College Football
Rolling Tide
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Alabama has been the gold standard in college football for almost a century. The Crimson Tide won their first national championship in 1925 and they have more than any other program (17). They also have the best coach in the sport, Nick Saban.
Since showing up in Tuscaloosa, back in 2007 he transformed them into the best program of the past decade. They are the bullies of the SEC and outside of their own fan base most fans have grown tired of them.
They had another undefeated season and made it to the national championship game again. They play Clemson almost every year in the CFP but this time the result was shocking. They were blown out 44-16. This was the worst loss of Saban’s career since he’s been at Alabama.
Bama is led by Heisman finalist Tua Tagovailoa. He started the season off great but he started getting injured late. His play slipped, possibly because of this or maybe defenses started to adjust to him. He passed for 3,966 yards, 43 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
They normally are loaded at running back but they have a big hole to fill this season. They lost senior Damien Harris and junior Josh Jacobs. Jacobs was drafted in the first round, the 24th overall pick.
The Tide reload every season and they have the top ranked running back in last year’s recruiting class, Trey Sanders. The five-star back suffered a serious foot injury last week and he’s out indefinitely.
The schedule works in their favor. The season starts on the last day of August, a neutral site game against Duke. The game is in Atlanta and this will be an easy blow out win.
This is the first home game against New Mexico State. The Aggies are completely overmatched. The Crimson Tide should score no less than 50 points in this win.
Alabama travels to Columbia, South Carolina. The Gamecocks are an average team so this will be another easy game.
They return home to face Southern Miss. Bama should score 40-plus points and the starters should be able to sit on the bench in the second half.
Ole Miss comes to Tuscaloosa. The Rebels are on probation for three years. They recruited well under Hugh Freeze but that has come to an end.
The talented players from those teams transferred last year. They are a shell of themselves and don’t stand a chance.
Alabama is taking a trip to College Station. Texas A&M has not beaten the Tide since they first joined the SEC in 2012. This is a very one-sided series and that won’t change. This is a very tough environment to play in though.
Tennessee has the worst luck in the SEC. They are the team in the East that has to play Alabama every year. They’ll get demolished yet again.
Arkansas is a bottom dweller in the West. Bama will beat them by at least three touchdowns.
This is the toughest game of the year, home against LSU. Last season The Tigers lost 29-0. I think they put up a better fight but still lose by double digits.
Mississippi State has developed into a solid program over the last decade. They do not have the talent to beat the Tide though.
This is the tune up before the season finale versus FCS Western Carolina. This is another blowout victory.
The season ends at Auburn. The Tigers have so many question marks that I don’t see them being able to compete.
I expect them to finish the regular season undefeated and get back to the CFP.
War Chant
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
1976. Jimmy Carter was elected President, the first Rocky movie was released, and Apple Computer Company was officially formed.
It was also the last time the Florida State Seminoles football program experienced a losing season, until this past year.
Florida State’s decline wasn’t an obvious inevitability, staring you right in the face, but it’s not like there weren’t signs.
Entering last season, the Seminoles’ previous three seasons had all been worse, in one form or another, that one before.
It all culminated in a 2017 season that saw a program, only a few years removed from a national title, forced to play a make-up game against an inferior opponent just to make it to .500, while also losing their head coach to another program; neither of which Florida State was used to.
Obviously last year wasn’t any better, not only from a record standpoint (5-7), but from a competitive one, as well. Their average margin of victory in their five wins was 10.8 points; normally not something to scoff at until you realize none of those victories were against a team that finished the season in the Top 25.
Plus, their average margin of defeat in those seven losses, two of which were to their in-state rivals, was 24.14 points.
At this point I’m sure you’re thinking “I get it, last season was disaster. But, what about this year?” So, what about this season? Well, on paper, it certainly looks like there should be significant improvement.
With Deondre Francois gone, the QB job is James Blackman’s to lose. Considering the lack of support he received from the offensive line last year, Blackman did well in a role he was somewhat thrusted in to.
There is plenty of talent in the backfield and at the wideout position, the main question on the offensive side of the ball is the offensive line.
Can the line run block well enough to get Cam Akers a few lanes to run through and can they be just competent enough pass blocking to allow Blackman to utilize those weapons on the outside.
Regardless of your opinion on Willie Taggart bringing in Kendal Briles to run his offense, there should be a vast improvement.
