Preps offer tough picks

By Joe McAdory

Didn’t have a bad week of picking games last week. Stumbled on that stupid Notre Dame pick and a couple of prep games threw me for a loop. Here’s this week’s winners:

High Schools
Auburn over Northview
Opelika over Russell County
Central over Smiths Station
Beauregard over Childersburg
Lanett over Reeltown

Colleges
Auburn over South Florida
Alabama over Vanderbilt
Florida over Troy
Georgia over South Carolina
LSU over Virginia Tech
Mississippi State over Tulane
Missouri over Ole Miss
Kentucky over Kent State
Tennessee over Southern Miss
Oklahoma over Miami
Michigan over Oregon
Penn State over Notre Dame
Texas over TCU
Nebraska over Wake Forest
UCLA over BYU
Boise State over Washington
Iowa over Syracuse
Arizona State over Colorado
Utah over Air Force
Virginia over Duke

NFL
Colts over Saints
Vikings over Falcons
Redskins over Dolphins
Bills over Broncos
Texans over Chiefs
Rams over Panthers
Jets over Patriots
Packers over Eagles
Steelers over Browns
Jaguars over Titans
Raiders over Lions
Chargers over Bears
Seahawks over Bucs
Cowboys over Giants
Bengals over Ravens
49ers over Cardinals
Last week
High Schools: 3-2
Colleges: 18-2
NFL: 0-0
Overall: 21-4

Community has strong voice

By Joe McAdory

I can’t help but be impressed by the large number of readers who send letters to the editor. Obviously, people have something to say and have very strong feelings/resolve for their arguments. It’s fantastic to have a community of people who care so much about a wide variety of topics/issues.

These writers are well-informed, well-educated and aren’t afraid to voice their opinion in front of the masses. We try to publish each letter sent to us, but they must fit our parameters which are cleared explained on the editorial page each day. The letters are to be no more than 300 words, giving everyone the chance for space. We try to publish the letters in the order in which they are received. This doesn’t always happen, but it’s pretty close.

Letters emailed to us are strongly preferred. You can email letters to , not oanews.com, or mail them to the office here at 2901 Society Hill Road, Opelika, Al, 36804, or even drop letters by the office.

Top talent invaded Jordan-Hare

By Joe McAdory

My 98-game streak at Jordan-Hare Stadium is no more. After Saturday night, it’s 99. Heading into my 100th, and final game in this streak before I retire to the recliner, I will list here the five-best team I have seen Auburn play. It’s a pretty tough crowd.

In no particular order, here they are:

1998 Tennessee: Beat Auburn 19-9 in a physical game that Auburn perhaps could have won. The Vols won the national championship that season with Tee Martin at quarterback. Team won with guts and a strong defense.

2006 Florida: Only loss came 27-17 at Jordan-Hare Stadium despite whipping Ohio State for the national championship. This team got better as the season went along.

1993 Florida: Lost twice (once at Auburn) and didn’t play for the national crown, but fielded some serious star power with the likes of Ike Hilliard, Danny Wuerffel, Reidel Anthony and Errict Rhett. Very well could have been unbeaten heading into the November showdown with FSU.

1995 Florida: Many leftovers from the 1993 team are here, including Wuerffel and Anthony. Gators rolled into the national title game unbeaten before Nebraska whipped Spurrier’s troops in the Fiesta Bowl.

1993 Alabama: You could consider this a bizarre pick since the Tide didn’t own the best record in the SEC West and ultimately played in the Gator Bowl. But Alabama won 10 times and featured many players from its 1992 national championship team and its 1994 team that went 12-1. Barker, Langham, Deuce, Stallings, etc.

Almost cracked the list:

Either 2004 or 2006 LSU: Both could play with anybody.

2001 Florida: Gators were ranked No. 1 when they fell at Auburn, but this team really had no running game—a problem that was a big factor down the stretch. Florida finished second in the East to Tennessee.

2002 Georgia: Mark Richt’s first great Georgia team. Greene and Pollack were a great offense/defense 1-2 punch.

Next week: I’ll run the entire list of 100 games with final scores. After that, no more about the streak.