eViL G's Weekly Picks - October 31st

Mark Richt salutes UGA fans after a hard fought win against Louisiana Monroe.

Greetings everyone, and Happy Halloween Eve.

 

I took another week off, and our rivals from Tallahassee and Coral Gables gave us one of the most entertaining Gator bye weeks in recent memory.  I’m not sure what was more enjoyable, watching Miami die a slow, painful death against Clemson in front of 1500 pissed off fans or FSU getting their hearts ripped out in Atlanta.  Both games were magically delicious.

While most of the college football world has their collective eye on a couple national title elimination games NEXT weekend, one half of the SEC title game picture takes shape in Jacksonville this week.

 

Cocktails anyone?

 

PICKS!!!

 

Florida vs Georgia

Speaking of Atlanta, I want to give a shout out to Augusta, Georgia native and all-things Atlanta super fan, UCF Associate Womens’ Basketball Coach Ken Griffin.  I’ve got to show Coach Ken some love because unlike most so-called Atlanta sports fans, he actually gives a shit about sports teams in the ATL.  He’s also a prime candidate to become this blog's 28^th follower.

Coach Ken is unlike any Atlanta sports fan I know.  He doesn’t watch the Falcons play once every six years at the Georgia Dome, wearing a faded Andre Rison jersey, asking people around him why Michael Vick’s not playing.  He doesn’t chant “MVP” at Hawks games when the other team’s best player shoots free throws.  He knows the career statistics of Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame catcher Biff Pocoroba.  He knows how to spell “Pocoroba” properly without doing a Google search.  He lives and dies with his Atlanta sports teams, and that’s rare.  I respect that.

Coach Ken is also a HUGE Georgia Bulldog fan, and like many UGA fans he’s over Mark Richt, wants him gone like Al Golden.  I understand, but at the same time I don’t get it.  In spite of everything UGA fans hate about Mark Richt, you can’t deny he’s the second best coach in the history of Georgia football…worst case.  But sure, he’s never won a national title, hasn’t won an SEC title in a decade, and his teams routinely crap the bed when the stakes are high.

Meanwhile in Gainesville, Jim McElwain is making chicken salad out of Will Muschamp’s chicken shit.  Nothing but blue skies, lollipops and puppy dog kisses in Gator Country these days.

 

So in a season that began with great uncertaintly surrounding UF and SEC title aspirations for UGA, over the past two months someone flipped the script. 

How desperate is Mark Richt?  UGA is starting someone named Faton Bauta at QB instead of Greyson Lambert.  Faton Bauta sounds like a guy on the TSA's no-fly list...an explosive playmaker if you will.  Apparently Bauta gives UGA more of a run threat at QB, and he can't be a worse passer than Lambert.  What's the worst that could happen?  Mark Richt loses another big game?

 

Florida played well enough to beat national title contender LSU a couple weeks ago, in spite of UF's all-world secondary getting torched repeatedly by a slightly above average QB.  Treon Harris played well for most of the night, but struggled late.   The Gators still can't run consistently against anyone.  We placed ads in the Gainesville Sun for a kicker. 

 

That said, the good guys are still 6-1 and ahead of schedule while Georgia is reeling.

 

Back to you Coach Ken, be careful what you wish for.  Mark Richt may not be Urban Meyer or Nick Saban...he's not Ray Goff or Jim Donnan either.  Tennessee fired Phil Fulmer seven years ago, and they still haven't recovered.  Please keep this in mind after Florida beats Georgia in Jacksonville tomorrow.

 

The Gators are going back to Atlanta, and Mark Richt stays employed in Athens.

 

UF - 26

UGA - 17

 

Be good.

eG

 

eViL G's Weekly Picks - October 17th

Deja Vu in the Bayou?

Happy Friday America.

 

I take the week off, and as usual all hell breaks loose.

 

Will Grier tested positive for stupid, Coach Sark can’t stay off the sauce, and the Ole Ball Coach just up and said fuck it, I’m out.  Go build me a statue while I play 36 at Augusta National with my shirt off.

 

Buried deep in sports section you may have heard about a scrub UF defensive back go batshit crazy over his girlfriend allegedly getting down with a teammate.  Ah sookie sookie now...

 

And in a related story, as I type this Lamar Odom is possibly on his deathbed with a raging boner.  How unfair is that?

 

Brace yourself for what happens during Florida’s off week next week, because I’ll be somewhere other than here.

 

In the meantime…

 

PICKS!!!

 

Florida at LSU

Gator Nation didn’t take the Will Grier news very well, but perhaps the football gods were forced to intervene in this magical season most of us thought was at best two years away.  This new relationship with this new coach was moving way too fast...a walk of shame waiting to happen if you will.