On the defensive side it’s more a good news, bad news situation. The good news is they bring 8 starters from last year’s team. The bad news is the defense thought they were playing in the Big 12 conference, or at least they allowed the opposing offense to score like they were.
Does experience help if it wasn’t very good to begin with? With the potential Florida State has on the offensive side of the ball the defense doesn’t have to be reminiscent of years past, but they do have to at least be middle of the road.
The bottom line for the Florida State faithful is that after two of the worst seasons they’ve gone through in roughly 40 years they should start to see the roller coaster begin its ascent back up the tracks.
Their schedule still has a few too many question marks to expect them to win more than seven or eight games, but fans should see the foundation being laid. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind another 42-year streak.
The Big Dawgs
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
UGA is loaded in 2019. Kirby Smart is a recruiting machine.
Smart enters the 2019 season with an overall record of 32-10.
UGA won the SEC in 2017 but lost the National Championship game to Alabama and lost the SEC Title game to Alabama in 2018.
Jake Fromm leads the offense; JR Reed and Monty Rice will lead a faster more athletic defense in 2019. Andrew Thomas will lead the best offensive lineman in the country. The Swift/Herrien/White/Cook running back rotation will beat teams to a pulp.
Georgia’s talent across the board is well documented. This team should contend for a National Title this season and next season if Jake Fromm returns.
My game by game predictions:
Aug. 31: at Vanderbilt: Season and SEC opener at night in the Music City.
Vandy will be sky high and UGA has not always played so well in Nashville. Jake Fromm and a solid run game will spell doom for the Dores as UGA takes care of Vandy 38-13. George Pickens starts making a name for himself at Wide Receiver.
Sept. 7: MURRAY STATE: UGA drills Murray State 52-7.
Fromm and company will be discussing which band to go listen to downtown after the game midway through the second quarter.
Sept. 14: ARKANSAS STATE: Tougher than expected for a half then UGA pulls away in the third quarter and wins 45-14.
Sept. 21: NOTRE DAME: Athens, Georgia will be the center of the college football universe on 9/21. The Irish roll in and it will not be a cakewalk like most UGA fans expect.
This one will be a war. Zamir White has his coming out party as UGA eats up yards and clock to put ND away 27-17.
If UGA wears the black jerseys, then put the Dawgs on upset alert right now.
Oct. 5: at Tennessee: UT is still two recruiting classes away. Dawgs win in Knoxville 38-17, and UGA takes the lead in the series for the first time in 30 years.
Oct. 12: SOUTH CAROLINA: Carolina’s schedule is brutal, and Muschamp is trying to get them back in the mix in the SEC East. UGA has too much talent and wins at home 41-14 to stay undefeated.
Oct. 19: KENTUCKY: UGA blew out UK’s best team in 40 years in Lexington last year, and UGA is better in 2019. Kentucky is not as good as they were in 2018. Dawgs win 49-17.
Nov. 2: vs. Florida (Jacksonville): Dan Mullen has been popping off about UGA all “Talking Season”. Kirby isn’t much on talking but look for UGA’s best effort of the season in this one. Dawgs win the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party 35-20 over a good Gator squad.
Nov. 9: MISSOURI: Kelly Bryant didn’t get a national title ring from Clemson last year and he won’t get a victory in Athens either. Dawgs win 38-21.
UGA clinches the SEC East for the third straight year.
Nov. 16: at Auburn: Unbeaten UGA rolls to the Plains and I smell trouble brewing for the Dawgs. Auburn will be solid on defense, but will they be good on offense?
Will Gus still be employed by November? If he is then I smell upset. Auburn upsets UGA 24-21 in Jordan Hare.
Dawgs fall to 9-1. History tells us that UGA lays an egg against someone every season, right? Enjoy this November contest folks. Auburn lobbied the SEC and won and now the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry moves to October in 2020 and beyond.
Heck, maybe with that pansy move UGA rips Auburn a new one, 35-17 and stays unbeaten on the season.
Nov. 23: TEXAS A&M: Everyone is jumping on the Aggie bandwagon. Not me. The Aggies lost their leading rusher and leading tackler, nor am I sold on Kellen Mond at QB.
Senior Day in Athens as UGA rolls 38-24. UGA goes to 11-0 on the season.
