Like most dogs, my dog Moneypenny loves to play fetch. At the dog park, on the deck, in the hallways, wherever. It’s her favorite game, and she can’t get enough.

Usually, it’s just easier to throw her toys for her until she gets tired and goes and lays down somewhere. Unfortunately, I’m afraid that I’m turning her into a monster that has endless stamina.

She no longer gets tired, insisting on playing fetch all day, every day. My arm hasn’t been this tired since my days playing baseball. I say all of this just so I can share a video of her doing her thing:

Cute, right? Let’s get her a job fetching kickoff tees for some school.

Anyway, I hope y’all had a great Thanksgiving, and here are this week’s questions:

Robert:

In light of Northwestern and Pitt both winning their divisions, what have been some of the most-surprising SEC division winners in recent years?

I’ll go ahead and limit this to most surprising division champs since 2012, since that’s when Texas A&M and Missouri were added to the conference. In terms of talent, that 2013 Auburn team was incredible, but I’d still say they were one of the biggest surprises when it comes to winning the division. Again, that’s not a knock on the Tigers, but rather a celebration of how amazing the “Kick Six” victory over Alabama was in the Iron Bowl that year.

Then they made it to the SEC Championship Game, where an equally surprising Missouri team was waiting. That was the first of two straight SEC East titles won by the Tigers (a fact many SEC fans seem to conveniently forget when inexplicably whining that Mizzou shouldn’t be in the SEC). The second Mizzou division title was even more surprising, though, as the Tigers didn’t miss a beat after losing quarterback James Franklin, star defensive end Michael Sam and others.

Jim McElwain’s 2016 Florida squad was also a bit of a surprise, as that team lost by 10 to Tennessee and also got blown out in Fayetteville against an unranked Arkansas team.

All that said, though, no SEC division champ since 2012 has been as head-scratching as Northwestern and Pitt, and I can’t imagine those teams having any chance against Clemson and (potentially) Michigan. Prove me wrong Wildcats and Panthers, prove me wrong.

@Dobbe8:

What SEC offensive line are you taking Black Friday shopping with you?

There are some good offensive lines out there in the SEC — Alabama’s, which is led by future first-round NFL Draft pick Jonah Williams, and Georgia’s, which blocks for one of the SEC’s best rushing attacks, come to mind.

However, this may be a bit of a homer pick but give me Mizzou’s offensive line — Yasir Durant, Kevin Pendleton, Trystan Colon-Castillo, Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms and Paul Adams — over any of them. This group has been playing together for a couple of years now, so they know how to communicate. And, as we all know, communication is key when you’re out with your friends doing some Black Friday shopping.

Plus, Mizzou has been playing well during a three-game winning streak, rushing and passing for more than 200 yards in each game. That sort of versatility would be great when you need to be protected from other shoppers and also when you need to push your way through a crowd on Black Friday.

BONUS: Last week was a down one for Dobbe’s Locks of the Week, as he went only 1-2, thanks to a poor showing from Ohio State and Oregon inexplicably failing to cover against Arizona State. This promises to be a bounceback week, though, and he still has a winning record on the season. Here are his best bets for Week 13 (lines via MyBookie):

  • Kentucky at Louisville (+17.5, under 52): There just won’t be many points scored, plus the weather is looking gross. The total plus the home night rivalry will be enough to keep the Cardinals within the number.
  • Washington at Washington State (over 48.5): There’s just no possibility that this is a low-scoring game. Take that over, then sit back and enjoy the show on Friday night.
  • Houston at Memphis (-7): I sought out this game because Houston is wearing some sweet all-white uniforms, but the more I looked into it, they don’t have a shot. The Cougars are starting a freshman QB after losing their starter last week. Also, it’s going to rain the whole time, benefitting Memphis’s run game and making those all-white unis look terrible.

Dobbe’s Locks season record: 10-6-1

@SChinni12:

Umm with ummm Les Miles a umm a former SEC coach now umm roaming the sidelines at kU, how will the former non-innovative umm ball coach succeed at a place umm as awful as um Kansas? Wouldn’t the move be to umm have umm hired the most innovative umm D2 or D3 offensive coordinator? And just how will his players give back to the community?

Ummmm, well … uhhhhh, that’s a great question. In case you missed it, Les Miles is already providing classic interview moments in Lawrence, and he has only just been hired:

I think the Mad Hatter could work out just fine at Kansas (and by just fine, I mean get the Jayhawks to the point where they’re consistently winning at least six games and making lower-level bowls). But, as you mention, he’s not exactly the most innovative offensive mind out there, and the game seems to have passed him by.

However, we’ll learn soon enough just how successful he’ll be at Kansas, because he has to hire his staff once this season is over. Let’s say he goes out and finds one of those innovative D2 offensive coordinators and hires him as part of his staff for 2019 — that would show a willingness to adapt and play today’s style of offense.

Whom Miles hires as offensive coordinator will tell you all you need to know about how successful he’ll be with the Jayhawks.

@RFellows67:

Who is the legitimate frontrunner for SEC Coach of the Year?

There are plenty of great options when it comes to SEC Coach of the Year — Mark Stoops at Kentucky, Nick Saban at Alabama, Jeremy Pruitt at Tennessee, Dan Mullen at Florida and even Barry Odom at Mizzou. However, I think this one is pretty clear.

If Pruitt and the Vols beat Vanderbilt on Saturday night, he’ll make it a tougher decision, but for now, this is Stoops’ award to lose. Kentucky hasn’t won nine games since 1984, so if the Wildcats beat Louisville on Saturday, it’ll be huge for the program. Add Kentucky snapping a 31-year losing streak to Florida and Stoops is your guy this year, in my opinion.

@JhyphenM65:

What would be the final score of an Ohio State-Oklahoma bowl game?

Wow, they might have to add a third digit on the scoreboard for that one. Both teams have absolutely atrocious defenses, while Oklahoma’s offense is one of the nation’s best. Ohio State can also put up points, but not quite at the same level as the Sooners.

Kyler Murray would have a field day (as he usually does), and Dwayne Haskins would carve up the Oklahoma defense, too. One defensive stop might win this game, which would look much more like a Big 12 contest than a Big Ten matchup.

This might actually end up being a bowl pairing if things go according to plan for both squads, but give me Oklahoma 55-48 in this theoretical matchup.

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