ESPN CFB Live's Preseason Top 25: Poking Fun At A Way Too Early List

Late last week E$PN released it's pre-season Top 25 for the 2011 college football season. It didn't seem fair to mock it then, but now that I've had some time to think it over, I am willing to mock it now. Try and take this "analysis" for what it's worth, huh? I mean after all, there's no way those guys at E$PN actually expected anyone to take them seriously anyhow, right?

1. Oklahoma: Okay, since they bring back so many guys and are playing in a league where it's basically them or Texas, I can see them getting the nod here. On the other hand, despite the message the annual spring game may have sent, the Sooners will have a time replacing the departed DeMarco Murray.

2. Alabama: Seriously? Didn't they lose a gang of people? I know the Tide are always supposed to Roll but, damn, can we keep it real? Trent Richardson is a stud, but he's never been that stud minus Mark Ingram. Julio Jones was a presence, when healthy, is there some other guy ready to step into that big-bodied role? Not to mention you no longer have a seasoned quarterback—ummm, to put them at No. 2 seems like too much.

3. Oregon: They should be No. 2...hell, they should be No. 1.

4. LSU: Is Jordan Jefferson still their best quarterback? I don't care how good their defense was last season—and keep in mind that was WITH Patrick Peterson—if Jefferson doesn't stop decapitating their offense, they won't get very far.

5. Boise State: I get it, until they get their backsides handed to them by a BCS team, everyone loves the Broncos. Fair enough.

6. Florida State: I sure hope they don't start getting the big head. This seems a bit high for a team that no longer has an experienced quarterback.

7. Stanford: If Jim Harbaugh was still the head coach, they would be a lot higher than this in my opinion.

8. South Carolina: It's allllllll about Marcus Lattimore. Where his legs go, so goes the South Carolina offense. Now, if they could just figure out what to do at quarterback.

9. Oklahoma State: That's right, there is another team in Oklahoma. How old is Brandon Weeden now? I swear that kid should be retired.

10. Ohio State: Hahahahahahahahahaha....talk to me when they aren't under threat of probation. That team is a hot mess.

11. Texas A&M: For real, they're this good?

12. Arkansas: It's nice they feel this way about the Hogs...too bad the rest of the SEC doesn't.

13. Nebraska: As long as Pelini isn't making his quarterback cry like a baby, they might do alright in the Big Ten this season.

14. Wisconsin: Call me when they start running the score up on GOOD teams. That's when I'll start taking them more seriously.

15. TCU: No Andy Dalton? No way.

16. Michigan State: I don't see lightning striking twice here.

17. Notre Dame: Notre who?

18. Florida: Blah. Blah. Blah. *in mocking voice* "they have Will Muschamp, they've got Charlie Weis, they're gonna shock the world with their new pro-style offense"...yeah, yeah, yeah.

19. Virginia Tech: Does the Beamer train ever not get the E$PN love?

20. Texas: So, you lose a lot of people on your coveted staff and STILL manage to be a Top 25 team? Oh, and about that losing (non-bowl qualifying) season you just finished, are you really THAT much better then 2010?

21. Mississippi State: Fool me once. Shame on you. Fool me twice....

22. Auburn: Not even Nick Saban is convinced you can do it all again.

23. Missouri: Isn't your best player in the NFL Draft already?

24. West Virginia: You only have Pitt to worry about, you should be good every year.

25. Arizona State: As soon as your offense can consistently match up with your defense, then you just might be some kind of special.

Around The SEC: Gary Crowton Headed To Maryland—LSU Fans Cheer!

Crowton moving to College Park, gives LSU his walking papers

Gary Crowton, the former offensive coordinator for the LSU Tigers, will now fill the same role at the University of Maryland for coach Randy Edsall.

Crowton was the behind the Tigers' stellar 2007 offense, which helped Les Miles win a national championship for LSU, but he has been mediocre since that time, and no one in Baton Rouge is likely to be crying crocodile-sized tears upon hearing of his resignation.