Nov. 30: at Georgia Tech: Jackets go to a pro-style offense with option attack players. Georgia Tech will get better fast by focusing on the Atlanta area in recruiting. Dawgs go to 12-0 with a 42-17 blistering of the Jackets.
SEC Championship: UGA finally breaks the Alabama jinx and beats the Tide 31-24 in another title game classic between these two teams.
UGA goes into the College Football Playoff as the #1 team in the country.
Werts Grounded
By: Mike Anthony
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
During every summer, I’m often approached by fans and asked how the football team is doing. There are – of course – all of the quotes that come in about how everyone is getting bigger and stronger for the new season, but I almost always respond to the questions in the same way.
When it comes to the offseason, no news is good news.
If there’s something that grabs headlines ahead of fall camp, it almost always has to do with an injury, eligibility issues or a run-in with the cops.
Georgia Southern fans had those worst fears realized last week as – just minutes before the opening of fall camp – the team made an announcement that starting quarterback Shai Werts was suspended from all football activities following an arrest for speeding and possession of cocaine.
A whirlwind 72 hours followed, and while some things seem much brighter for those hoping to see Werts in action soon, there is also a lot of information that all parties are waiting on.
Georgia Southern made its initial comment on the arrest, but won’t divulge anything more as it is an ongoing legal case. As things currently stand, here is what is known about the situation:
Werts was arrested on July 31 after speeding near Saluda, S.C. He was placed under arrest soon after the police got him out of the car.
While Werts was detained, he was asked about a white substance found on the car hood. He claimed it was bird droppings that he had tried to remove days before. Two separate field test kits returned positive results for cocaine and a charge for possession of less than one gram (a misdemeanor) was added to the initial speeding charge.
Werts maintained his stance on not knowing where the substance came from. He was bonded out of jail and – upon returning to Statesboro – submitted to a drug screening on Friday, Aug. 2. Werts passed the screening and returned to practice with the team on Sunday morning.
No additional information has been released by the Saluda Sheriff’s department and no official update has been given on Werts’ standing with the team. Georgia Southern has maintained that it will proceed by guidelines consistent with the school’s student code of conduct.
So Werts’ situation seems to have improved at least a bit, but now comes the tough part. The legal system can be notoriously slow and – without more information to go by – anyone with an interest in the situation is left to do their best armchair lawyering.
One side will want to know how that substance got on a car if additional tests confirm it to be cocaine. There will also be questions about Werts’ admission to initially exiting the highway when the officer turned to follow him, even if it’s not a crime to make a turn if the officer isn’t identifying himself or attempting to pull you over.
At the very least, there is a question about why the quarterback and emotional leader of an FBS football team is doing 80 miles per hour through a small town just hours before he’s supposed to be in camp.
But there is also a burden of proof.
The report describes Werts and the inside of his car as looking clean. There is also the fact that his screening came up clean and his continued insistence that he wasn’t in possession of anything illegal.
As for now, it would appear that the most boring answer is likely the closest we have to the truth.
There are questions and evidence on both sides. There isn’t enough for the police to press the issue at the moment, but there’s also not enough exonerating information to drop the matter entirely.
The cliche always tells sports fans that there’s a reason they play the games. Frustrating as things are at the moment, that’s also why everyone needs to take a moment and let this issue play out in official legal action instead of social media yelling and rogue internet sleuthing.
Follow The Money
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The first kickoff is two weeks away, but I sit and wonder what it will take for a Non-Power 5 team to receive an invite to The College Football Playoffs.
The University of Central Florida for the last 2 seasons have been undefeated, yet shut out by the College Football Playoff Committee.
Since the Playoffs have begun, only Power 5 teams have received an invite. Unlike College Basketball, which loves the Cinderella story, College Football has required a traditional powerhouse program to play for the National Championship.
After finishing 13-0 in 2017, UCF opened 2018 ranked 21st in the AP and 24th in the ESPN Poll. Teams like Washington, Wisconsin, Miami, FSU were all ahead of an undefeated UCF. When the dust settled on the CFP rankings, UCF (12-0) team was ranked 8th behind 2 loss Georgia & Michigan and 1 loss Oklahoma and Ohio State.
I know UCF’s transient quarterback McKenzie Milton was injured and the committee takes that into consideration, but just look at history; 2007 an undefeated Hawaii team was snubbed for a two-loss LSU. Yes, this was during the BCS.
