2009 Record
Overall: 132-50
Last Week: 10-4
Comment: The old alma mater (Georgia) stopped a twenty-game SEC winning streak on the picks by falling to Kentucky between the hedges. Professor seeks to finish strong the next couple weeks of the season.
Best Pick: With a big assist to Les Miles, Ole Miss pulled out the win over LSU as predicted; the Rebels probably need only to win the Egg Bowl for a holiday trip to Orlando.
Worst Pick: Maybe those Bob Stoops to Notre Dame rumors have something to them, because the Sooners got bushwhacked by Texas Tech.
Here are this week's SEC picks and all the weekend's rivalry games too.
Enjoy!
SEC PICKS
Friday, November 27th
Alabama (11-0, 7-0) at Auburn (7-4, 3-4)
1:30 p.m. CT
CBS Sports
Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
Comment: Crimson Tide heads to SEC title game win or lose, but a victory clinches a second straight unbeaten regular season and keeps BCS title hopes afloat. It will not be easy on the Plains, but Bama gets the nod. Professor's Pick: Alabama
Saturday, November 28th
Clemson (8-3) at South Carolina (6-5, 3-5)
12 p.m. ET
ESPN
Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250)
Comment: Steve Spurrier has really struggled against Clemson in the Battle of the Palmetto State (going 1-3), and the professor questions whether the old ball coach takes the game very seriously. Clemson and head man Dabo Swinney do.
Professor's Pick: Clemson
Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3) at Mississippi State (4-7, 2-5)
11:21 a.m. CT
SEC Network / ESPN 360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Scott Field (55,082)
Comment: If the professor was college football commish for a day, the Egg Bowl would be played on Thanksgiving Night where it goes real well with one last turkey sandwich. Don't expect this game to be a turkey; should be plenty of scoring. Upset special.
Professor's Pick: Miss State
Florida State (6-5) at Florida (11-0, 8-0)
3:30 p.m. ET
CBS Sports
Florida Field (88,548)
Comment: Florida best be on letdown alert what with the emotions of sending off the greatest Gator of 'em all, the looming SEC showdown with Alabama, and the pressure of national championship expectations. Might be scary for a while.
Professor's Pick: Florida
Arkansas (7-4, 3-4) at LSU (8-3, 4-3)
6 p.m. CT
ESPN
Tiger Stadium (92,400)
Comment: LSU must be reeling after losing a wacky game to Ole Miss (although to be fair the Rebels had outplayed the Tigers the whole game), and Arkansas comes in primed to move up in the SEC West pecking order. Bayou Bengals have a way of responding, so let's go with them.
Professor's Pick: LSU
Tennessee (6-5, 3-4) at Kentucky (7-4, 3-4)
7 p.m. ET
ESPNU
Commonwealth Stadium (67,942)
Comment: Bowl positioning will be on the line when two pretty physical squads square off. Saturday nights in Lexington are not easy, so consider this a tossup.
Professor's Pick: Tennessee
Georgia (6-5, 4-4) at Georgia Tech (11-1)
8 p.m. ET
ABC / ESPN2
Grant Field (55,000)
Comment: How sweet would an upset be for the Bulldogs? Georgia Tech swaggers in as ACC Coastal champs, headed for the conference championship, with a potential south Florida bowl trip on the holiday docket. The Dogs straggle into Atlanta after blowing a two-touchdown lead against Kentucky at home, minus their best player (WR A.J. Green), with a fan base holding a pocketful of pink slips designated for every assistant coach wearing red and black. Even the Dog mascot died. Tough year gets tougher for the Classic City canines.
Professor's Pick: Georgia Tech
Open: Vanderbilt (2-10)
RIVALRY AND GAMES OF INTEREST
Thursday
8:00 PM ET No. 3 Texas at Texas A&M ... Longhorn QB Colt McCoy has a losing record against Aggies, but should even that up Thanksgiving night. Professor's Pick: (Picked Earlier) Texas
Friday
3:30 PM ET Nebraska at Colorado ... Huskers on way to Big 12 title game but cannot overlook Buffs. Professor's Pick: Nebraska
7:00 PM ET No. 9 Pitt at West Virginia ... a Pitt win in the Backyard Brawl sets up a Big East showdown against Cincy next week, but this could be a dangerous fight for the Panthers. Professor's Pick: Pitt
10:00 PM ET Nevada at No. 6 Boise State ... Broncos could be left out in BCS cold even if they tame the Wolfpack. Professor's Pick: Boise State
Saturday
12:30 PM ET No. 12 Oklahoma State at Oklahoma ... Bedlam carries big-time risk-reward for OK State because Cowboys probably BCS bound with a victory. Professor's Pick: OK State
1:30 PM ET Southern Miss at East Carolina ... C-USA East title on line when Golden Eagles swoop into Greenville to face the purple Pirates. Professor's Pick: East Carolina
3:30 PM ET Missouri vs. Kansas ... Border War might be last stand for Mark Mangino who will fall victim to political correctness (and a bad season) as much as anything else. Professor's Pick: Missouri
5:00 PM ET No. 21 Utah at No. 19 Brigham Young ... the Holy War is the only matchup of top-25 teams this rivalry weekend. Professor's Pick: Utah
6:30 PM ET Washington State at Washington ... Apple Cup is a bit sour as Wazoo is perhaps worst team in a BCS conference. Professor's Pick: Washington
8:00 PM ET Notre Dame at Stanford ... Charlie Weis brought some criticism on himself for being too mouthy too early, but the personal stuff sometimes goes overboard. Jim Harbaugh could probably get the Irish job if he wanted it, but figures to stay at Stanford (until Michigan or the NFL comes calling). Professor's Pick: Stanford
