SEC Football this Thanksgiving weekend features college football’s top three ranked teams to decide SEC West Champion.
No. 1 ranked LUS at No. 3 ranked Arkansas on Friday. No. 2 ranked Alabama play No. 24 ranked Auburn on Saturday.
Audibles with CBS Sports’ Lead College Football Analyst Gary Danielson:
(How Arkansas Can Defeat LSU)
There are four phases in this game that are up for grabs which I think will determine the winner. Arkansas has to win ALL FOUR to come out on top.
First, Arkansas has to run the ball, which they have done against LSU the last two years.
Second, Arkansas needs to control LSU’s run game.
Third, Arkansas needs to win special teams, which is a huge order against LSU because they have great punters, kickers, returners and cover people. And if Arkansas wins all those phases, it comes down to can they be good enough pass blockers to give the passing game a chance. If they don’t do the other three, it will become a game where Arkansas relies too much on passing and LSU will be too tough.
(On Joe Adams)
As good as Joe Adams is, LSU has neutralized him the past three years. Arkansas’ total punt return yards combined is zero. That can’t happen in this game for the Razorbacks.
(X-Factors)
The two tight ends, Deangelo Peterson (LSU) and Chris Gragg (Arkansas), are the X-factors. Peterson has been quiet all year, but he is a big-play-waiting-to-happen. LSU has not really needed him. Gragg had a big game last week and if he catches those six to eight balls again, that puts a lot of pressure on LSU’s secondary because their other receivers are really tough to match-up. If the tight end gets involved, that will make it a much easier game to call for Arkansas.
(On LSU)
LSU is skilled in the secondary and should be able to matchup with Arkansas’ receivers, much the way Alabama did. Arkansas’ receivers have been able to dominate every game they played in, and Alabama at least fought them to a draw, which is tough to do. Mississippi State had one good player who was able to put pressure on Tyler Wilson…LSU comes with four and then their second wave of four is almost as good.
LSU did not run the ball well against Arkansas last year. Arkansas out-rushed LSU in last year’s game, holding LSU to 100 yards on 39 carries. That has to be one of the main talking points for LSU this week.
CBS Sports’ Thanksgiving weekend coverage of SEC college football, which will decide the SEC West champion, features the game of the week on Friday, Nov. 25 (2:30-6:00 PM, ET) with undefeated and *No. 1-ranked LSU taking on No. 3-ranked Arkansas and continues on Saturday, Nov. 26 (3:30-7:00 PM, ET) with No. 2-ranked Alabama at No. 24-ranked Auburn in the “Iron Bowl.”
Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson, CBS Sports’ lead college football announce team, handle the calls for both games, first from Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. and then from Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. Craig Silver, the Network’s coordinating producer of college football, produces and Steve Milton directs LSU-Arkansas. Steve Scheer produces and Jim Cornell directs Alabama-Auburn.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY, the Network’s pre-game, halftime and post-game studio show on both Friday and Saturday is hosted by Tim Brando along with analysts Spencer Tillman and Tony Barnhart. COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY will keep viewers updated on all the games throughout the afternoon with scores and highlights. Vin DeVito produces and Linda Malino directs. Harold Bryant is Executive Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.
Prior to Saturday’s “Iron Bowl” action CBS COLLEGE FOOTBALL SPECIAL PRESENTED BY RAM airs at 2:30 PM, ET. Hosted by Brando, Tillman and Barnhart, the show previews the match-up and looks back at the key games and moments from a memorable SEC season.
Following Saturday’s game, CBSSports.com will stream the “5th Quarter with Gary Danielson,” an interactive show produced live from the SEC ON CBS CRUISER, an all-access mobile media vehicle. Sponsored by Aflac, “5th Quarter with Gary Danielson” provides fans an opportunity to chat with Danielson and discuss all the day’s SEC storylines and college football news. Fans also can follow Danielson via Twitter: @DanielsonCBS.
In addition, CBS Sports will stream both games live on CBSSports.com. The games are available exclusively on CBSSports.com, CBS Sports Mobile and also can be accessed through a link on the websites of all CBS affiliates.
*BCS Poll as of 11/20/10
(source; CBS)
