“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
-Buddha
We’re going to dwell for just a moment, and then we’re done thinking about the ass whooping in Athens. Between the beat down and an inferior opponent on the schedule, we’re going to keep it brief this week. We’ll recap the Georgia game and get straight to the Pick 5. We had our first losing week (2-3), but we’re not dwelling! Let's stay in the present moment and find some winners this week.
There’s really not a lot to say. We simply ran into a juggernaut at the WRONG time. Earlier in the season, the Dawgs had to figure some things out just like any other team. They were still more talented than every team they played, but with a new quarterback and several new faces on both sides of the ball, they naturally hit some road bumps throughout the year. Georgia is judged by a different standard, so while they’ve played great football, there were times that they looked relatively human. Our problem is that we ran into them in mid-November, right when they put it all together, and it turns out they’re REALLY, REALLY good at football.
The most demoralizing aspect to accept is that there wasn’t really anything we could’ve done about it. On that night, in that environment, they would’ve beaten us 10 times out of 10. Could we have played better? Sure, but if they are executing at that level, I’m not sure who in the country would’ve beaten them or even come close. It’s extremely hard for coaches to get their team's MAX effort 12 Saturdays in a row, or in Georgia’s case, 14 Saturdays and a Monday. Saban has said in the past that you can typically only do it 3 or 4 times a year. Well, Kirby had one of those games this week, and we just happened to be the team in the way. While taking accountability, Lane noted in his post-game press conference that they have 24 5-star players on their roster, and we have 1. At some point, that catches up to you. It was a full serving of humble pie, and admittedly, I probably needed it. A win against Georgia there, and I wasn’t going to be able to fit my head through the door come Thanksgiving. They played their best game of the season, and all you can do is tip your cap to them. It's time to force yourself to watch the tape and move on.
Onward we go. Let’s go beat the hell out of Louisiana Monroe, stay healthy, and get ready for a short week against Mississippi State.
PICK 5 (33-13) (72%):
The only thing that brings me more pain than a Rebs loss is letting down the fans. 10 straight winning weeks, and we came up short last week. I’ve been kicking myself all week. The one that hurts me the most is Bama. I still can’t believe I missed out on -9.5 last week!! The easiest pick of the weekend, and I took the Rebs on the road instead. This rude awakening has forced me to reinstate my gambling rule until further notice. No more betting on the Rebs. Now, it’s time to crack the knuckles and get back in the trenches this week. Let’s Go!
1.) Louisville @ Miami -1
The Canes have yet to let me down all year when I’ve picked them. This game opened at Louisville -2 and has swayed all the way to Miami being favored. That little #10 next to Louisville’s name is just enough to get the home team riled up, and it doesn’t do a damn thing for the Cardinals. The ACC picture gets chaotic as the Hurricanes roll in Coral Gables!
2.) Kentucky @ South Carolina PK
Lot of line movements this week. UK opened at -2, and we’re down to a Pick em. The Gamecocks have lost every road game they’ve played this year, but fortunately, this one is a night game at William Bryce. This team loves Shane Beamer, and as his seat warms up, I think he gets the boys ready to play this week as bowl game hopes remain alive. GO COCKS!
3.) Florida +11.5 @ Missouri
Everyone is LOVING some Mizzou right now, and NOBODY is talking about the Gators. I love it! I don’t need a win here, I just need Florida to muck up the game and keep it close. I believe the Gators can do just that. Chomp Chomp!
4.) Tulane -9 @ Florida Atlantic
While Tulane continues to win, they keep getting big leads and letting them slip away at the end. I think this is the week they hold on to one. There’s too much at stake for the Green Wave, and FAU is near the bottom in all the important stats. Roll Wave!
5.) Southern Miss +14.5 @ Mississippi State
I went back and forth on several different games here. State just fired their coach, and I think over two touchdowns is too many points for the Bullies to be giving to anyone right now. What better chance will Southern have to take down State again? The Bulldogs win the game, but it’s ugly. Go Eagles!
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