Not to alarm you, but we are entering, believe it or not, the sixth week of the college football season, marking the official midway point of the regular season.
While this weekend's games include several intriguing matchups, including Auburn/Ole Miss, Stanford/Washington, Florida State/Maryland and Northwestern/Ohio State, one of the games you will not hear or read much about, and rightfully so, is the farce of a matchup involving Nick Saban's No. 1 Alabama team and a Georgia State program (formerly coached by Bill Curry) in its fourth year of bigtime Division 1 football.
Quite simply, this is an embarassment of a college football contest, with the top college football program in America playing host to what is likely the worst program in the nation, and columnist Kevin Scarbinsky of The Birmingham News is totally correct in stating that UA should be ashamed of scheduling the game not only once (Alabama defeated GSU 63-7 in the Panthers' first year as a football program) but then scheduling another battle against this overmatched school from Atlanta in what shapes up as another glorified scrimmage where Bama third-teamers will likely see a great deal of action.
It is games such as this that represent one of the major reasons that attendance figures continue to plummet in the world of college football, along with ever-increasing ticket prices and the increasing comforts of home and high-definition television.
Personally, I have not attended a college football game since 2010, and although I know it makes me sound old and bitter, I really do not feel much of a desire to deal with the headaches of parking, traffic and crowds.......and sometimes inclement weather, to pull for my teams in person anymore. I can sit comfortably at home where I can also enjoy other games, eat what I want to eat, enjoy my game in high-definition where I can enjoy every play and instant replays up close and also not have to deal with horrifying public restrooms at the stadium.
I noticed that as of Wednesday, UA still had tickets available for the Georgia State game for $55, which includes seats at the very top of the upper decks in the end zone. Wow, what an enticement for a game such as this. A horrible game, enjoyed live from the nosebleed seats. No thanks, UA officials, but ROLL TIDE anyway.
I know with the college football world continuing to change, with playoffs beginning in 2014, conferences continuing to realign and additional conference games likely just around the corner, that it is good for schools such as Alabama to secure "breather" games whenever they can.
But next year, when the playoffs begin, strength of schedule will be a key part of the criteria when selection committees begin to determine the playoff seeds and brackets, and I don't think that it will be prudent for teams such as Alabama and Ohio State to have schedules dotted with dregs such as Georgia State, Buffalo and Chattanooga.
I am beginning to also think in line with a lot of others, relative to when it is time for Alabama to begin looking at its future non-conference opponents, maybe the Crimson Tide should consider looking closer to home and keeping the money in the state by scheduling some in-state schools such as UAB, Jacksonville State and Troy. While games against the Blazers or the Gamecocks might not represent a huge boost to the the Crimson Tide's strength of schedule, it would definitely be a marked improvement to the schedule in terms of interest and excitement. Perhaps it might also encourage yours truly to consider attending more games IN PERSON again......Maybe.
Moving onto the SEC games of WEEK 6:
Moving onto the SEC games of WEEK 6:
GAME OF THE WEEK: Ole Miss at Auburn: Very intriguing matchup at Jordan-Hare as Hugh Freeze's Rebels look to rebound from a dispiriting loss at Alabama last weekend. It will not be easy as Gus Malzahn's Tigers are obviously one of the most improved teams in the nation, and even gave LSU a lot of fits before losing in Baton Rouge a couple of weeks ago. Ole Miss enters the game as a slight favorite, but I am not sure if mentally the Rebels will be in a very good place after failing to score against Alabama. That 25-0 dismal loss came after Ole Miss entered that showdown against the Tide with much hope and hype. If this game was being played in Oxford, I might give a slight edge to the No. 24 Rebels, but I think Auburn's homefield advantage, as well as the expected Ole Miss letdown, translates into a slight upset for Malzahn's Tigers. AUBURN 28, OLE MISS 24
In other SEC games it is:
Georgia State at Alabama: Although the Crimson Tide has yet to fully play up to its ranking and put forth a complete game, the Tide has basically been untested for the most part this season and enters this matchup with the Panthers as a 56-point favorite. Look for Bama third-teamers to see much quality action in this name-your-score affair for the Crimson Tide. ALABAMA 53, GEORGIA STATE 0.
Georgia at Tennessee: In what was likely the most exciting contest of last weekend, Mark Richt's No. 6 Bulldogs affirmed that they indeed are still very much in the hunt for the SEC and national title with a huge comeback victory over LSU. While the Bulldogs are continuing to have some struggles defensively, Georgia's offense remains prolific and quarterback Aaron Murray is showing he is still a dangerous weapon despite his reputation for not being to win the big game too often. I expect the Bulldogs to surrender a few points in this clash in Neyland Stadium as the Volunteers do have some weapons of their own, but Tennessee will not be able to survive a shootout. GEORGIA 41, TENNESSEE 23.
Arkansas at Florida: The No. 18 Gators continue to struggle on offense and things probably will not get much easier with the loss of starting quarterback Jeff Driskel. Fortunately for Will Muschamp's Gators, Florida still possesses a very stout defense, and that will be needed as a much improved Razorback squad journeys to Gainesville. Arkansas gave Texas A&M all it wanted last Saturday before falling short and I am tempted to pick the Hogs in an upset. However, I think the homefield advantage for the Gators, as well as that defense, will allow Muschamp's team to survive this matchup in The Swamp. FLORIDA 21, ARKANSAS 17.
LSU at Mississippi State: There is little doubt that Les Miles' team will likely enter this game in Starkville a little flat after losing a wild and emotional clash against Georgia last week, a game in which it led late before falling in the final two minutes of that contest. Fortunately for the Tigers, they battle a Bulldog team which has been inconsistent on offense and defense this season, and has yet to prove it can consistently beat SEC West foes such as LSU and Alabama. LSU 29, MISSISSIPPI STATE 17.
Kentucky at South Carolina: Perhaps one of the biggest disappointments in the country have been Steve Spurrier's No. 13 Gamecocks, although they are still a formidable team to deal with, especially for lowly programs such as Mark Stoops' Wildcats. UK must face this rough road task before hosting No. 1 Alabama next week. SOUTH CAROLINA 31, KENTUCKY 18.
Missouri at Vanderbilt: The Tigers, led by a finally-healthy quarterback in James Franklin, have been somewhat of a surprise team in the early season, and this battle between the Tigers and the host Commodores should be a fairly even and entertaining affair. This also might be quite the offensive shootout as well. In a slight upset I am thinking....MISSOURI 28, VANDERBILT 27.
