Week 5 picks

Empty your 401(k) here:

Georgia Tech -10 at N.C. State

The Yellow Jackets actually have a passing game this season to go with the triple-option. Tech has averaged over 600 yards and 53 points per game. N.C. State, meanwhile, has a host of injuries on its defensive line, including its third group of linemen this week. That's the main reason why the Wolfpack have allowed nearly 40 points and 470 yards to FBS opponents Wake Forest and Cincinnati. Tech hasn't been 4-0 since 1990 when it won the national title.

The pick: Ramble your way to a double digit cover.

It's OK to dip into the spare piggy bank:

Alabama -3.5 at Florida

Word out of Gainesville is Charlie Weis is being dubbed the new Steve Spurrier. But the SEC is the dad-gum best conference in land because it has the best defensive linemen around (see: Marcell Dareus, Nick Fairley, Glenn Dorsey). Not coincidentally, the most recent SEC and national champions led the SEC in rushing defense. The Tide's defensive front cause all kinds of problems for Arkansas last week, and while Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey will get the pre-game hype, look for them to bottled up.

The pick: Roll Tide in the Swamp.

Auburn +10 at South Carolina

In a meeting of teams that each have several issues, most notably Auburn's defense and South Carolina's offense, they no doubt hope to find a cure in this week's opponent. While Auburn's offense is struggling so far, and it will be a tall order against one of the best defenses in the country, the easy pick here would be the Gamecocks. But the South Carolina defense and Marcus Lattimore alone aren't more than 10 points better than the Aubbies.

The pick: War Eagle in Columbia.

Only touch with your father-in-law's cash:

Clemson +7 at Virginia Tech

This is the third week that Clemson plays a ranked team, and the third time many believe the Tigers are due for a letdown. They're 2-for-2 so far, and how many top 15 teams are handed a touchdown, even on the road? The Hokies, meanwhile, haven't exactly been tested by the likes of Appalachian State, East Carolina, Arkansas State and Marshall. Look for Clemson to remember the 2006 Blacksburg Beatdown, and be motivated to cover, or win outright.

The pick: Dabo does it.

Last week: 3-1

Season:

401(k): 3-0

Piggy bank: 3-1

Father-in-law: 0-2

Georgia Notebook: Region 8-AA South teams fighting for position

One of the pitfalls of the strength of Region 8-AA South, the subregion where Hart County and Elbert County reside, is the lack of playoff spots that match the playoff-worthy teams.

Last year, North Oconee finished 9-1, but because the Titans lost at Elbert, and therefore finished second in the subregion, they opened the playoffs on the road, an eventual loss.

North Oconee’s 28-20 win over Hart County last week was one of the first steps toward shaping the playoff field from that subregion.

“Hart obviously has their back against the wall, and they’re fighting in that survivor mode,” North Oconee coach Terry Tuley said. “We only get three (in the playoffs). It’s a screwed up region, it’s not Hart’s fault.”

Defense overcomes Titans' many mistakes

BOGART -- In a game of twists and turns, the North Oconee defense, which stood tall the entire night, stopped Hart County when it mattered most.

The Titans' defense, which only allowed a touchdown when it started at its own 5-yard line, stalled an 18-play Hart County drive at its own 3 to start the fourth quarter. And despite another turnover by the Titans, that defense responded again to preserve a 28-20 victory on Friday night.

"We finally got some backbone, we finally stepped up," said North Oconee coach Terry Tuley. "Give up that and give up this, before you know it, you stand around, and all of a sudden you're at the goal line. Our guys have a lot of pride, and the defense pitched a shutout. It ain't their fault there's not a goose egg up there."

Stephens' Aaron Trotter continues to overcome adversity

TOCCOA, Ga. — In four years starting for the Indians, Aaron Trotter has had a different dose of adversity almost every season.

As a freshman, he was undersized to play safety.

As a sophomore, Trotter suffered a broken bone in his foot and missed several games.

This year, he’s moved back to linebacker after last playing there as a sophomore.

And while he’s been the most experienced player on the defense, and directing a young secondary, he’s watched his mother battle liver and colon cancer.

Through it all, he’s emerged as one of the Indians’ most valuable players. His move to linebacker in Week 2 coincided with the defense allowing just 24 points the three weeks.

Week 4 picks

Empty your 401(k) here:

Clemson -3 vs. Florida State

The Tigers don't often make a habit of winning back-to-back big games, especially against the likes of Auburn and Florida State. But freshman Sammy Watkins opened some eyes last week in the Auburn win, and the Noles are battling injuries, most notably to QB E.J. Manuel. If there's ever a time for Clemson to win the ACC, a win here would go a long way in that direction. The visitor is 1-8 in the last nine games in this series, and FSU has dropped four straight at Clemson by 15 points per game.

The pick: Clemson and give the points.

