The SEC is already assured of a sixth consecutive national championship. Alabama and LSU will decide that in another 10 days.
But before the league plays for a national title, it will play for its reputation.
The best way for the average college football program to prove its mettle during the bowl season is to beat an SEC team — any SEC team.
If Cincinnati wins the Liberty Bowl, it won't boast about outscoring Vanderbilt. It will derisively chant "S-E-C."
The Commodores might as well ditch the "V" and stick the SEC logo on their helmets. So what if they're regarded as an underdog program. The SEC isn't under anybody.
The betting lines prove that. Even the Commodores are favored, albeit by the slightest of margins.
That point spread is indicative of this bowl season. There are no double-digit favorites in the SEC field.
And there's more incentive for the underdogs.
Cincinnati 24, Vanderbilt 23: Anyone who tunes in the Liberty Bowl in anticipation of hearing the name "Muchie Legeaux" will be terribly disappointed.
Legeaux will give way to former starting quarterback Zach Collaros, whose quick recovery from a broken ankle should be just enough to tip the game Cincinnati's way.
No matter who wins, the game will serve as fodder for those who insist there are too many bowls.
Neither Cincinnati nor Vanderbilt was good enough to beat 5-7 Tennessee.
Michigan State 30, Georgia 27: This pick is a vote for courage over talent.
When the Spartans were selected to play Georgia in the Outback Bowl, I assumed they would politely decline and choose to sit out the holiday season rather than risk further bowl embarrassment.
Michigan State has lost five consecutive bowl games. It was beaten so badly by Alabama in its last bowl, I wondered if it would self-impose a five-year bowl ban.
Instead, it rebounded to almost win the Big Ten championship and then bravely agreed to play another SEC team in a bowl. You don't pick against that kind of courage.
Nebraska 23, South Carolina 21: The Gamecocks no longer have a problem qualifying for bowl games. They just have a problem performing in them.
In losing their last three bowls, they have established themselves as the SEC team most likely to go belly-up in a postseason game.
None of their recent bowl blunders compare to what coach Steve Spurrier encountered in his last bowl get-together with the Cornhuskers.
That was after the 1995 regular season when Nebraska overwhelmed Spurrier's Florida Gators 62-24 in the Fiesta Bowl to win the national championship. In Nebraska lore, quarterback Tommie Frazier is still running.
Mississippi State 27, Wake Forest 20: The Music City Bowl can't come soon enough for the Bulldogs, who are running out of healthy quarterbacks.
Starter Tyler Russell injured a knee in bowl practice but is listed as probable for the game. No. 3 quarterback Dylan Favre has left the team with the intention of transferring.
If Russell's injured knee doesn't hold up, the Bulldogs still will have Chris Relf, who has started for much of the last two seasons.
Virginia 31, Auburn 30: The Tigers aren't running out of quarterbacks. They're looking for one.
Barrett Trotter began the season as the starter, then gave way to Clint Moseley. And freshman Kiehl Frazier could get a shot in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Auburn's long-range concern might be more about who's calling the plays than who's executing them. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn will begin his head-coaching career at Arkansas State after the game.
Having Malzahn for one more game won't help the Tigers' defense.
Ohio State 20, Florida 16: Although former Gators coach Urban Meyer is the new Buckeyes coach, he won't play an active role in the Gator Bowl. Rumor has it he wants to spend more time with his family during the holidays. Either that or he's recruiting.
You won't recognize the teams from the last bowl meeting five years ago when the Gators scored 41 points and the Buckeyes totaled 87 yards in a national championship mismatch.
Arkansas 38, Kansas State 27: If anyone has a beef against the college football system, it's the Razorbacks.
Last year, the NCAA ruled a handful of prominent Ohio State players ineligible but postponed their suspensions to the 2011 season and permitted them to play against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.
As Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said months later, "I'm still trying to figure that one out."
Now, the BCS has picked up where the NCAA left off. So what if the Razorbacks' only two losses came against the nation's top two teams. It won't allow a third SEC team to play in a BCS bowl.
The Razorbacks might not can beat the system. But they can beat Kansas State.
Top 25: Oklahoma 37, Iowa 24; Houston 35, Penn State 27; Oregon 41, Wisconsin 30; Oklahoma State 48, Stanford 34; Virginia Tech 31, Michigan 27; Clemson 38, West Virginia 28.
Record: 163-43 (.791) overall, 105-86 (.549) against the spread.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com. Follow him at http://twitter.com/johnadamskns.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 17
wigmeister writes:
Yes, Arkansas has gotten screwed two years in a row. They have to do something to make up for the SEC being so good. No matter what happens in other games, because any team can have a hot hand, the SEC will win the National Championship. End of story. Good night Gracie.
VOLtage writes:
105-86 (.549) against the spread. Not too shabby.
underthehill writes:
Any plus against the spread is impressive but I will take Vandy, Georgia, and S. Car in the bowls.
SummittsCourt writes:
tired of kicking UT when they are down, this clown decides to take on the SEC.
