The Hogs are at a crossroads, and I don’t think anyone feels confident predicting which way they’ll go.

Arkansas still cannot convert on third down.

Mississippi finally hits on all cylinders against a quality opponent.

The Crimson Tide go into their open week with a light practice schedule and focus on LSU.

The offense has gone from penthouse to outhouse at Auburn.

Unusually surprising stat:  Georgia’s game against Florida will mark only the 4th time the Bulldogs have played the #1 team.

LSU coach Les Miles is pleased but not satisfied with his offense’s performance against Auburn.

Kiffin and Spurrier should provide plenty of good quotes this week before their teams face one another in Knoxville this weekend.

I expect we’ll get official word from the SEC office this week about Mullen “complaining” because his guys got jobbed against, gasp, Florida.  I mean… Is anyone even surprised anymore?  Why even watch the games if you already know the outcome of a Florida contest?  Mullen said:

“That’s twice now that they’ve blown calls on the replay with our games, resulting in big plays, and I think that’s unexcusable for that official. I hope he’s severely punished if he ever works another SEC game again, because I think it’s completely unacceptable.”

After a crazy week, the Razorbacks are ready to take on Mississippi and their former coach.

The former Arkansas coach desperately needs a win at home against the Razorbacks.

Ryan Mallett is the focus of this very nice feature by Sports Illustrated.

ESPN is already setting up excuses for Florida this week.

Here is a quick summary of all the SEC games this week from the Commercial Appeal.

Will there be a Dexter McCluster sighting this week?

Jevan Snead hopes for back-to-back solid performances.

The Mississippi beat writer for the Clarion-Ledger breaks down the game group by group, giving Mississippi a slight edge.

Week 6 saw me extend what has to be a personal best (I’ve never kept track like this before) in staying above .500 each week for the season.  I told you last week that the NFL schedule looked ridiculous, and Vegas probably made a lot of money back over the weekend.  I apologize for letting you down by not identifying The Obvious Game between Philadelphia and Oakland.  I falied you, and I apologize.

I see some winners out there this week.  While the NFL is certainly a week-to-week league, we have reached a point of the season where you can start to see some real trends.  I think we’ve seen a few more teams enter the Super Bowl discussion (welcome Denver and New Orleans) and a few other get exposed as absolute frauds (Tampa Bay and St. Louis).

As always… Don’t blame me when you walk with a limp after a “discussion” with your “broker”.

San Francisco v. HOUSTON (-3.5)

Houston has yet to cover at home this season against a team with pulse.  That ends this week.

San Diego v. KANSAS CITY (+5.5)

Can we all just go ahead and admit San Diego is done?  Add to that, can we also say the Shawn Merriman is done?

Indianapolis v. ST. LOUIS (+14)

Here it is, friends.  The Obvious Game

New England v. TAMPA BAY (+15)

This game is England.  I just can’t trust New England to cover that number given all the distractions.

MINNESOTA (+5.5) v. Pittsburgh

This line has moved far too much (started at Pitt -3) towards Pittsburgh.  I just don’t trust the American public that much.

GREEN BAY (-8) v. Cleveland

I’m rolling with the Packers one more week on the road.  Critical week for Green Bay

Buffalo v. CAROLINA (-7)

Just remember this:  Carolina won 13 games last season.  They are not awful.

NY JETS (-6.5) v. Oakland

Sanchez returns.  Actually, the Jets coaching staff will do what Andy Reid refused to do — run the football.

Chicago v. CINCINNATI (-0.5)

The Bears defense has just been ripped apart up the middle.  I sense a tease possibility.

ATLANTA (+4) v. Dallas

The most perplexing line of the week.  I strongly urge a moneyline play on Atlanta here.

New Orleans v. MIAMI (+6.5)

I am a little nervous because there have been too many people talking about it, but I like Miami to win outright.  I definitely like this as the second part of my tease.