Why hasn’t UCF received an invite? Maybe I watch too many police shows on TV, but if you want the simple answer “Follow the Money.” The Power 5 Elitist Do Not Want to Share the Wealth!
Power 5 conferences get $54 million each, while Non-Power 5 conferences split just over $84.5 million off Playoff revenue.
Giving a Non-Power 5 a bid would take millions of dollars from the conference that control the playoff (look who makes up the Playoff Committee).
I can hear one of my fraternity brothers now, “UCF does not play anyone!” Scheduling for Non-Power 5 teams has been an issue. In 2017 and 2018, UCF had Power 5 teams Georgia Tech, North Carolina (canceled due to a hurricane) Maryland, and Pittsburgh (which they beat handily).
I get a chuckle out of the talking heads: after UCF this past year manhandled Pittsburgh (45-14), the experts were saying this is a transition year for Pitt.
A month later, when Pitt lost to Notre Dame 19-14, the experts were praising Pitt for a hard-fought loss and a moral victory for the program. This season UCF plays Stanford (the winning Pac 12 team over the past 10 years) at home and Pittsburg (who not afraid of scheduling a home and home) on the road.
I said it once and I’ll say it again “Follow the Money”. Danny White, UCF Athletic Director has been vocal about this Elitist Attitude surrounding college football. In 2017 when White decided to claim a National Championship for UCF, the media went crazy.
Every day for two months UCF was talked about on national TV, Twitter, and Facebook. A study commissioned by The University of Central Florida in March of 2018 estimated the publicity from the school’s unbeaten season and National Title Claim was worth $200 million.
Last week, Danny was at it again when he scheduled a home and home against FAU. It’s was the lead story on many shows.
The question surrounding a two for one with the Florida Gators has been a hot topic. Danny White is open to a two for one with Florida, but Florida doesn’t want to play at UCF. Florida prefers to play the game at the Citrus Bowl.
As a UCF fan, Danny White is a genius, but Power 5 teams fans think he’s a lunatic. I think he’s an Evil Genius, he is setting UCF as the top Non-Power 5 school in the country. If or when there is expansion, UCF will be on top of the call list.
I leave you with this, why do the Power 5 Elitists hate UCF? MONEY
Buzzing For 2019
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Paul Johnson was the head coach at Georgia Tech for 11 seasons and the program started to struggle in his final years.
There was very little excitement because he recruited poorly and ran an archaic offense that no other Power 5 school uses.
Now, we are entering the first season under Geoff Collins. Prior to becoming head coach at Temple, Collins was one of the nation’s most respected defensive coordinators, serving in the role at Florida, Mississippi State, FIU and his alma mater, Western Carolina.
He is the only coach to ever be nominated for the Broyles Award, given to college football’s top assistant coach, at three different schools.
The biggest change for the Yellow Jackets will be the offense. CPJ ran the old school triple option out of the flexbone. Tech is now an Air Raid team and they do not have the players to do that successfully.
This is basically trying to fit a square peg in a round hole because the players on the roster were recruited to run the old offense. Under Johnson, they typically passed less than 5 times per game.
Now the quarterbacks are expected to read defenses and pass regularly. Quarterbacks James Graham and Lucas Johnson played in the spring game. Tobias Oliver got significant playing time last season but he’s clearly a runner.
I do expect the offense to struggle. Under CPJ the offense was strong, and the defense was always weak. I expect the trend to continue on defense, at least for this season.
Collins is a defensive coach so he might help them improve some, but they still have a lack of talent. In 2018 they ranked 43rd nationally in total defense. They gave up 368 yards per game and 29 points per game.
That stat is frightening when you consider that Tech normally controlled the clock on offense and dominated time of possession.
The season kicks off August 29 at Clemson. This is a Thursday night game so everyone will tune in to watch the defending national champions in Death Valley.
This used to be considered a rivalry game, but it is extremely one-sided now. They haven’t beaten the Tigers since 2014 and that won’t change now.
They begin September at home against USF. The Bulls beat GT last season 48-38. They had superior speed and talent then and I cannot see that being different now. South Florida should win.
An FCS opponent, The Citadel comes to town next. This will be an easy win and it should give the team some confidence.
After a bye week, Tech goes on the road to Philadelphia to face coach Collins’ former team, Temple. The Owls were 8-5 last season. They did lose to an FCS team (Villanova) and they were blown out against the only ACC opponent (Duke) they faced in their bowl game. I think this will be a tough game but give the edge to GT.
