Midseason Reports
Midseason
All-America Teams
-
ACC
|
Big East
|
Big 12
|
Big Ten
|
C-USA
- MAC |
M-West
|
Pac 10
|
Sun Belt
|
WAC
- 2006 CFN
Midseason All-America Teams
Offensive Player of the Midseason
Andre
Woodson, QB Kentucky
Defensive Player of the Midseason
Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU
Ten best SEC players in the first half of the season
1.
Andre Woodson,
QB Kentucky
2.
Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU
3.
Tim Tebow, QB Florida
4. Erik Ainge, QB Tennessee
5.
Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas
6.
Craig Steltz, S LSU
7.
Felix Jones, RB Arkansas
8.
Wesley Woodyard, LB Kentucky
9.
Greg
Hardy, DE Ole Miss
10.
Rashad
Johnson, S Alabama
Biggest
Surprise
–
Kentucky
defense
Everyone knew the offense was going to explode, but UK was
supposed to be an also-ran thanks to a defense that was supposed
to be among the worst in the nation again. It hasn't happened.
No, the D hasn't been a rock compared to other SEC defenses, but
it's been good enough, and it's stiffened when needed to let the
offense do its thing.
Biggest
Disappointment
–
Arkansas
No one expected the Hogs to repeat as West champions, but they
were at least supposed to be dangerous. The running game has
been as good as expected, except in the loss to Auburn, and the
defense hasn't been awful, but an 0-3 SEC start isn't exactly
the bounce-back needed after a tumultuous off-season. With South
Carolina, a road trip to Tennessee, and LSU still to deal with,
the future isn't bright.
The SEC
Champion will be ...
LSU over South Carolina
The Tigers will lose once more, but they'll still roll in the
SEC title game over a South Carolina team that'll be able to
stay just one step ahead of Florida and Tennessee the rest of
the way. It might all come down to the October 27 date in
Knoxville, and considering Steve Spurrier's history against Phil
Fulmer, this might really be the year when USC becomes bigger
and badder than USC.
Best
Game of the First Half
LSU 28 ...
Florida 24, Oct 6
In one of the year's most thrilling
games, LSU chose to go for it on fourth
down deep in Florida territory, rather
than kick the field goal that would've
tied it, got it, and finished off the
drive with a two-yard Jacob Hester
touchdown run with just over a minute to
play. Tim Tebow's last gasp Hail Mary
was batted down in the end zone. Florida
jumped out to a 10-0 lead on a 31-yard
field goal and a two-yard touchdown
catch from Kestahn Moore, and took a
17-7 lead into halftime on a one-yard
Tebow run. LSU dominated the second
half, controlling things on the ground,
with Keiland Williams scoring from four
yards out and Demetrius Byrd catching a
four-yard scoring pass, but a 37-yard
Cornelius Ingram scoring play helped
Florida stay ahead until the final
moments.
Second Best Game –
Kentucky 43 ... LSU 37 3OT,
Oct. 13
Third Best Game – Alabama 41 ... Arkansas 38,
Sept. 15
Worst Game of
the First Half
LSU 45 ... Mississippi State 0, Aug.
30
LSU's defense suffocated MSU allowing a mere 146 yards of
offense and ten net rushing yards, and made it a nightmare of a
night for QB Michael Henig with six interceptions. Craig Steltz
picked off three passes. Despite a slow start, the LSU offense
got a one-yard Keiland Williams touchdown run, his second of the
first half, as time ran out to all but end the game going into
the locker room. Matt Flynn connected with Early Doucet and
Charles Scott on 11-yard touchdown passes in the third quarter,
and Ryan Perrilloux ran for a three-yard score and threw a
15-yard scoring pass in the fourth.
Coach of the Midseason
–
Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
He lost his All-America linebacker (Jasper Brinkley), has
replaced his starting quarterback, and is using smoke and
mirrors to mask a still developing offensive line. Even so, his
team is finding ways to win, and after beating Georgia and
Kentucky, is in a prime position to win the East.
