SEC
Southeastern ConferenceWe could spend a day on Alabama’s trip to Texas A&M, but there’s a full Saturday to discuss.
1) Here’s Johnny!
Johnny Football spent the entire offseason embracing the star/brat-pack culture that is the sexy siren of instant fame. Well, now, facing an Alabama team that helped catapult him to that lofty perch among the sports royalty of the now, can he repeat that performance and remind us how he was a star before he was a brat? Are you ready for your close-up, Mr. Manziel? You better be. It’s impossible to overstate this game for Johnny Merchandize. If he wins, he’s a big-game guy with charisma; if he loses, he’s a one-hit wonder who fell victim to the pressure.
2) Directional game in Auburn
Auburn is 2-0 and has reason to believe that last season’s debacle was an apparition. The offense has three legit running-back threats. The defense has not allowed a TD in 19 possessions — last year it was tough to remember 19 consecutive plays in which the Tigers did not surrender a touchdown. Auburn welcomes Mississippi State to Jordan-Hare, and this is one of those games that each team expects to win. Well, expectations are one thing; results are another. The winner of this one moves north in the standings; the loser will have a much tougher trek in the always tough SEC West.