5-at-10: SEC asked and answered, NFL power poll, Rushmore of military movies

Morning, hope your coffee has been warm and your pastry tasty. And we have decided to mix things up and have a mailbag this week. Want to play along?

From the "Talks too much" studios,

SEC asked and answered

photo SEC Southeastern Conference

1. Mississippi State (9-0, 5-0; at Alabama, 3:30 p.m.): How crazy is the new playoff system? Well, it means that everyone in the SEC West now has to root for Mississippi State to lose to Darth Saban and the Empire. There's a madhouse on the line if Mississippi stumbles this week, and there are even some possibilities of the SEC not getting a team in depending on how things happen. Which begs the question, if there's a college football championship and the SEC is not invited, did it really happen?

2. Alabama (8-1, 5-1; vs. Mississippi State, 3:30 p.m.): Does anyone believe they are going to win more strongly than the Tide? We say no, and that's a credit to the foundation and leadership of the program. You can think Nick Saban is the bees' knees or the devil himself, but unless you were related to Les Miles, you knew in your heart when Saturday's game went to overtime, Alabama was going to win. In fact, we have reached a point where Alabama losing is a shock, even in the SEC. (We're not expecting to get shocked on Saturday, either.)

3. Auburn (7-2, 4-2; at Georgia, 7:15 p.m.): Will Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson find himself on the hot seat come January? We think so, considering the Tigers and an experienced defensive front has struggled mightily. And yes, Johnson's 4-2-5 format is designed to have success against the spread, but with five defensive backs on the field, the Tigers are still getting torched through the air.

4. Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2; off): Does any team in the country need an off week as much as the Rebels? Probably not, considering the run Ole Miss concluded with a cake walk over Presbyterian last week. Ole Miss and Auburn - teams that have lived on the edge the last few weeks with mixed results - are now left in a difficult conundrum. Each has had very impressive seasons, and each can't help but be supremely disappointed.

photo Georgia's Todd Gurley, right, runs past the reach of Clemson's Tony Steward.

5. Georgia (7-2, 5-2; vs. Auburn, 7:15 p.m.): What's the over/under for a rest Todd Gurley against a bad Auburn defense? We'll put it at 180 rushing yards and two TDs. And we'll gladly take the over.

6. LSU (7-3, 3-3; at Arkansas, 8 p.m.): What does Vegas know that makes Arkansas a favorite this week? Yes, the 0-for-the-SEC-under-Bielema Arkansas Razorbacks are a 2.5-point favorite over LSU. Yes, we know they have fancy buildings and give four-star buffets for $4.99 because of the money the rake in from gamblers, but something's a miss here. That line is cracked.

7. Texas A&M (7-3, 3-3; vs. Missouri, 7:30 p.m.): Is there a better freshman in the country than defensive end Myles Garrett? Dude is 19 and has 11 sacks - three more than the SEC freshman record set by some guy named Jadeveon Clowney. Garrett also made the biggest play in the Aggies' stunning 41-38 win over Auburn. Sure, the Auburn self-inflicted fumbles late were painful, but Garrett blocked the Tigers' field-goal try right before the half that became a 65-yard touchdown return to give A&M a 35-17 halftime lead. If that kick clears the line, Auburn likely would have won the game by two touchdowns.

8. Missouri (7-2, 4-1; at Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m.): How much does the anti-SEC camps across America love Missouri right now? If the Tigers win out, they get to the SEC title game. And with that loss to Indiana hanging over their heads, the Tigers in the title game would be fun fodder for the other Power 5 conferences.

9. Florida (5-3, 4-3; vs. South Carolina, noon): Is Jeff Driskel's career in Florida done? Yes. Yes it is. Freshman quarterback Treon Harris was solid in the shocking win over Georgia and he was SEC freshman of the weaken in the Gators' easy win over Vandy.

10. Tennessee (4-5, 1-4; vs. Kentucky, 4 p.m.): What's the magnitude of this game, the orange version? It means a ton, because, to borrow from Coach Butch Jones' vernacular, if the Vols are to be building brick-by-brick, then they need to add win-to-win and put some back-to-back. A loss at home to Kentucky would all-but erase the rally in Columbia. Side question: If Butch is going to call the Vols "Team 118" and etc., can the Vols call him Coach 23 (and that's counting General Neyland only as one)? We think probably not.

11. Kentucky (5-5, 2-5; at Tennessee, 4 p.m.): What's the magnitude of this game, the blue version? It means a ton, because there is a real possibility that the 'Cats could start 5-1 and finish 5-7. That's a Wild start and the mildest of Mild finishes. So if UK wants to avoid the Mildcat label, a win - any win - is paramount. Plus, if UK gets swept into the offseason - dates with UT and rival-Louisville remain - without a bowl, all that hope and promise of mid-October becomes another cold, bowl-less winter.

12. South Carolina (4-5, 2-5; at Florida, noon): Does the Ol' Ball Coach have one more trick under his visor? The Gamecocks are the nation's most disappointing team. They opened the season in the top 10 and now are scrambling to find a postseason ticket. Now comes the annual reunion with Spurrier's alma mater, and the Gators have found a little swagger.

13. Arkansas (4-5, 0-5; vs. LSU, 8 p.m.): How is Arkansas favored in this game? Yes, we know we asked this earlier, but we're still puzzled. We're also puzzled how FSU is less than a three-point favorite at Miami this week. There feels like some craziness on the horizon this week, you know?

14. Vandy (3-7, 0-6; off): Speaking of crazy points spread, did you see Vegas has Vandy a slight 2.5-point favorite over BYE this weekend? We think it could be close, but there is simply no way Vandy loses this weekend. None.

