breaks well on the ball.”

Austin Shepherd

Shepherd agreed with James’ sentiments saying, “Everybody doubted us except ourselves.” He too is excited about the chance to play with his teammate James and the talented safety Perry.

Finally, the offensive MVP for North Gwinnett, quarterback C.J. Ozmah shared his comments about the game and his future. He complimented his two star tackles on their ability to block for him. “I know I have a lot of time to throw.”

Ozmah is still a junior but showed a lot of poise and talent taking on the No. 5 team in the nation and leading his team to victory. He is a quick runner and a great scrambler, but also has the ability to make a good pass.

He has offers from UGA, Alabama, Tennessee, Clemson, Indiana, Maryland, and LSU but says he has not looked into anything very much.

From the great plays of Saturday night it is safe to say that the future of the ACC and SEC is looking good.

For more articles and discussion visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

AP Top 25: Who Will Climb And Fall In The ACC And SEC?

Isaac Scheidt — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:14:09 -0400

With the release of the first AP Top 25 Poll, we look at the teams that will climb and fall by the time it is all said and done in the ACC and SEC.

The final rankings never look anything like they did in the preseason.

Last year, Georgia started the year at the No. 1 spot before falling to No. 13 to close the season. Teams like Mississippi and Georgia Tech weren't even mentioned in the preseason AP poll, yet they finished 14 and 22 respectively.

The following is ACC SEC Football's projections for each team ranked in the ACC or SEC, and where they are expected to be at the end of the year.

Predictions

(1) Florida - The Gators will break the trend of recent years and become the next preseason No. 1 to finish the year in the same spot. Final Ranking: (1)

(5) Alabama - The Crimson Tide are strong on defense, but with the need for replacements on the offensive line and a freshman quarterback, they will lose late and hurt their standings. Final Ranking: (11)

(7) Virginia Tech - While 2009 was supposed to be the Hokies year, the injury to Evans will hurt their offense, Taylor will be exposed as a mediocre passer, and the team will slump from the high expectations. Final Ranking (18)

(8) Mississippi - Like Virginia Tech, this is "the year" for Rebel fans who expect an SEC title game appearance. Ole Miss has not had to deal with this hype before, and their defense will not hold up to teams like Alabama and LSU. Final Ranking (14)

(11) LSU - With all the media spotlight on Alabama and Mississippi, LSU will emerge as the SEC West Champion. They have a strong defense and a lot of offensive firepower returning, most notably running back Charles Scott. Despite what is possibly the hardest conference schedule in the SEC, the Bayou Bengals will rise in 2009. Final Ranking (5)

(13) Georgia - The Bulldogs are going to surprise a lot of critics in 2009 as they play with one of the best offensive lines in the country. Because of so many injuries a year ago, Georgia has a ton of experience all over the field. Look for Georgia to post a solid season and rise in the rankings. Final Ranking (10)

(15) Georgia Tech - The Yellow Jackets should win the Coastal division of the ACC, and they have a very strong out of conference schedule which voters like. Georgia Tech has most of their key games at home which will lead to a great record. Expect a steady rise for Paul Johnson's team in 2009. Final Ranking (9)

(18) Florida State - In a weaker ACC Atlantic, Florida State will likely appear in the ACC Championship game. Their late season game with Florida could hurt their overall standings, but they should be a climber with a relatively easy conference schedule. Final Ranking (14)

(21) North Carolina - The Tar Heels have shown signs of improvement in the past few years, and this year TJ Yates returns for the starting quarterback position. North Carolina lost a lot of offense from a year ago and Yates may not be enough to build off a great 2008 season. Final Ranking (25)

Notable Mentions

There are a couple of teams not ranked who could crack the Top 25 by the end of the year.

In the ACC, Boston College and Clemson could be surprises and crash the party. Miami is also a sleeper to catch some teams off guard. But these three teams will likely get caught with a couple key losses that will keep them as mere ORV's (Others Receiving Votes).