Player who'll step up in the second half
–
Brandon Cox, Auburn
Awful over the first part of the year, bottoming out in a loss
to Mississippi State with a 4-of-10, 42-yard, two interception
performance, he bounced back with a great game against New
Mexico State, was excellent against Florida, and now appears to
have settled down and is playing like a veteran leader. If he
stays sharp, the Tigers can beat anyone in the SEC.
Best performance so far -
Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett caught 13 passes for 223 yards and
three touchdowns in the 41-17 win over Richmond.
Top Freshman – (tie) Alabama RB Terry Grant & Georgia RB
Knowshon Moreno
Grant carried the Bama offense over the first few weeks,
highlighted by a 173-yard, two-touchdown day against Vanderbilt,
and now he's splitting carries with Glen Coffee. Moreno has had
to step up for Georgia with a slew of injuries hitting the
backfield. He ran for 104 yards in the loss to South Carolina,
and carried it 28 times for 157 yards in the win over
Vanderbilt.
Coach who needs to have a big second half – Phil Fulmer,
Tennessee
Tennessee is in a position to win the East, and it has to take
advantage of the opening or Fulmer could be ready to move on. A
slew of Vol fans are looking for their team to be back in the
national title chase again, but an SEC Championship appearance
will do. Anything less could make for an interesting off-season.
Player who needs to have a big second half – John Parker
Wilson, QB Alabama
Alabama doesn't have enough in the bag to win the SEC West, but
it'll be one of the biggest players in the conference title
chase with dates ahead against Tennessee, LSU and Auburn. The
Bama running game has been excellent, but the passing has been
inconsistent. That has to change, with Wilson needing to utilize
his tremendous receivers to add more balance and firepower for a
full sixty minutes.
Best remaining conference game – Florida at South
Carolina, Nov. 10
Even though Steve Spurrier is several years removed from his
time in Gainesville, this matchup still generates plenty of
interest for obvious reasons. This year, it might determine the
SEC East title. Considering the Gators are the defending
national champions, the atmosphere for this game will be one of
the craziest in a wild year in one of the year's most important
games.
Team Mid-Season MVPs & Predictions
East
Florida – QB Tim Tebow
predicted wins: at Kentucky,
Georgia, Vanderbilt, Florida Atlantic, Florida State
predicted losses: at South Carolina
predicted record: 9-3
Georgia – LB Dannell Ellerbe
predicted wins: Troy, Auburn, Kentucky
predicted losses: Florida, at Georgia Tech
predicted record: 8-4
Kentucky – QB Andre Woodson
predicted wins: Mississippi State, at Vanderbilt,
Tennessee
predicted losses: Florida, at Georgia
predicted record: 8-4
South Carolina – DE Eric Norwood
predicted wins: Vanderbilt, at
Arkansas, Florida, Clemson
predicted losses: at Tennessee
predicted record: 10-2
Tennessee – QB Erik Ainge
predicted wins: South Carolina, UL
Lafayette, Arkansas, Vanderbilt
predicted losses: at Alabama, at Kentucky
predicted record: 8-4
Vanderbilt – WR Earl Bennett
predicted wins: Miami University, Wake Forest
predicted losses: at South Carolina, at Florida,
Kentucky, at Tennessee
predicted record: 5-7
West
Alabama – DB Rashad Johnson
predicted wins: Tennessee, LSU, UL Monroe
predicted losses:
at Mississippi State,
at Auburn
predicted record: 8-4
Arkansas – RB Darren McFadden
predicted wins: at Ole Miss, FIU, Mississippi State
predicted losses: South Carolina, at Tennessee,
at LSU
predicted record: 6-6
Auburn – RB Ben Tate
predicted wins: Ole Miss, Tennessee Tech,
Alabama
predicted losses: at LSU, at Georgia
predicted record: 8-4
LSU – DT Glenn Dorsey
predicted wins: Auburn, Louisiana Tech, at
Ole Miss, Arkansas
predicted losses: at Alabama
predicted record: 10-2
Ole Miss – DE Greg Hardy
predicted wins: Northwestern State
predicted losses: Arkansas, at Auburn, LSU, at
Mississippi State
predicted record: 3-9
Mississippi State – DT Titus Brown
predicted wins: Ole Miss, Alabama
predicted losses: at West Virginia, at
Kentucky, Arkansas
predicted record: 6-6
|