1. Never to early to start getting ready for LSU-Alabama.  At the Rama Jama restaurant, they’ll start stocking up on supplies Monday.

2. How are Alabama players spending this Saturday? Taking it easy.

3. Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Florida in the Top10 preseason basketball rankings. More here.

4. Basketball practice or hockey? Cuonzo Martin’s “Get Tough” campaign.

5. “The divorce papers between Missouri and the Big 12 remain unsigned.”

6. “Right now, we have our house in order,” said Big 12 interim commissioner Chuck Neinas.

7. Game 7 of the World Series could be why Missouri stayed mum on Friday.

Yesterday’s expansion/realignment news and two-and-a-half hours of radio shows bogged down the schedule of your truly.  Our usual Friday Game Projections became a casualty.

But we are posting them this morning, prior to kickoffs across the league.  This week’s installment will be of the one-line variety however.  Below are the lines, the times (Eastern), the TV listings and the projections:


Arkansas at Vanderbilt
12:21pm on SEC Network

Why It Matters:  Because Arkansas still has a shot at a second-straight BCS bowl game.

What Vegas Says:  Arkansas by 9 (opened at -10.5)

What We Say:  To pull an upset this big James Franklin’s squad will need a lot of Arkansas turnovers.

Prediction:  Arkansas 31, Vanderbilt 13


Florida at Georgia
3:30pm on CBS

Why It Matters:  It will be very difficult for Mark Richt to keep his job if the Dawgs lose.

What Vegas Says:  Georgia by 3 (opened at -3)

What We Say:  This one could be all about personnel as John Brantley is expected to play for the Gators and Malcolm Mitchell is expected to be out for the Bulldogs.

Prediction:  Florida 24, Georgia 21


Ole Miss at Auburn
7:00pm on ESPNU

Why It Matters:  If Gus Malzahn can get his offense fixed down the stretch, he could be on the short list to replace Houston Nutt (who will have a hard time surviving after losing 10 SEC games in a row).

What Vegas Says:  Auburn by 13 (opened at -10.5)

What We Say:  Auburn is 4th in the SEC in rushing (183 yards per game) while Ole Miss is deal last in rushing defense (222 yards allowed per game).

Prediction:  Auburn 35, Ole Miss 20


Mississippi State at Kentucky
7:00pm on FSN

Why It Matters:  The winner can keep hope alive for a late-season turnaround and bowl bid.

What Vegas Says:  MSU by 10 (opened at -10)

What We Say:  MSU has a better offense, a better defense, and it’s +5 in turnover margin while UK is -6.

Prediction:  Mississippi State 21, Kentucky 14


South Carolina at Tennessee
7:15pm on ESPN2

Why It Matters:  Carolina still leads the SEC East and Tennessee is still fighting for a bowl bid.

What Vegas Says:  South Carolina by 3.5 (opened at -5)

What We Say:  An offensive showcase featuring Stephen Garcia and Marcus Lattimore versus Tyler Bray and Justin Hunter… wait… what… oh.

Prediction:  South Carolina 23, Tennessee 13

Arkansas at Vanderbilt

1. Vanderbilt’s secondary knows it will be tested

2. “The lesson is you can always expect the unexpected in the SEC.”

3. So why is Arkansas just a 9 1/2 point favorite at Vandy today?

Georgia vs Florida 

4. After three weeks of rehab, Florida QB John Brantley is ready to go.

5. Those who played with Will Muschamp at Georgia are conflicted about their former teammate.5.

6. For a lot of reasons, Florida needs a victory today.

7. As you might expect, the view from the other side is that Georgia has the most to lose or gain today.

8. Is it time to put an end to playing this game in Jacksonville every year? Players never forget crossing Hart Bridge.

9. Dennis Dodd:  ”It’s official — the LSU-Alabama bye week has overshadowed the Cocktail Party.”

Ole Miss at Auburn

10. Ole Miss is the only team in the league shutout when it comes to player of the week honors in the SEC.

11. Is this one the “gotcha” game?

12. Watch the matchup between Auburn punter Steven Clark vs. Ole Miss return man Jeff Scott.

Mississippi State at Kentucky

13. Expect a low scoring game as both teams seek their first SEC win this year.

14. “Blackout” game tonight in Lexington as the Wildcats know they need a victory to keep alive their chances of going to a sixth straight bowl game.

15. Mississippi State’s defensive line will be a test for Kentucky’s injury-free O-line.

16. When it comes to the matchups, the Bulldogs have several advantages.

South Carolina at Tennessee

17. For the second time in two seasons, Derek Dooley will start a true freshman at quarterback. Starting Justin Worley “is a shot in the dark.”

