Tag Archives: sec

Crimson Tide 2016 Season

2016 Report: Will the Tide Roll or Fold?

The nation is packed full of SEC fans; after all, the Southeastern Conference is the most powerful in the NCAA, and some even suggest that the SEC is more like a pro football division juxtaposed against the Pac-12, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC. While that might be a touch on the hyperbolic side, it’s still proven every year that the SEC has a wide assortment of top-25 teams, like Auburn, LSU, Georgia, Florida, A&M, Ole Miss and, of course, the Alabama Crimson Tide. It seems like every year since Nick Saban has been coaching the Tide, Alabama has at least threatened the top spot in the nation and made a lot of money for those to enjoy Alabama sports betting. Will things change this year, or has Alabama finally lost too much talent on the field? The answer may be bittersweet, depending on where your SEC loyalties stand. If you’re not a fan of Alabama, be prepared to punch the wall. If you’re a Tide faithful, get ready to cheer. At least on paper, the Tide are looking just as strong as ever.

Despite losing Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake, a few key offensive linemen, and about half a dozen defensive starters, the Tide actually scored an A+ this off-season by recruiting the strongest class in the nation. And if you want to get into specifics on why Alabama will have a strong shot at repeating as SEC Champions this year, then look no further than their corp of wide receivers. Although it’s questionable on whether or not the Tide will have a top QB prospect to put the ball out there, what’s not in question is that they may actually have the best WR corp in the entire nation. Let’s start with their returning superstar, Calvin Ridley. Ridley really came on strong near the end of last year, and many predict that he can actually be better than Amari Cooper, which is definitely high praise. Last season, although only coming on after the midway point, and not having a stable quarterback for the first five games, Ridley caught 89 balls for 1,045 yards and 7 touchdowns. He has speed like Randy Moss, can run a route like Tim Brown, and can catch the ball like Odell Beckham, Jr. That’s certainly a deadly combination.

On the other side of the field, you’re going to find ArDarius Stewart, the junior whose 63 catches and 700 yards came in handy last year as the Tide won the National Championship. Stewart was actually a quarterback before joining Alabama, and coupled with his 4.3-40 speed, these intangibles make Stewart a nightmare for defensive backs. Then you have Robert Foster and Cam Sims in the mix. Both freshmen last season who didn’t do much on the field, they’re a year older and a year better, and they’re ready to really get down and dirty with some big-air football. Throw OJ Howard into the mix, and any QB the Tide puts out will have a large security blanket at the tight end position.

Naysayers of the sporting world are shaking their head and are pointing out that the Tide lost defensive coordinator Kirby Smart to Georgia’s head coaching vacancy, along with too much talent to replace. However, the Tide has a relatively new-look defensive front seven this season. Their secondary is much improved, which means their pass defense is shored up. But Saban has done something out of character and has shifted from a run-stopping juggernaut to a pass-rushing squad of commandos. Only two teams the Tide faced last year had a top running back that threatened to do damage, Leonard Fournette in LSU, and Nick Chubb in Georgia. Both were stopped and Alabama won both games. However, in the game they lost against Ole Miss, and in the games they could have easily lost against Tennessee, Auburn and Arkansas, it was the passing attack of those offenses that stung Alabama the most. Even though they had the best pass rush and the most sacks, their secondary was weak. This season, they’re putting out a strong secondary and even more of a pass rush. So while Fournette might go over 100 yards, look for multiple interceptions and sack-fumbles.

Nothing is written in stone here, of course. By the time Alabama puts its product on the field, injuries, miscues and other mishaps might plague the Tide and they could end up losing three games. However, when looking on paper and at their spring training alone, the Tide seem like a team ready to roll yet again in 2016.

Ole Miss Students Carry Goalpost To Apartment

It had been several hours that passed by after the fans tore down the goalposts at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium after a thrilling 23-17 win over No. 1 Alabama on Saturday, but somehow the goalpost ended up wandering the streets, being lifted by several students.

“The police are kind of tough around here,” said Buckner Corso, who is in his fifth year at Ole Miss and finishing a graduate degree in accounting. “But we were just walking down the street, people were honking, and they were laughing at us.”

Corso said that some of his fellow friends brought the goalpost from the field to his tailgating area, and then him and about 20 of his friends carried it around campus before it ended up at his apartment which was a mile away.ncf_e_goalpost01jr_400x600

Corso tweeted a picture of the goalpost at his apartment and shortly after, athletic director Ross Bjork replied to his tweet;

Corso decided on Sunday to cut the goalpost up into 30 pieces with his friends using a saw.

“I know I want to put an inscription on mine, and I’m going to keep it,” said Corso, who didn’t know if the others would take a more opportunistic route and try to sell their pieces.

This may seem ironic to you, but this isn’t the first time this had happened.

Back in 2002 after Ole Miss defeated Florida, the Ole Miss Loyalty Foundation sold 100 six-inch pieces of the post that were placed on wood plaques with every detail about the game for $100 a pop.

