SEC Predictions

EAST

1. Georgia, 12-0 (8-0) - I'm taking the Dawgs to run the table this year. In part because of their great schedule which avoids LSU, Alabama and Arkansas - and of course Mississippi State. But they also have a great team with future NFL stars littered all over their roster. Todd Grantham's defense is going to be stout, and the offense won't be too shabby either with Aaron Murray running the show. The toughest game of the year is @ South Carolina, which they have lost two straight to the Gamecocks, but I'm predicting that streak ends this fall.

2. South Carolina, 9-3 (6-2) - I really think last year's South Carolina team was better. If they had not lost to Auburn at home and Marcus Lattimore would have stayed healthy they could have been competitive in the SEC Championship Game and possibly gone on to the BCS Title Game. This year I think they lose too much talent on defense plus Ellis Johnson - and not having Alshon Jeffrey is going to sting. They are still a really good team though.

3. Florida, 9-3 (6-2) - The Gators are the biggest beneficiary of suspensions in my opinion. I've gone from picking them to go 7-5 to 9-3 because of LSU and Tennessee suspending major playmakers. Their defense should be so good they'll have a chance to win most games, and even though the offense looks less than mediocre they are Florida. But this is a two games better than last year - I'm counting on them heading to College Station in Week 2 and pushing A&M around.

4. Tennessee, 7-5 (3-5) - I had UT beating Florida but without Da'Rick Rogers I can't pull the trigger now. So I had Derek Dooley winning 8 and keeping his job, but I think he wins 7 and loses it. If they had retained their coaching staff I'd be more optimistic with 18 returning starters. If their offensive line can prove to be a good one Tyler Bray & Co. could still be great even without Rogers.

5. Vanderbilt, 7-5 (3-5) - You have to like what James Franklin is doing. Their defense does lose some star players and might not be as good, the offense might be better though. They have UK and Ole Miss on the schedule which is a plus, and I'm actually going to call for a home win vs. Auburn.

6. Missouri, 6-6 (2-6) - I just don't know how well their offense will do in the SEC. I think they have athletes and they will move the ball, but it won't be like it was in the Big 12. This would be a disappointing season for them but I just don't see room for more wins.

7. Kentucky, 3-9 (0-8) - They are no good. Joker gets canned.


WEST

1. Alabama, 12-0 (8-0) - Nick Saban will reload and it will all come down to November 3rd (which I now think they will win - I don't like picking them to go undefeated but I feel it's necessary. They could still lose at LSU though). They are just better than everyone else, and they have better coaching. The two possible stumbling blocks would be at Arkansas and at Tennessee.

2. LSU, 10-2 (6-2) - This is a great team, one that I had pegged to go undefeated before you know who got suspended. Without the Honey Badger I think it cost LSU two loses. He is such a game changer, not only on defense but special teams. I'm going to say Alabama and at Florida.

3. Arkansas, 9-3 (5-3) - Losing Petrino really stings, and they are bringing in new coordinators. They lose three top flight WRs and some solid defensive talent. This team will be good, but they can't compete for the West without Bobby P.

4. Mississippi State, 8-4 (4-4) - I made up my mind I was picking State at 8-4 after I wrote this. Since I always pick MSU to beat Auburn I switched that this year to hopefully reverse the luck. This is a solid team and if Tyler Russell can stay healthy and do well in the passing game, it will be a great year.

5. Auburn, 7-5 (3-5) - Gene Chizik is going in the opposite direction of what won him a national championship in 2010...more defense, less offense. There are more question marks here than probably any other team (maybe UT). How will the defense adjust to a new D.C.? Who will play QB and will they be any good?

6. Texas A&M, 5-7 (2-6) - I'm actually going to pick them to come out of the gates losing the opener at LA Tech (similar to another maroon team circa 2008) and then Florida. Even if they beat LA Tech I still don't think they make a bowl game because they play two FCS schools - so they need 7 wins to be eligible.

7. Ole Miss, 3-9 (0-8) - This is definite rebuilding. They have the toughest schedule and the worst team. But by the end of the year I expect them to look better than Kentucky.


SEC Champ: Georgia - I really think Mark Richt has it in him to win this thing.

Independence Bowl: Missouri

BBVA Compass Bowl: Vanderbilt

Liberty Bowl: Tennessee

Music City Bowl: Auburn

Gator Bowl: Mississippi State

Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Florida

Outback Bowl: South Carolina

Cotton Bowl: Arkansas

Capital One Bowl: LSU

Sugar Bowl: Alabama

BCS Title Game: Georgia vs. USC in the battle of teams with under 75 scholarships yet really really good national championship game. Georgia wins to make it seven straight for the SEC. While I'm out on a limb here, I say Richt retires to become a missionary...I think he has other goals in life, he'd like to go out on his own terms and I'm sure he's tired of the UGA fanbase always calling for his head.

One Game Playoff....Gotta Be Kris Medlen

Even though the Nats have lost 5 in a row, the Braves are still 4 games back in the division. And since the Bravos can't seem to take a series against them it looks like the Wild Card is the best option for the playoffs. Since there are two Wild Card teams this year to be decided by a one game playoff, you've got to wonder who the Braves best option would be. I think it's got to be Medlen.

