College Game Day: Game of the Week!

College Game Day is in Nashville, at Vanderbilt today as 19th ranked Vandy will take on 13th ranked Auburn at 6 pm tonight. There's much to question with Auburn's lack of offense under new offensive-coordinator Tony Franklin at the helm, Auburn has scored just three touchdowns in the first six weeks of college football. Auburn is 4-1, 2-1 in the SEC, with a 3-2 final score on their win over Mississippi State.

And now, we turn to Vanderbilt. Vandy is 4-0, 2-0 in the SEC (beating Ol'Miss and South Carolina). Vandy is ranked 19th in the nation-their highest ranking in 52 years and haven't had a winning season in the last 25 years (see stat snapped from ABC broadcast) which means no one on Vandy's squad was alive the last time the school had a winning season. Granted Vanderbilt is in a tough (SEC) conference (the Commodores are ranked 12th in total offense) and they do have tough academic standards which is prehaps the reason, Vandy also has the smallest stadium in the SEC with a capacity of just 39,000-that's only 11,000 more than the Citadel Bulldogs stadium. Yet, the Commodores are #1 in turnover margins, #1 in the nation in least amount of penalties and have an excellent chance of winning today; if they can prevent third-down conversions (read: Auburn's run attack) and continue their unique knack for gaining excellent field advantage. And it would appear that Vegas thinks this will be a close game as the line on has Auburn as -4 favorites.

Why the Mississippi Gambler will come up short in Cola tonight

The 2^nd ranked team in the nation (behind top ranked The Ohio State Buckeyes) Auburn War-Beagles, err, Tigers come into Columbia tonight to play our beloved Gamecocks. After losing 48-7 in Auburn a year ago (a game which Mellen said, the Auburn fans were respectfully positive in their candor post-a** whipping) the (3-1) Gamecocks plan on bringing a challenging defense and air-assault offense to face the Cox and "Judas", Kenny Irons, lead offense of Auburn. Look for a nasty SEC battle on the gridiron tonight at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Why the Mississippi Gambler will come up short on tonight's spread

Tubbs will come up short on tonight's spread of 14 points because of 7 key reasons:

1. Steve Spurrier is the old ball coach and he always has something up his sleeve, perhaps even a playbook that the Cocks can understand.
2. Despite his ankle injury, Cory Boyd will be on the field tonight and knowing the LSU styled pass rush defense that Auburn has inherited they will leave a lot of real estate for both Boyd and Syvelle Newton, if he decides to become imaginative, to take advantage of tonight.
3. South Carolina's D-line is stronger and larger than Auburn's O-line.
4. Succup's right foot-the man knows how to suck-up and put the pig-skin between the uprights.
5. Syvelle Newton has mad passing and scrambling skills.
6. Auburn's football team wears Under-"we must protect this house"-Armor and their female students and alumni wear cut-off blue jeans shorts.
7. The Gamecock Faithful know how to turn the volume up to the 11th notch on the amp in Williams-Brice.

Reasons why Auburn will win tonight's game:

1. The Mississippi Gambler, Tommy "Two-Tones" Tubberville will pull an ace out of his sleeve and is well prep'd for tonight's game. (He does respect his opponent in the Visor).
2. Kenny Irons will run for at least 100 yards in his return to Williams-Brice Stadium.
3. The Bushido will never be able to turn the tables on the Tarokh'd Tigers if Auburn can not hold onto the number two spot and face (and ultimately lose to) my beloved Buckeyes for the National Championship.

End Note: I am not sure exactly how this works but despite California's QB, Nate Longshore garnishing 21% of the vote, (behind Notre Dame's Terrail Lambert w/ 26% of the vote and South Carolina's wide-receiver, Sidney Rice taking 29% of the votes), Longshore was named "player of the week" and the USA Today on-line poll is still open. Rice who pulled down 9 passes for 162 yards and all five scores and a school record against Florida Atlantic last Saturday should have taken home the title of "POTW" but some Tiger loving pollster out there put the kibosh on that. We will see tonight folks, we will see tonight.