SEC Championship Game

I will admit this is the first time I've ever been in the Georgia Dome other than an Atlanta Falcons game. SEC FanFare was a madhouse with a carnival-like atmosphere. I'm sitting in the media workroom indulging on probably the best damn pot roast other than my grandmothers, it's probably time to give my game prediction.

Keys To The Game:

        * Quarterback - AJ McCarron has been the step-up QB compared to Aaron Murray, who has been known to struggle in major matchups.
        * Discipline - Despite the offsides call that cost Alabama a chance to make a dramatic comeback against Texas A&M, Georgia has been known with a reputation when it comes to penalties. Most games this season, the Bulldogs were penalized 12 times. Nick Saban's motto has always been discipline and perfection, you rarely see the Tide get penalized.
         *Coaching - Nick Saban thrives in the big matchups with a National audience watching him to dominate or to fail. After the Texas A&M loss, Alabama has been on a tear. Mark Richt is being considered on the hot seat every year, despite a 10-2 record. Georgia has not won an SEC Championship since 2005, and their last chance they were embarrassed by LSU and the Honey Badger. Coaching Advantage goes to the Tide.
          *Pass Rush - The Bulldogs led by Jarvis Jones, have a very nasty pass rush. However, Alabama's bread and butter is the run, which Georgia is ranked 67th in America when it comes to Rushing defense. If Georgia can produce a pass rush through a very talented offensive line, this game will be too close for comfort. Alabama lost Kenny Bell with a leg injury which might lead Alabama to go to the running game.
          *Air Attack - Despite Aaron Murray's failures to close the deal in big games, he does have a potent air attack. If you asked me for a weakness in Alabama's defense (and it's hard to find a weakness) it would be the Secondary. If the Georgia offensive can give Murray protection, it could be a long day for the Secondary.


With all of that said, Georgia can keep this game tight in the 1st half. But Alabama will eventually wear down the Bulldog Rush defense and gash them to punch their ticket to Miami.

Alabama 27
Georgia  17

Are Auburn fans hoping for a Football Coach or a Pastor?

As I watch the reaction from Auburn faithful regard the search for their new Head Football Coach, I ask myself one question.

Are Auburn fans looking for a Football Coach or a Pastor?

It doesn't take you two seconds to realize where I'm going with this article. The Auburn Coaching Search has began to turn into a bit like Twilight. There's no Team Edward or Team Jacob. It's more like #TeamPetrino, #TeamStrong, and #TeamGus. Sorry, Jimbo Fisher is staying where he is.

As I've said for months, Bobby Petrino is the leader in the clubhouse for the Auburn job after this season. Whatever you've read in the last few days, the Petrino talk seems to be heating up. Although al.com reported that Louisville Head Coach Charlie Strong did interview for the Auburn job, the job is Petrino's to turn down, and he probably won't turn it down.

There seems to be mixed reactions on the possibility of Petrino coming back to the plains. Some welcome a proven winner while some are furious because of his moral mishap which led to his dismissal at Arkansas. I hear the Auburn "Creed" being referenced many times and also heard that hiring Petrino would go against that. If you hold judgement because a man cheated on his wife and used his power to hire his mistress (who was engaged), you're obviously watching the world through a very narrow lens.

Everyone knows where my stance is when it comes to playing the morality card and football.....that stance is that is very laughable. NCAA Football is not a monestary, it's a business. Usually, winning in college football is good for business, just ask Auburn's counterparts in Tuscaloosa. So Bobby Petrino cheated on his wife, used his power to get a co-ed a job, and lied about it. That is pretty scummy. However, if you look back to his tenures at Louisville and Arkansas, how many NCAA investigations were under his watch? Has there been an armed robbery involving football players under Petrino? Has there been a shooting that rocked a college town and led to the death of a former football player under Bobby Petrino? That's what I thought.

Maybe Bobby Petrino can't manage the ship that is called his personal life, but he can tighten up the ship that is called a Division I FBS Football Program. It's proven.

As much as you may like Charlie Strong, great coach and has brought Louisville back, he did it against Joker Phillips. He runs a good clean program, but I'm not sure he's ready for primetime competing with Nick Saban on the field or on the recruiting trail.