The real question has to be why would Maryland want him? Do they really believe that all of LSU's offensive troubles were due to the ineptitude of Jordan Jefferson—LSU's underachieving quarterback? And, even if that was the case, he didn't prove to be that much more successful with Jarrett Lee either.

The problem with Crowton appeared to be less about personnel than playcalling. He just couldn't seem to get his act together long and his schizophrenic way of handling the playbook showed on the football field where the Tigers finished 107th and 112th in passing offense over the last two years—respectively.

Perhaps the ACC will be a more welcoming atmosphere for a man of his talents—we'll see. But, I gotta tell you, it makes little sense that Maryland is willing to pay more for less.

Cobb leaving Kentucky to try his talents in the NFL

Hoping to cash in on the "do-everything" appeal offered by Percy Harvin in 2009 and Dexter McCluster in 2010, the all-american wide receiver has opted to see if he can excel at the next level in much the same way he has in the SEC.

Cobb was the catalyst behind a much-improved Wildcats offense this past season and, at one point, was the focal point of the team—after an injury to Derrick Locke forced him into more offensive responsibility.

With a change at quarterback forthcoming at Kentucky, Cobb may be thinking there is no time like the present to make the jump.

Fairley set to announce NFL decision Friday

Nick Fairley, the much-maligned, but equally talented, defensive lineman of the Auburn Tigers is scheduled to announce his NFL decision on tomorrow. Fairley has been projected, by some, as a possible No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and there are few who don't believe he is poised to make the jump.

Fairley's decision will broadcast from his high school in Mobile.

Related articles

• Report: LSU assistant Gary Crowton headed for Maryland (sports.espn.go.com)
• Falling upwards. (blutarsky.wordpress.com)

SEC Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week 11

See week ten here.

1. Cam Newton, Auburn (12/15 for 148 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. 30 carries for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Georgia.

Newton continues to be the driving force behind the high-powered offense of the Auburn Tigers. His ability to distract and destroy defenses has led to the success of other talented players like Michael Dyer and Onterrio McCalebb—making Auburn a tough proposition for any team this season.

2010 stats: 135/198 for 2,038 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 206 carries for 1,297 yards and 17 touchdowns. 

2. Aaron Murray, Georgia (15/28 for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns) at Auburn. 

Give Murray his due, he played some tough football on Saturday and, despite the outcome, Georgia fans have to feel good about the future with Aaron Murray standing behind center. Now, if they could just get the offensive line working more consistently so he doesn't get killed...

2010 stats: 173/285 for 2,580 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Four rushing touchdowns. 

3. Tyler Bray, Tennessee (18/34 for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs. Ole Miss.

Listen...ya hear that? That's the sound of Derek Dooley wading in a pool of satisfaction—he just found Tennessee's next starting quarterback.  See ya, Matt Simms—been nice knowing ya.

2010 stats: 62/114 for 950 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

4. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (19/26 for 215 yards and 5 interceptions) vs UTEP. 

UTEP looked like they might make a game of in Fayetteville in the early-going, but Mallett killed that dream on the next play...and then the next...and then the next, etc. as he led the Razorbacks to 35-points on five successive offensive possessions.

2010 stats: 212/315 for 2,967 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 

5. Greg McElroy, Alabama (12/18 for 227 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs Mississippi State. 

McElroy had two big passes in the second quarter to put the Tide comfortably ahead of the Bulldogs and help put an exclamation point on a solid win for Alabama.

2010 stats: 170/246 for 2,231 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.

6. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (15/23 for 232 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Vanderbilt. 

Thanks to some nice running by Randall Cobb (10 carries, for 170 yards, and 2 touchdowns), Hartline didn't have to do too much to lead the Wildcats to victory. It also didn't hurt that they were playing Vanderbilt, a team that, at this point, just needs this season to be over.

2010 stats: 237/361 for 2,906 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 

7. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (15/22 for 156 yards and 1 rushing touchdown) at Florida.