The Braves have a six-man rotation right now, and out of those starters Tim Hudson by far has the most experience with 9 starts. He has a 1-3 record, 3.46 E.R.A. He has 3 starts with the Braves; a 0-1 record and 3.56 E.R.A. Tommy Hanson has one career playoff start (2010 vs. Giants) where he gave up 4 runs in 4 innnings. Outside those two, none of the other starters have any playoff experience...not even Ben Sheets.

Sheets looks like he has officially faded. His last 5 starts weren't too good and now he's on the DL, or in other words, the under-performing so we don't want you taking up a roster spot list.

Tommy Hanson has had his best W-L year, but his worst E.R.A. year. He has lost 7-8 mph on his fastball and just isn't the intimidating presence he was before last summer. I don't think anyone would put his name on top of the list for starting a one-game playoff.

Mike Minor: he's had some good starts but he's still feeling his way around being a major league starter. He'd be last on my list to start a game of this magnitude.

Paul Moholm has been pitching great lately. He has been a solid edition to the Braves rotation. Despite his 2-3 record while with Atlanta he has a complete game shutout, 2.49 E.R.A. and at least 6.2 IP in all 5 of his starts. I would be comfortable will Moholm - and if the opposing team struggles against lefties then I might even prefer him.

Tim Hudson is obviously the guy most would say they'd want on the mound. And I wouldn't mind him either. The only thing is he hasn't been as consistently sharp as Moholm or Medlen. He has the experience and he's been a bona fide ace for a decade +, but I think I'd like to save him for a possible Game 1 of the Division Series.

Kris Medlen is my boy. He is a bulldog on the mound. Chipper even said Med has a presence like Greg Maddux. The guy just wins. The Braves have now won his last 17 starts dating back to 2010 - a Braves record! He has currently pitched 28.1 consecutive scoreless innings, which is by far the most by a Braves pitcher this year. In his 6 starts this year he has a 0.67 E.R.A. That's pretty good.

Medlen is on fire right now, so I don't want to be a prisoner of the moment. He may very well cool off in September and Hudson or Moholm will be the best choice. But right now Kris Medlen at least deserves to stay in the rotation when Gonzalez switches back to 5-man, and he's for sure got a spot in the playoff rotation (assuming we do make it).

Quit Feeling Sorry For Yourself

It makes me crazy when I see how folks feel so sorry for themselves these days. I'm not going to say that I've never felt down on my luck, or wanted to feel sorry for myself, but it seems like we allow folks to feel justified to do so.

There's a prevailing attitude in America that no one should have to suffer. Well that's a nice goal to have but it's just not possible. That is the kind of attitude Communist have. But communism doesn't work as we all know. And the fact is, folks do suffer and lead an unhappy life under that style of government.

Going through hard times and difficult circumstances is just part of life. Feeling sorry for yourself only makes things worse. The most important thing to do is have faith that God will see you through, and believe that he WILL do it. Because He will.

JB

Student Athletes vs. Pros

Last week the Honey Badger's drug problems were well documented as he was kicked off LSU's football team. Many other college football players have gotten in trouble for a variety of things, and it has been reported in the media. That is just the way it is - but is it right?

There are a ton of reasons why people discuss paying college athletes. But one I rarely, if ever, hear is that they get their name run through the mud and they aren't professionals.

The fact is, college football players are student athletes. Whether they are playing college football as a means to get a scholarship for whatever their particular field of study is, or they are preparing for a career in the NFL, these players are learning. They are learning how to be professionals because right now they are amateurs.

It's unfortunate when college players have their mistakes printed in the newspapers, written about on the internet and discussed on the radio. It's an embarrassment to themselves, their families, the team, etc. Yes, the players need to be careful about what they say and do. But they are not yet professionals. So why should they have to?

I understand that this is just the way it is. And with all the technology out there now it will only continue to be more prevalent. I just think it's a shame.

No More Croom Day

The fall of 2008 was pretty much an awful time. The economy collapsed, Barack Obama was elected president, Ole Miss had a really good year and Mississippi State went back in the tank at 4-8.

But there was one good day: November 29, 2008. A day that I shall now remember as 'No More Croom Day'. The day he was fired.

I never really hated Coach Croom like so many people did. He wasn't a very good football coach but in the end he did leave MSU in a better place than he found it...in a position to succeed under another coach.

I always thought he was a good man, just not a good football coach. But since he gets his feelings hurt, and has the time (in the middle of NFL training camp) to pester a blogger using his "likeness", well, there is just no sympathy for the man.

The Croom Diaries was never even a parody of Coach Croom. It was simply a pen name. That was it. No one thought it was Sly himself. For the Walrus to even care about it is baffling. Why in WORLD would anyone want to be Coach Croom?

I will not be watching the "Storied" on this man. I will burn my "the only color that matters is maroon" shirt. This year I will celebrate 'No More Croom Day' on November 29th.

Chick-Fil-A: A Hate Group?

It is beyond comprehension why the extreme left is so bent out of shape about Chick-Fil-A. Saying they are a hate group is about the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

The left has been so successful at creating a mindset of accepting gays that they have made it fashionable to be gay...and if you don't agree with gay marriage then you must hate gay people.

Chick-Fil-A is not a hate group. They don't discriminate against them whether it be hiring or serving them. The fact that so many people got bent out of shape of this is disturbing. But the fact that so many people stood up for Chick-Fil-A was encouraging. I don't care whether they ate Chick-Fil-A on Wednesday because of free speech, Chick-Fil-A being a Christian organization, or because they don't agree with gay marriage. I like all three of those reasons.