Two Death Valleys? SEC Week 7 Preview

If there’s a pot, Steve Spurrier will be there to stir it. This week, Steve Spurrier hammered Georgia (both with mouth and with team), and hammered Clemson (“My boys haven’t been to Death Valley before“, he opined on the radio). This week, he’s going to hell. Quite possibly to prepare him for the afterlife, Clemson fans might say.

Anyways, here’s an excerpt from a poem that our boy Alfred, Lord Tennyson prepared for South Carolina’s trip to Death Valley, Baton Rouge:

“Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
“Charge for the guns!” he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.”

You should read the rest. It’s a beauty. No mention of Marcus Lattimore, Jadeveon Clowney and THAT defensive line, though. Maybe it’s because it was written in 1870.

Good job we’re mentioning something, eh?

SOUTH CAROLINA AT LSU

If there’s anytime South Carolina should want to play LSU, it’s now. Why? While the Gamecocks are at full strength and at full plumage for this one, LSU is struggling with injuries, with it’s offensive line almost completely decimated. Zach Mettenberger’s going to struggle against USC’s now legendary pass rushing pair of Taylor and Clowney. On the other side of the ball, LSU should be able to stop Marcus Lattimore, but will they be able to stop speedy QB Connor Shaw?

PREDICTION: South Carolina silences the Valley Of Death, winning by 7.

ALABAMA AT MISSOURI

Some games in Missouri’s history are going to be close nail-biters. The Tigers fans have seen their team beaten two No.1s in Columbia in the form of Ohio State and Oklahoma in the past, but this Alabama team is much better than these sides were. Expect to see AJ McCarron to throw the ball a bit- mainly because Mizzou’s got a pretty strong rushing defence (19th in the nation), but a mediocre passing one (51st). Oh, and we expect Alabama’s defense to be, well, Alabama’s defense.

PREDICTION: Alabama’s a three-touchdown favorite in this. We have Missouri losing the game, but only by 17.

TENNESSEE AT MISSISSIPPI STATE

The Vols scored a boatload of points against Georgia and still lost, but will they be able to do the same against a stout MSU defence in a very loud, annoying (for Vols fans) environment (if you hate Cowbells, don’t watch this game!)? While we think that Tyler Bray and his passing offense can run with almost anyone in the country, we’re still concerned about the ‘D’, which Tyler Russell, Chad Bumphis, and LaDarius Perkins are going to exploit all day long. The biggest question will be this: Can Mississippi State handle a shoot-out? We know Tennessee can.

PREDICTION: Tennessee wins by a touchdown in the SEC upset of the day.

AUBURN AT OLE MISS

For sheer traincrashability, y’all should be watching this game. After Auburn’s tepid performance at home to Arkansas, Gene Chizik should be packing his bags now…..if you believe a lot of the Auburn War Eagle Mongers on there. Personally, Chizik’s on the hot seat, but we don’t think he should be out of a job just yet – he’s only a year removed from a National Championship and needs more time post-Cam Newton. Anyway, we can’t believe the Tigers are a six-point dog on the road to Ole Miss, particularly as Ole Miss’ record of losing in the SEC is up to 16. Having said that, Hugh Freeze has got his team moving in the right direction……Heaven’s direction. Upwards. There are just some bumps on the way.

PREDICTION: Ole Miss by damn! Rebels win by a touchdown. The rage in Auburn goes on.

KENTUCKY AT ARKANSAS

This SEC Bottom 5 battle features one of the country’s worst defences playing one of the country’s most injured offences. This should be a blast. Kentucky can’t get any luck, while favorite Arkansas have a bit of ju-ju going into this game after smothering Auburn on the road in Jordan-Hare. Stubhub tells me that tickets for this game are going to be going cheap, so if you’re in the area and want to go to a game, good seats for this Mighty Match-Up are going for about $20.

PREDICTION: Arkansas wins by 21 in an exciting game, and people start getting a (little) excited again.

FLORIDA AT VANDERBILT

After its third second-half win of the season, the Florida Gators are turning into the Anti-Texas A&M (those Aggies who watched games in 2011 will be able to explain to the uneducated). Mike Gillislee is going to exploit Vanderbilt’s 80th-ranked rushing defence, while Jordan Rodgers on the other side of the ball will hope for some room against a suffocating Florida team, for whom Matt Elam’s proving to be a leader.

PREDICTION: Gators chomp. Florida by 10

TEXAS A&M AT LOUISIANA TECH

This hurricane-delayed game features two ranked teams, two great offenses, and what is going to be a heck of a lot of excitement. Louisiana Tech, which is scoring 54 points per game and conceding very little, comes against and Aggies side who have got – quite simply – Johnny Football, even if they weren’t exactly convincing at Ole Miss. This is going to be fun.

PREDICTION: It won’t be an upset if this happens, but it won’t be good for the SEC, either. Louisiana Tech wins by 6.