Reporting from Auburn, this guy here likes South Carolina
RoboCoach Gene Chizik dazzles the assembled media with bon mots. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Auburn, Ala. — I’m sitting here listening to Gene Chizik. And if you’ve ever wondered how RoboCoach would sound, listen to Gene Chizik. But I digress.
I’m sitting here listening to Gene Chizik, and I’m thinking, “I really like South Carolina’s chances Saturday.”
Not because of Gene Chizik. He’s obviously a good coach. But the guy who’ll be on the other sideline in the Georgia Dome is pretty good, too, and Evil Genius is bringing a pretty good team with him. And it’s a pretty good team that won’t be shocked by anything Cam Newton does, given that it was South Carolina against which the Camster had his night of arrival.
Auburn has had a great season — doesn’t get any greater than going undefeated in the SEC, does it? — but I still wonder about its defense. I especially wonder about Ted Roof, the Georgia Tech grad whose uncoordination of George O’Leary’s defense doomed the Jackets to being one of those good-hit-no-field teams a decade ago. Even the RoboCoach described the Tigers’ defensive effort in falling 24 points behind Alabama last week as “not acceptable.”
South Carolina has the better defense and the better coordinator (Ellis Johnson, who’s as solid as Stone Mountain). South Carolina also has a running back — Marcus Lattimore, the freshman who chose the Gamecocks over Auburn — capable of defusing Cam Newton by keeping the nation’s best player on the bench. As RoboCoach noted, South Carolina leads the SEC in time of possession.
I don’t doubt that a team coached by Steve Spurrier and staffed by Lattimore and the great receiver Alshon Jeffrey can contrive to put up four touchdowns on a neutral field against the men of Roof. (The Georgia Bulldogs had four in Jordan-Hare Stadium, lest we forget.) I realize Auburn is the world’s best team at playing from behind, but after a season of so many peaks and so many comebacks, the most recent being the epic rally in Tuscaloosa, how much the Tigers have left — cliche alert! – in the tank.
Cam Newton is the nation’s best player. Nick Fairley is the nation’s best defender. (Sorry, Georgia fans.) Auburn has been at worst the nation’s second-best team — Oregon has been pretty darn good itself — over the course of the three-month regular season. But for this one game under the off-white roof, I like South Carolina. I like it so much I’ll give you the score:
Gamecocks 33, Tigers 31.
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299 comments Add your comment
Reed
November 30th, 2010
4:14 pm
Enter your comments here
Last National Bank in Georgia
November 30th, 2010
4:16 pm
Georgia recruits coming to Alabama,
sign up now for your ATM cards and
ficticious drivers licenses so you can
get in the Casinos.
$cam is a $ham
November 30th, 2010
4:17 pm
Cannot wait until we see $cam after AU loses the SECCG game. This time he won’t run to the crowd to $howboat.
He will run off the field without $haking hands with the opposition and go $traight to the lockeroom.
$cumbag.
USCfan
November 30th, 2010
4:17 pm
SC went into that game thinking Cam was a passing first qb, much like Jamarcus Russell. It’s not as if this guy had run crazy up to that point in the season. SC will have a much better defensive scheme this time around. Remember, USC ranks 5th in the country in run defense for a reason. Take away the Auburn game and they’ve given up less than 800 rushing yards in 11 games. Also remember, SC turned the ball over 4 times in the 4th quarter of that first game (in Auburn) and lost by 8. The chickens do a favor for those wishing for a playoff system and make a complete mess out of the BCS by posting a 31-28 win.
Dawgs Friend
November 30th, 2010
4:17 pm
I really do not care who wins but Auburn should have enough left in the tank to beat SC. Auburn wore down UGA and SC won when UGA was not very good.
RICK
November 30th, 2010
4:21 pm
South Carolina Gamecocks will win the SEC Championship 12/04/2010.
Tiger fan
November 30th, 2010
4:26 pm
Oscar maybe be in jail by Sat…..you never know
Old School
November 30th, 2010
4:27 pm
It is absolutely mindboggling to me that a couple of UGA fans—aka Sanford Drive & Blair Miss Project– come on a blog that is TOTALLY about Auburn, South Carolina, and the SEC championship game and spew thei juvenile crap about the Dawgs and Tech. The remainder of the season for both teams is over, a couple of meaningless podunk so-called “Bowl” games. Give the credit and your energy to two championship teams, one of which has a shot at a national championship, which will be great for the best conference—and this comes from a Tech fan who loves college football, period—in the nation hands down, the SEC.
