Well we’re off and running, the 2007 college football season has kicked off. We had a wonderful weekend of college football featuring massive blowouts, doses of reality for historic programs and unlikely upsets. Oklahoma scored 79 points its first time out, without Adrian Peterson and now prepare for a visit from the U. Texas will not walk through the Big 12.
Georgia Tech took down Notre Dame at home 33-3. This was the worst home opening loss ever for the Fighting Irish, who will be fighting to be better than 2-6 after 8 games. Check the schedule.
The story of the weekend, of course, was the little team that could from Boone, North Carolina. In what may be the single greatest upset in college football history, Appalachian St. took down mighty Michigan. This is the first time a one-double-a program defeated a top 25 team. If Lloyd Carr’s seat was hot before this loss he now has third degree burns to his posterior. The Mountaineers believed that they could slay the beast and that is exactly what they did. Way to go Appy St.!
There were no surprises in Southeastern Conference play this weekend. Everyone favored to win did so. Mississippi St. lost big at home to LSU, which was expected. The Bulldogs are having a difficult time and Sylvester Croom may not get much more of that. It’s a shame. Coach Croom is an intelligent and honorable man who means a great deal to this conference. But, as Bill Parcells says, you are as good as your record.
Tennessee found the speed of Cal’s playmakers a little too much to deal with. The heart and determination of Tennessee’s players was impressive. However, when you give up two non-offensive touchdowns and have trouble tackling you will lose to a talented team. I am still curious to know why Eric Berry did not start at corner. He is an obvious superstar. But, I guess freshmen have to earn their stripes.
Refer back to Mark Levine starting at running back ahead of Jamal Lewis for the Vols in Gainesville in 1997. Levine had the experience after all. Lewis matured enough to pile up 155 yards the next week and 232 the week after that. Perhaps Berry will prove himself adequately sooner rather than later.
Week Two Predictions:
Next week will provide a better look into how the conference will shake out. Here are a few picks for this weekend’s games:
Alabama 24 Missouri 34
Vanderbilt 31 Ole Miss 24
South Carolina 17 Virginia Tech 6
Georgia 24 LSU 17
Southern Miss. 20
Tennessee 38
5-year SEC window:
Let’s take a snap shot into conference success for each team during the last five years. Starting with the 2002 season through the first weekend of 2007:
1. Georgia 54-13 -great run, even with the 9-4 last year.
2. LSU 53-13 -poised to chase another National Title.
3. Auburn 51-14 – 34-5 since 2004. 3rd best in NCAA.
4. Florida 45-19 – Urban Meyer is 22-4 leading the Gators.
5. TN 42-22 – TN is 14-11 in last 25 games.
6. Ark. 38-26 – The Hogs have won 11out of 15.
7. Bama 37-27 – almost 4 mill. per yr. buys better.
8. USC 32-29 -USC has lost at least 5gms each year.
9. Ole Miss 29-32 – Rebs just 12-23 since 10-win ’03.
10. Kentucky 25-35 – 8-5 last year and looking to be better.
11. Vandy 16-43 – 9 wins in last two seasons. Not horrible.
12. Miss. St. 14-45 -When you don’t have anything good to say…
* Georgia had three appearances in the SEC Championship game during this stretch, and won the league twice. Arkansas and LSU each made it twice in the West. LSU won the league title in 2003. They also won it in 2001, but that year does not fall into this survey. An impressive run likely to continue by the Bayou boys.
You can reach me personally at brentd@wlac.com. And, I encourage you to listen to Prime Time Sports on
1510 WLAC – Nashville. Wlac.com; keyword PTS.
Thanks for reading and happy football watching!
– Brent Dougherty.