Battle of Champions

LSU looked very sharp to start the 2008 season. The half time score was 31-0 and LSU could have won 60-0 had they kept their foot on the pedal. But the Tigers treated the second half as a scrimmage and worked on a passing game that is still developing. The same could be said about the defense. LSU completely dominated Armanti Edwards and the ASU offense. Only after multiple substitutions which resulted in a few blown coverages in LSU’s secondary did ASU move the ball in the second half.

A few other observations:

· Both lines looked VERY GOOD. But we won’t REALLY know anything for sure until after the Auburn game.

· CB Patrick Peterson is the real deal. Rated the #1 CB coming out of high school last season, he looked ready for the big time.

· I liked Hatch. He doesn’t have a gun, but he’s not going to kill you and his decision making looked good.

· I thought Lee struggled a bit. At times he looked a little confused and he threw an ugly pick which led to three points by ASU. He looked like a red-shirt freshman playing in his first college game.

· LSU came out ready to play which is a credit to the staff. The Tigers were focused and put the game out of reach by halftime.

· Did you notice that Jordan Jefferson didn’t see the field? All the talk about him playing amounts to a bunch of nothing.

· I liked the blitzing by the defense. But the mental errors need to stop. WAY too many blown coverages when LSU blitzed.

I listened to the radio briefly on the ride home. Jimmy Ott uttered the dumbest line of the day in saying, “there’s no need to press the panic button yet, but…” He was referencing the QB play in his comment. Say what?! Panic button? Then he went on to lament the loss of Ryan Perillioux. As most of you know, I can’t stand Ott. Stupid comments like that just reinforce my opinion.

Needless to say, there is no panic in the Hit Parade camp. The Tigers look to improve in week two against a Troy team that managed only 300 yards of offense against Middle Tennessee State in week one. LSU will roll once again and get plenty of playing time for the young guys.

LSU 37 - Troy 10

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A Few Random Off Season Thoughts

While sitting at home battling a stomach bug acquired from my oldest son, I had a chance to catch the season premier of ESPN’s College Football Live. Not to be petty, but during the opening highlights of the show, the defending National Champions appeared only ONCE for a grand total of half a second. On top of that, LSU was only mentioned once, during a segment on…Ohio State. Furthermore, ESPN has an on-line voting bracket for the “best college helmet.” LSU did not even make it into the contest. (click here)

Here is a nice composite of the preseason polls.

The three biggest things I look at in the preseason are schedule, returning offensive and defensive linemen and quarterback, in that order. I don’t think it is any mystery why LSU has won the SEC West in every odd numbered year since 2001.

You have got to wonder how long JoePa will be around. Things are looking pretty ugly. (click here)

With every new arrest and suspension, I’m wondering more and more about Georgia’s chances this season. (click here)

I think the Olympics should be divided into to two categories, Natural Humans and Chemically Enhanced Superhumans. That way if you want to use HGH or Roids or whatever, have at it. If you want to stay clean, you can compete in the group with the non-juiced athletes. As it is now, I’m more curious about who gets busted than who wins.

I am SOOOOOO sick of the slobbering over Brett Favre. ESPN was WAY over the top in the coverage.

I like Ohio State and Oklahoma in the BCS title game. I think the Buckeyes will win at USC and Oklahoma is going to lose only one game at most. Georgia's schedule is too tough and USC will lose one other game.

Some readers have expressed to me their doubts about Georgia in the SEC East. I understand the hesitancy, but Florida's defense wasn't very good last year and with Florida TE Ingram gone for the season with a torn ACL, all the pressure goes back to Tebow and Percy Harvin.

2008 SEC Preview

For four years in a row, senior quarterbacks have led their teams to the SEC title. (2007 - Matt Flynn, LSU; 2006 - Chris Leak, Florida; 2005 - DJ Shockley, Georgia; 2004 - Jason Campbell, Auburn) But things will be different this year. Only three teams, Alabama, Arkansas and Vanderbilt have senior signal callers. Of that trio, only Bama has a realistic shot of even making the SEC Title game. So which young buck is going to break the streak and bring home a title?


SEC West

1. Auburn
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Mississippi State
5. Ole Miss
6. Arkansas


The only reason I like Auburn this season is the annual Tiger Tussle will be played on the Plains of Auburn. The home team has won every game in the series since 2000. (that’s 8 in a row for our mathematically challenged readers) Young quarterbacks, in this case most probably LSU's freshman Jarrett Lee, can expect to struggle on the road. The last four games have been decided by a total of 14 points and this should be another close contest. Since the inception of the championship game, the loser of this game has NEVER gone on to play for the SEC Title.

Alabama is a big wild card this season. John Parker Wilson is their senior quarterback and we all know what Saban can do on the defensive side of the ball. The problem is the schedule. The Tide play road games at Arkansas, at Georgia, at Tennessee and at LSU. Plus Alabama has lost six in a row against Auburn. Alabama will be better this season, but the tough schedule will keep them out of the title game.

The bottom of the West is full of questions.

Did Mississippi State turn the corner?

Can Houston Nutt take advantage of Ole Miss’ talent?

How will the Hogs adjust to a new coach and different philosophy on offense?

I like MSU’s chance to make it two bowl games in a row. Also look out for Ole Miss, Nutt will win six games or more this season.


SEC East

1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Tennessee
4. South Carolina
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt



Say it with me.

“Hunker down you hairy Dawg!”

Georgia is in a similar position as LSU was last season. Blow out BCS win in the Sugar Bowl to end the season, lots of guys returning on both sides of the ball and a manageable if not challenging schedule. 9 guys return on defense and 7 on offense. Georgia gets Alabama and Tennessee at home but must travel to LSU and Auburn. The East will be decided at the Cocktail Party when the Bulldogs face off against the Florida Gators.

Florida has been picked pre-season #1 by a few publications entering 2008. As usual, much of the media loves offense, which the Gators have plenty. Tebow will again be a beast teaming up with Percy Harvin. But until a running back and wide out emerge, the Gators will remain a two-man operation. Florida’s biggest problem is on defense. Last year the Gators only held two opponents to under 20 points. The front line is young and the secondary had plenty of problems throughout last season.

Many folks criticize Phil Fulmer. I’m not one of them. During his 16 seasons, he’s won over 76% of his games, 10 or more games nine times, a National Title, two SEC Titles and has been to the SEC Championship five times. It is possible this year’s team could be even better than the 2007 group. Four of the five starters on the offensive line return. The defense should be better especially in the secondary. The biggest hurdle is the schedule, which includes road games at Auburn, at Georgia and at South Carolina. The Vols are good enough to win the East, but getting past Georgia and Florida will be a tall task.

Anyone who has read this page knows I am a fan of Steve Spurrier. But you have got to wonder if the challenge at South Carolina is too much for him to overcome. He is 21-16 overall with a 1-1 bowl record in three years with the Gamecocks. He has beaten Georgia, Florida and Tennessee once each but is only 3-6 overall against the Eastern big boys. The schedule plays out very well as SC gets Georgia, LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas at home. The only real road test is Florida. A New Years Day bowl is not out of reach.

Kentucky and Vandy lost a number of players and will be battling for the basement, again, this season.