When your featured back is killing the opposing defense for 212 yards and 3 touchdowns, there is little you have to do except not be careless with the football. Garcia owes Marcus Lattimore all the glory for being the primary reason the Gamecocks finally won an SEC Eastern Division Championship.

2010 stats: 166/245 for 2,221 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. 

8. John Brantley, Florida (16/31 for 130 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. South Carolina. 


Willing to make a bet that not many Florida Gator fans believed John Brantley would be this ineffective when the 2010 season began. This system is not made for a player of Brantley's skill-set. It doesn't matter what Adazzio does, Brantley doesn't fit and everyone knows it—including Urban Meyer and John Brantley.

2010 stats: 172/282 yards for 1,746 yards, 8 touchdowns, and  7 interceptions.

9. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (10/26 for 128 yards and 1 rushing touchdown) at Kentucky. 

Larry Smith is probably ready to get the heck out of Nashville after this season. He still has one more year to play but, after seeing a coaching change, numerous injuries, and getting the gift of an anemic offense, he can't be too thrilled about what 2011 has to offer.

2010 stats: 106/220 for 1,106 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Four rushing touchdowns. 

10. Tyler Russell/Chris Relf (12/23 for 150 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) at Alabama.

Mississippi State's offense has been suspect all season, to be honest, and they finally ran out of time against a Tide defense that was determined to play well on Saturday—despite the knowledge that Auburn was taking their SEC West title.

11. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (7/18 for 80 yards and 3 interceptions) at Tennessee.

 Masoli looked pretty awful on Saturday. Of course, it didn't help that his offensive line had no answer for a swarming Tennessee defensive front. He was pressured and punished all day long as Tennessee coasted.

2010 stats: 128/229 for 1,601 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. 99 carries for 468 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

12. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (4/10 for 51 yards) vs. Louisiana-Monroe. 

Ya know, they say if you can't say anything nice, then say nothing at all.

2010 stats: 79/146 yards for 815 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 88 carries for 304 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

SEC Football: Power Ranking The Quarterbacks After Week 10

See week nine here.
1. Tyler Bray, Tennessee (19/33 for 325 yards and 5 touchdowns) at Memphis. 

Yes, it was Memphis and, yes, the Vols were expected to whip up on the Tigers. Still, you have to give credit where credit is due.

Bray didn't make many mistakes and he played one heckuva game—giving his team a much-needed victory.

2010 stats: 44/80 for 628 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

2. Cam Newton, Auburn (15/21 for 317 yards and 4 touchdowns. 8 carries for 24 yards and 1 
touchdown) vs. Chattanooga.

It's Cam Newton. He's been making defenses look silly all season—this week was no exception.

2010 stats: 123/183 for 1,890 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 176 carries for 1,46 yards and 15 touchdowns.

3. Aaron Murray, Georgia (19/27 for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs Idaho State.

For a minute, it looked like Murray was still suffering from the headache that beset him after performing so uncharacteristically at Florida. The offense was sputtering and, by the end of the first quarter, they only managed to score three points against one of the worst defenses in college football.

However, he seemed to find his bearings by the second quarter—leading Georgia to 35-points before retiring to the sidelines early in the third.

2010 stats: 158/257 for 2,307 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Four rushing touchdowns.  

4. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (21/30 for 303 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. 4 carries for 6 yards and 1 touchdown) at South Carolina.

Bobby Petrino's club really has that running game going now and that has opened up even more possibilities for Mallett in the passing game.

Mallett played, nearly, lights-out in capturing a huge road win for his Razorbacks—aided in large part by the tough running of Knile Davis and a defense that came ready to shut the Gamecocks down.

2010 stats:  193/289 for 2,752 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 3 rushing touchdowns. 

5.  Greg McElroy, Alabama (21/34 for 223 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) at LSU.

McElroy has taken his fair share of lumps this season as he's already seen more losses this year than he did in the previous two. However, he still played well enough on Saturday to lead the Tide to a win—if not for the maverick playcalling of LSU's Les Miles.

