FanNation - The Republic of Sport

      There are 8 games involving SEC teams today and tomorrow, and since I have all day to blog, I will go into detail with each game instead of just the games involving two SEC teams. Let's start with today's two games:

    Mississippi State (4-7) at #25 Ole Miss (7-4): This appears to be one of the best games of today, as the Rebels and the Bulldogs battle for the Egg Bowl. The Rebels will try to avenge last year's loss, as they led 14-0 in the fourth but wound up losing 14-17. This led to the firing of Ed Orgeron and the hiring of Houston Nutt, now viewed as the savior in Oxford. Mississippi State has nothing to lose in this one, as they have already been eliminated from bowl eligibility, so don't expect many punts or field goals from Miss State today. I think that Ole Miss will be up on their high horse from last week's win over LSU, and will fall behind early. They will close in late, but too late. FINAL SCORE Miss State 24 Ole Miss 21

    LSU (7-4) at Arkansas (4-7): This season has been a disaster for the Tigers, as they've went from fighting for the National Title to probably playing in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. Arkansas is coming off a close loss to Mississippi State, a loss that knocked the Razorbacks out of a bowl. Both of these teams want to prove how good they really are, but one team will come into this game on fire and won't slow down. FINAL SCORE LSU 27 Arkansas 14 

        Now for the games that will be played tomorrow:

      South Carolina (7-4) at Clemson (6-5): This is the first game that neither team has been ranked since the 2004 game, in which the Tigers routed the Gamecocks. Both of these teams have had disappointing years. South Carolina was thought to be battling for the SEC since Steve Spurrier has been there for 4 years, and Clemson was a darkhorse national title contender, but hope of that died when Bama came to Atlanta and throttled the Tigers. Head coach Tommy Bowden resigned in October, opening the door for a young man named Dabo Swinney. Swinney was named interim head coach, and has led to the Tigers to a 3-2 record as head man, and a 6-5 record overall. Many believe that Swinney has a shot to become the permanent head coach, and I think a win against South Carolina would help secure that belief. FINAL SCORE Clemson 17 South Carolina 7

      #18 Georgia Tech (8-3) at #13 Georgia (9-2): This is the game that I will be watching tomorrow. Georgia Tech has been a surprise team, thriving under Paul Johnson's option offense. This is really the first game of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate where I really believe that the Yellow Jackets actually have a shot at winning. Either way this game goes, it will be a blowout, as the Dawgs will either be able to completely stop the Jackets offense or will be demolished. Call me biased, but I believe the first one. FINAL SCORE Georgia 37 Georgia Tech 20

        Auburn (5-6) at #1 Alabama (11-0): I believe that Tommy Tuberville needs this win if he wants to retain his position at Auburn. If Auburn loses this game, the Tigers will not be in a bowl game for the first time since 1999, Tuberville's first season at Auburn. Bama would need this win to insure that an SEC team will be in the National Title game, as the winner of the Bama vs. Florida game will be the #1 team in the nation. Call me crazy, but I think this game will mess up the BCS even more. And there's only one way that this game could mess up the BCS. FINAL SCORE Auburn 31 Alabama 24

         #2 Florida (10-1) at #23 Florida State (8-3): Here is another game that could be a barn-burner. Florida is coming in needing one more win to make it to Atlanta with one loss, which was by a single point. The Gators haven now won four games in a row against Bobby Bowden's team, and this game could be the biggest one of recent years. I think this game will go back and forth, but the "wide right curse" will occur to Urban's team, not Bobby's. FINAL SCORE Florida State 34 Florida 31

          Kentucky (6-5) at Tennessee (4-7): Phillip Fulmer's last game as Vols head coach. I've heard a lot of people saying that Fulmer could go coach somewhere else, but I doubt it. I believe that he will take some type of role at the college like helping with donations. Anyway, this game will be full of emotions, and it will be a bittersweet game for Vols fans. I believe it will be a great game, but in the end The Vols will put it away. They will carry Fulmer off the field (it will take ALL the players) as the Vols prevail. FINAL SCORE Tennessee 41 Kentucky 31

          Vanderbilt (6-5) at Wake Forest (6-5): This is a game that I really wish I could watch. The Commodores clinched bowl eligibility two weeks ago against Kentucky, but are coming off a loss to Tennessee. Wake Forest has had a disappointing year and looking to end the year with a 7-5 record. I think that Vanderbilt will be thinking a whole lot about going to a bowl game, and never really be close. The final score will be closer than the actual game was. FINAL SCORE Wake Forest 37 Vanderbilt 24