Gus Malzahn is loved on The Plains. Some will argue that he was the brains behind the 2010 BCS Title run. Hugh Freeze took Ole Miss back in the right direction in year one after coaching at Arkansas State, where Malzahn is currently. The difference between Ole Miss and Auburn is: A 6-6 record and a win vs. Mississippi State will secure your job for years. A 6-6 record and the continued shortcomings vs. Alabama will get you ran out of the door.

It all comes down to one word....patience, and the Auburn base has none it can spare. They want [NEED] to win and they NEED to win NOW!!! Alabama could be playing for their 3rd National Championship in 4 years with a win over Georgia on Saturday. Auburn is currently in their offseason after a 3-9 record. Time is running out and Auburn has an uphill climb. The only person that is equipped and proven to make that uphill climb is........Bobby Petrino.

Whether you love Bobby Petrino or you hate him, he can win despite only going 17-15 in the SEC. Jimbo Fisher is not coming, and neither is Jon Gruden or Gary Patterson. Bobby Petrino is the best realistic option on the board.

I ask one more time Auburn fans. Do you want a Football Coach or a Pastor?

What now for Auburn?

Today we got the obvious news that Gene Chizik would no longer be the Head Coach of The Auburn Tigers. Some say he should have been given one more year, some are glad to see him go. Now it's time to move forward, now what?

That's the question you have to ask in regards to the Auburn Tigers future.

The fact that AD Jay Jacobs is still employed is honestly surprising. The man who pulled the trigger to hire Gene Chizik after a 5-19 record at Iowa State, will hire the next coach with the help of a search committee including former Auburn Tigers Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson.

Auburn is in a situation where an up and coming coach maybe a big gamble when you look at what is happening at Tuscaloosa. The pool is not as deep for a splash hire like Alabama had with Nick Saban back in 2007. This time there's more competition for new coaches with Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky looking for new coaches.

How attractive is the Auburn job? Is it really that attractive? With Nick Saban and Les Miles in the same division, a cloud of an NCAA investigation hovering over, and the expectations that led to a National Championship coach being fired after 22 months, how attractive is it?

The name that is really popular is Bobby Petrino. The one thing you can say is that he didn't leave Arkansas on his own, but he has a track record of jumping ship for greener pastures. Auburn has already tried to go after Petrino once, and I wouldn't be surprised if they went after him again. He proved he could win at Arkansas, he could do the same at Auburn.

Another name is Florida State Head Coach Jimbo Fisher. He was a good Offensive Co-Ordinator at LSU, but hasn't been able win the ACC at Florida State, which was dominated by the Seminoles in Bobby Bowden's prime. With the talent that is coming to Florida State, Jimbo Fisher was unable You could put Fisher at 1 or 2 on the list with Petrino, but Auburn faithful will have to be patient.

Gus Malzahn is also a popular name. The mastermind of the offense at Auburn before bolting for Arkansas State, it still doesn't solve the defensive problem that has plagued the Tigers in the last couple of years, unless he decided to hire back Brian VanGorder.

Charlie Strong to me doesn't seem to be a reality. Louisville will try to keep him and most likely he would want to take OC Shawn Watson with him. You would likely have improvement on defense and the QB play. It would be a good hire, not sure how real it is.

The Jeff Fisher's, James Franklin's, Gary Patterson's, seem like a pipe dream to me. Fisher is making $7 Million coaching the St Louis Rams, Patterson is in a program in a major conference, and James Franklin could be crowned King of Vanderbilt tomorrow.

That is where Auburn is and I've narrowed down the possible candidates, and it really doesn't make you say "Wow, Auburn can get back." This has to quick hire, and it has to be the right hire. Jay Jacobs has already screwed the pooch once, will he and the search committee get it right or will he go down as another Mike Hamilton at Tennessee?

Only time will tell.

PSA: If you're trying to discredit Notre Dame's schedule, YOU'RE A MORON!!!

The following Public Service Announcement should really be unnecessary, but now it must be done. As Idrove to and back from Oxford, MS for the Egg Bowl, it never failed to get that guy who tries to downplay what Notre Dame has accomplished this season. I will be honest, I'm a little shocked that Notre Dame was able to run the table and lock up their spot in the BCS National Title Game.

Let's just face facts......they earned it. If you are trying to downplay their schedule as "not playing anybody", you're a moron and you need to do your homework. You can criticize Notre Dame's style of football as being ugly or their offense doesn't put up much points. That is actually a legit criticism. However, they got the job done.

For all of you simpletons that wave your SEC flag and look at everyone else as being inferior, let you give you a mild reality check.

