Adams: SEC must show its prowess on field

The SEC has set a conference record by winning nine post-season individual awards. Now, it’s up to the teams to prove why the SEC is regarded as the nation’s premier football conference.

The biggest bowls don’t start before Jan. 1, but the SEC’s biggest challenges might come before then.

Mississippi State and Auburn of the SEC are underdogs in pre-New Year’s Day bowls.

Mississippi State 30, Central Florida 27: UCF junior running back Kevin Smith qualifies as the least publicized 2,000-yard rusher in Division I-A history.

Smith has rushed for 2,448 yards. Only Oklahoma State’s Barry Sanders gained more in a single season.

That doesn’t bode well for a Mississippi State defense that ranked eighth in the SEC against the run.

But you can’t judge the Bulldogs by statistics. They were last in the SEC in total offense and pass efficiency, and 10th in turnover margin. Yet they won three of their last four SEC games.

And they will find a way to win the Liberty Bowl, too.

Sabama 31, Colorado 24: Three Colorado defensive players made first-team All-Big 12. Linebacker Jordon Dizon was named Big 12 defensive player of the year.

But the Buffs gave up an average of 38 points per game in the second half of the season. That makes you wonder how good their other eight defensive starters are.

Despite losing four of its last six games, Colorado qualifies as the hottest team in the Independence Bowl.

You couldn’t tell it by the Tide’s 41-17 victory over Tennessee, but Nick Saban’s first team hasn’t been one big happy family.

The source of its discontent, according to published reports after the regular season, was a senior class that didn’t unanimously buy into Saban’s program.

Senior linebacker Darren Mustin apparently was referring to some of his classmates when he said, “Those are the type of weeds that you have to pull out.”

Maybe the Tide has done enough weeding in a month to end its four-game losing streak.

Kentucky 34, Florida State 24: The Seminoles and Wildcats have one thing in common. Each of those teams gave up 45 points to Florida.

But this match-up in the Music City Bowl is more about differences than similarities.

The biggest difference: Florida State is in disarray; Kentucky isn’t.

Thirty-six Florida State players won’t be playing in the bowl game because of injuries, violations of team rules, or suspensions resulting from a widespread cheating scandal.

FSU’s best chance at victory is pressuring Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson. But how much pressure can it bring after the loss of three defensive tackles and two defensive ends?

The Wildcats lost four of their last five regular-season games. Five weeks between games should revive a team that struggled after a 6-1 start.

Clemson 20, Auburn 17: Although the offenses are clearly ahead of the defenses in college football, you can’t prove it by these guys.

Clemson ranks sixth nationally in total defense. Auburn is eighth. They’re two of only eight teams that gave up fewer than 300 yards per game.

Auburn has played a tougher schedule and has a better track record against good teams. But its passing game is a glaring deficiency in an evenly matched Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Auburn is ranked 107th nationally in passing offense, and quarterback Brandon Cox has thrown for only nine touchdowns.

Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper, who ranks 17th nationally in pass efficiency, has thrown for 27 touchdowns.

More Bowl Picks (through Dec. 31): Arizona State 34, Texas 31; Boston College 34, Michigan State 27; TCU 34, Houston 28; Oregon State 37, Maryland 31; Wake Forest 27, Connecticut 23; Penn State 27, Texas A&M 24; Cal 34, Air Force 31; South Florida 27, Oregon 17; Fresno State 26, Georgia Tech 23; Oklahoma State 34, Indiana 30.

Record: 204-65 (.759) overall, 128-117 (.522) against the spread.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.