 

That said, in spite of Will Grier’s poor judgment I choose to see the orange and blue glass as half full.

 

Let’s count our blessings.

 

Florida is 6-0, so WORST case we’ll get a chance to defend our Birmingham Bowl World Heavyweight Championship.

 

Tennessee beat Georgia, which means UT fans can once again talk about how the Vols would destroy Florida if we played each other later in the season.  You know the leaves are turning when you start hearing that bullshit.  Hurricane season ends around the same time Volsheimers season begins.

 

Most importantly, we’ve got ourselves a competent football coach.  Jim McElwain is a keeper folks.  Anyone who can turn UF’s offensive line into a serviceable unit is nothing short of a coaching genius.  We have tight ends making plays.  Even the great Steve Spurrier couldn’t do that consistently.

 

At this point the only valid criticism of Jim McElwain is the size and color of his teeth, and Ron Zook would be the first to tell you it’s correctable.

 

Gator Nation unanimously had the LSU game marked as a loss before the season started.  So-called experts and talking heads picked LSU to win after Will Grier shredded Ole Miss and before his failed NCAA drug test.  UF has no answer for Leonard Fournette, LSU’s defense is too talented for UF’s emerging offense…and so on.

 

How quickly we forget UF almost beat LSU last season with Jeff Driskel.  Treon Harris is a better QB than Jeff Driskel.  Treon Harris might be a better QB than whoever LSU starts at QB tomorrow.

 

Conventional wisdom says we stack the box and make LSU’s nameless, faceless QB beat our elite secondary with his arm.  All LSU’s defense has to do is contain Treon Harris operating behind a suspect offensive line who can’t run block worth a damn.

 

UF wins this game straight up if Will Grier is eligible.  He’s not, so LSU wins a close, low scoring game reminiscent of 1980s, pre-Spurrier SEC football.

 

6-1 ain’t all that bad, considering no one expected UF to be 6-0.

 

LSU - 21

UF - 16

 

Be good.

eG

 

eViL G's Weekly Picks - October 3rd

eViL G Flashback - 2008
Tim Tebow's relationship with the Almighty wasn't
enough to combat the Ole Miss curse.



Happy Friday folks.

 

Not much time for jibber jabber this week.  That said I’d like to give a shout out to my good friends from Rocky Top who made the trip to Gainesville last week.  Marlon, James, Jamie and Jonathan…we had a great time tailgating with you guys.  I won’t mention the game because you’ve suffered enough.

 

Speaking of crappy coaches, it looks like the Hurricanes kept their Muschamp one year longer than we did.  But since it’s a Canes thing, I probably wouldn’t understand.

 

Ignorance is bliss.

 

PICKS!!!

 

Alabama at Georgia

Historically Georgia doesn’t handle prosperity very well…take last year’s Florida-Georgia game for instance.  Now they’re favored to beat Alabama.  The last time Alabama was an underdog, they made Tim Tebow cry like Michael Corleone after Mary took a bullet outside the opera house.  Bama’s defense matches up very well with Georgia’s offense, who unlike Ole Miss won’t attempt 20 passes before halftime.  For all of UGA’s stud tailbacks, Derrick Henry might be better.  However Lane Kiffin sometimes forgets Henry traveled with the team, is dressed out and ready to play.  Take that last drive against Ole Miss for instance.  For as ordinary as Bama looks relative to years past, their front seven is still plenty strong, and they’ll force UGA’s nameless, faceless QB into situations he’s not ready for.  Don’t expect this game to be aesthetically pleasing…lots of running, plenty of punting and not too many points scored.  UGA loses, everyone wins.

Tide – 16

Dawgs – 14

Ole Miss at Florida

Per Southeastern Conference bylaw 50.3.14b Section 4, whenever Ole Miss has a competitive football team, they MUST rotate onto UF’s schedule.  How else do you explain Ole Miss winning three of the last four games in Gainesville, or Ole Miss leading the all-time series against UF by a couple games?  Eli Manning never lost to Florida during his stay in Oxford…a freaking MANNING!!!  Now Ole Miss brings arguably its most talented team in 60 years to The Swamp, a TD-plus favorite against the Mighty Gators.  This is actually a favorable matchup for UF’s defense.  Ole Miss doesn’t run all that much, which is good because UF has maybe two linebackers healthy enough and good enough to play tomorrow.  Ole Miss likes to throw, and UF has an elite secondary, not to mention a very good pass rush.  UF’s offense grew up in front of our eyes last week, but Ole Miss has a championship caliber defense led by Robert Kazqsalkshqchee (pronounced “kim-DEE-chee”) and his brother Denzel Washington Kzqytrdlfloydschee (also pronounced “kim-DEE-chee”).  Both will make life miserable for UF’s green but improving offensive line.  Ole Miss has a knack for beating UF when they probably shouldn’t.  It’s almost not fair they’re back in Gainesville with a team good enough to beat anyone.  Ole Miss had their letdown game last week looking forward to this week, and UF simply won’t be able to outscore them.  Unlike Bama-UGA, this game will not put you to sleep midway through the second quarter…but unfortunately the good guys come up short.

