Sports Writer/Designer

Another ho-hum week overall, but a few big exceptions. As always, AP Top 25 and SEC picks.

Last week: 15-6
Overall: 194-61

Wednesday
No. 14 Ball State at Central Michigan
The Chippewas have won the MAC the last two years and won’t give it up easily. If this were in Muncie, Ind., I’d give it to the Cardinals. But it’s not. Central Michigan 34, Ball State 31

Thursday
No. 23 Miami at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech has beaten Miami three years in a row, but the Canes are playing well. I like this Yellow Jackets though, especially at home. But rest assured that I’m not comfortable with this pick by any stretch of the imagination, as is the case with almost any ACC game. Georgia Tech 17, Miami 14

Saturday
No. 2 Texas Tech at No. 5 Oklahoma
This one will be great. While I haven’t quite expressed the preseason love I had for the Sooners in recent weeks, I do still love them very much. Oklahoma 49, Texas Tech 38

The Citadel at No. 3 Florida
They really shouldn’t even play Tebow, Harvin or anyone else important just to be safe here. Florida 73, The Citadel 7

No. 17 Michigan State at No. 7 Penn State
I said the other day the Nittany Lions seem almost destined to blow this thing, but I’m not quite confident enough to pick it. Penn State 21, Michigan State 14

No. 16 BYU at No. 8 Utah
I’m really not crazy enough about either team to pick a solid winner, but I like the Utes at home. Utah 23, BYU 19

No. 9 Boise State at Nevada
For the previous few Boise State teams I wouldn’t even think of this, but I’m not a big believer in these Broncos. And if they’re going to lose a game, this is it. Nevada 38, Boise State 35

Michigan at No. 10 Ohio State
Michigan will have enough pride to keep this close for a while. Ohio State 28, Michigan 10

Air Force at No. 15 TCU
The Falcons let me down last week and I will not pick them again. TCU 23, Air Force 14

Ole Miss at No. 18 LSU
Ole Miss has played LSU better in Baton Rouge than in Oxford over the last 15 years or so, and I’m going to call the upset here. I do not like this LSU team at all at this point (although the comeback against Troy could be one of those “Hey I get it now” moments for the team. They do happen). Ole Miss 20, LSU 16

No. 20 Pittsburgh at No. 19 Cincinnati
Raise your hand if you thought this would be the de facto Big East title game. Anyone? Cincinnati 28, Pittsburgh 24

No. 21 Oregon State at Arizona
Going into the desert ranked in November in recent years has produced bad things (ask UCLA in 2005, Cal in 2006 and Oregon last year). But the Beavers are on a roll and they never lose in November under Riley. Talk about a storyline! Oregon State 35, Arizona 30

Florida State at No. 22 Maryland
Based on most of this season, Maryland should lose this game. But they are at home here so I guess I’ll take them. Maryland 22, Florida State 13

N.C. State at No. 25 North Carolina
North Carolina should get this one easily, but it’s kinda scary. North Carolina 27, N.C. State 13

Tennessee at Vanderbilt
They’re bowl eligible now, so there’s a very real chance to Commodores might rest on their laurels. But I think they could take plenty of delight in adding to Tennessee’s misery. Vanderbilt 10, Tennessee 3

Arkansas at Mississippi State
Can anyone say with any confidence who should win this? I think I’ll take Arkansas since they actually have a couple of playmakers. Arkansas 24, Mississippi State 14

Auburn University beat reporter

The headline pretty much tells you what you need to know, but here’s a little more clarity. Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp—last year’s defensive coordinator at Auburn—was named the coach-in-waiting at Texas. He will succeed Mack Brown whenever he decides to retire, which isn’t exactly in the near future.

Muschamp has become one of the hottest coaching candidates in the country and has had his named linked to virtually every job opening. He said today, however, that he wasn’t exactly ready to be a head coach and his family is in love with Texas.

Here’s the rest of the story.

Auburn University beat reporter

(Sorry for the delay. I’m sure you’ve likely checked some other blogs on the WWW by now. FAB was in a minor car accident. No injuries, not much damage to the automobile and FAB is not taking any responsibility.)

Tommy Tuberville made it abruptly clear in his opening statement to the liberal media and bloggers that Tuesday would be an uneventful day of quote-seeking and information processing.

The Tigers aren’t really thinking about the No. 1 Crimson Tide this week. It’s a luxury they can afford, considering that the two teams don’t meet until Nov. 29. That’s a long time in college football, and it’s time Auburn will use to fix it’s own problems before even thinking about the problems Terrence Cody, Andre Smith and Javier Arenas will bring to the table at the 73rd installment of the game simply known in these parts as the Iron Bowl.

Next few days we’re going to work more on ourselves than we’re going to work on the next game. We’re going to go back to fundamentals and try to have shorter, crisper practices.

You don’t want to do too much. You want to make sure you keep them fresh and sharp and don’t overplay it. You don’t want to play the game before we get there a week from Saturday.

But can’t we just talk about it a little? OK, said the coach, talk to my players about it.

The players made available by Tuberville and the Auburn media relations staff said what you’d pretty much expect them to say. Here are some snippets.

Jason Bosley
I don’t think records really matter in this game. It doesn’t matter who’s ranked, who’s not ranked. You’ve seen in the past...you can throw records out the window, it’s going to be a good game. This game is all about heart and pride in both schools. Both teams have got a lot of friends and family that are affiliated with both schools. It’s a fistfight and it’s going to be a classic.

Antonio Coleman
This is what you come to Auburn for. There’s not too much thinking about it right now. We have an off week, so we’re just trying to get ourselves better so we can compete next week.

Walter McFadden, a Floridian
It’s not any different. I’ve been hearing about this game so much since I’ve been here. Like Jerraud Powers, my roommate, he lives for this game. That’s all he talks about it, so it even got to the point that it made be living for this game. Me, being from Florida, it was like Florida State-Miami, or Florida State-Florida. This is a very big game. Every day he’s yelling about Alabama. Right now, this is very critical for me.

What’s he yelling?
You don’t really want to know.

On to the hard news of the day, which is another hard one to take. Tight end Tommy Trott will undergo season-ending surgery on his knee and could miss out on a good amount of spring practice. He’ll be in good hands, though, as the Dr. James Andrews will be performing the procedure. In light of all the work Auburn has provided the world-famous surgeon—approximately a dozen according to Tuberville—spring practice could get pushed back a bit.

Also, Coleman, who led the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss for a good amount of time this season before becoming bogged down with injuries, said he has not thought about forgoing his senior season and taking a crack at the NFL—not yet at least. It’s tough to recommend or stop any player to skip their senior season, but I think Coleman could definitely do himself a favor if he stays. If he puts a completely healthy year at the top of his game under his belt, his draft stock will soar. 

And here’s some good blog fodder for you. In the middle of his meeting with the media, Tuberville’s phone buzzed. It was his wife, Suzanne.

“Those that have said my wife has left me, I promise she ain’t,” he said. “She’s still calling. Let me text her and I’ll tell her I’ll call her back.”