The first conference game is against UNC in Atlanta. The Tar Heels are bad; this will be an easy win.
Next, they travel to Durham to face Duke. The Blue Devils have owned this series lately, but they lost their quarterback who was a top 10 pick. I’ll take the Ramblin Wreck.
The next five games will be difficult. They include Miami, Pitt, Virginia, Virginia Tech and NC State. I think they have a chance in only two of them, Pitt and NC State.
The season ends at home versus UGA. Unfortunately, the Dawgs will annihilate Tech.
I think it will be tough to become bowl eligible, but the future looks bright.
Become The Villain
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As sports fans we tend to gravitate towards the underdog; it’s human nature. So, when I hear about how we love to build our athletes up just so we can ultimately tear them down, I’m not sure I completely agree.
I mean, if we innately root for the underdog doesn’t it make sense that we would pull against them once they reached the top of his or her profession and ceased the be the underdog?
Some of the most despised teams and athletes we currently enjoy watching fail are the same ones we once cheered for.
I mention all this because in college football Clemson has been that national underdog for the last few years. Not in the general sense that they are the surprise team that came out of nowhere, but because they don’t play in the SEC and have been the only team to consistently put down the sports top program, Alabama.
But, after two national titles in three years and entering a season where they are one of the prohibitive favorites to win it all again, is Clemson in danger of crossing that line from national darling to college football enemy?
Any talk of Clemson being able to repeat as champions begins with Trevor Lawrence. The expectations laid on the rising sophomore’s shoulders are almost unrealistic when you listen to what some people are predicting him to do, but having a game like he did in last year’s title game will do that to a player.
The Tigers lost a fair amount of talent from last year’s team, especially on the defensive side. However, with the talent they have coming back on the offensive side of the ball, and Bret Venables penchant for churning out top rated defensive regardless of who is on the field, I don’t expect them to struggle.
Clemson will have the most talent on the field in every game they’re currently scheduled to play, and it’s really not even that close.
Speaking of the talent gap between them and their opponents, have you seen their schedule? They’re likely to get more of a challenge during practice then they are against their opposition.
There are three games where they could possibly trip up, though. The first is Texas A&M at the beginning of the season, but the Aggies have to travel to Death Valley and I imagine Clemson will be ready.
The rivalry game against South Carolina is another one that can always be tricky, and it is in Columbia this year. Still, like the A&M game I can’t see the Tigers looking past it. Plus, they’ll have two weeks to prepare.
The one we’re I could see them losing is away at N.C. State. The Wolfpack are an underrated team that could give Clemson some trouble, especially if the Tigers haven’t been challenged up to that point. I wouldn’t be surprised if that game winds up being much closer than most pundits think.
Either way, everything is set up nicely for Clemson to make a run at their third national title in four years, turning them into the premier program in college football.
There’s a moment in the The Dark Knight when the character Harvey Dent states “You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Clemson’s success doesn’t seem to be dying anytime soon; at what point does it live long enough to see them become the villain?
Geaux Tigers
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The SEC is Alabama’s conference, at least lately.
The SEC West is even more specifically Alabama’s division in Alabama’s conference. For residents of Tuscaloosa and its many supporters, that’s terrific; but for everyone else, it’s less than ideal. It’s a drag on most college football programs but maybe most of all it’s a burden to bear for Louisiana State University.
The main reason for that burden is the man at the top of Alabama’s successful run; former LSU head coach Nick Saban.
Ed Orgeron had big enough shoes to fill when he took over the Tigers’ program from Les Miles but really, he’s trying to fill the shoes of Miles who was trying to fill the shoes of Saban – and Saban’s success has loomed large ever since he left.
Miles brought a national title to LSU, but the Tigers haven’t beaten the Tide in the regular season since 2011.
When the university removed Miles from the top spot in 2016, Orgeron was tasked with two things: bringing the program back to the top, which also meant shaking off Saban and his team’s dominance as well.
Pretty much only Dabo Swinney can claim to have truly matched Saban’s level of success – against Saban, crucially.
Orgeron hasn’t yet come close. He has made great strides getting LSU back to being a fearsome program. The Tigers notched double-digit wins last year and finished in the top 10 for the first time since 2011.
