 "Photo: Rob Carr /The Associated Press")
Stadiums all around the South come alive on Saturdays, where college football has become more than just a passion, but a way of life.
Georgia vs. Auburn and LSU vs. Alabama are two week-11 matchups that typify everything that college football has become in SEC country. The SEC championship picture will also become slightly less foggy after these four schools, some of college football's most tradition-rich programs, clash.
Alabama has continued to win football games with a gritty, determined defense. The Crimson Tide has the nation's top-ranked scoring defense, the third-ranked total defense and even scored two touchdowns of its own in a 17-0 win against Mississippi State last weekend. Scoring touchdowns with defense and special teams has become a vital reason why Alabama continues winning football games. The Tide have not scored an offensive touchdown in their last two conference victories.
In speaking to the media Tuesday, Alabama coach Mike Shula addressed the issue.
"Well I think we've got to play more consistently," Shula said. "If we do that, then the points will come and the production will come. It's offensive football, and we've got to have 11 guys doing their job."
Against an opponent like LSU, Alabama would be happy with a win any way they can come by it.
"It's really important for our players to continually focus on the job at hand," Shula said. "The job is going to be tougher this week than any other week we've played with LSU coming in with their talent throughout their football team."
LSU can take over the driver's seat in the SEC West with a win against Alabama.
LSU offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth recently spoke to reporters about the LSU mindset before the game.
"I think it is going to be a physical game," Whitworth said. "It's going to be a heated game. It's about trying to establish yourself in the SEC. Both of the teams are going to come into the game upbeat. I don't think will be any lack of emotion. I think both teams will be very excited and pumped up about playing. It's going to take focus and taking care of business."
Prediction: Alabama 27 LSU 17
A few hours northeast of Tuscaloosa, Ala., in Athens, Ga., the Crimson Tide's biggest rival, Auburn, will find themselves locked in an intense battle with No. 9 Georgia.
Auburn has fared well playing Georgia on the road, having won nine out of the last 11 games in the Peach State. Auburn can stay in the SEC West picture with a win against the Bulldogs and an Alabama win against LSU.
Georgia continues to control its own SEC East destiny, remaining in first place, but a loss would have it tied with Florida in the East, with Florida controlling the tiebreaker having beaten Georgia earlier.
Auburn's running back Kenny Irons, a South Carolina transfer, has had four straight 100-yard games.
Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville recently spoke with the media about Irons' status.
"Kenny is beat up a little bit and should be after 127 carries in the last four games, which were very physical games against good defenses," Tuberville said. "He's going to need some guys to help him."
"That guy" could be Tristan Davis. The freshman running back ran for 162 yards and a touchdown last week against Kentucky.
Georgia quarterback D.J. Shockley, having missed the Florida loss because of injury, is back and close to 100 percent.
Prediction: Auburn 31 Georgia 28
And now I will give up all pretenses of so-called objective journalism.
Hunter S. Thompson once wrote, "So much for objective journalism. Don't bother to look for it here - not under any byline of mine; or anyone else I can think of. With the possible exception of things like box scores, race results, and stock market tabulations, there is no such thing as objective journalism. The phrase itself is a pompous contradiction in terms."
With that in mind, I turn to the two things that would make my weekend great.
Navy vs Notre Dame: It's been 41 straight victories for the Irish in this series. Navy has not won this game since Roger Staubach was a young midshipman. Notre Dame is ranked seventh in the country, and no logic would suggest that the Irish should even struggle against the Mids. But Navy is due. Please God, just once, once in my life, do me this favor and have the Navy Midshipmen pummel the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. But if "Touchdown Jesus" has any pull, I could be in for some trouble.
Prediction:
Navy 34 Notre Dame 0
USC vs Florida: Oh what a storybook win it would be. The Gators must go down.
Prediction:
USC 20 Florida 17
Other Games:
Southern Cal vs Cal: No one is beating these guys anytime soon.
Prediction:
Southern Cal 41 Cal 31.
Northwestern vs Ohio State: Northwestern gets it done against the Buckeyes.
Prediction: NW 31 OSU 27
Last Week: 4-1
Season: 32-14
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