Key notes from Michael Bratton interview
- I am very excited for this game. I think Mississippi State vs. Texas A&M could be the best game on the weekend. Mississippi State has been looking a lot better, especially on the defensive side of the football. They can really run the football. I know A&M has gotten that cleaned up on the defensive side of the football, but can you do it week in and week out? That is another challenge to have. This is going to be a four-quarter ball game. I’ll take A&M to win it, but I’ll take the points all day. Mississippi State always plays A&M well.
- That is the reality of the conference. Every game on paper looks like a double-digit spread this week. Week in and week out, I am turning into coach speak over here, but anybody can beat anybody in this conference. Maybe if there is, like, a starting quarterback injured or an Arkansas situation where they quit on the coach, then there will be a blowout. Heck, we saw it last year with Kentucky beating Ole Miss, but it shouldn't shock us moving forward. All of these teams are so grouped together.
- I don't even know if Sam Pittman wanted Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator. You kind of knew this would be coming. I don't know what Arkansas is thinking right now. They should have announced it: The NIL package with Harley Davidson. Get out in front of this thing. Every day that passes in Arkansas, that is why they are not in the NIL game.
- Not that I am saying Arkansas' defense didn’t deserve some staff changes there, but I don't think it is going to change a darn thing about them. Their issue is talent. I’ve really liked the coaches they let go. I don’t think it was their fault. Any shot they have to beat a team, they are going to have to outscore them. They set this up perfectly with Petrino. They’d be lucky to win two games to close out.
- The Volunteers probably don’t make the playoffs. It is because of that defense. They are making some big-time plays, two defensive touchdowns scored against Mississippi State. I was concerned about how well Mississippi State controlled the line, and then two weeks prior, Gunner Stockton was throwing all over them. Where is this Tennessee defense? The offense has been a revelation. I thought it would have been flipped.
- There was a lot of concern on Rocky Top that their offense was getting figured out by other SEC teams. Then you insert this quarterback who wasn’t there for spring, all the receivers and the offensive line are new. They look like a million bucks. They certainly can get there, but Alabama is looming after Arkansas, that is a heavy Alabama lean. Then Oklahoma comes to town, with a healthy John Mateer, I assume. They have to win one of those to make the playoffs, and I think that is probably too much right now.
- Apparently, the spread makers are looking at the weather forecast for the Texas-Florida game. It is supposed to rain, and that favors the defenses. Plus, the defenses are the strong side for each team. I made a bold prediction on my show. I don’t know if you guys are aware, but Florida has scored in every single game all the way back to 1988. It’s the longest streak in history by any team. It is like 488 games. I think the Gators get shut out. It will be the final disgrace of the Billy Napier era. I got 27-0, Texas. I don’t know if Texas to get to that many points, but we keep hearing how great Texas’ defense is, but do we really know? Given the competition they’ve faced. Cousin Shane has Florida winning this game. If Florida wins this football game, Texas will not be going to the college football playoff.
- Former Texas A&M coach for about 12 hours in Mark Stoops, I don’t think Kentucky can fire him. He has a massive buyout that is all due within 60 days. It is up to $38 million in 60 days. I don’t think Kentucky is willing to foot that. So I think he is relatively safe, unless they can negotiate the buyout down. He publicly said he would not do that. I think Napier gets skunked this weekend. It will be his last game at Florida. He’ll be the one to get fired. But the next question is, if Texas loses this week, is Steve Sarkisian on the hot seat? I would argue he deserves to be, if he can’t put a better product on the field to beat lousy Florida.
- They have got to ride with Arch Manning. But man, after a couple of weeks ago, Mateer vs. Manning is assumed, but what if it is Michael Hawkins Jr. vs. whoever is Texas’s backup? They have to roll with Manning.
- I think LSU is who we thought they were. Brian Kelly, I’ve said it so many times. He is a good coach, not an elite coach. He is proving that. With all of this money they’ve spent, they are all in now. I do like the defense. You are giving them a little bit of a hard time.
- Football is such a complementary game. When your offense is giving you almost nothing, they can’t run the ball to save their life. That is why Kelly went off on that reporter. They should have gotten that corrected. They fixed the defense. Put all the focus there, but now the offense is in shambles.
- Now, I think they will be better. Watching Garrett Nussmeier, who knows, he just doesn’t have the zip on his ball anymore. The one downfield pass he completed, the reason it was completed because it was so underthrown. They have to get it right because without Nussmeier, they have nothing. They can’t run the football. It is going to be another year of disappointment in Baton Rouge if this doesn't get corrected. Kelly is not even crediting the defense. Saying, “We’ve got to play complementary football.” Just keeps on with that nonsense. At some point, the defense is going to let go of the rope.
- I would say it’s false. I would say we know the least about Texas, compared to Missouri.
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