After we get through Cupcake Week this weekend in the SEC, things pick up a bit. That’s because, in men’s basketball, next week is Feast Week, one of the best times of the year for preseason tournaments.

Then, there’s Rivalry Week in college football, with some of the most-exciting games of the season on the schedule!

There’s so much going on, it might be time to move a second (or third or fourth) TV into the living room. You’ll want to be able to watch all the games with family and friends in town this coming week, after all!

Now, let’s dive into your questions for this week’s Mailbag:

Robert:

Of all the struggling “blue blood” football programs (say, Nebraska, Miami, Florida State, Texas, USC, Tennessee, etc.), which do you think would be easiest to turn around?

I think Josh Heupel is doing great work in Year 1 at Tennessee, but he still faces an uphill battle to build the Vols into what you’d consider an “elite” program. Meanwhile, Texas is a mess (again) in Year 1 under Steve Sarkisian, USC has already fired its coach, Miami might do so soon, Nebraska is bringing Scott Frost back and Florida State will likely bring Mike Norvell back in 2022, too.

OK, that’s a lot to take in.

I’m going to eliminate Tennessee and Texas right off the bat. The Vols are already in the SEC, and the Longhorns will make the jump soon. That makes it significantly harder to turn those schools around. Until Nick Saban leaves, the SEC runs through Tuscaloosa. Kirby Smart at Georgia and Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M are also building powerhouses.

I think Nebraska’s glory days are firmly in the past. That leaves Miami, Florida State and USC.

I’ll take USC. There are 3 major reasons — it’s a fertile recruiting ground, the Pac-12 isn’t deep and the weather is enough to lure recruits and assistants.

If the Trojans make the right hire, they’ll be the quickest of the above group to turn things around. The key? Well, they actually have to make the right hire!

@SChinni12:

Memphis’s basketball court is pretty wild. So is Oregon’s. What’s your pick for the best-looking court in the SEC?

Here’s a look at Memphis’s court, in case you haven’t seen it:

Yeah, there’s too much going on there. I don’t like it.

Now, before y’all jump to the comments to yell at me, I’m strictly ranking the way the court looks. Not the arena atmosphere, not the strength of the team, etc.

I have 3 courts that I really like. Of course, I’m biased and think the Mizzou court with the Tiger logo and the state silhouette behind it looks pretty cool. Arkansas’s hog with the state outline behind it at midcourt is also pretty awesome.

And, finally, I really like Tennessee’s home court. The checkered baselines are some of my favorites in all of college hoops.

The worst? Vanderbilt’s court. I think having the benches on the baselines is stupid, and you can’t convince me otherwise!

Josh:

It seems like there isn’t a breakaway Heisman favorite this year. If you had to pick right now, who would you say will win the award this season?

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Alabama QB Bryce Young is the narrow favorite (+180). In second is Ohio State QB CJ Stroud (+200). Third is Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker III (+300) and fourth is Ole Miss QB Matt Corral (+800).

That’s it. There’s your list. I believe those 4 guys will be the ones invited to New York City and I would almost guarantee that 1 of those guys will be the winner.

My pick? Bryce Young. He’s the favorite right now for a reason. He has more TDs (33 to 30) and fewer interceptions (5 to 3) than Stroud at the moment.

Between Stroud and Young, whoever finishes the regular season stronger will win the Heisman. Young has games left against Arkansas and Auburn. Stroud faces Michigan State and Michigan.

Both of those standout quarterbacks will have opportunities in the national spotlight to have a signature “Heisman moment.” I can’t wait to see who pulls it off!

@Dobbe8:

Thanksgiving is on Thursday, so I can’t let this Mailbag come and go without asking a holiday question! What is the best Thanksgiving dinner dessert? Pie? Cobbler? Cheesecake? Something else?

My plan is to eat enough of the main courses and sides that I’m too full for dessert. Then, after letting dinner set for a couple hours, I’ll go check out the dessert options.

I’m not a huge pie guy, but I can’t say no to a berry pie. Blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, all 3? Doesn’t matter. I love it all. Berry cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream? Oh yeah.

Just keep the pumpkin pie away from me. I am not a fan of that at all. Pumpkin flavor makes me sick.

I’ll eat all the fruit, though.

Have a question for next week’s Mailbag? Tweet at us using #SDSMailbag or email me at ASpencer@SaturdayDownSouth.com.