I looked up loser in the dictionary and there was a picture of ja.
the_dooley_eVOLution writes:
I think Vandy will win against Cincy. But it should be a darn good game... very close as Adams called it. The 'Doores blasted Wake Forest so I think they are ready for this game. They're gonna be licking their chops when we come to town next season, too.
Ringleader writes:
Adams........you are a fool....The only thing missing in the bowls is UT
cloudodust writes:
Michigan State might see the best defense they've seen this year in Georgia. Both have a tendancy to score some points (Forget the SECCG. Nobody outscored LSU in 2011) and Murray has the ability to turn a win into a loss. I like Sparty in this one to at least keep us entertained if not surprised. Looking forward to this game because I lose my loyalty to the SEC in the Bowls with Georgia...
Arkansas back home in the Cotton Bowl. They win...
Vandy : Well, didn't Tennessee beat Cincy circa 2011..? Com'on Commiedores, prove your worth...
Auburn : Did they find a defense and an offense..?
Alabama-LSU...later
tnbigg writes:
John. I don't know if you just get a kick out of saying stupid things, whether you are really as stupid as some of your detractors claim you are or whether you write columns late at night after drinking beverages that produce some sense of euphoric grandiose. If you really scorn the SEC as much as you do Tennessee, maybe you should just come out say it. Like this, "Yes, I am paid to write for a newspaper in Knoxville, TN where most people love Tennessee football and I hate it and them. Yes, I write for a newspaper that is deep in SEC territory, but I hate the SEC (except for LSU who really is just a stand alone super power to me) and all those inglorious bass-toids that love the SEC. I don't claim to want to support Tennessee, I will never support those who love it...but I do get a paycheck...even in this economy for which so many have no job. For that I could care less too...you see...I get paid and have no oversight, no scruples, no standards and can do and say whatever idiotic nonsense I want to. Finally, as I did when I was child, and admittedly, I will never grow up I close by saying, nah, nah, nah, nah nah nah to the tune of a child's song. Don't like my stuff? Don't read it. I could care less. JA"
dirislr#209355 writes:
Why do you read his column?
CCLC writes:
sounds like sour grapes to me
CCLC writes:
Cowardly Lion:
Courage. What makes a King out of a slave? Courage.
What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage.
What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist or the dusky dusk?
What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage.
What makes the Sphinx the 7th Wonder? Courage.
What makes the dawn come up like THUNDER?! Courage.
What makes the Hottentot so hot?
What puts the "ape" in ape-ricot?
Whatta they got that I ain't got?
Its going to take more than courage to beat the Dawgs the team that held UT,Florida and Auburn to a combined 11 yards rushing. Michigan State was a stronger team in 2010 when they were co-champions of the Big Ten and faced a 10-3 Alabama in the Capital One Bowl.. That game ended in a 49-7 Alabama beat down. Michigan State played courageously the entire game.
This years Michigan State almost won the Big Ten championship again ….and again it finds itself facing an SEC opponent similar to Alabama in ability and talent. A 10-3 Georgia with a defense that is one of the best in the country . Georgia also has a capable running back that should have gained a 1000 yards this year and is backed up by a stable of experience running backs.
Mark Richt is 4-1 in his last five bowls…… Michigan State is 0-5.
While I don’t expect the Dawgs to win by 42 points 14 points is reasonable.
just sayin'
BigOrangeSmoker writes:
ROTFLMFAO...dat dar is funny i domnt care who ya are or where your from.Its also true...johnboy aint reported nothing but negative stuff for years,how he keeps a job is beyond me
RollTideJoe writes:
Vandy will beat Cincy. Georgia will win their's, too. Not sure about Gamecocks. Losing Lattimore really hurt them and although Garcia was a fool, he was sporadically good. Clearly LSU-Alabama are the two best teams, so one will win and one will lose for the SEC but they proved to be the best in the country. So, I would still put the SEC up against anybody, anyday.
LJS1984 writes:
Is there anything positive regarding UT athletics in it's current state to report? If you find any positives please let me know.
P.S. A strong Volleyball season doesn't count.
tnbigg writes:
John. I may have missed it. Here was your "expert prediction" in the above column where you bashed the most dominating football conference that there has ever been and ever will be.
"Virginia 31, Auburn 30: The Tigers aren't running out of quarterbacks. They're looking for one.
Barrett Trotter began the season as the starter, then gave way to Clint Moseley. And freshman Kiehl Frazier could get a shot in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Auburn's long-range concern might be more about who's calling the plays than who's executing them. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn will begin his head-coaching career at Arkansas State after the game.
Having Malzahn for one more game won't help the Tigers' defense."
Did they play? If so, what was the final score? Was it helpful to have Malzahn for one more game?
rusty_shackleford writes:
Looking forward to the article by this self absorbed idiot that says, "once again, I was wrong". So far, the goober is o-fer Jan 1, 2012.
tnbigg writes:
Don't hold your breath Bro'. He's the sports equivalent to a weather man. Nobody ever thinks he is going to be right. The amazing thing? He keeps getting paid... Such a freakin' joke...
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.