When the University of Tennessee’s football team squares off against Georgia on Saturday afternoon, there will be those who feel it could be the biggest game in a real long time.
Face it, the Vols are now 2-2 for the year, are not ranked in the Top 25 and, earlier this season, gave up 59 points to a Florida team that has since been whipped by Auburn. What’s worse is UT hasn’t won a SEC title in nine years and many of the fans are disgruntled to say the least.
Some feel that if the Vols, a slight favorite in the 3:30 game (CBS), don’t beat Georgia, then the $1 million gift that head coach Phil Fulmer and his wife Vicky gave to the alma mater earlier this year should be used to help buy the remainder of his contract.
I don’t know if one game should be that dramatic, but patience is wearing thin. The Nashville newspaper printed an interview with UT Athletic Director Mike Hamilton yesterday and here’s what he said when asked about Tennessee’s program:
"We're not exactly where we want to be yet, or back to where we want to be yet, but certainly we were on a roll in the late 90s. We won a lot of ballgames and had a high percentage of winning. We've got to continue to make progress and win ballgames and win key ballgames.”
“I think we need to regain our home-field advantage. We've lost that a little bit. I can't put my finger on it. Certainly some of that lies with us as an administration, some of it lies with the coaches and the players, and some of it lies with the fans," said the AD to the Tennessean.
Of course, Hamilton won’t have much to do with it, not like the president or the university’s powerful trustees, but you have to admit it adds a certain flavor to Saturday’s SEC game and, if UT should lose, Hamilton will get more than the 260 emails he received from those fans after the Florida game.
That said, here are my Top 10 picks for this Saturday:
GEORGIA – UT will start two true freshmen and a sophomore in the secondary against the Bulldogs and I’m enough of a football purist to believe that won’t work against a high-octane SEC team. I think UGA’s Mark Richt will peel a page out of the Florida playbook and unleash his running backs on the Vols early and then throw on those youngsters late if the Bulldogs can contain UT QB Ainge’s passes. My Pick? Georgia, 29-16.
KANSAS STATE – This is tremendously fun with KSU ranked at No. 24 in the polls and UK unbeaten. The Jayhawks were idle last week when KSU’s speed stunned the nation with the 41-21 victory over then-7th ranked Texas. Kansas QB Todd Reesing throws well, but KSU has proven speed and they’ve used that opening loss to Auburn (23-13) to stay humble. My Pick? KSU, 31-20.
TEXAS A&M – The Aggies are giving 6 after that 34-10 win over Baylor and the earlier loss to Miami is worrisome, but the Cowboys looked weak against Georgia and were plumb awful in that 41-23 nightmare against tiny Troy State. OSU had a breather against Sam Houston last week, but here’s a hunch they’ll fold like a pup tent when somebody else’s muscle is bigger than theirs. My Pick? Texas A&M, 31-19.
CLEMSON – I know, the VT win over North Carolina wasn’t strong, but LSU beat these guys by 41 and Clemson should be favored by more than 6. I discount the Tigers’ 13-3 upset to Georgia Tech on a week where five of the nation’s top 10 teams lost. CU was 13th that day and I’m figuring Bowden’s bunch is eager to atone for last week’s TV debacle. My Pick? Clemson, 29-21.
NEBRASKA – The Huskers smacked Iowa State 35-17 in a battle of strength last week while unbeaten Mizzou was on the couch, but the factors here “show me” that Missouri hasn’t whipped anybody very impressively while Nebraska is desperate in its return to glory. Go ahead, laugh; Mizzou is favored by 7. But don’t forget the Nebraska team scored 31 in that 18-point loss to Southern Cal and the lone difference was speed. This one will be a slugfest and UM doesn’t have the savvy USC does. My Pick? Nebraska, 31-18.
OHIO STATE – I believe OSU has one of the top 5 teams in the country and I can’t say the same for Purdue. Remember that the Buckeyes slaughtered Northwestern by 51 so when Tressel and Co. get it going, the avalanche happens in a hurry. Speed and size belong in Columbus. When these guys come calling there is a big bill to pay. My Pick? OSU, 41-17.
LSU – So here we are on “prime time” in one of those luscious 8 p.m. games and the Gators ruin the thing by getting beaten by Auburn in the Swamp. LSU, meanwhile, rides that Southern Cal loss to the first time they’ve been No. 1 since 1959 so a sensible sheriff would give everybody in the parish a drug test. Florida’s speed is one thing, but LSU’s might, particularly on defense, is reason enough to give the Gators and 8. My Pick? LSU, 37-24.
MIAMI – The Hurricanes are giving 10 to North Carolina, but after watching what South Florida did to UNC, the ‘Heels simply don’t have the quickness to line up with these guys. Add the fact Miami has such great athleticism and how well you can conjugate a verb “don’t make no difference a’tall,” in this one, so to speak. My Pick? Miami, 41-14.
AUBURN – As inconceivable as it sounds, Auburn grew up between the Miss. St. loss and the Florida win. We’ve suspected all along that AU is a good team, now with seven straight road wins in the SEC, so look for that talent to manifest itself against Vandy on The Plains. Speed and brawn win football games and Auburn’s kicking game has come alive, too. My Pick? Auburn, 38-20.
ALABAMA – If UA QB Wilson can catch fire early, this will be a waltz, but if he waits until the last quarter like he did at FSU, the Tide won’t handle the 13-point spread. Houston’s a light-weight against Saban and the two straight losses weigh heavy in Tuscaloosa. Look for Alabama’s defense to be dominant and you can bet the Tide men will have their ears pinned back. My Pick? Alabama, 41-10.
ONE MORE – Arkansas will pay UT-Chattanooga $325,000 for the Mocs to bus into Fayetteville and take on the Razorbacks in a “guarantee” game Saturday night. UTC, rumored to be a 46-point underdog early in the week, will earn every penny. The Mocs’ may be thinking what Appalachian State did against Michigan, but maybe the better hope is Nutt will pull his starters early to keep ‘em healthy for Auburn next week. My Pick? Arkansas, 49-15.
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