INSIDE THE TIDE: PIG'S PICKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is again that time for your favorite part of the week....PIG'S PICKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you took my advice last week and put down some doll-hairs then I made you rich (or at last got you 3 gallons of gas). Anyway another good slate of games to pick from this week including my favorite game in college football....The Third Saturday in October.

Game 1: Ole Miss @ Arkansas ( Ole Miss by 6 1/2)

Our first game is a tough one to call. Ole Miss has been up and down all season and Bobby Petrino's Hogs started the season looking horrible, but two those losses were against the # 1 and # 2 teams in the country right now in Texas and Alabama. They let one slip away last week blowing a big lead at Kentucky. While I think Ole Miss is the better team in this one I hate the game being in Fayetteville. However, I do like the fact that Goat's boy Houston Nutt is returning to Arkansas for the first time and you know he wants this one against his former employer. Nutt and his Rebels will pull out all the stops in this one and barely cover.

PIG'S PICK: Ole Miss

Game 2: # 5 Florida vs. Kentucky (Florida by 26)

26 point line in the SEC? Ouch, no love for the Cats. I realize the Gators are the better team. I realize the game is in Gainesville. But I believe in the Cats defense (kinda). The problem in this one is I am not sure if Kentucky's offense can score enough on Florida's D to keep this one close. Florida head man Urban Cryer also needs an impressive blowout win to impress the pollsters and up his chance of getting back into the national title game conversation. While I think he leaves his stars in to run the score up, I think the Kentucky coach Rich "Always Grumpy" Brooks and his Wildcat D will help their poor offense cover the spread.

PIGS PICK: Kentucky to cover, Florida to win

Game 3: Vandy vs. Duke ( Vandy by 10 1/2)

Put down the books and get out of the library you geeks, because a Vandy-Duke football game actually has some importance! Both teams are straining trying to get to that magical 6 wins and become bowl eligible for the first time since Jesus was a boy. Vandy has dropped two in a row after a 5-0 start but both of those were on the road in the SEC, so I will give them a little lee-way. Duke comes into the game sitting at 3-3 and has also lost two in a row. This is Vandy's best shot at getting that 6th win and they will take advantage. I like the 'Dores to bounce back at home and beat the Blue Devils with the ugly stick...the same one that was used on Coach K.

PIG'S PICK: Vandy

Game 4: # 9 Georgia @ # 11 LSU ( LSU by 1 1/2)

As an Alabama fan, I will be screaming my guts out for the Dawgs in this one to get LSU that second SEC loss. Unfortunately, I do not see it happening. While I like Georgia's playmakers (Stafford, Moreno, Green) I hate their O-Line. They are young, their best players are hurt and they are just not that good. Bad news considering the strength of LSU's team is their D-line. While I think Georgia is a solid team overall they have played a brutal schedule and been beat up a little bit. It is a long flight to Baton Rogue from Athens and Death Valley is a tough environment for a visiting team, especially in a game this important. LSU's offense is also showing signs of life. It pains me to say this but go with the Tigers.

PIG'S PICKS: LSU

Game 5: Mississippi State vs. Middle Tennessee St. (Miss St. by 10)

Do you care about this game? Absolutely not. But it involves a SEC team and you want to win some money. MTSU is about 25 minutes from my house so I am fairly familiar with their football team and have learned this...they step up against teams they should get crushed by (see Maryland). The opposite can be said for Mississippi State, they seem to lay a lot of eggs. Not sure if the Blue Raiders can win on the road but they will keep it within 10.

PIG'S PICK: MTSU (to cover)

Game 6: # 2 Alabama at Tennessee (Alabama by 4 1/2)

My favorite game of the entire college football season. I know, I know, the Iron Bowl is sweet, but I am old school and enjoy a good state school vs. state school battle. There is no way I can go to work Monday if we lose this game, and luckily for me I do not see that happening. The line for this one started around 7 and has come down a a good bit to 4 1/2. As gambling goes that is a big jump, so a lot of betters out there like the Vols to pull the upset at home. While I think Fat Phil will have his boys ready to go, I think Saint Nick will counter and have the Tide focused in Knoxville.

For whatever reason we have played much better on the road and when we feel threatened by a good team. Plus, I just do not think Tennessee has the playmakers to win. If you go position by position I would not trade any of our guys (with the exception of Vol safety Eric Berry). If Alabama does not turn the ball over, they will win. We need to beat them up on both sides of the ball and build an early lead and COME OUT AND FINISH IN THE SECOND HALF!!!! I think this is the week Alabama does that and I will enjoy that from my great seats in the nose-bleeds of Neyland Stadium. Hopefully I am sitting beside these two...