Dave Aranda led a typically stellar defense out of Baton Rouge in 2018, and QB Joe Burrow found another gear late in the season and brought the best out of the team’s offense (which would have finished the season on a much higher note if not for the bagillion overtimes in their loss to Texas A&M).
Promisingly, much of Orgeron’s 2018 talent is returning for 2019 and coupled with the third best recruiting class in the nation, LSU’s prospects and looking very good.
Burrow is returning alongside most of his favorite targets from last year and the offensive line tasked with protecting him is stocked with veteran players.
Offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger has plenty to play with, especially if he wants to try out improving LSU’s underutilized running game with recruits John Emery or Tyrion Davis-Price.
Aranda has got a likewise deep defensive squad for 2019, even with the loss of first-round picks Greedy Williams at cornerback and Devin White at linebacker. White’s shoes could be filled with the likes of K’Lavon Chaisson or Micah Baskerville, and Kristian Fulton showed off his upside when he was on the field last season. That’s the one thing these potential replacements aren’t guaranteed, health.
That recruiting class is a natural consequence of a big season for LSU and Orgeron has rewarded the university’s faith in him since 2016. Wins lead to recruits, which in turn lead to more wins, which in turn lead to more recruits and so on and so on.
However, even with the double-digit wins and top 3 recruiting class, there is still the black spot: Alabama.
The Tigers have a very good shot at winning 11 games in 2019. They’re the favorites in nearly every game. Nearly, because the Crimson Tide waits on the schedule, salivating at the opportunity to hang another 29-0 loss on the Tigers like they did last season.
The Tigers will be good this season. They’re good already. But the shadow of Nick Saban darkens the hope and excitement of the 2019 season for the Tigers.
Is having 10 or 11 wins and being victorious in bowl games enough to satisfy LSU when Alabama is annually wiping the floor with them and contending for national championships?
Return To Rocky Top For Vols?
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Tennessee is a proud member of the SEC. The Vols are second, only to Alabama, in all-time wins and tied with UGA for second in SEC titles with 13 behind only Alabama.
2019 will mark the end of the worst decade in Tennessee football history. The 2019 Vols will try to avoid a third straight losing season under second year head coach Jeremy Pruitt, who inherited a huge mess to clean up in Knoxville after the Lane Kiffin, Derek Dooley, and Butch Jones experiments went terribly wrong.
Tennessee has not won an SEC title since 1998, and hasn’t played for one since 2007, which was the last time this program won 10 games in a season.
When Pruitt was hired, he told everyone to be patient because it was going to take a few recruiting cycles to get the Vols back into contention with the upper tier of the SEC.
Jeremy Pruitt is a tough hard-nosed football coach that knows the recipe for winning. Will Tennessee give him the time to get the job done? That is the real question.
For the first time in three years, Tennessee heads into the season with the same starting quarterback it had in the opener the previous year with Jarrett Guarantano. Guarantano should make big improvements in 2019. Tennessee has a really good set of wide receivers with Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway.
The running game must improve this fall with Ty Chandler, who is the best playmaker on the roster.
The offensive line play was horrible in 2018 and must get better but how with transfers, medical retirements, etc.?
Jim Chaney comes back from Georgia as offensive coordinator and is very well respected in the college football ranks.
Defensively, the Vols look good at safety and have some young talented corners.
Tennessee recruited the JUCO ranks hard for defensive line depth.
This team will be better in 2019 but the won/loss record may not reflect that.
Here are my game by game predictions for Tennessee in 2019.
Aug. 31 | Georgia State | Knoxville: The Vols take care of Georgia State at home 34-17 to go to 1-0 on the season.
Sept. 7 | BYU | Knoxville: The Cougars come to Knox Vegas and get beat by Tennessee 31-27. Vols go to 2-0 on the season.
Sept. 14 | Chattanooga | Knoxville: Vols win easy 41-13 to go to 3-0 on the season.
Sept. 21 | at Florida | Gainesville: The Swamp is not very kind to Tennessee and it won’t be again in 2019. Florida wins 31-20. Tennessee drops to 3-1 and 0-1 in the SEC.
Oct. 5 | Georgia | Knoxville: Dawgs won 41-0 in 2017 at Neyland Stadium. UGA is the most talented team in the SEC East and the team the Vols have to catch up with in recruiting. UGA wears UT down and pulls away for a 38-17 win. Tennessee goes to 3-2 and 0-2.
