Ken Jackson
Sports

WriterThe SEC finally found something to talk about beside its possible NCAA violations.

You noticed that Ole Miss lost – at home – to Jacksonville State last week. The Gamecocks are in that Appalachian State Subdivision. Now, this isn’t as big as when those guys beat Michigan, ranked fifth at the time, but Ole Miss has won the last two Cotton Bowls, probably the best non-BCS bowl game. (Yeah, there is the Capital One Bowl, but in Texas they know how to grow grass.)

The big, bad SEC has done a great job sweeping this under the turf. You haven’t even heard how bad a week Coach Houston Nutt has had ...

... On the flip side is Boise State. Its gunner, Kellon Moore, just might be the best college thing going at quarterback right now. Although I’m not going to say it too loud, because someone from Mississippi might dump a bowl of grits on me.

At this rate, it’d be the only bowl someone from Ole Miss will see this year.

The Rebs certainly don’t rate high enough this week for a coveted position in the Mighty News-Gazette Top 13:

1. Alabama. 2. Jacksonville State, also in Alabama. 3. Ohio State. 4. The Boise State Bluefielders. 5. Kellon Moore, who turned Virginia Tech blue with one drive Monday night. 6. The 1-0 and still champions of the world New Orleans Saints. 7. Hurricanes, the Miami product. 8. Hurricanes, the storms that stay many miles off shore (And who names a storm Igor? That’ll scare little kids, and some adults). 9. The Gator defense. 10. TCU. 11. FSU. 12. UCF. 13. R&R.

And now, to hopefully have a better week than Coach Nutt ...

N.C. State at UCF (-3.5): George O’Leary complained that the student fans booed lukewarm QB Rob Calabrese in pregame intros. But then he went 9-for-9 passing in the first half. I say respect the trend. Knights by boo, I mean, 2.

USF at Florida (-15.5): Bulls have a chance, if the Urbanator keeps getting his centers from the basketball team. Gators by 16.

FSU at Oklahoma (-8.5): This game needs Bobby Bowden coaching in it, and Keith Jackson calling it. And for the locals, FSU winning it. What a disappointment this is. Sooners by 7.

Miami at Ohio State (-9.5): That little pass interference call eight years ago? ‘Canes need to still be angry, harness that anger – and it still won’t be good enough. Buckeyes by 6.

Michigan at Notre Dame (-3.5): Somebody’s coming out of this 2-0, and to think we’re pretty shocked about it. Big Blue by 3 in “Rich-Rod Is Surprised Too” Upset Special.

Penn State at Alabama (-11.5): Lions start freshman Rob Bolden at QB. Tide’s Greg McElroy’s last loss came before high school. With or without Mark Ingram, Crimson by 10.

As for the paid professionals:

Miami (-3) at Buffalo: Revamped Dolphins roster vs. same ‘ol Bills. Sea Mammals by 7.

Cleveland at Tampa Bay (-3): The Bucs? Favored? They must be playing Ole Miss. Or the Browns. Bucs by 2.

Denver at Jacksonville (-1.5): Tim Tebow’s first NFL game? Naturally, in Jacksonville, where the weather’s on the home team’s side. Jags by 4.

Cincinnati at New England (-4.5): T.O., Ochocinco and Randy Moss all at the same park. Come for the game, stay for the circus! Pats by 7.

Dallas (-3.5) at Washington: Groundhog Day II, starring Donovan McNabb. His last two starts in Philly were against Romo’s ‘Boys. Cowboys by 1.

Rick Pedone says: Irish by 3, Browns by 3, Bengals by a high-flying 5, and why aren’t there any guys named Igor playing in the NFL?

Petey “The Gators Are Going To Win” Covino (after being “Birthday Boy” earlier this week) says: Gators, 38-17, but only if I can play center this week.

Brian “Big Man” McBride, in his inaugural “Super Sniffer” of 2010, says: Steelers over Falcons by 3.

Records: Nostradamus (4-1) already is out ahead of Nutty Knight (3-2).