LSU -5.5 at West Virginia

A road win in Starkville last week only strengthened the Bayou Bengals' position as a BCS contender. Now they go to Morgantown, but LSU is 4-0 in true non-conference road games in the last eight years. LSU gets QB Russell Shepard back this week from a three-game suspension. The Mountaineers, who beat Maryland 37-31 last week, are also 3-0. While West Virginia has a high-powered offense, behind QB Geno Smith, LSU is yielding just 12 points per game, which includes the season opening win against Oregon.

The pick: LSU and give the points thanks to its defense.

It's OK to dip into the spare piggy bank:

Florida -21 at Kentucky

The wheels are quickly falling off the Big Blue wagon. And since the Cats don't exactly have a confidence-boosting history against the Gators, this one could get ugly quickly. Florida has won 11 straight in Lexington, and hasn't lost there since 1986. In the last three years, Florida has beaten UK 154-26. While the UK defense has been a bright spot (it has allowed 13 points per game), the likes of Western Kentucky, Central Michigan and Louisville don't quite have the backfield speed of Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps.

The pick: Take the Gators, and it's almost basketball season in the Bluegrass.

Only touch with your father-in-law's cash:

Notre Dame -6.5 at Pittsburgh

The Irish may have solved their quarterback woes, and gained momentum after last week's 31-13 win over No. 15 Michigan State. Pitt, conversely, is recovering from a loss to Iowa where the Panthers lost a 21-point second half lead. Pitt was just 4-for-13 on third downs last week, and its defense will be tested again with Tommy Rees and Michael Floyd in the passing game.

The pick: Irish and give a touchdown

Last week: 3-2

Season:

401(k): 1-0

Piggy bank: 2-1

Father-in-law: 0-1

Georgia Notebook: Hart prepares for stingy North Oconee

Still recovering from last week’s loss at Jefferson, Hart County continues the Region 8-AA South grind this week with a visit to North Oconee.

The Titans, who won 28-16 in Hartwell last year, are 3-0 and haven’t been scored on since a Week 1 win over Arabia Mountain. In the last two weeks, they’ve beaten Commerce (33-0) and Rabun County (69-0).

“They’re really, really big up front,” Hart coach Joby Scroggs said. “The people they’ve played, they’ve been able to move out of the way.”

Eagles make it two straight behind Wildgoose, Sims

Athens Banner-Herald

Athens Christian had already been on the wrong side of a down-to-the-wire finish this season, so Eagles coach Steve Brooks wasn't interested in going down that path again.

Thanks to a two-pronged rushing attack, and a broken play that set up a first-and-goal situation, the Eagles knocked off visiting Banks County 27-21 on Friday.

Senior running back Travis Wildgoose led the way with 192 rushing yards on 13 carries, while junior Malik Sims had three touchdowns.

Scroggs reaches milestone

Anderson Independent-Mail

Friday’s win for Hart County was important because it gave the Bulldogs something to think about besides the previous week’s lopsided loss to Stephens County.

But it was also a milestone for coach Joby Scroggs, who tied Bobby Pate for 66 wins, the most in school history. In his ninth season coaching the Bulldogs, Scroggs said it was a “tremendous honor,” and he was humbled to achieve it because Pate was a mentor for him.

Scroggs worked as an assistant under Pate at Hart from 1987-93, and credited Pate for molding him as a coach.

Week 3 picks

Here at the Almanac, we're back in the saddle with another season of picks. Sure, we came out of the gate a bit late, and are still recovering from a 16-18 record in 2010. But it's just now that the games are getting good, and we're mostly through with the Directional Techs and Southwest Prairie View paycheck-paloozas.

Empty your 401(k) here:

LSU -3.5 at Mississippi State

This is a critical game for the Cowbell Dogs if they want to win the SEC West, since they've already lost to Auburn. While the Bayou Bengals may not be the team many expected before the August bar brawl, they showed against Oregon that they're among the nation's best. The key matchup is the LSU run defense, which is the best in the SEC, against the MSU rushing offense that has collected more than 640 yards in two games. LSU has won 11 straight in the series with an average score of 39-13.

The pick: Take the Bayou Bengals and start the weekend off right.

It's OK to dip into the spare piggy bank:

Auburn +3.5 at Clemson

It's tough to imagine why the Aubbies are getting points here, even though the game is at Clemson. The Palmetto Tigers have certainly struggled against SEC teams lately, going 3-7 in their last 10, mostly against South Carolina. But, after last week's win over Mississippi State, the Aubbies don't appear to be as bad as advertised. And it's still difficult to get behind a perennially underachieving program that often loses games it should win.

The pick: The Western Tigers until Clemson proves me wrong.

Oklahoma -3 at Florida State

In one of the marquee games of the young season, the Sooners, a popular pick to get to the national championship game, need a tough win to bolster their BCS resume. The pre-game hype will center on the top 5 rankings, and the meeting of the Stoops brothers. FSU is 5-12 in its last 17 games against top 10 opponents, including back-to-back losses by 27 and 30 points. The 'Noles have revenge on their mind after last year's 47-17 whipping in Norman. But the Sooners are a cut above, and better by more than a field goal.