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NFL Power poll

Last week, when we talked about tired sports cliches - and we were a little stunned how popular that segment was on Press Row on ESPN 105.1 - someone mentioned the full pronunciation of the NATIONAL Football League.

We get it, too. It's over the top, and if we were going by old-school logic, using someone's full name means they are normally in trouble. (How many of us know that when we hear out middle name, there was some punishment coming? Yep, thought so.)

photo Football tile

If it's a matter of importance or emphasis, then we are going to sound out fully the name of NASA or the UN or even the SEC. In fact, if Hannibal Lector is going to say the acronym in the memorable, "All the way to the F.B.I.," well then, the NFL should be fine for the rest of us.

And yes, we have determined that Ron Jaworski can continue to say the NATIONAL Football League, since he was the one that jumpstarted the movement. So if he's grandfathered in, where does that leave the us?

It leaves looking for what we know and what we think the future trends can be.

Here's one: The three ways to quarterback success in this league are going to be a) find a superstar signal caller and hitch your wagon to him; b) find two-or-three guys that have had success or could fit your system - especially if that system relies on the QB moving around and running - and trust your depth; c) find a young guy you can trust and while you pay him rookie scale build a Corvette around him.

So, let's apply that to the power poll.

Top five

1) New England (7-2). The Patriots are, well, the Patriots, and they find ways to mask problems and accentuate advantages. That's a great trait in everyday life, and an exceptional one in the NATIONAL Football League. Oh, sorry. We forgot. Anyway, we all know the QB scenario the Pats have embraced. But did you know there's only one team in the NATIO... in the NFL that has scored more than 280 points and allowed fewer than 200. You get three guess who it is?

2) Arizona (8-1). The Cardinals have the best record in the NFL but just lost their starting quarterback to a season-ending knee injury and now need to trust Drew Stanton to continue the ride. Rushmore of Stantons? Giancarlo Stanton, Harry Dean Stanton (who was in "Red Dawn" - Wolverines), Edwin Stanton and Mike Stanton.

3) Denver (7-2). The Broncos have hitched their wagon to the S.S. Manning and the results have been enjoyable. That said, Denver is 5-0 at home and the chase for homefield goes through New England.

4) Philadelphia (7-2). Wow, that Chip Kelly offense is fun to watch. And yes, they pantsed the Panthers on Monday night despite only running for less than 2.0 yards per carry on 22 rushes. And that was with quarterback Mark Sanchez prominently involved.

photo Aaron Rodgers (12) watches from the sidelines against the Carolina Panthers during an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Carolina Panthers 30-23. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

5) Detroit (7-2). Yes, the Packers and discount double check mate Aaron Rodgers sure look shiny and fun right now, but lest we forget that the Lions are in first place in the NFC North. And they have won seven of nine games without the best non-QB offensive player in the league missing significant time. And now Calvin Johnson is back.

Bottom five

28) Chicago (3-6). Yes, there are teams with worse records, but the Bears have allowed 50-plus points in back-to-back games. You now the last team to do that? Of course you do. It's the Rochester Jeffersons back in the 1920s, even before the NATIONAL... (Sorry) before the NFL was truly the NFL.

29) Tennessee Titans (2-7). We asked this earlier in the week and we're still not sure anyone has an answer. If you are a Titans fan, how do you finish this sentence: "We may be 2-7 but at least we have." Man, there's little to be jazzed about with this bunch.

30) Tampa Bay (1-8). And here's your first team among the dregs that could be seriously in the sweepstakes for Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariotta. Side note: A few years ago, the ranking rallying cry for Indy was "Suck for Luck" and that worked. There have already been shirts sighted in Tampa that claim "Suck for the Duck."

31) Jacksonville (1-9). The Jags have the largest point differential in the NATIO... in the NFL. Hard habits are hard to break, you know. Speaking of hard habits, the Jags are, on average, more than 12 points worse than their opponent.

32) Oakland (0-9). When opposing QBs like Brock Osweiler are noticeably disappointed not to get a chance to throw against you, well, that's a telling sign.

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Congrats Southeast Whitfield

The Raiders ended a 30-year playoff drought by winning the mini game with Heritage on Monday night.

Congratulations all around.

That said, how is the mini-game a good idea?

Forget the dangers - seriously we want SE to play Friday night, Monday night (even if it's for a shot time) and then again on Friday night - and let's focus on the fairness.

Three teams have worked since August and they get 10 minutes to state their case in two five-minute halts?

Whatever. There has to be a better way, even if it goes down to points scored in region games.

Seriously.

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This and that

photo LeBron James

- LeBron James messed around and got a triple Monday night as the Cavs bested the Pelicans 118-111. Fun game. And with James and New Orleans budding superstar Anthony Davis (27 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks) crunching numbers like an octopus accountant on April 14, well, that was good hoops.

- Early Fab 4 tip: Northern Illinois at minus-4 tonight seems like a good price. That is all.

- Did you see this story from all-around TFP sports guru Ron Bush? Yep, the Battlefield Marathon winner was clocked for speeding too fast. Good times.

- Baseball's silly season has started and there are several big names out there. And use Danny Struggla is among them. Here's saying Uggla likely should not be waiting by the phone, holding his breath.

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Today's question

Today also is Veterans Day, and we would not be able to write these ramblings or participate in this discourse or do any of the hundreds to thousands of simply assumed freedoms we as Americans enjoy without the ultimate sacrifice of our Veterans.

Thank you one and all.

In that honor, let's do a Rushmore of your favorite military movies. Go.

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