18. This is ” perhaps the last realistic opportunity of the season, for Dooley to get his first marquee Southeastern Conference win.”

19. South Carolina freshman running back Brandon Wilds was once fifth-string.  He’s now the starter.

While reports from the Show-Me State continue to suggest that Missouri and the Big 12 are finalizing an exit agreement today, South Carolina president Harris Pastides says the SEC has held no vote on MU yet.


“We’ve not even had a phone call scheduled yet.  They may call me, and there may be a vote on Sunday, but I’m not aware of one at this second.”


Seeing as how the SEC mistakenly posted a “Missouri joins the SEC” news item last night… and Mike Slive said yesterday that his league is still looking at 14-team schedules for 2012… and the Big 12 didn’t list Missouri as being one of its members when it put out a press release today… the whole vote thing doesn’t appear to be too big of a hurdle.

And do you believe Pastides in the first place?  Earlier this week Georgia AD Greg McGarity said the league was looking at 13-team schedules only.  Then an ESPN exec and Slive admitted otherwise.  So what’s to keep Pastides from fudging the truth a bit?

In fact, USC’s prez said this morning that he was “not aware of that at all” when asked about the SEC’s late night web gaffe.  Uh, yeah.  I’m sure no one mentioned that to the president of one of the SEC’s 12 current member institutions.

Pastides did tell The Daily Gamecock — hat tip to the student newspaper, by the way — that “there have been discussions” between the league and the school, but that those talks did not involve the presidents.

“There’s no scheduled vote, and they cannot do that (admit Missouri) until we vote.  But again, I might go up to my office and there could be an appointment.  I just don’t know.”

Between expansion news, multiple radio shows and phone calls and texts buzzing back and forth with sources… our headlines will be short and sweet today:


1.  This writer wants no more talk of a potential Alabama-LSU rematch.

2.  JaMychal Green is Bama’s basketball leader.

3.  Auburn’s Gene Chizik asks “Who are we going to be?”

4.  Tony Barbee expects more improvement and more wins in Year Two.

5.  Arkansas needs good first-down production against Vanderbilt.

6.  Mike Anderson wants to restore the Hogs’ “40 Minutes of Hell” style.

7.  Jarrett Lee and the LSU O-line are ready for Bama’s defense.

8.  Trent Johnson isn’t over the games that got away last season.

9.  Ole Miss is prepping for Auburn’s run-heavy attack.

10.  The goal for the Rebel basketball team?  Reach the NCAA tourney.

11.  If Dan Mullen wants to get his team to a bowl game, he’ll need to steer them past Kentucky tomorrow.

12.  MSU’s hoops team is past the chemistry issues and trials of last season.

13.  Looking for a 19th win over Georgia in 22 tries, here are five reasons Florida has dominated the Dawgs.

14.  Sworn complaints now reveal what defensive lineman Dominique Easley did during a fight after the UF-Alabama football game.

15.  Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario gives Florida another scoring option.

16.  Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray will get his second shot at his homestate school tomorrow… and he’ll be looking for redemption.

17.  It’ll be a rebuilding year for the basketball Dawgs.

18.  Kentucky’s big defensive line will try to slow Mississippi State’s rushing attack tomorrow.

19.  John Calipari says nothing will come easy for his Cats.

20.  Here are the keys for South Carolina as they travel to Tennessee tomorrow.

21.  The closest you’ll get to hoops coverage in the Palmetto State is the fact that Bruce Ellington will be healthy enough to play football tomorrow night.

22.  The Vols and Gamecocks will be relying on young players.

23.  Cuonzo Martin kept his cool when peppered with Bruce Pearl questions at media day yesterday.

24.  Vandy hopes Arkansas will get off to another slow start tomorrow.

25.  The Commodore basketball squad is one of the favorites in the SEC this year.

Word continues to spread that Missouri and the Big 12 are hammering away on the school’s exit agreement today.  PowerMizzou.com — the Rivals site covering the Tigers — has posted the following info:


“Earlier this morning, PowerMizzou.com reported that the Big 12 was drafting a release of Missouri from the league.  The Tigers are expected to apply and be accepted to the Southeastern Conference in the coming days…

It is not know at this time if Missouri will make any sort of a statement today, but the path appears clear for the Tigers to make the move to the SEC…”


Meanwhile, it doesn’t sound like the Big 12, SEC and Big East reached a compromise on when teams could move and shuffle. 