2010 stats: 158/228 for 2004 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 1 rushing touchdown. 

6. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (15/24 for 272 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs Charleston-Southern.

Hartline finally got the Wildcats back in the win column against a, tougher than expected, Charleston-Southern team that looked like it might steal one early on.

2010 stats: 222/338 for 2,674 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 1 rushing touchdowns. 

7. John Brantley, Florida (11/18 for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns) at Vanderbilt.

The Commodores are falling apart at the seams and Florida took advantage of it by routing them—setting up an SEC Eastern Division showdown at the Swamp this weekend.

2010 stats: 156/251 for 1,616 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 

8. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (10/13 for 141 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Alabama. 

He didn't appear to be his, usually, head-scratching self on Saturday—that helped. However, the biggest pass of the night belonged to Jarrett Lee (a 47-yard bomb to win the game).

2010 stats: 75/136 for 764 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 5 rushing touchdowns. 

9. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (14/29 for 161 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions) vs. Arkansas.

Garcia didn't have the complimentary rushing game from Marcus Lattimore to help him out this week (the freshman gained only 30-yards on the day) and that, obviously, hurt the passing game.

2010 season stats: 151/223 for 2,065 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. 4 rushing touchdowns. 

10. Nathan Stanley, Ole Miss (6/14 for 108 yards) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette.


Jeremiah Masoli looked to be on his way to a good game before being knocked out with a concussion (5/7 for 72 yards and 1 touchdown. 3 carries for 17 yards and 1 touchdown), but Stanley came in to manage in relief. He got the win for the Rebels, but deferred to his running game for most of the dirty work.

11. Jared Funk and Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (10/36 for 63 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) vs. Florida. 

It seems to go without saying, Vanderbilt needs some help at quarterback.

College Football: The SEC's Wild, Wild West And It's Effect on the BCS

As of Sunday morning, seven SEC teams are in the Top 25 of the Associated Press Poll (AP). Four of those seven teams are from the western division of the SEC—three of them are in the Top 10.

The SEC West became very interesting after the Alabama Crimson Tide got rolled up in Columbia, by the South Carolina Gamecocks, over the weekend.
No. 7 Auburn, the team that few gave a chance, rallied to defeat the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday.

That made their record 6-0 coming into this weekend's match-up with No. 12 Arkansas, down on 'The Plains'.

Arkansas will come in with "upset" on their mind as they try to get back into the Top 10 at the expense of their division rival.

Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas, and LSU are all in a position to win the division, and represent the western half of the conference in the SEC Championship Game in December.

As things stand right now, Arkansas would need a little help because they lost to the Tide, but none of the other teams (Auburn, Alabama, or LSU) have played each other yet, so there is still plenty of SEC Championship hope for the Razorbacks.

Even more, after Alabama's loss to South Carolina, the BCS will be looking for a new SEC team to hitch it's wagon to, and the story of the "Cardiac Cats" (Auburn) or "Lucky Les" (LSU) seems fitting in this year of anything can happen in college football.

Who has the best chance to come out on top?

At this stage, Auburn's schedule sets up the most favorably. They face Arkansas, LSU, and Georgia at home in the coming weeks, and will have a bye prior to taking on Alabama in the Iron Bowl on November 27th.

Alabama still has a chance to get back on track as well, however, after all, the loss they suffered was not within their division and , if they can reshuffle the deck a bit, they have just as much a shot as any one in the west to come out on top.

LSU seems to be playing with fire, but the replacement of Jordan Jefferson for Jarrett Lee may prove to be the best decision Les Miles has made this season. Jefferson was reeling and his poor play was becoming a drain on what little offense his team could muster.

Add to that, Miles seems to be back to his old 2007 tricks—calling plays like a Maverick and getting all the lucky bounces he can possibly hope for on the football field.

As for Bobby Petrino's crew, Ryan Mallett may be the catalyst for that offense, but the team will win or lose with Mallett's poise—or lack thereof. If the senior quarterback can maintain his focus, Arkansas can still be the surprise team that many picked them to be at the start of the season. The game against Auburn could be the start of something big or the end of a dream.

