5-at-10: SEC items of interest, Fab 4 picks, Giants accomplishment

Gang, remember the mailbag. It's that time of the week.

From the "Talks too much" studios, believe in yourself. Or don't.

SEC items of interest

photo SEC Southeastern Conference

1. Eliminator

Auburn goes to Ole Miss, and each team is among the top four of the inaugural college football playoff committee's poll. (Side note: Can we all agree that the College Football Playoff needs a new handle desperately. Heck, not since Dick Trickle was spinning NASCAR laps has something needed a name change this badly.) The Tigers can score at will - provided they hang on to the ball. The Ole Miss defense can handle just about anyone - provided quarterback Bo Wallace hangs on to the ball. So, whom ever can handle their ball better will survive the first eliminator in the college football playoff chase.

2. Power on power

Two of the more physical teams in the league face off when Mississippi State welcomes Arkansas. Ever-grinning MSU power back Josh Robinson - he with the rear end that makes you think of that certain aunt on your dad's side, you know the one, where it seems to get bigger every Thanksgiving and is a few years away from needing its own plate at the table - is known as the "Human Bowling Ball" and leads the SEC with 887 rushing yards. He also averages 7.3 per carry. Arkansas runner Jonathan Williams is third in the league with 830 rushing yards. Top-ranked Mississippi State has everything in front of them. Arkansas is starved for an SEC win. In times like this, it's best to lean on the wise words of Bell Biv Devoe, who taught us to never trust a big butt and a smile.

3. Cocktails for everyone

Stick with us. Georgia has everything to play for, right? Florida's season is cooked liked a Tyner fish sandwich. Georgia has offensive balance with Nick Chubb and Hutson Mason. Florida has offensive upheaval with the quarterback formerly known as Jeff Driskel and true freshman Treon Harris preparing to step into the fire known as Georgia-Florida. It's fair to mention at this point of the program that Florida coach Will Muschamp, who played at Georgia, has never won in this series. On either side. We believe we'll still be able to say that on the way to church Sunday morning.

4. Vols on the road

photo Josh Dobbs

OK, we're on the Josh Dobbs bandwagon. Not so much because we believe Dobbs is the next blend of Tarkenton-Manning-Newton-Tebow (the awesome TMNTs you've heard so much about) but because we have had our fill of Nathan Peterman. We're sure Mr. Peterman is awesome in 7-on-7 drills and we feel confident he hustles between stations Monday-Thursday and we would swear that he is front-and-center in every film session. But we also believe we have enough game evidence that when the lights come on Deer Peterman freezes. So, what's you got Mr. Dobbs? Was last week a flash of abnormality or the signs of a potential SEC hotshot who could be a TMNT.

5. Can Kentucky get bowl eligible?

The Wildcats played the top-ranked MSU Bulldogs to the end last week. UK needs one more win to punch its postseason ticket - and if you wagered some entertainment on UK getting bowl eligible before South Carolina and Florida before the season, well, enjoy your entertaining retirement.

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Fab 4 picks

Now that's what we're talking about. Last week we were very entertaining, going 6-0 if you bought the half on South Alabama minus-14 over Troy. If you didn't buy the half - like we suggested on games with spreads on those magical hinge numbers of 3, 7, 10 and 14 - well, we were 5-0-1. We are going to assume the worst and take the 5-0-1 mark.

That rights the ship a little bit for sure.

And since we are 9-0-1 over our last 10 picks against the spread - last week's stellar showing was preceded by a 4-2 mark that included two Friday night misses - we're going to stay true to our schools.

No not King Springs Elementary or Griffin Middle of even Campbell High. Nope, we are going to ride the programs that got us back on the smiling side of entertainment. High on our picking rules is the simple truth that you stay the course when you find something that works, and for the most part, some of these schools are going to look familiar.

Sadly, SMU is off, and if we could find someone who would give us 'BYE' minus-3 over SMU, well, we're on 'BYE' all day. We love you Smoo.

Georgia Southern minus-25 over Troy (Thursday night): This one won't make the paper, but it does make our list because the Eagles are soaring. Add in to that fact that a cash-strapped program like Troy likely will bus over sometime today then play a team that is physical and fast, well, we're in. GSU may be the best entertainment partner going right now: It is 5-0 at home and 7-1 overall against the number this year.

Cincinnati minus-4 over Tulane: The Bearcats have struggled against superior talent and speed. Tulane has neither. We're good with the talent edge and an extra quarterback edge. Thank you.