The SEC has a couple teams who will most likely be ranked at some point in the year, but because of the tough schedule will not finish in the Top 25.

Arkansas may be the only team who has a manageable schedule down the stretch who could crack into the rankings. Their offense may be enough to get them a big win near the end of the season and get them ranked.

Perhaps no sport has so many shocking upsets and devastating losses as college football. The one thing we do know that will happen is the unexpected.

Enjoy watching the sleepers bust the rankings, the exposed teams drop like flies, and the powerhouses climb the tedious rankings of BCS football.

SEC Scouting Report: How to Beat the Florida Gators

Isaac Scheidt — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:37:24 -0400

As the University of Florida begins and ends practice every day, each player knows the reality of the season ahead of them. Every fan of the Gators expects a repeat National Championship from the team that returns almost every key starter on both sides of the ball.

All around the nation, every poll has Florida at the No. 1 spot and no expectation of a loss on their schedule. The question is not which game the Gators will lose but simply if one game is realistically winnable for another team.

Individually, no team can say they match the talent level and experience the Gators have but with the wear and tear of an SEC season Florida is likely to fall victim to a loss.

Florida Losses From Past Three Years

In the Tim Tebow era the Gators have lost six games dating back to October 14, 2006, when Auburn won at home 27-17. That was the only loss for the eventual National Champions that year.

The following season saw Florida slip to 9-4 with losses coming to Auburn (20-17), at LSU (24-28), to Georgia (42-30) in Jacksonville, and to Michigan (41-35) in Orlando at the Citrus Bowl.

Last year the only blemish on the Gators record was a 31-30 loss at home to the Mississippi Rebels in what was possibly the upset of the year.

Scouting Report

When the six losses are examined statistically, several trends emerge to give teams insight and hope at toppling the giant in the East.

The overall scoring showed that with the exception of the LSU game, every team that beat Florida scored first to take an early lead. In addition, everyone except LSU was leading or tied going into the fourth quarter. While the Gators offense is potent, they have struggled to come back late in games. Since Tebow took over as the starter, the Gators are 1-5 when trailing at any point in the second half. The only time they reversed that trend was in last year's SEC Championship Game against Alabama.

Turnovers have played a key part in many of the games as well as Florida has turned the ball over an average of two times per loss. Michigan was the only team to not beat Florida in the turnover battle while the Gators made big mistakes against other opponents.

A key component to any upset win is making at least one big play. In the 2006 loss to Auburn, the Tigers were able to score on a blocked punt, a fumble, and a safety. Georgia was able knock off Florida with two passing touchdowns of 84 and 53 yards. Most recently, Mississippi was able to showcase the big play with a 40-yard rushing touchdown and an 86 yard score through the air.

Finally, yardage also revealed several possible weaknesses for Florida. Florida was exposed on the ground in several losses giving up 133 yards rushing to Auburn, 140 to Mississippi, 151 to Michigan, 196 to Georgia, and 247 to LSU Compare this to the Gators average of 92.9 yards rushing per game allowed since 2006, and it is evident that the ground game is needed to get a win against Florida.

While no team has the talent to beat the Gators on paper, if these trends hold true, Florida will likely take one loss this season. Look out if the Gators don't get on the board first as they have only twice in two years let an opponent lead with a touchdown and still come back to win.

If a team can score early, run the ball effectively, make a big play, and hold a lead at some point in the second half, they have the perfect recipe to upset the Gators.

For more articles and comments visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team"

Ranking the SEC's Top Five Football Coaches

Isaac Scheidt — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:55:50 -0400

The SEC is heralded for its depth, speed, size, and quality of play, top to bottom, more than any other conference in college football. While so much of the talent level and performance is attributed to the players on the field, the men on the sidelines are the cream of the crop.

1. Urban Meyer - Florida

The University of Florida coach can argue that he has been more successful than any coach in the last few years. As Urban Meyer enters his fifth year in The Swamp he has already produced a Heisman trophy winner, and taken two BCS national titles.