The SEC West has become a wild place to be this season. What team will be the last one standing when the smoke finally clears?...

College Football Betting Odds: 10 ATS Picks For Saturday (10/9)

The Lady had a terrible run of luck, missing on all but two picks last week. The finally tally once all the days picks were in came up to a disgustingly awful 2-8—ugh.

As of now, this season's record stands at a horrendous 22-23. But, alas, there are another round of picks coming this week and, hopefully, this time the Lady sees a touch more luck.

Take a gander at the disaster that was last week here—if you dare. Otherwise, let's move on to the next slate of games:

(All lines courtesy of VegasInsider.com)

1. Georgia vs. Tennessee: Georgia (-10.5)

This line was as large as -13 early on this week, but now has regressed to a more respectable 10.5 points—favoring the Georgia Bulldogs. After losses to both Mississippi State and Colorado, it's difficult to imagine that this team is capable of beating any one by more than a touchdown.

The Lady's Pick: Tennessee

2. Air Force vs Colorado State: Air Force (-26.5) 

Air Force is better than Colorado State. There is no denying that and the Falcons will utilize their rushing attack to steam roll the Rams for the better part of this contest. That said, as bad as Colorado State is this season, they still aren't awful enough to lose by this many points.

The Lady's Pick: Colorado State

3. Florida vs LSU: Florida (-9)

It makes no difference whether or not Jarrett Lee or Jordan Jefferson plays at quarterback this weekend, LSU is not a good team and they will not win this game. Even still, the Tigers defense is stout enough to keep them in the game and make this match-up close.

The Lady's Pick: LSU

4. Texas Tech vs Baylor: Texas Tech (-3)

This is the same Texas Tech team that allowed Iowa State to put up 52 points, right? Home field advantage or not, Robert Griffin has made fools out of just about every opponent his team has played this season—and there is little reason to believe that streak will stop here.

The Lady's Pick: Baylor

5. Arkansas vs Texas A&M: Arkansas (-7.5)

The Razorbacks have too many weapons and Ryan Mallett has a chip on his shoulder after giving the game away to the Tide two weeks ago. Expect the Aggies to bear the brunt of his anger.

The Lady's Pick: Arkansas

6. Nevada vs San Jose State: Nevada (-38)

San Jose State has a ton of trouble scoring points but, last years match-up aside (Nevada won by 55 in 2009), this is a game that is usually a lot closer than 38 points. Prior to 2008's thrashing, the biggest win deficit the Wolfpack have had over the Spartans, in the last six seasons, is 24.

The Lady's Pick: San Jose State

7.  Houston vs Mississippi State: Pick Em' (PK)

Houston is not the same team without Case Keenum and there should be a ton of doubt about their ability to win this game against the Bulldogs. The Cougars have a horrific run defense and the Bulldogs are more than willing to win this game via time of possession—keep the Cougars off the field and there is little else about them that is intimidating.

The Lady's Pick: Mississippi State

8. Stanford vs Southern California: Stanford (-7)

The Cardinals were rolling along just fine before the Ducks spoiled their undefeated party. To their credit, they made a game of it early before Oregon took over—as they have done all season long. This week, Stanford gets to settle onto their home field to face a USC team that, suddenly, no one is afraid of.

The Lady's Pick: Stanford

9. Alabama vs South Carolina: Alabama (-10)

South Carolina is much better than advertised and they have had a whole week to get ready to face the Crimson Tide who, coming off a blowout of the Florida Gators could get caught sleeping a little bit too comfortably. The Tide should win this one, but the Gamecocks won't be rolling over at home.

The Lady's Pick: South Carolina

10. Kentucky vs Auburn: Auburn (-6.5)

This could be considered a trap game, except for the fact that Cameron Newton has been playing out of his head and Kentucky seems to have a lot of trouble stopping the run.

