Arkansas will try to keep its slim national title hopes alive and LSU actually has more to play for than you’d think. Not only do they have the opportunity to spoil a rival’s season, but they’re also holding on to some BCS hopes of their own. The Razorbacks will run into what is by far the best rush defense they’ve faced all year, but at the same time, it’s not as if the Tigers have faced an attack as potent as the one they’ll be seeing on Saturday either. McFadden will find room, but the key to this game just may be an underrated Arkansas defense. They shut down the LSU offense to keep the dream season intact.
Arkansas - 20, LSU - 17
#4 Florida (-9.5) at Florida State
The Gators can’t hold anything back for the SEC title game if they want to have any shot at receiving a bid to face Ohio State, because these close wins against mediocre competition simply aren’t gonna cut it. If Florida State were starting Xavier Lee over the truly terrible Drew Weatherford, I may have given them a chance in this game, but they aren’t. Their defense, coupled with Florida’s tendency to let teams hang around, will be enough to keep things from getting too ugly, but the Seminoles haven’t shown me enough in the past couple of weeks to prove to me that they can stay within 10 points for the long haul.
Florida - 21, Florida State - 10
South Carolina (+5) at #24 Clemson
South Carolina has actually played some of its best football of the year over the last several weeks, even if they have lost three of four. Clemson, on the other hand, hasn’t played so well since looking so good against Georgia Tech about a month ago. So the question is, will Blake Mitchell continue to look like a changed man or will James Davis and C.J. Spiller return to their earlier form? I think Clemson can pressure Mitchell the way they did Reggie Ball and exploit the Gamecocks’ weakness against the run with their great tailbacks. And if nothing else, Tammy Bowden sure does seem to know how to beat South Carolina with regularity.
Clemson - 27, South Carolina - 20
#20 Wake Forest (+1) at Maryland
Though they got knocked out of the division race with a loss last week, Maryland can still play the spoiler’s role on Saturday, provided Boston College takes care of business Thursday night. Both teams were exposed in a big way when they lost last week, but due to overall resume and just flat out playing better as of late, I’ve got to give the advantage to Wake Forest. While they have both found themselves on the winning end of tight games, the Demon Deacons have just been a little more convincing in theirs.
Wake Forest - 21, Maryland - 17
#6 Notre Dame (+7) at #3 Southern California
I’ve pretty much seen everyone take USC to cover in this game and, usually, that would have me all over Notre Dame to cover at the very least. However, when I look at matchups, athleticism, and overall advantages, I’m having a really hard time finding anything in the Irish’s favor. I like their coaches, but not any more than I do the Trojans’. I’d take Brady Quinn over John David Booty, but that’s just about it. Southern Cal is almost unbeatable at home, and they have a built-in advantage since this game is being played on an actual football field this year.
Southern Cal - 34, Notre Dame - 24
Warner Robins at Camden County
This isn’t your typical matchup of the state’s number three team, who’ve been to the Dome three of the last four years, and an unranked team who lost four games in the regular season and are in their first season playing AAAAA competition. As always, due to their region, you’re not exactly sure how good Camden is. That Brookwood win sure seems like a really long time ago. And the Demons’ record is a little deceiving, as their four losses were to four of the best teams in the state. It may be crazy to pick against a team as dominant as Camden always seems to be, but it just might be even crazier to bet against a team from Region 1 in any case.
Warner Robins - 28, Camden County - 17
Peach County at LaGrange
The top two teams in all of AAA square off in round two of the playoffs, as one of the very best teams in Georgia, regardless of classification, will fall quite short of reaching the semifinals in the Georgia Dome this year. The Grangers look to shut down a Peach County offense that hasn’t been held below 31 points by AAA competition all year. And I think they do it, just like they did against region foes Carver-Columbus and Shaw, and that experience in close games gets them to the quarterfinals.
LaGrange - 21, Peach County - 16
Griffin at Creekside
Undefeated and second-ranked Griffin pays a visit to undefeated and third-ranked Creekside. Does it get any bigger than this? This, I’m going to have to guess, is quite the rare occurrence in just the second round of the state playoffs. But that’s what happens when one team has to share a region with Northside-Warner Robins, I guess. Their only common opponent is Riverdale, whom the Bears beat 49-28 and the Seminoles beat 33-0. Otherwise, I like Seminoles’ strength of schedule a little better, so I’ll take them to win at home.
Creekside - 35, Griffin - 31
#16 Georgia Tech (+1.5) at Georgia
Matthew Stafford is the key to this game, as boring as that may be to say. If he plays as well as he did at Auburn, Georgia has a great chance to win. If he plays okay, and doesn’t throw any interceptions, I still like the Bulldogs’ chances. But, if he starts turning it over, Tech wins going away. Tenuta will do a good job disguising blitzes, so it’s imperative that Stafford makes good decisions and the line gives him time. It wouldn’t hurt if Lumpkin’s at full strength and Georgia runs him until he can’t run anymore. Anyway, call me what you want, but this year, Tech is stronger than the Bulldogs are at most positions. If they can’t win one when they have the better team, when will they?
Georgia Tech - 28, Georgia - 24
Bill Hartman and Dan Magill, The Greatest Bulldog Ever.
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