Meyer has one of the best winning percentages of active coaches with a 44-9 (.830) record. He has also been spectacular in SEC play as he has taken 24 of 32 contests in the conference for an .750 percentage.

Things are lining up for the Gators to post yet another double digit win season and contend for another national championship. Meyer will likely stand as the SEC's best coach for several years to come.

2. Steve Spurrier - South Carolina

Steve Spurrier has enters his 17th year coaching in the SEC and has never produced a team with a losing record. Spurrier's overall record as an SEC coach is 150-49 (.753)

The Ol' Ball Coach can brag over the youngsters with six SEC championships and the same number of SEC Coach of the Year awards. Throw on top of that a national title with Florida and Spurrier has almost everything needed to be the No. 1 ranked coach.

The only tarnish to Spurrier's legacy is the lack of success he has had at South Carolina since his return from the NFL. He has only won 28 games in four years with no signs of improvement as he enters his fifth year with the Gamecocks. Spurrier needs to get his team in the national spotlight again for him to be recognized as the SEC's best coach.

3. Les Miles - LSU

The Bayou Bengals are proud of The Mad Hatter running the show in Death Vally. Since taking over the job in 2005, Les Miles has gone 42-11 (.792) overall and an SEC record of 23-11 (.676).

Miles is most noted for his 2007 season in which their team won the SEC West, SEC championship, and went on to play in the BCS national championship game. The Tigers sent Ohio State home with their second straight title game loss.

LSU is looking to reload after a disappointing season in 2008. With his work ethic, and the level of commitment he demands from his players, Miles has the tools around him to be recognized as one of the nation's premiere coaches for years to come.

4. Nick Saban - Alabama

Love him or hate him, Nick Saban has been one of the SEC's best coaches when his entire body of work is examined. Between his previous coaching position at LSU and his current sideline patrol at Alabama, Saban has racked up 67 wins against 24 losses for a .736 winning percentage.

He has taken home two SEC championships and has won one national title game in his SEC coaching days. In 2003 and 2008, Saban won several different Coach of the Year awards solidifying his status as an SEC best.

Entering his third year at Alabama, the Tide are looking to once again contend for an SEC championship. Saban has the defensive mind to shut down the other high-powered offenses in the division, which could put them in Atlanta playing for another SEC title.

5. Mark Richt - Georgia

The Bulldogs coach has been stellar in his seven years in Athens, Georgia. With an overall record of 82-22, Mark Richt has a .788 winning percentage. He has been solid in SEC play as well with a record of 48-19 (.716).

Richt has taken his Bulldogs to the SEC championship game four times in seven years, which is quite a feat considering the other teams in the East. Twice Georgia has taken the SEC Title, and, while it has never made a BCS national title game, it flirted with being selected after an 11-2 season in 2007.

The biggest factor against Richt's prestigious reputation is the inability to get Georgia to a national championship game. Richt is the only coach on the list who has not taken that step but he has built a strong foundation for future teams to be more relevant nationally.

Is the SEC Coaching Staff the Best Ever?

Perhaps no other conference can ever boast the level of coaching talent that the SEC can now. When has college football seen so much success and so many great football minds combined into one conference? The SEC will be exciting to watch in 2009 as the conference will trot out some of the best head coaches in the history of college football.

For more articles and discussion, visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up for Your Team."

This season's ACC And SEC sleeper teams.

Isaac Scheidt — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:12:53 -0400

College football has a history of unpredictability, upsets, and cinderellas toppling a powerhouse.

Almost every prediction has Florida taking the SEC, and many suspect Virginia Tech or Georgia Tech will win the ACC. There are two teams, however, who are looking to overturn the expected outcomes.

North Carolina - Tar Heels

The Tar Heels have the deck stacked against them in 2009.

Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech are already picked to compete for the ACC Coastal and North Carolina plays both on the road.