Arizona v. NY GIANTS (-7)

Big night game at the Meadowlands.  We could see bad weather, too, so I really like the team that can run the ball.

Philadelphia v. WASHINGTON (+7.5)

I have no clue why.  I’m just going on instinct here.

————————————————————————————————-

Record ATS  –  Week 6:  8-6, Overall:  55-35

This guy has HUGE huevos.  Donald Trump thinks this guy is crass.

Sepculation is already running rampant that UA Athletic Director is on the “short list” to be the next Athletic Director at Michigan.  Long served as an associate AD in Ann Arbor before climbing the ladder to his current position.  As you probably recall, Long was hired just 2 years ago after Frank Broyles retired.

BK:  55-33-2

AB:  51-37-2

From CFN:

What will happen: Arkansas will be on a letdown after coming so close to pulling off the upset against the Gators, but Mallett will be better than Snead. The Hogs will be +3 in turnover margin on the road as they come up with a nice win in a shootout, and then they’ll go on a roll with a blowout of Eastern Michigan next week.
CFN Prediction: Arkansas 38 … Ole Miss 34

EPSN’s Chris Low:

Ole Miss 28, Arkansas 24: Both teams really need this game, and the winner has a chance to go on and have a big season. The Hogs look like they’re starting to settle into a groove. The Rebels have yet to prove much of anything this season. Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead is due, though, and gets it done Hotty Toddy style on Saturday.

What say you?

Michael Smith is improving, but coaches still will not confirm his status for Saturday.

Playing with confidence will be key for this team on its drive to the Cotton Bowl.

The officiating was so bad that the SEC took unprescedented steps in suspending officials this week, but it still reprimanded Bobby Petrino for pointing out that the officiating was poor.  Yeah…. I know.  Read that again.

As Adam said to me last night:  “And they wonder why they haven’t won since the Civil Rights Act was passed.”

Javier Arenas is expected back in the lineup against Tennessee.

The Vols spent extra time working on special teams during their off week.

The thin get thinner:  Auburn boots a reserve running back.

LSU may rely on defense again this week.

Mississippi State’s Pernell McPhee was very close to being a Gator himself.

The Gamecocks are counting on a bounce-back week from Stephen Garcia.

Chris Low at ESPN thinks so.

Who do you believe?

Mustain transferred after one season, and Nutt never really regained the support of the Arkansas fan base. Nutt left the Razorbacks after the 2007 regular season and took over at Ole Miss. Less than two months later, Petrino was at Arkansas and Mallett was a Razorback.

Nutt says the move wasn’t a surprise.

“He tried to talk to me a lot while he was at Michigan, and I talked to (Michigan coach Lloyd) Carr and let him know the situation. He’s just a good person, good quarterback, excellent football player. He was just unhappy at the time,” Nutt said. “There’s no doubt that he was going to transfer and he was ready to get back to Arkansas.”

Mallett has said Carr’s retirement—announced just before Nutt left Arkansas—was what led him to transfer. His father, Jim Mallett, questioned the idea that the quarterback wanted to leave Michigan all along.

“That’s the first I’ve heard of that,” Jim Mallett said.

The Arkansas defense really seems to be getting it together.  They certainly sound like they still want to prove how good they are.

Freshman D.D. Jones has brought physical play and serious intensity to the defensive line.

Some expected reactions to the announcement yesterday that the SEC had suspended the crew from last Saturday’s game.

The Liberty Bowl appears to be falling even further in esteem among the SEC-tied bowl games.

Mississippi is relying on freshmen to fill key roles this season.

Could the 2009 Alabama offensive line be even better than very highly regarded unit from last season?

Tennessee has spent plenty of time focusing on Mark Ingram this week.

A thin roster could explain Auburn’s recent problems as the season hits the midway point.

The LSU defense is gearing up for the Auburn power run game in this weekend’s battle of the Tigers.

Who is the #1 receiver at South Carolina?  Yeah, they don’t know that answer either.