John Ward’s Classic Call [link to MP3]

Before I get to the Locks, I just wanted to mention that I am heading up to God’s Country this weekend for the first time in a while and looking forward to watching what is my favorite game every year …..TN/Bama. Will be hanging out with Bama and UT fans and some who are coming to Neyland for the first time. I am so excited that I woke up this morning around 4:00 AM, and I could not really get back to sleep as numerous past memories of this rivalry swirled in my mind ……. some really good …… the goal posts coming down in Neyland in ’82 to break the 10 game streak, Jay Graham’s two long TD runs in back to back years, the Johnny Jones 67 yd run at Legion Field, Peyton to Nash in ’95, the 21-7 slugfest at Bryant-Denny in ’99, the 5 OT win in ’03 ……. but also some that seemed like nightmares ….. the late 70s wishbone teams that could not be stopped, Bobby Humphrey sweeping left and right, Siran Stacy running roughshod, the ’90 blocked FG setting up a Doyle FG and a Tide last second win, the ’05 fumble through the end zone and finally last year’s debacle. I do not have a lot of confidence in the Vols this year for good reason. But the line seems a little fishy as it opened at Bama -5.5 went to -7 then plummeted to -4.5 last night, this morning it is back at -5. Not sure how the Vols can score enough points and Bama’s best games have been on the road. I think Tennessee will be ready for the game, but not sure they can pull it out. We shall see, and as the iconic John Ward would say ……..”IT’S FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!”

1. ORE -3 @ ASU The SunDevils were picked to be a PAC 10 contender in the pre-season, but they are in free fall mode as they have lost 4 games straight while averaging only 11 points in those games. Having a well coached team with a stout D like Oregon is not what the doctor ordered. ASU QB R. Carpenter has a bum ankle and will not be 100%. That is bad news as the Ducks are #5 in the nation in sacks led by DEs N. Reed and W. Tukuafu. R. Carpenter or D. Sullivan will be running for their lives most of the night. The Ducks expect to get QB J. Roper back and should be able to exploit the soft interior D of ASU with RBs L. Blount and J. Johnson. Oregon is looking to cement themselves as the #2 team in the PAC 10 and have a huge mismatch along both the OL and DL in this game. QUACK! QUACK! ORE 30 ASU 16

2. OLE MISS -6 @ ARK This game has all sorts of intrigue as Houston Nutt comes back to the pig sty. Say what you will about Nutt, but the guy can get a team ready for a game. I expect Ole Miss to be frothing at the mouth in this one. The line opened at 4.5 and has moved to 6, hopefully it will stay there. Last week Ark lost a heart breaker to KY and you have to wonder can they recover. Remember this is the same team that barely beat W. Ill. and La. Monroe. Ark is last in the SEC in rushing D giving up 170 yes/game. Watch for D. McCluster, C. Eason and E. Davis to pound the ball on the Hawgs. Also Ark has the #11 pass efficiency D and Ole Miss has the #5 pass O in the SEC . QB J. Snead, while inconsistent at times, has a strong arm and a number of weapons at WR. While Ark. QB C. Dick is an INT waiting to happen, throwing 5 INTs in last 3 games and 8 in his last 5. Throw in the fact that RB M. Smith is not 100% (concussion) and it looks like the Rebels should have a walk in the park. OLE MISS 34 ARK 21

3. UGA +1.5 @ LSU This is an elimination game from the BCS for these two SEC heavyweights. The SEC road dog theory is in play as SEC road underdog have gone 11-2 ATS this year. The Dawgs have a good history of playing well on the road under HC M. Richt. While the final scores of the TN and Vandy games are not impressive, UGA dominated both of those games. Last week LSU struggled at times and had to come back to beat So. Car. and just does not look as dominant on D as I expected them to look. Florida and Miss. State had great success running the ball on the Tigers and RB K. Moreno seems to be hitting his stride right now. Also, UGA has the #1 passing O in the SEC while LSU has the #9 pass D. If QB M. Stafford can avoid the stupid passes and play within himself, he could have a big day. The best frosh. WR in the league AJ Green should also shine in this one. On the other side of the ball UGA has the #1 rush D in the SEC (#3 in nation) giving up only 61 yds/game on the ground. If UGA can hold down the vaunted LSU run game and put pressure on the QB duo of Hatch/Lee to make plays, then they should be able to pull out the win. UGA 26 LSU 23

OTHER GAMES I LIKE BUT DID NOT MAKE CUT:

STRONG LEANS: CINCY -2.5, DUKE +10.5, MICH ST -4, F$U -5.5, USF -3.5, PENN ST -2 AND NEV -3

NOT SO STRONG LEANS: MINN -2, FLA -26, NMST -13, TTECH +1, ARIZ +16, TULSA -23

GOOD LUCK