Hot Seat Update: Time For Nutt and Neuheisel's Agents To Search For Television Gigs.
By Ty Duffy
Houston Nutt: My 6-6 prediction for Ole Miss may have been optimistic, way too optimistic. The Rebs are 1-2 (0-2 against the FBS). The Southern Illinois Salukis should have won the third game, but shot themselves in the foot with turnovers. Ole Miss ranks 115th in total offense. Their defense is not much better and, frankly, it’s hard to keep an SEC job after losing by three touchdowns to Vanderbilt (hasn’t happened since 1992). The worrying part is that was the easy schedule portion. Their four SEC home games are Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas and LSU. [Seat Heat: Molecular bonds are dissociating]
Mark Richt: Georgia missed its chance to make statements against Boise State and South Carolina. Beating Coastal Carolina 59-0 impresses no one. It’s a young team with a number of depth concerns. He needs a winning record (which probably means winning 4/5 against Mississippi State, Tennessee (A), Vanderbilt (A), Auburn and Kentucky. He also needs to have the program looking as though it’s moving in the right direction. Winning against programs they should win against won’t accompish that. A bad loss to Florida or Georgia Tech could force a coup d’etat. [Seat Heat: Warm]
Paul Wulff: Washington State has a 2-1 record after conference play. The loss on the road came to a good San Diego State team. The Cougars are fourth in the country in total offense and that’s without touted starting quarterback Jeff Tuel. The team had to show progress. Winning two or three more games in the Pac 12 would show that. A bowl game is not beyond the realm of possibility. [Seat Heat: Lukewarm]
Ron Zook: If you pay enough for offensive and defensive coordinators, you can overcome having Ron Zook as your head coach. The Illini are 3-0, with a huge win at home against ASU last weekend. The defense has been dominant. Nathan Scheelhaase has completed more than 70 percent of his passes. Their schedule without Iowa, Nebraska and Michigan State and playing Ohio State and Wisconsin at home makes ten wins doable. Though, this team is still coached by Ron Zook. [Seat Heat: Burner Off]
Coaches to Keep an Eye On: I see two in the Pac 12. Mike Stoops at Arizona has a bad defense and a one-dimensional offense. The Wildcats face their third consecutive top 10 team this weekend, then travel to USC. Losses there would make it nine in a row for Zona against FBS opponents. Mike Riley at Oregon State has had two stunning blows – loss at home to Sacramento State and a 35-0 loss to Wisconsin – to start the season. It’s hard to dump someone who has brought the Beavers to six bowl games and three top 25 finishes. However, a 2-9 mark after a disappointing losing season last year could shift a lot of sentiment.
[Photo via Getty]
Previously: College Football Hot Seat Predictions For 2011