The Lady's Pick: Auburn

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week 5

See week four here:

1.  Cameron Newton, Auburn (14/19 for 245 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. Louisiana-Monroe.

No last minute heroics by Cam Newton were needed in this match-up—the Tigers dispatched of the Warhawks handily, 52-3. A 94-yard pass to Emory Blake, in the first quarter, set the tone for the day. Newton was able to win the game with his arm, instead of his legs, this week. As a result, his team is now 5-0.

2010 season stats: 57/87 for 928 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 76 carries for 474 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

2. Chris Relf, Mississippi State (11/15 for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Alcorn State.

Relf had another impressive day, albeit against a team that was not nearly as competitive as what he has or will see the rest of this season, and the Bulldogs are now 3-2—just three wins shy of bowl eligibility.

2010 season stats: 44/72 for 618 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

3. Aaron Murray, Georgia (16/27 for 221 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception) at Colorado. 

Poor Aaron Murray, if only he had a better offensive line, a better running game, and a better offensive coordinator to call the plays, imagine how much better he would be? Despite the ineptitude that has surrounded him on offense this season, Murray continues to shine.

2010 season stats: 80/132 for 1100 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

4. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (27/46 for 300 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) at Ole Miss.

The Wildcats did nothing to help themselves on Saturday—turning the ball over three times and performing abysmally on third downs (6/16). However, you have to give Hartline a lot of credit for not losing heart and nearly leading his team back to victory in the fourth quarter, where the Wildcats scored 15 points before losing by seven to the Rebels.

2010 season stats: 102/160 for 1222 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

5. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (9/17 for 90 yards and 3 touchdowns. 9 carries for 43 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Kentucky.

Masoli was as efficient as you can get, throwing only nine completions—three of which went for scores. His Rebels capitalized off the mistakes of a Wildcat offense that didn't seem to find any consistency until it was far too late.

2010 season stats: 57/94 for 823 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 50 carries for 262 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

6.  Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (15/25 for 157 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) at Connecticut.

The Commodores gave it the old college try on Saturday and, for a moment, it looked as if they might actually give the Huskies a run for their money. Sparked by a big special teams play, Larry Smith aided his team to two quick scores in the second quarter before the Huskies took over and never looked back. Smith also added 64 yards on the ground to the 157 yard passing effort.

2010 season stats: 51/92 for 540 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 



7. Matt Simms, Tennessee (12/23 for 121 yards) at LSU.

Simms wasn't awful and he wasn't good, but he nearly helped his team to victory against an LSU team that has a lot of luck on its side this season.

2010 season stats: 79/141 for 957 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

8. Greg McElroy, Alabama (11/17 for 84 yards) vs Florida.

He was hardly relevant, but he didn't have to be playing against a Florida team that had no answer for either Mark Ingram or the Alabama defense.

2010 season stats: 79/141, 957 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

9. John Brantley, Florida (16/31 for 202 yards and 2 interceptions).

Brantley didn't stand much of a chance against an Alabama defense that seemed to always know exactly what he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it, but he gave a noble effort—considering the questionable playcalling by his former quarterbacks coach turned offensive coordinator.

2010 season stats: 89/145 for 902 yards, 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. 

10.  Jordan Jefferson, LSU (3/10 for 30 yards and 2 interceptions. 5 carries for 100 yards and 1 interception) vs. Tennessee.

Jefferson was his normally awful self and got yanked before he embarrassed his team any further. Jarrett Lee took the reigns in his absence and was not nearly as bad. However, compared to how poorly Jefferson has played this season, it would be hard to be much worse.

2010 season stats: 46/89 for 449 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 

College Football: Les Miles Must Have An Angel On His Shoulders

It would be easy to say that LSU, sitting pretty at 5-0, ranked No. 's 12 and 9 in the AP and Coaches Poll—respectively—is a good team. After all, they are undefeated, right?

However, if you've actually seen LSU play this year, you would begin to wonder how on earth they aren't 2-3—or worse—because they really aren't that good.

