Week 1 was a good one for the bold prediction department. OK, not so much in the predicting things that actually happened area. Still waiting on Utah to get it going in The Swamp, for instance. But it was good to see the entire SEC back on the gridiron, and it got the old bold prediction generator humming again. So here’s a second week of us throwing out the equivalent of a 4th-and-20 deep ball. Let’s hope a few more land than did in Week 1.
Ah, the Florida fans. After their team’s impressive Week 1 performance, surely they won us over in the bold prediction department? Not so fast. The Gators have spent all week with what Nick Saban calls “rat poison.” It would be ridiculous to expect a bunch of 19- and 20-year-old kids not to get sucked into the hype machine. And meanwhile, Mark Stoops and Kentucky live off disrespect. Had Florida lost to Utah, they’d be picked (right here) to beat Kentucky. Does that necessarily make sense? See on Saturday night. Wildcats by 3.
The week’s other conference game has a similar point spread to UK-Florida. Carolina is an 8-point underdog in Fayetteville. But a few key things here. Arkansas’s run game was strong against Cincy — 224 rushing yards strong. Carolina’s run defense was not so strong against Georgia State — 200 rushing yards allowed. See a pattern here? Looks for Raheim Sanders to rush for 125 yards and KJ Jefferson for 75 more, as Arkansas wins by 17 over Carolina.
Tennessee looks like a pretty safe pick over Pitt, as the Panthers had to squeeze out a Week 1 win over West Virginia while UT ran (and passed) wild on Ball State. But maybe the UT hype trail has overvalued what was essentially a JV game for the Vols. Pitt doesn’t quite have enough in the tank to beat UT, but the Panthers will lead by a touchdown at halftime, and it will take a last-minute drive by Hendon Hooker for UT to claim the 38-35 win. Hooker throws for 350 yards in this one, and his 4 touchdowns make him the SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
Missouri’s defense was up to the Week 1 task of looking significantly better than its 2021 counterparts. But it gets serious in a hurry this week, as Kansas State’s Deuce Vaughn comes to town. Vaughn had 1,404 yards and 18 scores last year. The thought here is that while Mizzou has improved on defense, the group that allowed more than 250 yards rushing 6 times last season isn’t entirely gone. Vaughn owns the day, putting up 150 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 35-21 win for the Wildcats.
Admittedly, ACC football is not the cutting-edge force that Clemson would love everyone to believe. Wake Forest would be lucky to make 5th place in the SEC West. But this is Vanderbilt its facing. And Vanderbilt allowed 31 points to Elon College last week. Elon College averaged more than 10 yards a pass against the Commodores. Sounds like the makings of a nice return-to-action gift for Wake’s Sam Hartman, who passes for 300 yards and 4 TDs. Wake Forest 42, Vanderbilt 21, as reality comes crashing down on the Commodores.
For SEC fans, few stories are more satisfying than watching schools like Nebraska and Texas struggle for mediocrity. Steve Sarkisian doesn’t have to hear about the Assistants-of-Saban curse, but he has to experience the wrath of it for the Longhorns. This feels like a game where Jahmyr Gibbs goes for 150 yards, and the Tide treats Quinn Ewers very uncharitably. Alabama 49, Texas 10, thanks to a big day on the ground for Gibbs and a lights-out performance by an Alabama defense that will play 2022 with something to prove.
Appalachian State is no joke. On offense. See its 63-61 loss to North Carolina last week for confirmation. But it has also allowed 63 and 59 points in its past 2 games. A&M got off kilter in Week 1 because of a weather delay, and Jimbo Fisher will want to confirm that a sluggish offense isn’t a permanent feature for the Aggies. Not only will A&M put up 58 points, but both Haynes King and Max Johnson will throw a pair of touchdowns. Could we be setting up a QB competition again? It’s possible, but mostly this one is going to look like A&M’s offense showing off weapons. A&M 58, Appy State 14.
