If you’re a Georgia Southern fan, and you haven’t invested in a defibrillator yet, get to investin’.
The days of the Eagles’ epic blowouts at Paulson Stadium are long gone. I don’t think we’ll ever see 84 points on the ol’ scoreboard again.
Southern’s thrilling win over Northeastern in overtime Saturday is just how it’s going to be — for the rest of 2008 and likely the next few years as well.
This Saturday against Elon will be no different. The Eagle defense has yet to truly stop anyone in three games while the offense has decided to take the second and third quarters off. Those two ingredients have made for a spicy comeback plate, served late on Saturday nights for a party of 20,000,
Will that combo work against a team that knocked off GSU for the first time in its school history last season? I’m not so sure.
Northeastern tore apart the GSU secondary and that’s good news for Scott Riddle and the Phoenix. Coach Pete Lembo’s offense is much better than that of NU. The Henton Attack should have no problems scoring, but will they be able to hang play-for-play with one of the conference’s preseason favorites?
Whatever happens, GSU has certainly turned into old-school, Erk Russell football, finding ways to win even when the other team may have played a little bit better.
I’m not sure how, but Eagles somehow get it done again, 38-35.
I’m above .500!!!: 30-28.
SEC
A big weekend for some teams in the Southeastern as LSU visits Auburn and Georgia treks across the Mississip for a non-conference game for the first time since the Civil Rights Movement.
In case you missed it, Auburn got a pinch-hit single from Tim Hudson in the top of the ninth then held on to beat Mississippi State 3-2 on Saturday. Riveting.
Leeziana State, meanwhile, was whipping up on North Texas. The Tigers are once again quietly rolling along down in the Bayou. While they haven’t really been tested yet, I don’t think the Plainsmen will be able to give them that big of a test, either.
Bengals beat Auburn, 27-10.
As for the boys to the north, I see this weekend in the desert as a trap. The former No. 1 team in the land has yet to play its best game of ’08, while Arizona State choked against UNLV Saturday in overtime.
On paper, this one shouldn’t be close. But something tells me the Sun Devils will be more-than-ready to go.
State keeps it close, but not close enough: UGA 24, ASU 23.
SoCon
Speaking of big weeks in football, the Southern Conference has a chance for some marquee wins. GSU and Elon is the only in-conference match.
The biggest of the slate is Appy traveling to James Madison. The Dukes have scored 108 points in their two wins this year while the Mountaineers had last week off to rest. They may need another week after JMU’s done with ‘em.
Upset alert: Dukes win 38-26.
Elsewhere, Furman beats Delaware 21-14 and South Carolina comes back to beat Wofford 28-24.
Before I go
Congrats are in order for Savannah State. The Tigers are 2-1 an have won two in a row for the first time since 2000. Their 16-13 win over Winston Salem State was the first over a D-I opponent since 2004.
How ‘bout them Tigers? Keep it up.
