Happy homecoming

It’s moments like this that make you realize how special this season is turning out to be for Florida.

Then again, only eight Gators bothered to head to the southeast corner after the game to join the band for Florida, Our Alma Mater.

“I thought we only did it when we win,” Murphy said.

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First random thoughts about Auburn

Just a few things that popped into my head yesterday:

• You guys want to fret about how Georgia’s defense handles the Auburn rushing attack, fine, be my guest.  This is worrying me a helluva lot more.
• This may be the most dismaying stat of all to ponder, if you’re a Georgia fan.
• “For a decade, the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry has been decided in an old-fashioned kind of way. In each of the previous 10 years, the team that finished with the most rushing yards in the Auburn/Georgia game also went home a winner. A team hasn’t been beaten on the ground and won in the series since 2002, when Auburn had 199 rushing yards to Georgia’s 104 and the Bulldogs topped the Tigers 24-21 anyway.”
• That being said, only one team has managed to outrush Georgia in a game this season – Vanderbilt on Oct. 19.
• This, too:  “Georgia is averaging 7.5 yards per play on drives in which Gurley touches the ball. On drives in which he doesn’t touch the ball, it drops to 5.9 yards per play.”
• On offense, Auburn is averaging about 15 yards per game more than Georgia and on defense, the Tigers are yielding around 27 yards per game more than the (much-maligned) Dawg defense is.
• The strength of schedule gap isn’t small, but perhaps not as large as you might think, at least according to Sagarin.

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UPDATE:  This is from today, but it’s too good not to add to the list.

If Todd Grantham’s defense can slow down Auburn’s running game and force Marshall to pass, Georgia’s chances of victory increase exponentially. Marshall has attempted 10 or more passes just six times this season and has completed at least 60 percent of his passes in only two of those games.

In case you’re wondering, those two games were against Mississippi and Mississippi State.

My Mumme Poll ballot, Week 11

Another week of the more things change, the more they stay the same. (*tiebreaker)

• Alabama
• Baylor
• Clemson
• FSU*
• Missouri
• Ohio State
• Oklahoma State
• Oregon
• Stanford
• Wisconsin

Also considered:  Arizona State, Auburn

This week was the easiest one I’ve had this season.  Even my “also considered” list shortened.  Less than fifteen minutes to put the ballot together.

Fabris Invitational Results, Week 11

Last week was tougher, but we did have an uncontested winner at 9-1.

STANDINGS for WEEK 11

Rank	Selection Name	Standings Adjustment	W-L	Pts	Tie Breaker Game 17-38
1	mwo	Adj	9-1	9	16-45
2	mantiev	Adj	8-2	8	24-38**
2	DCWeez	Adj	8-2	8	17-34
2	wonderdawg	Adj	8-2	8	13-31
2	grdaze	Adj	8-2	8	21-20

Congrats to mwo.

As far as the season goes, it’s still a tight race, but Trbodawg has reclaimed the lead.

SEASON STANDINGS through Week 11

Rank	Selection Name	W-L	Pts
1	Trbodawg	71-39	71
2	ShockleyforHeisman	69-41	69
2	BosnianDawg	69-41	69
4	ParrishWalton	68-42	68
4	jadams4148	68-42	68
4	Lennay Kekua and D-cups	68-42	68
4	Hobnail Boot	68-42	68
4	Front Ranger	68-42	68

My SEC Power Poll ballot, Week 11

Last week was a story of losses by LSU and Florida and my ballot changes reflect that.

1. Alabama.  Those teams yelling “We want ‘Bama” are starting to remind me of the dog who caught the car he was chasing.
2. Missouri.  Rolled Kentucky, which is what a good team should do.
3. Auburn.  Your starting quarterback goes 3-7 with 35 yards passing and you win by 32 points?  Not bad.
4. Texas A&M.  Does anybody believe Manziel when he denies that he has even entertained the thought of going pro after this season?
5. South Carolina.  As time goes by, the Gamecocks’ loss to Tennessee this season looks more and more like the inexplicable loss to Auburn in 2011.
6. LSU.  Losers of two of their last three, the Tigers had better hope that Johnny Football continues to be a turnover machine this Saturday when they meet.
7. Georgia.  As the Dawgs get some of their missing pieces back, will they start to click a little more?
8. Mississippi.  Bowl eligible with three winnable games to go.
9. Vanderbilt.  Say what you will about the East being weaker this season, the fact remains that the Commodores are 14-6 over their last twenty games.
10. Florida.  I guess we know which coach is sitting on the hottest seat in the SEC right now.
11. Mississippi State.  The Bulldogs outgained TAMU, held the Aggies to under 100 yards rushing, went +2 in turnover margin, possessed the ball for almost ten minutes more… and lost by ten.
12. Tennessee.  Going downhill fast.  Can the Vols salvage their season with games against Vanderbilt and Kentucky?
13. Arkansas.  Hard to believe, but it’s unlikely the Hogs match their SEC win total under John L. Smith this season.
14. Kentucky.  Out of the SWAC and back to their losing ways.