As for me, I will be at the game pulling for Auburn so they will have a shot at the national title.
BTW, why do some of you people make what you think is a joke and laugh at your own joke with the “HaHaHaHa.” Pretty sad.
Tiger fan
November 30th, 2010
4:27 pm
Oscar may have a heart attack are something by Sat…………… You never know
Saint Simons
November 30th, 2010
4:28 pm
How much does Cam’s conrtact pay in bonus money of he wins the SECC?
MRuc
November 30th, 2010
4:30 pm
RoboCoach? You’re a writer, right? OK it is the AJC that you work for but come on Mark write with some flair! Also, who are you to worry about a team’s Defensive Coordinator, let alone assess the ability? Can you even throw a football?
Not so innocent
November 30th, 2010
4:32 pm
$Cam are $Sham= kicked UGA”s A@@ and UGA is still crying…….call Pulpwood $ Smith for help,
LogicalUS
November 30th, 2010
4:41 pm
It is a moot point anyway as the Burn fans will only get to crow about the “Championship” for at most 2 years before it is stripped.
The Burn has to lead the nation in fictitious undefeated seasons which are unrecognized because they are on probation for cheating.
jc_atl
November 30th, 2010
4:42 pm
After the Iron Bowl the Auburn defenders said that they really didn’t change their defensive schemes in the second half – very few adjustments were made – they just started playing up to their potential. Also, Goggins and Blanc were back from first half suspensions due to punches against UGA.
I just listened to Bill Oliver (google him if you don’t know) on Paul Finebaum’s show and he said basically the same thing – watching the tapes Auburn was calling the same defenses, they just started executing and playing at a higher level. This has been the same song and dance all year long. Auburn’s defense may not be great, but due to the depth of talent they are able to wear other teams out by the end of the game (or in Alabama’s case, half way through the second quarter). See the 4 turnovers by USC in the first game and OBC’s poor decision to pull Garcia and put in a freshman.
Auburn knows how to stop Lattimore and I believe they’ll hold him to 50 yards or less. Alshon Jeffrey is Auburn’s big problem – we couldn’t defend him in September and he will be a handful on Saturday.
My prediction: AU 38, USC 28, but the game won’t really be that close.
Dawgboy
November 30th, 2010
4:46 pm
Let’s face it. Last time these two teams played no one knew about Camburglar. Now Ellis Johnson knows and Spurrier knows. And SC’s DL is about as good as there is.
You can scoff at Lattimore all you want but he had a better year than the little Auburn freshman back (forget his name-wow what an impression), but they have those tall receivers and as far as I’m concerned Jeffrey is the best receiver in the country. So, yes they held Lattimore down last time. Pick your poison, Auburn. Spurrier will not be denied his 7th SECC.
Ted Striker
November 30th, 2010
4:48 pm
Auburn has had some close wins and they’re due for a loss, either this week or in the bowl. But love isn’t always on time. (Oh oh oh….)
MURPHY
November 30th, 2010
4:50 pm
jc_atl,
You are saying the Auburn D will hold Lattimore to 50 yards rushing? Are you kidding? WOW! Man if you think AU will dominate Carolina like this you might need to be on suicide watch come midnight Saturday. Carolina will beat Auburn Saturday.
jadennis
November 30th, 2010
4:50 pm
The “evil genius” lost to Alabama in 1999 by one point, 40-39.
After getting his second chance at the Tide in the SEC title game, the genius made adjustments that Alabama proceeded to work over to the tune of a 34-7 win.
Spurrier is a great coach. An all-timer of a Hall of Famer. But he didn’t look like it in that SEC title game in 1999. And he didn’t look like it 4 weeks ago against Arkansas when he got run over by 3 touchdowns 41 to 20 (in which Lattimore had 30 yards).
South Carolina may very well win Saturday…they are a good team. But it seems like Mark has only contemplated the reasons SC might win, and not compared them to the reasons Auburn might win.