Big East commissioner John Marinatto stated in a press release acknowledging West Virginia’s withdrawal notice:


“West Virginia is fully aware that the Big East Conference is committed to enforcing the 27-month notification period for members who choose to leave the conference.”


Yet the Big 12 still said in its own statement that WVU would be in the Big 12 next year and that Missouri would not.  It’s possible then that the Big East’s contracts aren’t as binding as the league has suggested.  That or the Mountaineers (and/or the Big 12) have enough money to throw at the Big East that they believe they can quiet Marinatto.

We shall see.


On other notes…

If you’re wondering what divisional alignments and schedules might look like in a 14-team SEC, click here.

If you’re wondering how Missouri and Texas A&M are keeping pace with the SEC in terms of recruiting, click here.

Tony Barnhart — the venerable Bede of SEC football coverage — found his name attached to the SEC’s accidental web posting last night.  Taking part in a short Q&A, Barnhart weighed in on how a Missouri-SEC marriage might work.  With that hitting the web last night, the obvious questions became: When did Barnhart know this and why didn’t he report it?

I emailed Barnhart this morning regarding the post and he said:


“I was asked by XOS to respond to a series of hypotheticals and so I did.  Had no inside knowledge.  If I did I would have reported it.”


XOS Digital is the web vendor that apparently dropped the ball by posting the Missouri-to-the-SEC news prematurely.  While it would seem that any Q&A would have been done by the league and not the web vendor, the SEC and Barnhart are both suggesting it was indeed XOS that conducted the interview.

Having dealt with Barnhart via our CSS roles, if he says that’s how it went down, I believe him.

Multiple sources are claiming that Missouri will withdraw from the Big 12 today.  It is also being reported that the Big 12 is working out a release agreement with MU brass that would allow the Tigers to jet by 2012.

Also telling is the Big 12′s press release regarding the addition of West Virginia.  The league announced a 10-school roster for 2012 with WVU in and Mizzou out.

Our sources told us last week that the deal would be done this week with Missouri entering the SEC in 2012 as a member of the SEC East.  Through all the ups and downs of the past seven days, it seems that that will finally come to fruition today.

So what happened to speed things up?  Have the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and SEC bosses gotten together and worked out an agreement that fits all?

Or is West Virginia simply telling the Big East to talk to the hand, they’re gone despite all of John Marinatto’s 2014 talk?

Is it possible that last night’s accidental web posting by the SEC actually helped to speed things up a bit?

Or was an agreement worked out last evening… which led to the error on the web in the first place?

We’ll find out over the next few hours and days, but for now it appears our long national nightmare is over.  (Tip of the hat to Richard Nixon.)

Missouri and Texas A&M are the SEC’s newest members and an official announcement should come soon.

And the plot thickens.

CBSSports.com broke the news today that West Virginia has accepted a bid to join the Big 12 conference.  WVU alerted the Big East to its decision earlier today.

The Big 12 board of directors — minus Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton, of course — voted this morning to grab West Virginia over Louisville.  (Meaning Texas got its way.)

What does this mean for Missouri and the SEC?  Just that — in case that website release last night didn’t seal it for you already — Missouri is definitely going to be an SEC member.  As for when that might be, there’s not telling.

At this point, the Big East wants to keep Syracuse, Pittsburgh and West Virginia through July 1st, 2014.  That’s two more athletic seasons. 

Missouri and the SEC want the Tigers in their new home by July 1st, 2012.

And the Big 12 says it doesn’t want to play as a nine-team league next year, so it’s going to hold onto Mizzou through July 1st, 2013. 

The best fix at this point is for Mike Slive, Chuck Neinas (Big 12 interim commish), John Swofford (ACC commish) and John Marinatto (Big East commish) to hammer out an agreement.  Be it cash or the promise that the Big East won’t lose its automatic BCS bid — which is why the league is holding WVU, Pitt and Syracuse through 2014 — there’s a deal to be struck. 

Someone call Samuel L. Jackson or Kevin Spacey to negotiate the release of these hostages.

Egos will need to be put aside, but if everyone can still get what’s best for them long-term — Big East = BCS automatic bid, Big 12 = WVU in 2012, ACC = Pitt and Syracuse in 2012, SEC = Missouri in 2012 — then cooler, calmer heads should prevail.

These are businessmen, not politicians.  Therefore, we at MrSEC.com,  have faith they will still work this one out in time for a Summer 2012 hostage swap.

So how big of a mistake was made when the SEC’s official website posted a “Missouri Joins The SEC” packet late last night?