According to ESPN, the goalposts are about $4,000 to replace. I got a kick out of reading Bjork’s other tweets he posted.

I guess there really are crazy Ole Miss fans in Oxford!

Missouri leads No. 7 Georgia at halftime

With two quarters already in the books, Missouri leads the struggling Bulldogs at half 28-10.

Iv read lots of comments and discussions throughout the game and everyone seems to blame the injuries for the reason why Georgia is down 18. Yes, injuries are a factor in today’s game but the Bulldogs are still killing themselves with turnovers. Aaron Murray had a pretty solid first half, completing 15 of 22 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown. Georgia isn’t having trouble finding open receivers and marching down the field but two lost fumbles are costly. Especially one scooped up and returned for a touchdown by Michael Sam.

Don’t count Missouri out. This young Missouri team has a bunch of talent. You can’t expect them to travel to Georgia’s turf without putting up a fight. James Franklin completed 12 of 18 completions for 135 yards and one touchdown. Running back Marcus Murphy is also showing out for Mizzo, rushing the ball 3 times for 51 yards and a touchdown.

If Georgia wants to save their rear end from picking up their first SEC loss, they need to tighten up. And fast. There is still a lot of ball left to play but in order for Georgia to compete this second half their defense needs to really pick it up. I think Georgia will make a little run and close up the gap but I don’t have any confidence in their defense. I have Missouri winning by 14.

SEC Battle in the Swamp

The Gators return home to face Arkansas this Saturday after a 24-7 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington, Kentucky. Head coach Will Muschamp said, on Monday, that he was “pleased with the win. Offensively we were very workman-like, very efficient…Defensively I thought we handled the tempo very well.” The Gators Defense stepped up in their first game without defensive tackle Dominique Easley. Easley underwent a season-ending knee injury during practice last Tuesday. The Gators had to start Dante Fowler and Ronald Powell on the outside against the Wildcats and repositioned Jonathan Bullard inside beside defensive tackle Damien Jacobs. Even with the injuries the gators have sustained on defense, the two-deep rotation is solid but untested.

Arkansas(3-2, 0-1) and Florida(3-1, 2-0) have not played each other since 2009, when the ranked #1 Gators kicked a field goal in the closing nine seconds of the game propelling the Gators to a win with a score of 23-20. The Razorbacks are coming of an impressive game putting up 33 points against Texas A&M in Fayetteville, AR. Although they fell short losing 45-33, Arkansas stayed close in points throughout the game, boosted by the return of quarterback Brandon Allen. Allen left the game early against Southern Miss, and missed the following Rutgers game due to a sprained shoulder. Allen started against Texas A&M and threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns in the impressive effort.

Florida’s defensive tackle Damien Jacobs anticipates a very physical game with Arkansas’s offensive line. “They’re real physical,” Jacobs said to the Orlando Sentinel, “I think they’re a little chippy. They’re a little dirty. So we’re going to have to be ready for it all this week.” Arkansas has an average of 237 rushing yards a game, ranking second in the SEC. In contrast, Florida through the first three games had only relinquished 214 rushing yards. Florida has been the best team in the country at preventing the running game, only allowing 53.5 yards per game. Even without defensive tackle Dominic Easley Arkansas had coach Bret Bielema said that the gators are still dangerous. According to the Arkansas News website Bielema stated,  “Obviously, they lost a real good player in (Easley), But across the board up front, they use their hands well. They’re powerful. Their linebackers run.” In my opinion, the key to winning this game is to win the battle on the line of scrimmage. Let the games begin. The game will be on ESPN2 at 7pm on Saturday.

Information from The Associated Press, Sbnation, GatorZone, The Orlando Sentinel and The SEC Network was used in this article.

Freshman Star Emerges In Florida’s DB

By: John Whitelow

In just four games, Florida’s corner back Vernon Hargreaves III has managed to produce seven tackles, four pass break ups and three interceptions for 39 return yards. Hargreaves is tied for No. 2 nationally in interceptions and is tied for No. 1 in the SEC.

Hargreaves was originally listed as a back up corner at the stat of the season up until they faced Kentucky this past weekend, he earned his first career start. In that game alone he racked up two tackles, an interception and a pass break up.

Yesterday Hargreaves earned the SEC Freshman player of the week award. Hargreaves intercepted a pass in the end zone from Kentucky’s Maxwell Smith and also leads the gators in interceptions. Hargreaves currently holds the most interceptions by an SEC freshman and the third-most nationally among freshmen.

Hargreaves is definitely a big impact on the SEC’s best pass defense. The group of guys around him will only push Hargreaves to get better and already seems to have good chemistry and trust with each other. Hargreaves has yet to face the tougher teams of the SEC but will only improve through the season. This rookie for Florida is the real deal and by the end of the season, he will be known as one of the best corners in the nation.