The Carolina pass defense is just as bad as Auburn’s (they are ranked #99 to Auburn’s #104). And the rush defenses are essentially equal as well (both top 10). So really, the defenses are not that different.
So that brings us to the offenses. Auburn averages nearly 100 yards and 8 points more per game. Oh, and time of possession, SC averages 31.5 minutes, Auburn 28.5 minutes. If both stay true to their average on the year, then TOP won’t be a factor in the game. Just ask Oregon how important it is.
Buckeye
November 30th, 2010
4:56 pm
Go ‘Cocks……Lattimore left, Lattimoire right, Lattimore in your face. He’ll help keep Cam off the field.
Don’t worry thUGA, you get to play in Atlanta next August. But, you’ll get to play in Birmingham or Memphis soon.
GO BUCKS. Beat FSU tonight.
jadennis
November 30th, 2010
4:56 pm
@ Dawgboy…no one is scoffing at Lattimore, he’s a very good player. But look a little closer at the stats before declaring him superior to Dyer.
M. Lattimore – 1,114 yards on 232 carries – 4.8 yards per carry.
Michael Dyer – 886 yards on only 146 carries – 6.1 yards per carry.
Give Dyer another 86 carries and he’d have over 1,400 yards. Lattimore is good, but Dyer is at least his equal. I think 3 years from now we’ll see that. Well, “we” will see that, you may still be ignorant. ; )
Randy
November 30th, 2010
4:56 pm
Mark, am I right that this will be the 5th time you’ve picked against Auburn this year?
Pre-season confirmation bias can be a booger to shed.
Buckeye
November 30th, 2010
4:57 pm
Go Gamecocks. Lattimore left, Lattimore right, Lattimore in Fairley’s face!
Fire Mark Bradley
November 30th, 2010
4:58 pm
No one cares. You are always wrong Mark.
MURPHY
November 30th, 2010
4:59 pm
jc_atl,
Auburn will hold Lattimore to 50 yards rushing? Are you kidding? WOW! Ill take Carolina to be Auburn. Im going with Spurrier. Be carefull and dont over look Carolina-Seems you maybe a little to over confident
Dirty Dawg
November 30th, 2010
5:02 pm
I don’t see Auburn running away with this – after all they’ve had close games with just about every SEC team they’ve played, including SC…so if it comes down to one or two mistakes that could mean the difference, then again anything could happen. And I also believe that SC will handle Mr. Fairley….I mean if Aaron Murray’s sternum could hurt Fairley’s shoulder, then it would appear that he’s not so tough after all. I do think that the SEC office will alert the officials that the body-slams on that concrete floor could be an issue, so watch for some quick whistles on Fairley – kinda like that first one at Alabama…of course he ended up winning the game with his fumble-inducing tackle of the Ala QB and subsequent recovery of same.
I mean you can’t deny that Auburn’s demonstrated that they know how to get the most for their money when it comes to football players – sorry couldn’t help myself.
jadennis
November 30th, 2010
5:04 pm
@ MURPHY
I don’t think Lattimore will necessarily be held to under 50 yards….but why is that such a crazy notion?
He had 33 against Auburn, 79 against Kentucky, 30 against Arkansas, and 48 against Clemson (on 23 carries). He can be stopped…it’s not like he’s Adrian Peterson.
Again, not saying he WILL be stopped, but just pointing out that he HAS been stopped several times this year.
jc_atl
November 30th, 2010
5:05 pm
MURPHY – definitely not overconfident, I just know that when Auburn has faced a great back in recent times, they’ve been able to stuff him. He had 39 against us in September, and I believe we are a better and at this point more determined team. Our defensive line is great with a lot of depth for rotation, it’s our secondary that is problematic when facing tall receivers. I believe it AU gets beat it will be due to USC’s receivers, and the good Garcia showing up rather than the one, when hassled by defenders, makes freshman mistakes.
Fan of the Game
November 30th, 2010
5:25 pm
Looking back at the box score of the first meeting between USC and Auburn; broken down by quarters…
South Carolina 14 6 7 0 27
Auburn 7 7 7 14 35
South Carolina was holding their own until the turnovers of the 4th quarter which resulted in the two TD’s for Auburn. I think they stand a pretty good chance of winning if they play a complete game.