Rebs – 35

Gators – 27

 

Be good.

eG

eViL G's Weekly Picks - September 26th



eViL G Flashback - 1997:
Classy UF fans rent out billboard to show their appreciation.

Happy Friday everyone.

 

First and foremost, I’d like to give a shout out to Marlon McKinney at GoVolsXtra.com.  Marlon is a friend, former co-worker and proud University of Tennessee alum.  Every year around this time Marlon shares this discount, off-brand blog with the good people who frequent GoVolsXtra.com.  I’m not sure why Marlon tortures his readers with my nonsense, but I appreciate the extra eyeballs…I might even eclipse 30 members by 2018.

 

I’d also like to say hello to Volunteer super fan Jason James from Jacksboro, an up and coming educator and all-around great guy.  Ditto for Scottie Hall in San Antonio and John Buchanan in Nashville.   And wherever you are David and Leslie Patterson, I hope all is well.  I miss those tailgates in Knoxville behind Copper Cellar.  Speaking of tailgates I’m looking forward to seeing James Norris and his wife Jaime this weekend in Gainesville.  We’ll be at our same spot behind Tigert Hall, so stop by anytime.

 

Contrary to popular belief in the Volunteer State (and the nutjobs on VolNation.com), Florida fans roll out the blue carpet for our visitors from Rocky Top.  The days of UF students throwing piss balloons and harassing Vickie Fulmer are all a distant memory.  Nowadays our students are too busy checking their smartphones to get into it with rival fans.

 

Lastly, before I break down Florida-Tennessee, please allow me to gloat for a few seconds for picking Ole Miss to beat Alabama last week.

 



 

Thank you.

Let’s do this.

 

 

Tennessee at Florida

Outside of Athens, Big Orange Nation is easily the SEC’s most tortured fan base.  Pre-season expectations fueled by a blowout bowl win, a budding superstar QB, and an absolutely ridiculous recruiting class had Tennessee fans downright giddy with anticipation.

 

Then Oklahoma happened.  Grief counselors worked overtime in Knoxville while Paul Finebaum further distanced himself from his alma mater.

 

Josh Dobbs went from Heisman contender to a kid who can’t complete a downfield pass.  Butch Jones went from SEC Coach of the Year favorite to resembling a former Tennessee coach whose name rhymes with Schmerek Schmooley, with a similar win-loss record as Coach Schmooley.  Extra points and field goals were an adventure.  Fans criticized Mike Debord’s play calling.  Maybe Randy Sanders wasn’t so bad after all. 

 

Meanwhile, in Gainesville, our QB situation is still uncertain despite Will Grier not having to look over his shoulder for at least a week.  Grier took some shots in Lexington last week and didn’t appear to be 100% as the game wore on.  Treon Harris decided to go full knucklehead before the Tennessee game this year, unlike last year…allegedly.

 

UF fans still don’t know what to make of Jim McElwain, and we probably won’t know until after the 2016 season.  We do know UF’s offensive line is a bigger train wreck than Tennessee’s offensive line.  We know UF’s kicking game is no better than Tennessee’s kicking game.  We know Vernon Hargreaves is not 100% healthy.  After three games we suspect UF’s best wide receiver might be a true freshman.  And without question we now know Jalen Tabor is an idiot.  Check his Twitter feed.

 

Given the state of this so-called rivalry I don’t expect Tennessee fans to cry crocodile tears over UF’s current state of affairs.  In the 90s when UT was great, UF was greater.  In the 10s when UF sucked, UT sucked worse.

 

And then there’s that 10-game winning streak...

 

Historically the winner of this game has more success running the ball, and I simply don’t trust UF’s offensive line to get the job done.  Tennessee won’t have much success running either, but they have Jalen Hurd and we don’t.

 

Unless Will Grier channels his inner 1993 Danny Wuerffel, or UF’s defense scores a TD or two, Tennessee wins an ugly, low scoring game.

 

Vols - 19

Gators - 14

eViL G's Weekly Picks - September 19th

These uniforms were YOUR idea Taylor? MOTHERF#$%&@!!!

Greetings people.

I considered taking another week off, resting up so I’m 100% healthy and ready for Tennessee week. Outside of Hate Week it’s the busiest weekend around here, so I can’t let down the good people at Volnation.com and GoVolsExtra.com. That’s their football team’s job.

