Tide head coach Mike Shula has struggled in making the Tide a potent offensive team. New Gamecock head coach Steve Spurrier, an offensive genius at Florida, has his dunce hat on in his first two games as architect of the Gamecock offense. Based on the most recent history, these two offenses will struggle to find pay dirt. Granted the Tide played one of its better offensive games under Shula last week against Southern Miss and the Gamecocks showed some sparks against a good Georgia defense. However, one game doesn’t a trend make.

Adding to the offensive futility will be the defenses. Shula appears to have returned the Tide to its storied defensive glory. The Tide defense has picked up where it left off last season. Trying to run against the Tide this season has been like trying to run through a brick wall. There is very good talent at just about every position on the Tide defense. Spurrier will be hard pressed to score more than 17 points against this Tide defense.

The Gamecock defense held an explosive, versatile Georgia offense to just 17 points and 350 yards. It hasn’t been as dominant as the Tide defense, but it has been just as effective with its “bend but don’t break” mentality. Whereas the Tide defense doesn’t have any apparent weaknesses, the Gamecock defense has some weak links…most notably, the defensive ends. At times, the Gamecock defensive schemes have allowed opposing offenses to make big yardage.

If this game turns out to be a defensive struggle, key offensive plays will be the difference. Give Spurrier a decided edge in being able to make the key offensive calls. Gamecocks win 13-10.

ARKANSAS VS SOUTHERN CAL

Hog fans had better hope their team was looking ahead to this game last Saturday when they were embarrassed by Vanderbilt. If the Hogs are, in fact, inferior

to Vanderbilt, they may want to forfeit this game. The Trojans are loaded again this season and are loaded for bear.

This game will be a test of the Hogs pride, which I believe will show up in this game. The Trojans will win, but I think the Hogs are going to make it a fight. Trojans win 30-17.

VANDERBILT VS OLE MISS

Are you kidding me? The Commodores are 2-0 and those two victories have come against teams considered to be somewhat superior. The fact that the Commodores had to come from behind late to win those games could be a stepping stone to bigger and better things in the future. After many heart-breaking close losses in the past, the Commodores finally got over the hump and not just once, but twice. Nothing builds confidence like coming out on top. Believing and being rewarded for believing is heady tonic.

The Commodores have played the Rebels tough in past years. There is no reason to believe this game will be much different than past struggles between the two teams.

Ole Miss has the better athletes, but the Commodores are now believers. This a game that the Commodores must win to have any chance at a bowl game. After this game, the Commodores face Richmond and MTSU, two winnable games. A win against Ole Miss and these two teams makes the Commodores 5-0. The last half of the schedule is much tougher, but the Commodore faithful probably would feel good about their prospects against South Carolina or Kentucky to claim a sixth and bowl-qualifying win.

Dreams do sometime come true, but I think the Rebels will delay the Commodore dreams by pulling out a hard-fought victory 20-17.

In other SEC action, Auburn will rout Ball State 38-6; Georgia devastates Louisiana-Monroe 41-7; and Kentucky slides past Indiana 34-16