The two most publicized transfer quarterbacks in Southeastern Conference history square off Saturday when Ole Miss and Jeremiah Masoli host Auburn and Cam Newton.
Or maybe that happened last week when Masoli’s Rebels lost to Arkansas and Ryan Mallett, or the week before when Mallett faced Newton.
OTHER PICKSClemson 14, Boston Coll. 9Miami 30, Virginia 21Navy 31, Duke 14UNC 52, William & Mary 16Maryland 26, Wake Forest 21TCU 49, UNLV 13Iowa 17, Michigan State 10Nebraska 28, Missouri 17Utah 25, Air Force 22Ohio St. 34, Minnesota 15Oklahoma 49, Colorado 21Stanford 33, Washington 28Arizona 26, UCLA 23Okla. St. 30, Kansas St. 28Notre Dame 21, Tulsa 16Michigan 28, Penn State 23Texas 35, Baylor 24
Masoli, the Pac-10 player of the year when he led Oregon to last season’s Rose Bowl, has rushed for 400 yards and thrown for 1,260 for the 3-4 Rebels. He has been overshadowed by Newton, but Tigers coach Gene Chizik said Ole Miss counterpart Houston Nutt is using Masoli the same way he once used Matt Jones at Arkansas.
“It’s an extremely difficult offense to defend,” Chizik said Wednesday. “Obviously Masoli is a talented quarterback who can get himself out of trouble in the pass game and can do a lot of things with his feet in the run game. The option part of it is extremely difficult, and I think that’s why they’re averaging 410 yards a game and a lot of points.”
Newton, who arrived at Auburn by way of Florida and Blinn (Texas) College, has set the SEC single-season rushing record for quarterbacks with 1,077 yards. He leads the league in pass efficiency and has the 8-0 Tigers atop the BCS chart.
“He’s been very patient and very clever at finding holes,” Nutt said. “He breaks tackles, and every time he’s falling, he’s falling for 4 or 5 yards.”
Pasquali’s Pix:
Florida State at N.C. State: It took a while, but the Seminoles are regaining a national presence on the field and in recruiting. Seminoles 31, Wolfpack 24.
Tennessee at South Carolina: The Vols have struggled so much recently that even Steve Spurrier has refrained from verbal jabbing. Gamecocks 26, Vols 16.
Elon at UTC: The Mocs are the only team nationally with an immediate checklist of stopping a four-year losing streak to Elon and stopping Cam Newton. Mocs 30, Phoenix 19.
Florida vs. Georgia: The Bulldogs are playing very well heading to Jacksonville, but we’ve seen this movie more times than Rocky IV. Gators 23, Bulldogs 20.
Auburn at Ole Miss: The Rebels are winless since introducing a black bear as their new mascot. Tigers 37, Rebels 33.
Kentucky at Mississippi State: An opportunity for the SEC West to improve to 12-2 this season against the East. Bullies 24, Wildcats 21.
Vanderbilt at Arkansas: A chance for the West to improve to 13-2. Razorbacks 45, Commodores 18.
Oregon at Southern Cal: With the Trojans ineligible for a bowl because of NCAA sanctions, this is as big as it gets this year for Laney, Monty and Coach O. Ducks 38, Trojans 17.
Last week:
Winners………………..20
Rommels…………………5
Pasquali is 162-38 overall (81 percent) this season.