Well, it's been almost two weeks since Tennessee's disastrous opening game loss to UCLA, and it has given us all some time to consider what we have learned from that game.
We learned that Jonathan Crompton is only good enough to be the fourth-string quarterback at UCLA (at least at this point anyway). I'm sure we all expected inconsistency from Crompton, but he went long stretches where he appeared incapable of completing a pass. Of course, that wasn't his entire fault. For unknown reasons, Tennessee completely abandoned the run for most of the second half. Let's hope offensive coordinator Dave Clawson has a little better game calling plays against Alabama-Birmingham this week.
We learned that our tradition of starting the season with shaky special teams will be extended at least one more year. One blocked punt and three missed field goals are one of the primary reasons the Volunteers lost. True, a couple of the field goals were more than 50 yards, but we never got our mojo going on special teams all night.
This Saturday, Alabama-Birmingham visits Knoxville for the home opener. The Blazers are 0-2 with losses to Tulsa and Florida-Atlantic.
There is no question Tennessee will win this game, but the key is to see how they react to the UCLA loss. Will they come out and simply go through the motions or will they be motivated and take out their frustrations on the Blazers?
Given the Vols inconsistent nature in recent years, I think it will be a little of both.
The pick: Tennessee 34 Alabama-Birmingham 24
Other SEC picks: Georgia over South Carolina, Kentucky over Middle Tennessee State, Vanderbilt over Rice, LSU over North Texas, Auburn over Mississippi State, Alabama over Western Kentucky, Texas over Arkansas, Ole Miss over Samford
Last week: 9-1 (.900), Overall: 17-5 (.773)
4 comments:
I think Tennessee will win big this weekend ... then get the ever-living snot kicked out of them the following two Saturdays.
All I know is I tuned into the MTSU-Maryland game expecting the worst. And then I proceeded to get almost - almost - as excited as when I was on hand to watch MTSU beat Vandy in 2001.
Regarding my picks this week (for those interested), the Texas/Arkansas game has been postponed until Sept. 27 because of Hurricane Ike.
How 'bout them 'Dores?! Will this be the "bowl" year ...?!
Did anybody see the knee injury Notre Dame coach Charlie Weiss got today standing on the sideline? Pretty gruesome stuff.
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