GONNA BE FINE IN WEEK NINE. More Winning. Less Whining.

Last week was brutal. No way to sugar coat the truth as we went 2-6 in our picks in what turned out to be the craziest Saturday so far this season. Tons of upsets with a big shake up in the Top Ten.

But all was not lost. 

Some slippage but still stellar

Although we picked South Carolina to win, the Vols pulled a big upset with a game ending field goal to give bUTch Jones his first SEC victory. And while we picked Florida to win, it's always special when the Gators lose. And then we have the Georgia Bulldogs. We picked them to win but Vandy had something to say about that in Nashville as the Bulldog nation has gone curiously quiet the last couple of weeks. That happens when you're favored to win the SEC East and even be considered to be in the National Championship mix and then you fall flat. Yes, the injury bug has bitten the mutts but the reality is their defense has been a liability all season and the inconsistent play of Murray has surfaced once again.

So where are we? After 7 weeks of success, we hit a bump in the road - just like everyone else - but we're sitting at an unbelievable 77% success rate. So, stop you're whining and let's focus on winning with another great slate of games.

Your Weekend Winners are...

 

Believe in bUTch

Tennessee @ #1 Alabama...last week we wondered if Tennessee's game with Georgia was a fluke or maybe a sign that the Vols have finally turned the corner. Well, their win over the Gamecocks went a long way to answering that as the Vols sent Visor Boy smirking back to Columbia. But tomorrow is a totally different situation as the Crimson Tide plays host to bUTch Jones and Company and the odds makers are showing zero love for Tennessee. When, you might ask, was the last time Tennessee was a 28.5 point dog? Never. So if I'm the head coach my pre-game speech is all about getting zero respect and having nothing to lose, etc., etc. Of course, the Vols have to somehow contain one of the best run games in the SEC with TJ Yeldon and local product, Kenyon Drake, and then somehow force a few turnovers to keep the game close. Last season's game notwithstanding, this match up is typically a close affair, records be damned. We think that might be the case tomorrow. Take Tennessee and the points.

#12 UCLA @ #3 Oregon...what can we say about Oregon? The quackers continue to be dominant on both sides of the ball, scoring 57+ points per game while allowing just 17 points per game. Meanwhile, the Bruin's QB Brett Hundley spent most of last week's game running for his life as Stanford sacked him 4 times. Could it get worse? You bet. Oregon ranks third in the Pac-12 with 20 sacks this season and they'll be licking their bills to go after the young UCLA o-line. Last week's loss to Stanford exposed another side of UCLA. They mustered only 266 yards of offense and only 10 points. Worse, the Bruin defense gave up 419 yds. This game could get ugly as the Ducks send the Bruins packing with another loss.

#10 Texas Tech @ #15 Oklahoma...I first saw the Red Raiders play in the 1973 Gator Bowl. That's got nothing to do with their tango tomorrow with the Sooners; just thought I'd drop it in here. In any case, we like what first year coach Kliff Kingsbury is doing in Lubbock, but the rap on TTU is they haven't really played anybody this season. Well, that changes tomorrow in Norman where the Red Raiders take on a banged up Sooner team which hasn't faced a strong passing attack like TTUs plus they've struggled to stop the run. Kingsbury has been using two different QBs this season and the Mayfield/Webb combo leads the conference in passing completions and is second in yards per game only to Oregon State. That's impressive. And that's why we're riding with the Red Raiders tomorrow and so should you.

Johnny be bad can be great

Vanderbilt @ #16 Texas A&M...Vandy is certainly feeling good after upsetting Georgia last week. But tomorrow is a totally different story as the 'Dores and Aggies meet for the first time ever. Vandy will be with out their quarterback that was injured last week but the Aggie defense is one of the poorest in the country giving up 490+ yards per game and 6.7 per play. But as you know, Texas A&M also scores a ton of points especially when Johnny Football gets hot. The Aggies are an 18 point favorite, and they'll cover. Take the Aggies and count your cash.

Tigers on their way to Atlanta

#21 South Carolina @ #5 Missouri...Tennessee gets credit for taking out another top play maker as South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw left last week's game in Knoxville with a knee injury. That's a big deal since the Gamecocks, so dependent on Shaw's arm and legs to fuel their offense, take on a fired up Mizzou team that is now in the driver's seat in the SEC East. Who woulda thunk it? In just their second year in the SEC, the Tigers are fast becoming a force in a division long dominated by Florida and Georgia. And tomorrow Coach Pinkel has one more opportunity to show the rest of the SEC that there's a new Tiger in town. Take the Tigers. And if you're a Mizzou fan, go ahead and book your room in Atlanta.

#6 Stanford @ #25 Oregon State...if you're still up late Saturday night be sure to tune into this game because a lot is riding on this contest in terms of Pac-12 rankings. The Beavers are 4-0 in the conference and the Cardinal are coming off a big win over UCLA. Names to note for this game: OSU's Brandin Cooks, the nation's leading receiver, and Stanford's Tyler Gaffney who racked up 171 yards and 2 TDs last week in a typical smash mouth, ground and pound offense. It's only the second home game for the Beavers since September 7 but that won't matter.  Take Stanford in a solid win.

Georgia Tech @ Virginia...I'm going to watch part of this game because I want to see if Johnson's Jackets can win in Charlottesville. UVA has won the last 8 of 9 games with Tech including a 24-21 victory in 2011. The Wahoos have lost four straight coming into this game and the Jackets snapped a three game skid by blowing away Syracuse 56-0 at Bobby Dodd Stadium last week. But the Bees should take care of business because, quite honestly, Virginia stinks and Mike London more than likely will not survive this season. They've averaged only 17 points in conference games and their defense, while stingy with rushing yards, will be missing a couple of key d-line starters. Not good. Unless you're the Jackets who will sting the Cavs at Scott Stadium.

Penn State @ #4 Ohio State...this games makes for a pretty nice evening soire as two of college football's most historic programs mix it up in the Horseshoe and the Buckeyes put their 19 game winning streak on the line. We know tOSU is loaded with talent and we can recite all of Braxton Miller's stats. BUT...and this is a big but...if Penn State's frosh quarterback Christian Hackenberg has a near perfect game and plays with the same poise he had in the win over Michigan, then we like the Nittany Lions...and the 14.5 points.  Lay your money on Penn State as the Lions bite the Buckeyes.

Let's check back tomorrow to see who is winning or whining.

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