Moronic argument #1: Notre Dame should join a conference!

If Notre Dame agreed to join the ACC in football, your argument would have more validity, but it would still be pointless. With all of the realignment, there may come a day that Notre Dame might have to get on board with a league. However, until then, why should they join a conference when NBC keeps scratching them a check? Also, their free reign to schedule whatever games they wanted to, seemed to work out this year.

1) The only Non-BCS conference teams on Notre Dame's schedule were BYU (7-5) and Navy (most likely 8-4). That's better compared to Alabama's Non-BCS opponents (Florida Atlantic, Western Kentucky, and Western Carolina) or Georgia's (Florida Atlantic, Buffalo, and Georgia Southern)

2) How many FCS teams are on Notre Dame's schedule? NONE. And when I hear the excuse from SEC fans about FCS schools on the schedule, I always hear "Well they play in a tough SEC." But if Notre Dame can schedule a maximum of 10 BCS conference teams, doesn't it make that excuse invalid?

Moronic argument #2: Notre Dame doesn't play anybody!!!

Really? Here's a breakdown of Notre Dame's schedule this season with their W-L record.

Navy (possibly 8-4)
Purdue 6-6
Michigan St. 6-6
Michigan 8-4
Miami 6-6
Stanford 10-2
BYU 7-5
Pitt 5-6 (one game left)
Boston College 2-10
Wake Forest 2-10
USC 7-5

In review, that's a maximum of only 3 teams on their entire schedule that is under .500.

Let's look at the SEC counterparts that will meet in Atlanta this Saturday........

Alabama

Michigan 8-4
Western Kentucky 7-5
Arkansas 4-8 (lost to UL Monroe and Rutgers)
Florida Atlantic 3-8
Ole Miss 6-6
Mizzou 5-7
Tennessee 4-8
Miss St 8-4
LSU 10-2
A&M 10-2 (LOST)
W.Carolina 1-10 (FCS)
Auburn 3-9

Hmmm.....so Alabama has played 6 teams with sub-500 records (4 of them being in the SEC).  Alabama is 5-1 vs. Bowl eligible opponents, Notre Dame is currently 9-0. Alabama has one win possibly 2 vs. 10 win opponent compared to Notre Dame possibly with 2.

Georgia

Buffalo 4-8
Mizzou 5-7
Florida Atlantic 3-8
Vandy 8-4
Tennessee 4-8
South Carolina 10-2 (LOST)
Kentucky 2-10
Florida 11-1
Ole Miss 6-6
Auburn 3-9
Georgia Southern 8-3 (FCS)
Georgia Tech 6-6

In review, Georgia has played 6 (4 in the SEC) opponents with sub-500 records, and are 4-1 vs. Bowl Eligible teams compared to Notre Dame's 9-0. Georgia has one win vs. 10+ win opponent vs. Notre Dame's possible 2.

Moronic argument #3: Notre Dame wouldn't last in the SEC.

For argument's sake, let's compare Notre Dame to Alabama and UGA's SEC schedule.

Notre Dame vs. Alabama's SEC schedule
Arkansas - Notre Dame win
Ole Miss - Notre Dame win
Mizzou - Notre Dame win
Tennessee - Notre Dame win
LSU - A winnable game for Notre Dame
Texas A&M - A winnable game for Notre Dame
Auburn - Notre Dame massacre

Best case scenario, Notre Dame would be 8-0 going into an SEC title game, worse case 6-2. No matter your definition of success, a 6-2 record in the SEC is pretty damn good.

Notre Dame vs. Georgia's SEC schedule
Mizzou - Notre Dame win
Vanderbilt - Notre Dame win (Vandy lost to Northwestern)
Tennessee - Notre Dame win
South Carolina - winnable game for Notre Dame
Florida - winnable game for Notre Dame (only beat UL-Lafayette by 4)
Kentucky - Notre Dame massacre
Auburn - Notre Dame massacre

So using the stupid logic of margin of victory, Notre Dame could go 6-2 at worse in the SEC. If you think that Tennessee, Ole Miss, or Vanderbilt could beat them, I hope you haven't spawned offspring.

So finally, I have methodically destroyed any irrational argument trying to discredit Notre Dame. In no way this was a hit piece to discredit the SEC. My point is, before you start dissecting someone else's "weak" resume, look at yourself in the mirror. Try and prove me wrong and you will fail. But I welcome the challenge regardless.



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