PETE’S PIGSKIN PROGNOSTICATIONS

ESPN’S College Gameday comes to Nashville. Satan is down in the boiler room, trying figure out why there is a chll in the air, as league-leading Vandy hosts Auburn. I hope two weeks of favorable press coverage and hype don’t prove to be too great a burden for the Commodores.

Week 6
(6-1 last week; 37-6 overall)

Kentucky @ Alabama – The ‘Cats begin a murderous stretch of 7 SEC games in a row without a break with an Alabama team that is hitting on all 11 cylinders. The only way the Tide loses this one is if they are too tired from running up and down the field against Georgia. Bama by 17.

Florida @ Arkansas – The Gators will be mad, and easily skillful enough to vent their spleen against possibly the worst team in the SEC. Florida by 20.

South Carolina @ Mississippi – One of the better matches this weekend. Mississippi will be reading their press clippings, and savoring the cover of Sports Illustrated. How can I pick against the SI curse? Gamecocks by 3.

Northern Illinois @ Tennessee – This was scheduled as a rest up, tune up, easy breather before the Georgia game. It may be easy, but the Big Orange faithful will not be satisfied with anything less than a huge win. The Great Pumpkin will be tinkering with his quarterbacks, but it should be relatively easy for the Vols. UT by 28.

Auburn @ Vanderbilt – In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was cursed to try for eternity to roll a huge boulder up a hill, only to have it roll down before he could get it over the top. Kinda reminds me of the Vanderbilt football team. Easily the best matchup of the week, the game will probably hinge on turnovers and kicking. Vandy has won their first two SEC games with smoke and mirrors, winning the kicking games and the turnover battle, but little else statistically ( except the most important statistic, of course, the score). They just can’t continue winning like this. There are two historical strikes against the Commodores – they rarely play well after a week off, and they rarely play well when they have had a modicum of success. The rock rolls down again. Auburn 10 Vandy 7.

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