Rice minus-6.5 over Florida International: Rice is running wild. (Like it?) When the Owls try to score late in the half, is that "two-minue Rice" maybe? (Wait for it.) OK, one more, if the Owls are scared - and there is little to be worried from an FIU team that has not won since early Oct. 2 - would that be Yellow Rice? OK, that last one was over the top (our Rice has boiled over maybe) but we are comfortable with an Owls bunch that has won outright and against the number.

photo Football tile

East Carolina minus-7 over Temple. Does this fall into the "too good to be true" category of our rules? Maybe, but sometimes the truth will set you free. Sometimes it will set you on fire, too.

Western Kentucky-Louisiana Tech over the 70. We have sadly ignored the total far too much this fall. That's on us and likely cost us some dear entertainment. Here's some baseline knowledge. Western Kentucky ranked in the top-five in scoring (45.6 points per game) and in the bottom-five (41.1 points per game) nationally. In fact, the only time a WKU did not exceed the total was a 36-27 loss to run-first, run-always Navy (the total was 66 by the way). You want research? Now that's some research. And to be fair when we all think of research, Western Kentucky is world renowned for research - heck, the last time we drove through Bowling Green, they threw two degrees in our car. Good times. (We kid.)

Experiment time: After last week's 7-4 showing of teams that Vegas shades, the total in the last three weeks is 20-8. That's highly entertaining.

For those late to the party, we have noticed a trend that Vegas 'shades' certain teams by moving the point spread in the opposite direction in accordance to public betting habits. And if you can find the teams Vegas likes - they don't build those fancy buildings and offer five-star seafood dinners for $7.99 because they lose entertainment gambling, you know - well, there you go.

Here are the teams Vegas favors this week as of Thursday morning:

Miami minus-14 over UNC

Army plus-3 over Air Force

Northwestern plus-4 over Iowa

Arkansas plus-10.5 Mississippi State

Stanford plus-8 over Oregon

Indiana plus-7 over Michigan

Idaho plus-14 over Arkansas State

UCLA minus-6.5 over Arizona

Louisville plus-4 over FSU

Boston College plus-3 over Virginia Tech

Pittsburgh minus-3 over Duke

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photo San Francisco Giants' Madison Bumgarner and catcher Buster Posey celebrate after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Kansas City Royalson Oct. 29, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo. The Giants won 3-2 to win the series.

World Series

Madison Bumgarner is a clutch son of a gun.

That was fun to watch.

Bumgarner went five innings in the Giants 3-2 win Wednesday that clinched the title. He did it after starting and winning Game 5 on Sunday night. He won the MVP award going away - and a Chevy truck from some Chevy employee who must have won the company drawing because the fellow had a tough time forming words in front of the camera and even described the Chevy as having "Technology and stuff" a phrase that of course is trending on Twitter.

In fact, Bumgarner turned in arguably the best single postseason performance of any pitcher since, well, ever.

In seven appearances this October, Bumgarner went 4-1 - and got a save with his five innings of brilliance last night - and pitched 52.2 innings and had an ERA of 1.03.

He was the definition of clutch. Wow.

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This and that

- We are excited for King James' show tonight. Good times. Over/under is 58.5 wins for Cavs. Whatcha' got?

- Man, here's a tough way to lose a high school football game. Ouch-standing.

- We are intrigued by the Texas A&M throwback uniforms. Thoughts?

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photo Peyton Manning

Today's question

We have two for you.

Manning vs. Brady is this week. We are planning on watching along with close to a third of the American TV viewing audience Sunday afternoon.

Question: Would you rather have Brady's career - highlighted by three rings - or Manning's - highlighted by what will assuredly be all the meaningful passing records ever?

Also, it's crazy to think that while each will be forever linked, that each was one throw away from probably clearly being considered the GOAT (greatest of all time) as a quarterback.

If Manning doesn't hit Terry Porter in stride for a pick-six in the Super Bowl loss to the Saints or if David Tyree doesn't catch the ball against his helmet, then the case is likely shut for Manning and/or Brady. (It would give Manning that all important second ring, and it would have meant Brady was the pilot on a 19-0 run and give him four rings.)

Also, today is the 86th anniversary of Orson Wells reading "War of the Worlds" on the radio and freaking out the entire East Coast. Rushmore of greatest pranks?

Go (and remember the mailbag).

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