I don't ever post picks because I usually lose when I do. So if I lose this week, you can forget it :-) I'll leave the other conferences to everyone else, what I follow all year is the SEC. Here are my week 11 SEC picks.
Florida -23.5 at Vanderbilt
I'll probably raise a few eyebrows here, but Florida didn't play as good last week as Georgia played bad. Sooner or later, Florida is going to have to beat another team that doesn't shoot themselves in the foot over and over again. That said, you could probably put this line at 50 and people would still take Florida. Normally this would be a tough let down game for Florida, but fortunately they are playing Vanderbilt this week. Vandy is coming off a bye week and should be well rested, but they haven't scored over 14 points since September 23rd. Vanderbilt is going to try to run and grind out the clock, but they are going to have a tough time scoring. With Florida needing to impress the pollsters, they are looking for style points. Laying big chalk on the road is trouble, but I don't see how Vandy is going to score. Florida -23.5
Georgia - 11 at Kentucky
Georgia is a beaten down team emotionally and physically. Now they have to regroup and find something to play for. They shouldn't have trouble finding emotion for Auburn and Georgia Tech, who are rivals, but how do you get up for Kentucky? Talent wise, Georgia should blow Kentucky off the field, but this is a big let down after a letdown game for Georgia. Georgia will still win, but Kentucky will keep it close. UK +11
Wyoming at Tennessee -25.5
Doughnut jokes are about to become obsolete in Knoxville. All the talk will be of the distraction going on this week and who will replace Fullmer. It won't matter because the talent gap here is tremendous. Usually when this happens teams rally together against adversity. Tennessee could still make a bowl game, but they'll have to win out. Wyoming averages barely over 10 points a game even though they lit up SDSU last week for 35. Look for Tennessee to take out a seasons worth of frustration out on Wyoming. Tennessee -25.5
Arkansas at South Carolina -10
Both teams are coming off impressive wins. South Carolina could help their bid for a New Years Day bowl and gain some momentum going into the Florida game. Arkansas opened up looking like one of the worst teams in the country but have been playing much better lately. With Florida coming up, this is a big sandwich game for South Carolina. They are notorious for playing down to their competition and will let Arkansas stay in the game too long. South Carolina will win, but it will be by less than 10. Arkansas +10
Alabama -3 at LSU
When is the last time LSU was an underdog at home? Maybe in the DiNardo era? LSU got smacked against Florida and Georgia, but Alabama is a different type of team. They play great defense, run the ball, and limit their mistakes. They aren't going to throw like Georgia or Florida will. As much credit and as good as this LSU D-line is, they were pushed around by the two quality teams they played this year. Don't be mistaken, this won't be a blowout. LSU is going to give it one last hurrah. Don't make anything of this Saban back to LSU stuff either. It will get a lot of attention, but most of these players weren't around for Saban. Alabama is every bit as good as Georgia and Florida and will show it again this week. Alabama -3
Florida -23.5 at Vanderbilt
I'll probably raise a few eyebrows here, but Florida didn't play as good last week as Georgia played bad. Sooner or later, Florida is going to have to beat another team that doesn't shoot themselves in the foot over and over again. That said, you could probably put this line at 50 and people would still take Florida. Normally this would be a tough let down game for Florida, but fortunately they are playing Vanderbilt this week. Vandy is coming off a bye week and should be well rested, but they haven't scored over 14 points since September 23rd. Vanderbilt is going to try to run and grind out the clock, but they are going to have a tough time scoring. With Florida needing to impress the pollsters, they are looking for style points. Laying big chalk on the road is trouble, but I don't see how Vandy is going to score. Florida -23.5
Georgia - 11 at Kentucky
Georgia is a beaten down team emotionally and physically. Now they have to regroup and find something to play for. They shouldn't have trouble finding emotion for Auburn and Georgia Tech, who are rivals, but how do you get up for Kentucky? Talent wise, Georgia should blow Kentucky off the field, but this is a big let down after a letdown game for Georgia. Georgia will still win, but Kentucky will keep it close. UK +11
Wyoming at Tennessee -25.5
Doughnut jokes are about to become obsolete in Knoxville. All the talk will be of the distraction going on this week and who will replace Fullmer. It won't matter because the talent gap here is tremendous. Usually when this happens teams rally together against adversity. Tennessee could still make a bowl game, but they'll have to win out. Wyoming averages barely over 10 points a game even though they lit up SDSU last week for 35. Look for Tennessee to take out a seasons worth of frustration out on Wyoming. Tennessee -25.5
Arkansas at South Carolina -10
Both teams are coming off impressive wins. South Carolina could help their bid for a New Years Day bowl and gain some momentum going into the Florida game. Arkansas opened up looking like one of the worst teams in the country but have been playing much better lately. With Florida coming up, this is a big sandwich game for South Carolina. They are notorious for playing down to their competition and will let Arkansas stay in the game too long. South Carolina will win, but it will be by less than 10. Arkansas +10
Alabama -3 at LSU
When is the last time LSU was an underdog at home? Maybe in the DiNardo era? LSU got smacked against Florida and Georgia, but Alabama is a different type of team. They play great defense, run the ball, and limit their mistakes. They aren't going to throw like Georgia or Florida will. As much credit and as good as this LSU D-line is, they were pushed around by the two quality teams they played this year. Don't be mistaken, this won't be a blowout. LSU is going to give it one last hurrah. Don't make anything of this Saban back to LSU stuff either. It will get a lot of attention, but most of these players weren't around for Saban. Alabama is every bit as good as Georgia and Florida and will show it again this week. Alabama -3