THE BIG 3 by Jason "Gator" Pigott

(11/20 - 11/22)

Ole Miss

The whole season has come down to this for the Ole Miss Rebels.  With only Mississippi State left on the schedule, a win this week over LSU would almost assure the Rebels a spot in the SEC Championship game.

The Rebels have played good football throughout most of the season including a 24-20 upset at Auburn in their last game.  The offense is led by field general Eli Manning who has been nothing less than spectacular and should be drafted high in next year's NFL draft. The defense has played well against the run but has been shaky against the pass.  They should have had plenty of time to prepare and be well rested after an open date last week.

LSU is an excellent football team.  They come in to this weekend as the #4 team in the BCS standings and are projected by many to run the table and play in the championship game.  They are led by a stingy defense that has only allowed an average of nine points a game to SEC opponents.

The Tigers feature a high-flying offense with weapons at the WR position in Michael Clayton and Devery Henderson.  The Rebel secondary cannot stay with these two so the defense will need to get pressure on QB Matt Mauck.  If Mauck has time to look down field, it will be a long day for Ole Miss.

The Tigers will win the battle, but the Rebels will win the war.  LSU will lose to Arkansas next week and the Rebels will roll over MSU and in doing so, will punch their tickets to Atlanta and the SEC Championship Game!

Gator's Pick: LSU 31 Ole Miss 20

USM

Thursday night under the lights at "THE ROCK."  The #8 team in the BCS rankings, TCU, will put their 10-0 record on the line and take on the Golden Eagles in front of a national audience.  The winner will represent C-USA in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 31st .

The Golden Eagles come in riding a 4-game winning streak and will be led by QB Dustin Almond. Almond, who has played well in recent weeks against some weaker competition, will be tested by a TCU defense that likes to blitz early and often.  His play, as well as the offensive line's ability to pick up the blitz is the key to this game.

TCU has a BCS bowl berth on their mind if they can win their final two games.  After USM, the Horned Frogs get to play a cupcake in SMU to finish the season.   The "powers that be" in college football are not too happy about the proposition of TCU finishing 12-0.  It would kill the already flawed BCS system.

I think TCU is a phony.  They have played a schedule full of cupcakes and were fortunate to win a few close games. Their opponents have a combined record of 42-61. Southern Miss is playing their best football of the season right now and is hard to beat at home.  Therefore, the Horned Frogs will be exposed in front of a national audience on Thursday night.

Gator's Pick: USM 24 TCU 19

Mississippi State

If speed kills, what is the result of a lack of speed? (Another loss and the continued search for a new head coach)

Gator's Pick: Arkansas 38 MSU 20