Somewhere Doyle Jackson is smiling

Most SEC fans became familiar with Doyle Jackson after he used his magic powers to rule that a catch by an Ole Miss receiver was, in fact, not a catch at the end of the Rebels' game vs Alabama. The catch would've put the Rebels 1st and Goal from the 1 with just seconds remaining in the game. The call was questionable at best. Conspiracy theorists have other ideas.

Those ideas will only be stoked by the latest developments from the SEC offices in Birmingham. At the end of the Ole Miss/Alabama basketball game - in Oxford, nonetheless - a furious comeback by the Tide came up 3 points short after the clock stopped with 2.5 seconds left for no reason. The Tide was attempting to foul Rebel center Dwayne Curtis after a missed 3. The officials huddled for several minutes, reviewed the monitor, and declared the game to be over.

Now, those officials are under review by the league office, possibly facing penalties. Chances are, it wouldn't have mattered. Ole Miss shot 82% from the line for the day, including Curtis's 6/8. Mark Gottfried certainly took umbrage though and apparently the league is listening.

A Tubby Smith Sighting

It was good to see Tubby Smith back in an SEC building last night - once ESPN switched to the Arkansas/Ole Miss game. I always liked Tubby, who remains one of the classiest guys in business. He won a title his first year in Lexington - albeit with Pitino's players - and would've won another one had Keith Bogans not twisted his ankle against Wisconsin in 2003.

He always won, just not enough for the Big Blue Nation. While the 'Cats have been playing well of late, it's hard to imagine that Tubby would've have lost to some of the teams UK has lost to this year, mainly the home losses to Gardner-Webb and San Diego.

I hope he does well in Minnesota, a basketball program that hasn't always been a bastion of class through its history. There's the Clem Haskins era in recent memory and some crumudgeon Buckeye fans still talk about this... (and yes, that's MLB HOFer Dave Winfield in the background punching people in the face)

Midweek Games (3/4-5)

Another action-packed day leaves me little time for this. Again, abbreviated picks for this week's midweek games. 3 really good games, 2 really bad ones, and 1 mildly-entertaining one. I'll let you do the math.

Tuesday
Arkansas @ Ole Miss
Ole Miss needs to win out to get back on the inside of the bubble. They'll pick up an RPI-boosting win tonight.

Wednesday
Kentucky @ South Carolina
UK played a great game Sunday, almost knocking off then #1 UT. Can't see them duplicating that effort again tomorrow night without Patterson. USC wins Odom's (regular season) home finale.

Georgia @ Auburn
If your senior captain can't keep his cool on the road, you don't stand much of chance. Sundiata Gaines' little tantrum Sunday was classless. AU wins tomorrow night.

Alabama @ LSU
Who wants to finish last in the West? Please step backward. A suddenly streaking LSU wins easily.

Mississippi State @ Vanderbilt
This is a tough matchup for the 'Dores, but until someone knocks them off at home, I can't pick it, particularly on Senior Day. VU squeaks by.

Tennessee @ Florida
Florida struggled to beat UT when the '04s were winning national titles. Although this may get them back on the right side of the bubble, I see an Orange victory.

Quick Picks for weekend games

Pressed for time today, but here's how the weekend games will shake out...

Saturday
Alabama @ Ole Miss
The Rebels build on a great 2nd half in Lexington and roll the Tide.

Mississippi State @ Florida
Florida gets it done to add to a sagging tourney resume.

Vanderbilt @ Arkansas
Vandy ventures out of Memorial for the first time in 5 games and is in for a rude awakening in Bud Walton. Arkansas wins.

South Carolina @ Auburn
Most perplexing game of the weekend. I see AU getting it done though.

Sunday
Kentucky @ Tennessee
Let's see, UK is without Patrick Patterson and beat Tennessee earlier this year and UT is rebounding from a loss to Vandy. Yeah, Vols roll in this one.

Georgia @ LSU
Another battle of the league's mediocre. Again, I side with the home team. LSU wins.