Riley Cooper and Tim Tebow (thanks Icon SMI)

It’s playoff time, which means …well, it means you’re stuck starting the same batch of stiffs that got you there in the first place, but if you’re lucky enough not to have to deal with it– that’s why I’m here.  We’re skipping last week and moving onto the matchups.

Florida International @ Florida (yes, this is a game)

Keen fantasy buffs wet themselves a little bit when they found out about this game; really, at this point any UF player that might be on the wire (Riley Cooper and Emmanuel Moody, I’m looking at you) is worth a shot.  Cooper’s the key get here.  And if y’all don’t know about Tebow and Aaron Hernandez yet …well, how’d you make the playoffs, anyway?

Chattanooga @ Alabama (I wish I was kidding)

See above, only replace, say, Cooper with Colin Peek and Moody with Marquis Maze.  This’ll be a tough, closely fought game prior to the opening kickoff.  Then reality will set in, and reality’s going to be painful.

Mississippi State @ Arkansas (it’s the race to 3-5)

Amazingly, this’d be a pretty close game – or it could be.  I’m not sure that the Bulldog defense can meet the threat that Ryan Mallett offers, so I’d start him.  One of Greg Childs and Jarius Wright will go off; I’d flip a coin and go with Wright.  Also keep in mind that MSU’s typically stout defense can’t stop the run, so Broderick Green is a slick start at flex.  For the Bulldogs, Anthony Dixon should be safe, as Arkansas’s defense isn’t spectacular against the run.

LSU @ Mississippi (wasn’t this game supposed to matter?)

Crazy insane Dexter McCluster is on a complete rampage.  Bring him in.  Other than that, I don’t really trust anyone here.  I’m not sure Shay Hodge can shake LSU CB Patrick Peterson; honestly, the LSU defense is a good play here, as Snead is an interception magnet.

Vanderbilt @ Tennessee (26-1!)

Really, the only reason that anyone cares about this is it’s a conference game.  However, the standard rules we laid out for Florida and Alabama apply here.  The only tricky thing is Warren Norman and his multifaceted attack; the Tennessee defense has been gutted at this point, so he may break out.  I’d opt for the known for now, though.

Kentucky @ Georgia (yes, this game is happening)

…and no, I don’t care about it.  Kentucky doesn’t have anyone worth starting (not that you’d start anyone there anyway);   AJ Green is owning anyone he goes up against, and the Kentucky defense has nothing in particular going for it.  Caleb King is a sneaky start, although that’s a bit dangerous for my blood right now.

Auburn is off this week, so don’t start Ben Tate.  You’ll have your chance soon enough.

Related posts:

1. SEC Bookends: Unusual Suspects
2. SEC Bookends: Threat Down
3. SEC Bookends: Who Cares Who’s #1?
4. SEC Bookends: Green with Envy
5. SEC Bookends: More than Just Tim Tebow

Tags: SEC