SEC Review, Week 10: The grass is always greener for Les Miles?

story by Chris Rushing, College Sports Matchups (CSM is a content partner with The City Wire)
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Admit it, you were thinking the exact same thing when CBS’ cameras caught Les Miles picking up something off the ground. “Surely, he’s not gonna put it in his mouth …” was muttered around you at your tailgate, house, sports bar, etc., wasn’t it?

Then, the Mad Hatter places it right inside his lips and it hit me: we just witnessed the secret to Miles’ success.

Of course, my group thought it was maybe paint chips not grass, but Miles was willing to admit to reporters following LSU’s 24-21 win over Alabama that the “grass tastes better in Tiger Stadium.” Kelvin Sheppard went one step further as he explained to the scribes filling the media room that Miles does this all the time.

So, forget all thoughts about voodoo and weekly visits to Bourbon Street to meet with his psychic. There’s no need to delve into any details concerning a deal with the devil. No, Miles is just Miles – the guy who makes gutsy (and most of the times beneficial) calls at some of the most (in)opportune moments and eats grass in the process.

Two major games filled the slate this weekend while all the other heavy hitters in the Southeastern Conference enjoyed cupcakes on the first Saturday in November. In all, seven SEC schools put up at least 40 points on the afternoon with four (Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia football) notching 50-plus.

With all the talk surrounding Cam Newton’s eligibility at Auburn, the Tigers’ signal caller just went out and scored five touchdowns – in 16 minutes of play. Tennessee football looked its best of the season as the Vols try to salvage a bowl game with a strong November, and Ole Miss football got back on the winning track by disposing of Louisiana-Lafayette.

Yes, there is more in the bottom-line only action from the day, but we’re going to go back to the showdown in Tiger Stadium for a few minutes.

No. 11 LSU football had been told for two weeks that things were about to unravel on the Bayou. The close calls and desperate stops that littered the Tigers’ first five wins of the year gave writers and voters plenty of ammunition to drop LSU in the rankings following the 24-17 loss at Auburn. When Alabama football was scoring touchdowns, you just knew that Miles and Gary Crowton weren’t going to be able to keep up – no matter the deficit.

Then, Reuben Randle stepped up, and the Tigers grasped victory from the jaws of defeat once again. Except, this time, no one was calling Miles or LSU “lucky.”

The fourth down call for a quick reverse out of a non-traditional formation was a thing of beauty. One more block and Randle would have waltzed into the end zone. The Steven Ridley go-ahead touchdown energized the crowd and the Tigers’ defense, and there was no hope for No. 5 Alabama after that.

Although LSU does not control its own destiny concerning the SEC West or the Bowl Championship Series, the win most likely assured Miles and Co. of an at-large berth in one of the BCS bowls (most likely the Sugar Bowl) if Auburn and LSU can both win out. Even with an AU loss, as long as the purple and gold-clad Tigers finish 11-1, I don’t see the Orange Bowl or Fiesta Bowl turning down the boisterous LSU fan following with one of its invitations.

Alabama still maintains a slim shot at the SEC title game, but it will require help from Georgia, Ole Miss or Arkansas. What happens at a four-way tie with 6-2 conference records in the West? My head hurts even thinking about that outcome.

It’s all a mute point if Auburn wins against either Georgia football or Alabama in the Iron Bowl. It’s that simple in the West, and it’s equally as simple in the East.

• No. 19 Arkansas 41, No. 17 South Carolina 20
I’m still waiting for the preseason vaunted South Carolina secondary to stop Ryan Mallett. Still can’t do it?

Arkansas looked every bit the part of a championship-caliber team Saturday night in Columbia. Mallett appeared to show no ill-effects from a pair of game-ending injuries sustained against Auburn and Ole Miss. You have to think maybe Bobby Petrino was holding him back as a precaution to help the Hogs finish strong and make a run at an at-large BCS berth.

There wasn’t much going right for the Gamecocks. South Carolina football had yet to get thoroughly dominated and outplayed like Saturday night. Much had been discussed about the USC defense’s ability to slow down rushing attacks, but with the focus primarily shifted to Mallett’s arm, Knile Davis had a huge night. When Davis was the object of concern for Ellis Johnson’s schemes, Mallett torched the defensive backs.

That’s not the way you want to play heading into the de-facto SEC East Championship Game at Florida this upcoming weekend. Remember: Urban Meyer has never lost to an Eastern Division team in the Swamp. This loss did not mean anything with USC’s one-game lead on Florida in the standings, but all the momentum belongs to the Gators thanks to a huge win in Nashville.

• Florida 55, Vanderbilt 14
It’s so weird typing Florida football’s name without a ranking.

It appears that Chris Rainey has learned much in his absence in the means of being a playmaker as Florida football has rattled off 34 and 55 points in the past two weeks after managing just seven in the loss to Mississippi State football during the bye week. Against Vanderbilt, Rainey and his offensive teammates produced four plays of 30-plus yards – one more than UF had accumulated in the first eight contests combined.

Jordan Reed’s first career pass attempt resulted in a 31-yard touchdown strike with Deonte Thompson being on the receiving end gives defensive coordinators one more viable quarterback option to game plan for when facing the Gators down the stretch. That’s a pretty good note for an offense that had problems identifying a single viable signal caller through the first two months of 2010.

And now, as Paul Harvey used to say, it’s time for the rest of the story. Not much really to touch on in all the patsies that lined the dockets for the SEC. So we’ll just give you the scores. Don’t worry, though, I’m going to give my bowl projections immediately following those so that you don’t feel short-changed for reading my ramblings.

No. 2 Auburn 62, Chattanooga 24
Ole Miss 43, Louisiana-Lafayette 21
Georgia 55, Idaho State 7
Kentucky 49, Charleston Southern 21
Tennessee 50, Memphis 14

• BOWL PROJECTIONS
BCS National Championship Game: Auburn vs. Oregon
AllState Sugar Bowl: LSU vs. Ohio State
Capital One Bowl: Florida vs. Michigan State
Outback Bowl: Arkansas vs. Penn State
Cotton Bowl: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Mississippi State vs. N.C. State
Gator Bowl: South Carolina vs. Michigan
Music City Bowl: Kentucky vs. Clemson
Liberty Bowl: Georgia vs. East Carolina