LIKE IT IS

Time to settle up in SEC and move forward

LSU coach Les Miles speaks Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, on the sidelines during the second quarter against Arkansas at Razorback Stadium.

As hard as it is to believe, this is the final week of regular-season play in the SEC.

It is a season that has flown by for some, but for others it has been more like a scene from the movie Groundhog Day. Expect most of the country to be tuned in to the Iron Bowl on Saturday afternoon for an SEC classic between Alabama and Auburn.

I had one of my worst weeks last week, going 6-3. That brings the season total to 80-22.

ARKANSAS AT LSU

The Razorbacks will try to stop the bleeding today in one of the most hostile environments in college football, Death Valley. The Tigers are trying to get on the Cotton Bowl’s radar. Sometimes this game doesn’t go as expected,but this doesn’t seem like one of those times. Still trying to figure out how the Tigers lost at Oxford, Miss. LSU 31-17 ARKANSAS STATE

AT WESTERN KENTUCKY

This came close to being a road game for Bobby Petrino, but he chose the Hilltoppers over the Red Wolves after his wife asked to move out of Arkansas. Petrino has won three in a row, all on the road. The Red Wolves have won four consecutive, including two on the road. Western Kentucky can turn it over in a hurry, and the loser could get knocked out of a bowl. Arkansas State 27-24

ALABAMA AT AUBURN

Much of the country will be pulling for the Tigers because they are tired of the SEC - especially Alabama - dominating the BCS Championship Game. The Crimson Tide have the No. 1 defense, and the Tigers have the No. 12 offense. The Tigers defense is No. 69 while the Tide’s offense is ranked No. 40, but that is deceptive because Nick Saban usually calls off the dogs. He won’t Saturday. The winner of the Iron Bowl will advance to the SEC Championship Game. Even though it is at Auburn, the Tide look ready to roll. Alabama 42-17

FLORIDA STATE AT FLORIDA

Jameis Winston is expected to play, so expect the Gators to lose. The Gators’ bowl streak ended at 22 years with the loss to Vanderbilt. Expect there to be a firing in Gainesville, just not Coach Will Muschamp, who has received endorsements from the athletic director and the players (no one accused them of being stupid). Offensive coordinator Brent Pease is toast. Florida State 35-12

GEORGIA TECH AT GEORGIA

If you aren’t from or live in the Peach State, you don’t care about this game. Mark Richt has jumped back on the hot seat after losing four games in a season when the Bulldogs were supposed to win the SEC East. If the Yellowjackets win and Duke loses, Georgia Tech goes to the ACC Championship Game but has to face Florida State. Georgia 24-17

TENNESSEE AT KENTUCKY

The Volunteers are looking to finish with a victory, and the Wildcats are just looking to finish. The Wildcats lost to Bobby Petrino and the Hilltoppers to start the season. At least the Hogs were undefeated in Sun Belt play. Tennessee 35-10

WAKE FOREST AT VANDERBILT

The Commodores are trying to play themselves into a bowl game other than the Music City. Vandy Coach James Franklin is becoming an even hotter commodity as he leads the Commodores to their third bowl game, or every year since he arrived on campus. Demon Deacons Coach Jim Grobe is on the hot seat. Vanderbilt 28-14

TEXAS A&M AT MISSOURI

One more time for the Tigers to prove they are for real, and they are, especially up front. The Aggies struggle to stop anyone, and James Franklin is a play-maker for Mizzou. Missouri 38-31

CLEMSON AT SOUTH CAROLINA

Throw out the records, bragging rights, etc. The biggest thing about this game is Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd can get back in the Heisman Trophy race with a big game. Clemson 31-24

Sports, Pages 23 on 11/29/2013