Overall: 25-4 (86%)
Vs. Spread: 8-6 (57%)

Okay, I’ll say it…the SEC looks bad so far. Tennessee doesn’t look anywhere near championship-caliber at this point (I tried to hold out hope), the preseason favorite for SEC Player of the Year is a combined 6-of-28 thus far, Arkansas loses to Providence (no offense, Friars), Auburn to Tulane, Mississippi State to Clemson (although they’re a tough team, should have won on your home floor), KENTUCKY TO GARDNER-WEBB!?!? Where does the madness end?

In other news, I’ll be mentioning only the games that have odds released for them from now on. Saves time. And now, on with the show.

Friday Games

Auburn (63) @ Alabama State (60): ASU has regressed every season thus far under coach Jackson, from 15 wins before his tenure to 12 and then 10 last year. The Hornets return 2 starters from that 10-win team….and gave the Tigers all they wanted and then some. Junior forward Korvotney Barber led the Tigers with 22 points on 11-of-14 shooting and 10 rebounds for the game’s only double-double, followed by little-known sophomore Matt Heramb who scored 17. Auburn, usually adept at handling the ball, turned the ball over 17 times but managed to outrebound their opponent 39-25. Those turnovers killed them, however, as they were forced to shoot 11 less times than the Hornets.

Ole Miss (108) vs. Lamar (70): Two things are becoming apparent for the Rebels. (1) They can shoot, and (2) They don’t play defense. Number two you’d expect from freshmen, number one is more surprising. Six Rebels were in double figures, led by Dwayne Curtis’ 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting and 10 rebounds. Senior Kenny Williams also pitched in a double-double, with 14 points and 15 rebounds. The team didn’t shoot terribly well from behind the arc, but hit 56% from the field. The two stats of the game were Lamar being held to eight less shots than their opponents, and Kennedy’s Ole Miss team outrebounding Lamar 46-24.

Arkansas (51) vs. Providence (67): Patrick Beverly was one of few bright spots for the Razorbacks, despite hitting 3-of-11 shots from the field, scoring 14 points. The ‘Backs were out-shot 55-42 shots, outrebounded 31-27, blocked only four shots (again), and the most surprising stat? Arkansas turned the ball over an amazing 32 times. I’ve said from the beginning Pelphrey’s style wouldn’t fit Arkansas’ stable at the moment and would create innummerable turnovers, and that’s been the case. Point guard Gary Ervin has 10 turnovers in the last two games alone, and the team has given up the ball 70 times in only 3 games played.

Tennessee (89) vs. Prarie View A&M (75): Let me begin by saying this: Prarie View won a total of eight games last year. The Vols’ biggest challenge was defense, as the Panthers shot a blazing 47.8% from three where Tennessee hit only 4-of-21 for 19%. First-team All-American remains cold, hitting only 3-of-13 from the field including 2-of-7 from behind the arc. Transfer Tyler Smith scored a team-high 15 points but only grabbed four rebounds.

Saturday Odds

Florida vs. Rutgers
Spread: Florida by 15.5
Pick: Florida – The Gators are one team that has actually played well thus far – despite playing noone of significance, but this should be a blowout.

South Carolina vs. USC
Spread: Even
Pick: USC – This should be a very challenging game for both teams, but USC has a little more talent and depth than the Gamecocks.

Mississippi State vs. Tennessee-Martin
Spread: Mississippi State by 27
Pick: Tennessee-Martin – This will be a blowout, but the Bulldogs look far too disorganized to pick this high of a spread.