For one thing, their quarterback, Jordan Jefferson is atrocious. He's currently dead last in the conference in passing efficiency—dead last. Considering the fact that he plays in a conference that both Chris Relf (Mississippi State) and Larry Smith (Vanderbilt) call home, that's a pretty amazing feat.

Even more amazing, his teammate, Patrick Peterson, has more return yards (537) than he has passing yards (449).  Wrap your head around that little nugget. That means that through five games, Jefferson is averaging less than 90 yards passing—seriously? 

Tyler Russell, the BACKUP quarterback for Mississippi State, has more passing yards than Jefferson—and he's not even a starter.

On the contrary, Jefferson isn't the reason the Tigers are in the hunt, his team wins in spite of him—not because of him. Time and again, the gods of college football have granted Les Miles' crew a mulligan or a save to keep them from having to suffer on the losing end:

1.  In week one, LSU was one questionable pass interference call away from losing to a totally depleted North Carolina team. 
2. In weeks two and three, it took them until the fourth quarter to put away Vanderbilt and Mississippi State—respectively. 
3. They nearly whiffed against West Virginia in week four.
4. And, in week five, Tennessee all but had them beat if not for a last-minute penalty granting them a second chance at the 'W'.

LSU has no business being anywhere near the top 10 and, with a quarterback who throws more interceptions (6) than touchdowns (2),  and a turnover margin that edges more towards the negative (-2 and counting) than the positive, it won't be much longer before that becomes a reality.

Les Miles better enjoy this ride of good fortune while it lasts because the wheels are looking like they might be getting ready to come off.

Les Miles Has Offered, Former Georgia QB, Zach Mettenberger A Scholarship

Zach Mettenberger could be on his way back to the SEC in 2011. The former quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs has an offer on the table from LSU.

Mettenberger, if you recall, was dismissed from the Georgia Bulldogs football team last spring after pleading guilty to sexual battery. He was on the radar of a few schools immediately following the dismissal (Cincinnati and Louisville to name a few), but eventually landed at Butler Community College in Kansas—so far, he's done well  (three games, 40/63, 728 yards, and 10 td's).

Les Miles is in need of a quarterback in Baton Rouge as Jordan Jefferson will soon be out of eligibility—thankfully and, his replacement, Zach Lee, will likely enter with just as many questions once his time comes. Mettenberger, if he pans out, would be an immediate upgrade over either of the two.

That said, the move by Miles will be met with disdain by some of the Georgia Bulldog faithful who won't like the idea of seeing their former top prospect playing ball within the conference.  Mettenberger wasn't going to start over Murray this season, even if he had never gotten into trouble, but there was no mistaking his potential or his talents.

So, if he goes into Baton Rouge and becomes a star, some fans could be forced to swallow a bitter pill because their coach did the right thing—and make no mistake, it was the right thing to do at that time. 

It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the long term—particularly if the two schools happen to meet and Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger are the respective quarterbacks at the helm.

For the record, I don't like the idea much. It's a sketchy move by Miles, in my opinion, but if it worked for Houston Nutt at Ole Miss, then why not for Les Miles at LSU—it's all about winning, right?

Mettenberger is rated a four-star prospect by Rivals.com , and is being compared to the likes of Christian LeMay and Max Wittek—both of whom are thought to harbor pro potential. He is also one of the Top 20 junior college prospects in the country so, needless to say, he's been able to slightly overcome the stain of his actions in Valdosta.

Junior College players sign their letters of intent from December 15th to January 15th, if not mistaken. Mettenberger is slated to make an official visit to LSU on November 19th. 

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week One

Week one is in the books and all of the SEC games have been played. The actual pass efficiency ratings for each quarterback can be found here, but these power rankings not only take normal stats into consideration (i.e. touchdowns, interceptions, completion percentage, and total yards) but intangibles as well (i.e. game management, decision-making, pocket presence, etc.).

