Last week was a first for me since doing weekly SEC Football Predictions.
I actually picked more games wrong than I did right.
Honestly, it was a feeling of mixed emotions. I didn't know whether to attribute my awful insight that I attempted to provide you to a crazy week of college football or ignorance to how competitive this league actually is.
I've come up with the ever-simple solution that we will just blame it on both.
Going 4-5 last week puts me at 56-15 for the season, which is by no standards bad. I just wish I could remember the last time South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, LSU, and Texas A&M all lost on the same week, or if that has ever happened.
Missouri has come out on top in the east so far, but they host a South Carolina team that is still considerably in the hunt. If South Carolina wins out in conference, they have a definite shot at representing the east in the title game.
A few teams play out of conference this week, but there are definitely some good match-ups inside the conference.
Tennessee will be trying to warm up their slingshot in assuming the underdog role going into Tuscaloosa to face number one. Butch Jones has them believing in Knoxville, and beating the HBC last weekend in Knoxville was a signature win for his regime.
Georgia and Florida both get the weekend off to lick their wounds on consecutive SEC losses, while trying to nourish their teams back to health.
The SEC East is becoming a true war of attrition. The spot in the title game may come down to who has the healthiest team.
Out of conference, Jameis Winston put on an unbelievable performance that pushed him into the top echelon for the Heisman Race. I think Winston and Marcus Mariota from Oregon would split the vote for the trophy right now. NC State goes to Tallahassee this weekend, and the Wolfpack usually put together something competitive against the Seminoles.
Clemson rolls up to College Park, Maryland to take on the once-ranked Terrapins. I see Clemson easily scoring 40 points in this ball game and proving they are deserving of a top ten rank. I was not a huge fan of Dabo Swinney's rant about splitting ten games with Florida State, but I am also writing this blog hoping for readers while he coaches a top ten FBS team.
Without anymore yappin', here are the out of conference picks:
NC State 13
(2) Florida State 35
I really think Winston may have more potential than Louisville QB, Teddy Bridgewater. Maybe the Jags should think about tanking another year and picking him up?
Penn State 20
(4) Ohio State 31
I really like Penn State's direction under O'Brien. I think they will make this more competitive in the Shoe than people think.
(9) Clemson 49
Maryland 10
Tajh Boyd and the Tiger offense will bounce back this week and take a step forward toward BCS hopes.
Now let's take a peek inside week nine of the SEC Schedule:
Kentucky 21
Mississippi State 20
I think Kentucky will pull out a conference win on the road tonight to break their 13-game road skid in the SEC.
Vanderbilt 17
(15) Texas A&M 35
I think Johnny Football will play, and I think the Aggies will finally be able to take care of business in a conference game at home.
Tennessee 13
(1) Alabama 45
This game may be close at first, but I think Nick Saban learned from a few of HBC's mistakes.
Furman 3
(13) LSU 51
LSU is going to try to throw as many points as they can on Furman after a disappointment against Bo Wallace and Ole Miss last weekend.
(21) South Carolina 31
(5) Missouri 27
Two good teams forced to use a backup QB. I think Steve Spurrier finally finds a way to get one on the road behind Dylan Thompson.
Florida Atlantic 0
(11) Auburn 52
This game will not be a deciding factor to the question: Has Gus Malzahn made Auburn a contender again?
Idaho 3
Ole Miss 31
The Rebels will continue to gain momentum with another win this Saturday.
So hopefully this weekend won't be another version of the "Great SEC Shake-up of 2013" that we experienced last weekend.
Maybe I'll get a few right.
Thanks for the read, and be sure you follow me on twitter @griffaldo .
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