USCfan
November 30th, 2010
5:25 pm
That Kentucky game was basically just one half (injured his ankle early 3rd quarter) for Lattimore. Also remember, he had 4 receptions for 133 yards for 212 total yards of offense and 3 TD
def12
November 30th, 2010
5:31 pm
Mark Bradley you are terrible man im beginning to think that you don’t like Auburn. I remember when you wanted Cam to sit out the Georgia game. Now this wow. You are starting to show your true colors(red and black). Nothing you report on makes sense or has logic. “SC has better coordinators and the better defense.” HMMMMM why are they not the undefeated team then. You sir know nothing about college football. I could accuse you of being a good journalist but then that has yet to be proven.
Bubba
November 30th, 2010
5:35 pm
I admit it!!!
I’m the reason Bradley-pooh hates Auburn.
He courted me and told me he loved me and wanted me – and I rejected him. I’m just not interested in other men, and I’m from Auburn.
David
November 30th, 2010
5:42 pm
Mark,
Don’t let the Aubies get you down… you’re absolutely correct about everything you’ve said except the score.
USC 31
AUB 17
They reached their peak last Saturday against a downtrodden Alabama team.
Had two weeks to study and practice for that game and still came out slow.
Bama gave up in the second half and let up so much they were over taken.
Not to worry…. Cam newton is a great player… WHEN his team executes. However, this weekend will be the one game to remember.
You have a team that really has nothing to lose and everything to gain by winning.
You have another team that is feeling this sense of entitlement and mystical ability to come from behind (eight games already this year) and expects to be undefeated…. unfortunately they have no Tiger left in the tank… I predict a loss for Auburn of epic proportions, Lee Corso to crawl across the field at Williams-Brice stadium and the taste of New Orleans aka the Sugar Bowl for this years Carolina Gamecocks…
MURPHY
November 30th, 2010
5:47 pm
jadennis jc_atl,
Remember Carolina is a better team now than earlier in the year.UGA and Bama have shown what it takes to beat AU.Only issue and its the biggest issue is no team has been able to play with Auburn for 4 qtrs.I truly believe Carolina and Spurrier are up for the task.I see Spurrier grinding it out and keeping Cam on the sidelines.The Carolina defense will blitz almost every play just like they did against Florida and shut down any rushing offense AU has.The Carolina secondary has improved since earlier in the year. Should be a great game-Im going with Spurrier and Carolina.Come Monday I will either be a HERO or a Zero on these blogs. Good luck to Auburn and congrads on a great year.Hope Cam wins the Heisman.
Dr. Dawg
November 30th, 2010
5:50 pm
His Highness, Pundit Bradley is bored with Gene Chizik’s press conference, not realizing that Chizik is hired to coach and not to impress His Highness, the Pundit. So immediately, His Highness opines that Auburn cannot win the game. Great journalism, there Bradley. Once again, you are our Pun-dick of the day. Congratulations.
Cobb Dawg
November 30th, 2010
5:56 pm
Just like last Saturday, and every Saturday for as long as they have football (perhaps not long), I’ll be rooting for Awbarn’s opponent. Go Cocks!!
Beast from the East
November 30th, 2010
6:01 pm
Pulling for SOS and the Gamecocks but I think the Barners will win. They just seem to have “it” this year. Not a big believer in destiny, but this Auburn team has been really special and I won’t pick against them again. After that come-back against a damn fine Bama team on the road, how can you not believe in the Barners?
Jeff in Calhoun
November 30th, 2010
6:02 pm
The big dark cloud looms over Auburn!
WEAGLE WEAGLE
November 30th, 2010
6:02 pm
Murphy and DAWGBOY
Murphy- Auburn held Lattimore to under 40 in September. Not saying we will do it again but you’re the crazy one if you think Marcus is going to go off for a big game on Auburn’s d-line.
DAWGBOY- Shouldn’t you be looking for a cold for the fridged Nashville weather for whatever bowl the dawgs are in. Lattimore is Carolina’s 1 back. Dyer shares carries with Fannin and McCalleb.