There’s just too much ammunition to work with this week. I don’t know where to start.

For the record, I wasn’t offended by Jim McElwain’s Hate Week inspired tirade over Kelvin Taylor’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. After all it was UF’s second personal foul following a touchdown that night. Coach Mac was justified for going off, even if his delivery was a tad over the top. I doubt you’ll see another excessive celebration penalty from UF this season.

I maintain the referee misinterpreted Taylor's gesture, which was simply Kelvin's way of saying "all this orange makes me want to slit my throat." Makes perfect sense right? In defense of Taylor and Joey Ivie (who got flagged for UF's first excessive celebration penalty), our football team isn’t used to scoring touchdowns.

That's all I got...the Chiefs-Broncos game just ended and I'm getting sleepy.

PICKS!!!

Florida State at Boston College

UF alum Marco Rubio made waves this week, essentially calling FSU the Plan B university of choice for high school seniors lacking the academic credentials to get into Florida. Obviously Senator Rubio hasn’t visited UCF’s campus lately, the student dorms look like a Disney resort. Ditto for UNF in Jacksonville. UNF has a gotdamned lazy river ON CAMPUS. We had to drive 35 minutes to Lake Itchetucknee to go tubing. USF is next door to Busch Gardens…wildlife, roller coasters AND beer samples. Depending on your major, FSU might be Plan E. Next thing you know they’ll start scheduling football games on Friday night…wait, what?
Noles-27
Eagles-20

Auburn at LSU

With apologies to LSU super fan Nall Gearheard up in Atlanta, this game slipped under my radar. Sorry Nall. Jacksonville State exposed Auburn as national title contending frauds, which pleases me greatly because F Muschamp. Auburn QB Jeremy Johnson has been hereby dubbed “Black Driskel” based on his knack for completing passes to the wrong team, seemingly on purpose. Meanwhile LSU looks like an upgraded version of Georgia. Fournette is slightly better than Chubb (both are studs), LSU’s no-name QB is more talented than UGA’s nameless, faceless QB. LSU’s defense is stacked as usual. LSU needs to start off strong, because their schedule is backloaded and brutal. Given how Auburn’s playing LSU should roll.
Geaux Tigahz – 31
F Muschamp – 14

South Carolina at Georgia

The Gamecocks look like ass, losing at home to Kentucky, and barely squeaking by North Carolina. UGA looks as one-dimensional as those Vince Dooley-Herschel Walker teams from the early 80s, minus any national championship aspirations whatsoever. Both QBs are garbage. Spurrier looks like he's ready for a Farewell Tour. Why am I wasting my time picking this game? F both of these teams...

Ole Miss at Alabama
Now THIS is what I'm talking about. Ole Miss looks like a Spurrier-led UF squad from the mid-90s, laying beat downs on opponents like Carly Fiorina bitch slapping Donald Trump a couple nights ago. Bama looks, well, boring. Their QB situation is worse this year than last, and Amari Cooper isn't around to bail them out. This Bama squad looks like those 1990s Gene Stallings-coached teams Spurrier used to get the best of...great defense, but outside of a single stud tailback, not much in the way of game breakers. Ole Miss looks like the better team, much better in fact.
Rebels – 38
Tide - 21

...and finally

Florida at Kentucky

The last time Kentucky beat Florida, eViLG was a 17 year-old UF freshman living on campus in Simpson Hall. Our games weren’t televised due to UF being on probation for doing the same shit Alabama’s done for decades. Back then ESPN and CBS didn’t pay conferences billions of dollars to air football games, and as a result the NCAA doled out sanctions a bit differently. I think a group of us went tubing at Lake Itchetucknee that day, but I’m not sure.It was 29 years ago.

Coach Mac named Will Grier the starting QB Saturday night, to which Gator Nation collectively said, “Well, duh.  ”Nothing against Treon Harris, but anyone paying attention can see Grier is the long term answer.  He has a stronger arm and reads defenses better.  I’m very bullish on Grier, hopefully he proves me right.

As for Saturday night, I always expect to beat Kentucky, regardless of how bad we appear to be or how great they appear to be. This year is no different.

My first and only trip to Lexington was 2007, when UF won its 21^st straight over Kentucky.  Our winning streak was finally old enough to legally drink.

Fast forward to 2015…our winning streak graduated college, got married 3 years ago and is expecting its first child in February. It’s also put on about 20 pounds since getting married, and it may or may not have a profile on Ashley Madison.

Bottom line...they're Kentucky, we're Florida, and it's not basketball season.

Science.

Gators - 26

Wildcats – 21
 
Be good.
eG