1. Tyler Russell, Mississippi State (13/16 for 256 yards, and 4 TD's)
 
Russell, the redshirt freshman for Dan Mullen's Bulldogs, made a case for why he may very well supplant Chris Reif before long. In helping lead the Bulldogs to their very convincing 49-7 victory over the Memphis Tigers. Russell completed over 80 percent of his passes and finished with a near-perfect pass efficiency rating (298.15).

2. Cameron Newton, Auburn (9/14 for 186 yards, and 3 TD's—15 carries for 171 yards, and 2 TD's)

Newton turned out to be all that was adverstised—and then some. The JUCO transfer was as impressive running the ball as he was passing it, and he brought the home crowd to its feet when he broke one run off for a 71-yard touchdown run. The Auburn Tigers definitely have the duel-threat they were hoping for in Newton—who accounted for 357 of the teams 608 total yards on the day.



3. Greg McElroy, Alabama (13/15 for 218 yards and 1 TD)

Greg McElroy didn't have to do much to lead his team to victory, but the Tide rolled even without their Heisman winning running back out there to carry the ball. McElroy was concise on every throw and left little doubt where his focus will be this season—a third trip to the Dome for the SEC Championship.


 
4. Ryan Mallet, Arkansas (21/24 for 301 yards, 3 TD's and 1 INT)
Ryan Mallet was nearly perfect in the opening quarter of his first game of the season—a sure sign that his broken foot will not be an issue this season. The senior, a potential Heisman candidate, was in good form on Saturday as his Razorbacks mauled Tennessee Tech 44-3.

5. Aaron Murray, Georgia (17/26 for 160 yards, 3 TD's and 1 INT—4 carries for 42 yards, and 1 TD)

The redshirt freshman was better than expected in his home debut as he led the Georgia Bulldogs to an impressive 55-7 win over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. Some of his most impressive plays came while he was on the run—a 21 yard scramble to the end zone to end the half brought the fans to their feet. He still has some learning to do but, if he can remain healthy, Georgia could have a special player on their hands.



6. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (16/23 for  193 yards—5 carries for 38 yards, and 2 TD’s 

Garcia made a lot of high-percentage completions last Thursday night in the Gamecock's season opener, but it would have been nice to see him get a couple in the end zone—utilizing the obvious height advantage his receivers had over the Southern Miss secondary. However, he did manage to showcase his scrambling ability in netting two rushing touchdowns.

7. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (19/33) for 244 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT)

It's safe to say that Vanderbilt played the toughest opponent in the SEC this week and nearly ended up with the win. Smith performed notably better than expected given the holes in his offensive line—passing and running for nearly 300 yards on the day.

8. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (17/26 for 217 yards)

Hartline didn't walk away with any touchdowns on the day, but he did manage the game well on Saturday in helping to lead his team to a win over their in-state rival—Louisville.

9. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (15/21 for 151 yards, 2 TD's, and 1 INT)

The Tigers got the victory, but it was sloppy and unimpressive—much like Jefferson. The junior quarterback didn't necessarily do anything to hurt his team—save the silly interception—but he made several throws in the game that could be his undoing later. He's going to have to do better than he did on Saturday against the Heels because there is little that indicates he's remarkably better than 2009.



10. Nathan Stanley, Ole Miss (6/10 for 133 yards and 3 TD's)
You can say this much for Stanley: he made every completion count. The sophomore was forced to split time with Jeremiah Masoli, but not before netting 21 points off three of his six completions. Too bad for him, though, his performance will be erased by the overwhelming embarrassment that was the Rebels' loss to Jacksonville State—an FCS team.



11. John Brantley, Florida (17/25 for 113 yards and 2 TD's)
Brantley looked rather pedestrian calling the shots this weekend—he certainly didn't strike fear into the hearts of the SEC East. By the fourth quarter, his Gators had exactly 26 total yards of offense entering the fourth quarter—ouch.

12. Matt Simms, Tennessee (14/24 for 181 yards and 1 TD)

Simms performed fairly decent for his first time out, but he will need to do a lot better if he expects to make a game of it next week against the Oregon Ducks.