Beast from the East
November 30th, 2010
6:02 pm
Won’t bet against the Barners again this season, but I’ll be cheering for SOS and the Gamecocks!
dawgma
November 30th, 2010
6:12 pm
Wish you were right but yuz crazy. Spurrier is no doubt then better coach and AU’s defense sux BUT CAM is unstoppable – Lattimore is not.
Gamecock Phil
November 30th, 2010
6:21 pm
This will be a great game – not unlike the first time these two teams played. If Carolina can avoid turnovers, I like their chances. Auburn has Cam, unquestionably a great player, but USC has Garcia, Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery plus a better defense.
Go Gamecocks!!!
Headley Lamar
November 30th, 2010
6:23 pm
Eric Ramsey – The defensive back AU in the early 1990s who used a tape recorder to secretly record conversations between his football coaches and Booster “Corky” Frost regarding an illicit player payment scheme. Ramsey’s allegations also included racist practices at Auburn, including disapproval of inter-racial dating in the community and segregation of black and white players in the resident athletic dorm. After his tapes were revealed, Auburn received strict penalties and probation for the sixth time in the schools history
dawg4u
November 30th, 2010
6:29 pm
To the folks who put the score of whatever game in parentheses and then start with the HaHaHa’s and “we still run this state”, you come across as an immature adolescent who is now 35 years old and living in dad’s basement. How about some comments and game analysis. Most of the folks that post this stuff didn’t have anything to do with whether the game was won or lost. You are basically a cheerleader for your team which is good but lighten up. It’s a GAME!
Headley Lamar
November 30th, 2010
6:29 pm
With Milton McGregor involved in this as an Auburn booster watch out. The FBI has listened to every phone conversation from his office in the past year. He is the dirtiest multi-millionaire in Alabama.
Fast forward to this past Thursday, November 11th. The NCAA meets with Auburn officials supposedly to discuss the previous two weeks news reports. Upon conclusion of that meeting, the “We’ve done absolutely nothing wrong, Cam is Innocent, this is a Witch Hunt” being spewed by both the University and the Athletic Department suddenly changed to “No Comment.” Auburn quickly lawyered up with an experienced NCAA Compliance Firm. They also hired a longtime NCAA investigator which acted as a consultant when Albert Means and Alabama went down in 2001-2002.
Northern sympathizer
November 30th, 2010
6:33 pm
When pigs fly.
ChrisInInverness
November 30th, 2010
6:34 pm
Thank you — I’m pretty sure you picked Bammer and the LegHumpers right.
ChrisInInverness
November 30th, 2010
6:37 pm
Headley Lamar is a mouth breathing Bammer who only can pray that Newton’s guilty.
Anyone else notice that when the NCAA went to Bammer’s campus and spoke with Bammer’s assistant coach Jody Wright EVERYTHING got real quiet?
Yep, Bu bu bu bu bu bammer leaked this stuff hoping Newton wouldn’t play.
After Friday’s ass whuppin we all know why now don’t we.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroetahd
ChrisInInverness
November 30th, 2010
6:39 pm
Headley Lamar – Logan Young, Albert Means and probation IS BAMMER football.
Hey, has Opie Taylor figured out what day it is yet Bubububububu Bammer?
ricky
November 30th, 2010
6:46 pm
same o-same o…Auburn has no defense…etc……yet that defense held a very good bama team(at home) to 67 yards in the 2nd half. it shut down Georgia,shut down arkansas, shut down lsu in the 4th quarter…you know i wished we had a great defense, but we do not…but what we do have is a defense with heart and steps up and wins the game when you need them to
Headley Lamar
November 30th, 2010
6:46 pm
De Nile is a river in Egypt Chris
MOST-PENALIZED DIVISION I PROGRAMS:
Arizona State 8
Southern Methodist 8
Auburn 7
Florida State 7
Memphis 7
Minnesota 7
Oklahoma 7
Texas A&M 7
Wichita State 7
Wisconsin 7
✭Nine programs have been penalized six times, including USC and UCLA.
Auburn is the dirties program in the history of the NCAA not named SMU. Forgive me when I say I dont believe you when you say you didnt do it this time,
BTW im a Georgia fan idiot.