Oct. 12 | Mississippi State | Knoxville: This is a game UT must win. It will be tough as nails but the Vols get back on track with a 24-20 win. UT goes to 4-2 and 1-2.
Oct. 19 | at Alabama | Tuscaloosa: 12 straight losses to Alabama and have given up 40 points or more in 7 of them. This is another ugly one. Alabama 42-10. 4-3 and 1-3 in SEC.
Oct. 26 | South Carolina | Knoxville: Battle of two pretty much even teams. Give UT the edge at home 21-17. 5-3 and 2-3.
Nov. 2 | UAB | Knoxville: Vols get bowl eligible 38-13. 6-3 on the season.
Nov. 9 | at Kentucky | Lexington: Another tough one on the road. Give me the Cats 27-24. UT goes to 6-4 and 2-4 in SEC
Nov. 23 | at Missouri | Columbia: Tennessee is not winning in COMO. Mizzou wins 41-27. 6-5 and 2-5 in SEC.
Nov. 30 | Vanderbilt | Knoxville: Vandy hasn’t beat Tennessee in four straight games since 1923. Not happening in 2019. Vols get to seven wins with a 35-20 win over Vandy.
Tennessee finishes the regular season at 7-5 and 3-5 in the SEC and probably goes to the Music City Bowl in Nashville.
A winning season to close out the worst decade in Tennessee football history. Will the Vols ever be what they once were again? I hope they make it back. We miss you Big Orange.
Plain Auburn On The Plains?
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Auburn is a very interesting program. It seems like every 4-5 years they have a great team but in between that, the Tigers are average.
They finished the 2018 season 8-5 and demolished Purdue 63-14 in the Music City Bowl.
They lost star quarterback Jarrett Stidham, he graduated and was drafted by New England in the fourth round.
Gus Malzahn is an offensive coach and the Tigers are supposed to have an explosive offense. He needs a good signal caller for the offense to be at its peak. Malzahn is on the hot seat so it’s going to be crucial for him to pick the right guy.
His overall record is 53-27 and he’s 2-4 in bowl games. His best season was in his first year (2013) and the Tigers won 12 games and played in the national championship. Since then Auburn has hovered around the 8-win mark with the lone exception of the 2017 season (10 wins).
There are two true freshmen that will see significant playing time. Bo Nix is a five star recruit and he was the No.1 dual-threat QB in the nation. The newcomer at quarterback broke numerous records while leading Pinson Valley High to back-to-back state titles with his father, Auburn legend Patrick Nix as the head coach.
He had more than 12,000 total yards of offense in his career and recorded 161 total touchdowns, including 127 scores through the air. He earned practically every in-state award you can imagine including the state of Alabama’s Mr. Football.
Joey Gatewood is also competing for the starting quarterback spot. He’s a 4 star recruit and the top ranked athlete in the country.
Gatewood is taller at 6-foot-5 and 233 pounds. He also draws comparisons to Auburn legend Cam Newton from his own teammates at Auburn, which he doesn’t much like to hear, by the way.
Gatewood arrived at Auburn with incredible numbers from high school, even though he shared playing time at Bartram Trail in St. Augustine, Florida as a senior.
He still managed to pass for 1,468 yards and 12 touchdowns while also running for 1,100 yards and 16 touchdowns. He split reps with Riley Smith, who went on to sign with Boise State. They rotated series evenly, and the coaches never deviated from that plan, even when one quarterback may have been playing better than the other during the game.
The season kicks off August 31st against Oregon at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The Ducks were 9-4 in 2018 and they are led by talented senior quarterback Justin Herbert. I give the edge to Oregon.
The next two games are home against Tulane and Kent State. Both are easy wins.
The first conference game is September 21st on the road at Texas A&M. I think the Aggies win this one.
They play Mississippi State at home the following week and beat the Bulldogs.
The next three games are all on the road against Florida, Arkansas and LSU. The game I fully expect them to win is Arkansas. Florida will beat Auburn. I think the LSU game will be close. They return quarterback Joe Burrow so I give the edge to the purple and gold Tigers.
They return home versus Ole Miss and that’s a win.
After a bye week, Georgia comes to town. UGA wins this game.
The SEC plays scrimmage games before the season finale and Auburn’s opponent is an FCS team, Samford. This is an easy win.
The final game is against their bitter rival and SEC bully, Alabama. The Crimson Tide will win.
This will be a tough season.