The defense in Chapel Hill needs to be strong this year as they return more experienced and deeper. Teams will try to exploit their weaknesses by moving the ball through the air against their suspect secondary, which was 11th in the ACC in passing yards allowed last year.

The offense will experience a lot of changes in 2009 as several players left for the NFL Draft.

Quarterback T.J. Yates will return to the roster in hopes of sparking an offense that will lose four receivers from a year ago.

North Carolina has a lot of talent that down the road will solidify them as an ACC title contender. The question is if that talent is able to compete this year.

With all the attention on Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, North Carolina has the opportunity to fly under the radar and surprise a lot of people.

LSU - Tigers

The LSU Tigers have one of the toughest schedules in the SEC in 2009.

Despite the challenge ahead of them, they still have a chance to emerge as a sleeper in the competitive SEC.

All the talk of the SEC West this summer has surrounded the Ole' Miss Rebels and sensation quarterback Jevan Snead. Alabama is another team that has gotten a lot of publicity, and neither team has to face the Florida Gators.

LSU does host Florida at home in what could be the deciding game of their season. Three other games stand out on the schedule as they have to take on Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia all on the road.

The offense at LSU will be explosive with one of the SEC's best rushers in Charles Scott. Jordan Jefferson will start as the quarterback, and has plenty of weapons as the Tigers return a strong receiving corps.

LSU has no break in the schedule, but Les Miles is the perfect coach to succeed under that kind of pressure. The Tigers could pull off a couple upsets and find themselves playing in Atlanta for the SEC Championship.

For more articles and discussion visit ACC SEC FOOTBALL. "Stand Up For Your Team"

ACC Most Valuable Players

Isaac Scheidt — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:44:59 -0400

With all the Heisman focus being put on Tebow, McCoy, and Bradford, several players in the ACC are being overlooked. While they may not be Heisman worthy, these players deserve recognition for their value to their teams.

Jonathan Dwyer —Running Back—Georgia Tech

With the new-option offense Paul Johnson brought to Georgia Tech in 2008, Jonathan Dwyer proved his worth as the featured rusher. Dwyer saw 200 touches last year on his way to 1,395 yards rushing and an astounding 7.0 yards per attempt.

The Yellow-Jacket offense will continue to force the rushing game on opposing defenses and Dwyer should emerge as one of the leading rushers in the nation in 2009. The offense will only improve with more time and repetition under a very confusing but effective system.

Thaddeus Lewis—Quarterback—Duke

Quite possibly no player means more to their team than Thaddeus Lewis. The quarterback has put up three seasons of 2,100 yards passing or more. 2008 was no exception to Lewis’s brilliance as he threw for 2,171 and 15 touchdowns.

Lewis will have a weak receiving corps and offensive line around him. However, he is a solid player and should post another 2,000 yard passing season with a good touchdown to interception ratio.

Russell Wilson—Quarterback—NC State

The NC State quarterback had a freshman year for the ages as he threw for 1,955 yards and 17 touchdowns. Russell Wilson also ran for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns.

Wilson will challenge many ACC defenses this year as a duel threat under center. He has a decent group of receivers who should evolve into very strong receiving targets for him.

Tyrod Taylor—Quarterback—Virginia Tech

While some would doubt the pick of Tyrod Taylor as an ACC MVP candidate, the argument stands. With the loss of Darren Evans, the weight of Hokie nation is all on the shoulders of Taylor.

Taylor’s numbers weren’t overly impressive in 2008 as he threw for 1,036 yards and two touchdowns. The impressive part of his season was the 738 yards rushing and seven touchdowns Taylor accounted for on the ground.

If the Hokies are going to contend for an ACC title in 2009, Taylor will have to step up as a dominating quarterback. If he can control his interceptions and increase the rushing statistics then Taylor has a chance to lead the Hokies to a special year.

For more articles and discussion visit ACC SEC Football. "Stand Up For Your Team."