What an exciting chapter we had added to the "bit of a rivalry" game that is Mississippi State and Kentucky. Missed field goals, eight penalties for one team, a dropped punt snap for a safety, one defense repeatedly giving up third and long, a quarterback spraying the field, sidelines, and areas beyond the sidelines with incomplete passes, and one player getting two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in four plays, the last of which resulted in his ejection.
And the best part was that all of this incompetence was spread around, negating any advantage one team could gain. That meant the game went down to the last possession, which fittingly ended with Maxwell Smith throwing a wildly inaccurate and incomplete pass to an open receiver on fourth down.
It was yet another game in a five-year run of games that Mississippi State should have won by more, but didn't. They outgained Kentucky 447-325, held them to 4 of 18 on third down (22%), and with four minutes before halftime, State had the ball and a 21-7 lead, and seemed on the verge of finally blowing the Wildcats out.
Instead, they went three and out, punted, Kentucky put together a drive built on the previously mentioned unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and kicked a field goal, then State badly missed a field goal to end the half (note: to me, the most exciting moments of a State game are when Devon Bell, kicker and fill-in punter, takes the field because special teams tomfoolery is not far behind).
The second half was mostly Kentucky desperately trying to get back in it, but hindered by their lack of talent and eventually helped by the dropped punt snap and ensuing safety and touchdown. Had the Wildcats been able to pull off the win, you could have started the doomsday clock on the time remaining until Dan Mullen's departure.
Instead, he'll be back in 2014, though if he loses the next three (at South Carolina, at Texas A&M, and Alabama), then coughs up a bad loss to Arkansas on the road, perhaps the Egg Bowl turns into a game to save his job. I don't think he gets fired if that scenario occurs, but remember, SPORTS and CRAZY PEOPLE.
Last week: 4-2 (.667)
Season: 25-35-1 (.409)
Vanderbil at Texas A&M (-17)
A week after finally reaching the CBS level (11 AM version), Vanderbilt returns to its comfortable JP game home. Unfortunately for Vanderbilt, that return to Dave Neal and Andre Ware's home is against an offense that, even with less-than-healthy Johnny Manziel, can name its score and get it.
However, despite Vanderbilt starting freshman backup Patton Robinette (Welcome to the bright lights of the JP game, Patton! Yes, you're right, the noon sun is WAY brighter than any stadium lights!), they still get to face Texas A&M's defense, which is fun for everyone not at Texas A&M.
Unless Manziel doesn't play or is ineffective and repeatedly turns it over, Vanderbilt doesn't have enough offense to keep pace with Texas A&M in order to win the game. Fortunately, that is not our purpose here.
Our purpose here is to talk like we know what we're talking about, and then pick the game incorrectly against the spread. And my record this year is impeccable in this field.
With that disclaimer in mind, Vanderbilt and the points because Texas A&M's defense can't keep a lead of 17+ points.
Tennessee at Alabama (-28)
I have a friend who is an Alabama fan, and the only thing that arguably gives him more joy than Alabama winning is beating the traffic after an Alabama game. Two years ago, as Alabama was putting the final touches on a 37-6 win over Tennessee, he chose to stay until the end and get ensnared in the gates of hell traffic that is Tuscaloosa postgame because he "hates those people so much" and wanted to drink in all of their misery.
Saturday's game looks like an opportunity to play traffic chicken. How late can he leave and still beat traffic? If Alabama jumps out 28-0 or better at halftime, he can easily escape, but what if Alabama wins something like 49-7.
That's some sweet relishing of misery he'll miss. I would leave because convenience is my king and beating traffic really is the best.
Alabama to cover.
South Carolina at Missouri (-2)
I give up on South Carolina. They are more South Carolina than ever this year. Good to great to awful to mediocre to really awful to awful to good to find a way to lose to Tennessee.
That's the way they play now. It's difficult to watch, and nearly impossible to accurately pick against the spread with them.
So, out of spite (THE BEST REASON FOR ANYTHING), I'm taking Missouri to cover.
By the way, if Missouri beats South Carolina, they'll have to lose three of their last four conference games (Kentucky, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M) to miss out on a trip to Atlanta. What a fiery crash that would be if they dropped those last three. ALL THE JUMBO WINES TO MISSOURI.
Florida Atlantic at Auburn (-24)
A Pelini brother in Auburn? That's the most un-Baptist thing in Lee County since the vote to let SkyBar stay open until 2:30 AM.
Auburn to cover.
Idaho at Ole Miss (-41.5)
This game was announced as a sellout this morning, which I'm sure is a product of athletic department math and here, Kroger, take this block of 1500 tickets and leave them in all the shopping carts and scatter them in the produce section.
I would question at what point do the starters get pulled, but how can you pull people who are not playing? Idaho and the points.
Furman at LSU
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
