profwilson

According to the Kalshi prediction market (which basically tracks Vegas odds), the likelihood of each of these teams winning this weekend is as follows:

Texas A&M 39%
Oklahoma 25%
Kentucky 25%
Vanderbilt 24%
South Carolina 17%

So basically, A&M clearly the most likely, SC clearly the least likely, and Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt all having prospects that would make their victories surprising, but not shocking.

I do think A&M is a bit underrated by people right now. They did look terrible against LSU, but they solidly beat a decent Arizona State team and dismantled an (admittedly pretty bad) Arkansas team last weekend. To be clear, I am NOT saying they are going to somehow right the ship and make the playoff or anything, but I could still see them going 7-5.

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We are not in a good spot for any of the remaining games besides McNeese and ar-Kansas.

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So you have us finishing the season 5-7? Cool, got you down.

I sincerely hope that you are right, and that no one in a position of any authority at LSU decides to die on this hill just to show that we are "alphas" or "won't take no shite" or some other stupidity.

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unanimous sources

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I would say that the sources in this instance are far from unanimous. Many, however, have chosen to remain ANONYMOUS.

If you're right, it won't be just Sankey and the SEC. All of the Power 4 conferences have adopted exactly the same policy. So if there is a finding of impermissible collusion or cartel behavior to exclude these players, it would apply to the Big 10, ACC, and Big 12 as well.

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They said they basically have no talent and are a bunch of slow, small white boys.

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Well, considering 15 of their starting 22 are black, I'm calling bullshite on this...

Clemson depth chart with linked photos

On Kalshi, here is where the various win totals for LSU are trading right now:

12 6%
11+ 20%
10+ 35%
9+ 56%
8+ 67%
7+ 87%
6+ 93%

Remember that these numbers are for regular season only--no SEC Championship game, playoffs, or bowl game.

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LSU basketball might get caught up in this wish

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Honestly, if it involved an equal application of the rules across all schools (i.e., a blanket prohibition on players who have played professionally anywhere in the world), I would be OK with that. I would take one more year of sucking in exchange for restoring sanity to college sports.

It's too late to make this clarification for the upcoming season, but I would be fine with it going forward. I do think the new 5-for-5 rules with an age limit will help rein in the most egregious abuses in the future.

This is likely to result in more walks if the Major League rulebook definition of the strike zone is enforced. My sense is that the college strike zone is usually called a bit more generously than the MLB zone, in part because college pitchers just generally don't have the consistent control that MLB guys do.

If you think LSU is unusual in having boosters with a large say in coaching decisions, I don't know what to tell you.