The pick: Boomer Sooner

Wisconsin -17 vs. Northern Illinois at Soldier Field

The Badgers are one of the main dark horses to play for the national championship, and have only impressed behind new quarterback Russell Wilson. Since Northern Illinois is coming off of a tough loss against Kansas (45-42), a bounce back game against a top 10 team is not likely. The Northern Illinois defense has also given up 837 rushing yards in games against Army and Kansas.

The pick: On, Wisconsin!

Only touch with your father-in-law's cash:

Kentucky -6.5 vs. Louisville

The annual Governor's Cup game has lost a bit of the hype it typically has as a season opener. It's the third game for both teams, and neither has done anything to fire up their fan base. UK has won four straight in the series, which is significant since the Cats have only beaten Vandy and Mississippi State four straight among SEC teams in the last 20 years. The team with the most rushing yards has won 15 in a row in the series. It's difficult to pick a team that hasn't put up more than 600 offensive yards in two games, but UK is a touchdown better than the Cards this week.

The pick: Take the Cats and give the points

Willingham rings in birthday with huge night

Athens Banner-Herald

Rodney Willingham just smiles when he's asked his height and weight.

The pint-sized junior running back for Cedar Shoals -- officially listed at 5-foot-5, 155 pounds, but closer to 5-4, 145 -- didn't let his size hold him back Friday night.

Willingham scored three touchdowns and rushed for 124 yards on 12 carries in the Jaguars' 28-14 victory over Rockdale County at The Jungle.

For Willingham, the victory and touchdown binge was just one reason to celebrate. He also rang in his 17th birthday.

"That's the biggest present I wanted," Willingham said. "I told my team, 'Y'all just go out and play hard.' I knew we were going to face some kind of adversity. That's all I really wanted for my team was the victory."

Leaders, Citizens Discuss Proposed TSPLOST Projects

Oconee Patch

Mixed views about five road projects proposed in Oconee County collided Thursday in a public meeting among county leaders, transportation planners and citizens.

At the Oconee County Civic Center, those who hope to pass a one-cent sales tax referendum next summer trumpeted the economic growth benefits of widened roads and improved traffic flow. The tax would run for 10 years. Critics, however, struggled to see the congested traffic problems, and worry that road expansion would eliminate the rural community appeal.

“Just the facts in this case would be enough to irritate people,” said Kelly Huff, a Mars Hill Road resident. “They’re being inflexible.”

The Northeast Georgia Regional Transportation Roundtable has spent nearly a year compiling road improvement projects in a 12-county region. The Oconee County projects are on Mars Hill/Experiment Station Road, the Oconee Connector, Daniells Bridge Road, Simonton Bridge Road and Jimmy Daniell Road. The projects are part of the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum, or TSPLOST.

Georgia Notebook: Stephens prepares for Oconee's high-powered offense

Anderson Independent-Mail

The Indians, who beat Hart County 39-0 last week, take on a Warrior team that put up nearly 600 yards of offense last week in a 35-0 win over East Jackson.

Coming off one of the best offensive performances of the season, Stephens County has prepared its defense this week for the high-powered offense of Oconee County.

Football has made Elbert's Tyshon Dye a better person

Anderson Independent-Mail

ELBERTON, GA. — Ever since Tyshon Dye was introduced to football, his behavior in the classroom has improved exponentially.

“She said I needed to release some anger,” he said. “Because I had never really heard of football.”

In fourth grade, Dye started football because his mother wanted him to harness his extra energy.

Looking back, Dye isn’t sure where he would be today without the pigskin.

Passing game carries Spartans past Pats

Athens Banner-Herald

LEXINGTON -- As Athens Academy continues to develop its young offensive line and inexperienced backfield, the Spartans might do well to lean on the passing attack.

After a season-opening win fueled by special teams last week, the Spartans used three touchdown passes from senior quarterback Lake Lindsay to win at Oglethorpe County, 21-0 on Friday.

Lindsay was 8-for-16 with touchdown passes of 2, 40 and 15 yards.

Hart County's Stephon Eades doesn't shy away from challenges

Anderson Independent-Mail

HARTWELL, GA. — Stephon Eades is making it difficult on his coaches to leave him at one position.

The Hart County senior, a team captain, is making a habit of filling in for injured teammates on defense, all the while toting the football from the Bulldogs’ backfield.

“I always think of him as a tailback, because that’s where he was always going to be,” said Hart coach Joby Scroggs, who doubles as the running backs’ position coach.

When he first made a name for himself as a sophomore, Eades replaced the injured linebacker Ketitus Harper, who suffered a knee injury in the Abbeville game.

Georgia Notebook: No love lost in Hart-Stephens rivalry

Anderson Independent-Mail

At times in recent years, the Hart County-Stephens County rivalry was nearly on par with the hotly contested showdown between the Bulldogs and next-door neighbor Elbert County.

Hart and Stephens, in the old Region 8-AAA, were arguably the best teams, and the schedule often played out that they decided the region championship in the regular season finale. It may have reached a climax in 2008 when running back Ren Teasley transferred from Hart to Stephens.