Purty big.

Let’s run through some of the questions raised by the gigantic goof:

1.  Was it an accident or a hoax?

Clearly it was an accident.  The page was done in a fashion identical to SECSports.com’s coverage of Texas A&M’s entry into the league.

Also, top SEC PR man Charles Bloom tweeted the following with regards to the error at 9:22 this morning:

“Web vendor made mistake.  No agreement between SEC and Missouri.”

I don’t believe that cat will head willingly back into the bag.

2.  So who is the web vendor?

The web vendor in this case is XOS Digital.  They are a growing web company and have had a fruitful relationship — at least until now — with the SEC.

3.  Are we really to believe this information was put together by the vendor and then accidentally released?

Apparently so.  But the Q&A sessions with Chris Dortch and Tony Barnhart make it a bit harder to believe that the vendor’s only error wasn’t just posting the info early.

It was clearly the SEC’s error to have it all put together early.  (Though it’s certainly possible that the league had the page made, then had to hold it due to bigger Big 12 gripes than were expected.)

Clearly, it wasn’t XOS Digital who interviewed Dortch and Barnhart.

4.  What kind of position does this put Barnhart in?

You can bet Dortch and Barnhart weren’t happy about the release.  Barnhart — like so many of us in the media these days — wears about 10 different hats.  He’s employed in one capacity or another by CBS Sports, CSS, the SEC, and WQXI-AM 790 in Atlanta.

From reading the questions, it appears that this Q&A could have been done in an “If Missouri joins, what would you think” fashion.  Still, even if the SEC asked him to do a Q&A on a hypothetical situation, Barnhart’s sharp enough to know what that would mean.

So it’s possible that he’s now stuck in a rough spot.  What will his CBS Sports bosses say if they believe he had a scoop and sat on it?

Here’s a guy who answered some questions for the SEC, kept it under his hat — one of those 10 he wears — as was surely requested by the league, and then got burned for doing so.

5.  So what kind of trouble could this cause for Missouri’s attempt to exit the Big 12?

A lot.  Baylor president Kenneth Starr has proven to be a litigious two-face in the realignment game so far.  He reportedly threatened to sue the SEC for tortious interference in the case of Texas A&M’s Big 12 exit.  Then he and the Big 12 raided the Big East for TCU and currently look to do so again with West Virginia.

But seeing as how he had no issue with being duplicitous on the one hand, we doubt he’d have any problem being duplicitous on the other.  “To heck with the Big 12′s Big East raid, we’ve got proof of SEC-Missouri dealings!”

If nothing else, the Big 12 just got some more leverage in its negotiations with Mizzou and that exit fee could be going up.

6.  Could the SEC actually be in danger of a lawsuit this time around?

Yes and no.  Yes, there now appears to be what could be viewed as a smoking gun if a lawsuit went to court in Waco, Texas or Kansas City, Missouri.  (SEC claims that it — or XOS Digital — had just built the page in case things worked out with MU wouldn’t hold much water in a Big 12 state court.)

No, because the Big 12 and any individual party from inside that conference who might sue has done the exact same thing by raiding the Big East.  A judge with common sense would save time and money by tossing this one out.

Still, the danger level did go up for the SEC with this mistake.

7.  What must Missouri be thinking?

Since last summer, MU officials have taken a pie in the face from the Big Ten and have had to deal with a costly “the SEC is what’s left” leak from an anonymous school official.  They also had a 45-page research piece and cost/benefit analysis on SEC membership reach the press.

Now, when they appear to be buttoning things up, an enormous mistake is made on the SEC side of things.  Cursed, anyone?

8.  Could this slow the process down further?

Most definitely.  With the Big 12 now holding more leverage, it’s more likely Mizzou will wind up playing out one more year in that league (unless WVU or U of L can escape the Big East quickly).  How much more likely?  No one knows.

The Big 12 was playing harder ball than expected before this web error.  The error now gives that league a bit more power in negotiating sessions.  That’s going to equal a slow down on some scale.

Observations:

This gaffe is the kind that can change lives.  For the folks at Missouri, the SEC, and the Big 12.  For the folks at XOS Digital who might lose some big business over this.  For the poor guy who hit the wrong button to send this info into cyberspace.

Sadly, we know how easy it is to type in a wrong date and see a story post at the wrong time.  We know how one key punch can release information that’s not meant to be seen yet.

So we feel for the folks at XOS Digital.  Big money situations or not, mistakes happen.  These are humans pushing the buttons.

But, boy, this mistake was a biggie.