Mississippi State will do its thing. It will throw and score. Arizona might not do quite as much of either, but former Washington State QB Jayden de Laura will put up some yardage against the Bulldogs. Zach Arnett’s State defense was fine, but with 1 sack and 1 QB hurry against Memphis, it’s fair to expect the Wildcats to put up some points of their own. Both starting QBs top 300 yards (and Rogers tops 400 for MSU) as State jumps out early, but then gets sloppy mid-game, ending up with a 14-point win in a 4-hour game. 42-28 territory for the Bulldogs here, and if you like passing, don’t blink.
TJ Finley grabbing the starting job at Auburn was a mild surprise, and his Week 1 performance against FCS Mercer didn’t exactly lock down the job. And freshman Robby Ashford looked pretty good in his 1st action as a true dual-threat guy. Both will play this week, and Ashford will make enough plays to have a full-on QB competition heading into the Penn State game. Auburn wins this one comfortably, 38-17. But the talk coming out of the game, after another Finley turnover and some head-turning Ashford runs, will be about who the QB is next week. And that’ll be a heck of a question.
So Georgia’s defense wasn’t going to be as good in 2022? Our results say that is FALSE. Wow, what a Week 1 for the Dogs. How will that continue? With the defense outscoring Samford on Saturday. Don’t laugh. Kelee Ringo looks about due for a pick-6 for UGA. And that alone might take care of things on this front. UGA by 40, and the defense outscores the Samford offense.
This season may be a learning experience for Lane Kiffin. He loves to throw the ball, but these Rebels, with Jaxson Dart at QB, are probably at their best playing a little ground and pound. The 266 rushing yards Ole Miss had against Troy in Week 1 are a good starting place, and it will go for 350 yards on the ground against a Central Arkansas team that lost a home game to MIssouri State by 13 in Week 1. Rebels pick up a 42-0 game with Zach Evans and Quinshon Judkins each rushing for 100 yards.
After a brutal Week 1, LSU is looking to straighten some things out against Southern. First among those is the relationship with all-everything WR Kayshon Boutte. Brian Kelly knows his season will be long enough without alienating his best player. Boutte will catch 8 passes for 150 yards as LSU rolls. And the odds that he looks a little happier on the sideline than he did a week ago are about the only odds better than those of the Tigers getting an easy win.
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I like to see the KY pick. I wish there would have been more of them this week. We get our first chance to see how Napier and his team are able to handle a little success. Gators win by a TD late.
Florida will win. It’s in the swamp, and UK is not going to magically produce a high-caliber O line in just one week.
Little billbrocius= Little Debbie Doubter
i actually feel same way about uk. if we had lost to utah, i would have us winning but with all of the “rat poison,” it feels like a let down game
I think the opposite is true. If we had lost to Utah we would have been expected to lose this game too. I don’t think Sunbelt Billy is wallowing in the Utah victory and not getting ready for UK. We will soon see but I expect a big Florida win
Exactly. A lot of people in our fanbase are still in the Mullen mindset where letdown trap games were the expectation. If we lose this game to Kentucky, it won’t be because Napier allowed the team to let the hype get to their head. If we lose to Kentucky, it just means they played the game of their life and magically found a o-line in 7 days. And I don’t think that will happen. Florida by 2 scores.
Rat poison only works on over confident teams that halfass prepare and don’t show up mentally. No way that happens this year with Florida.
One of the best RB in college football rushing for 150yds at home. That’s really not all that bold if you think about it, maybe against GA it would be bold. I fully expect KState to run Vaugh early, often and then more often. Martinez and the receivers for KState aren’t overly scary as far as lighting it up with a passing game.
Yeah the writer put a lot of thought into this one. Might as well have predicted water will be wet.
Water isn’t wet, it makes things wet. Kind of the opposite of your effect on women.
Show us a photo of your wife back in the barn.
Yeah, not much of a bold prediction since he seems convinced that Mizzou’s defense is definitely for sure going to be exactly as bad as last year’s was, despite the fact we have a new DC, new system, and new stable of playmakers.
I expect Vaughn to have a good game, maybe 120 rushing yards, most of that coming on a breakaway play. But I expect Mizzou to win.
Having Beth Mowens calling the game is just gut wrenching. I’m pulling for the Mizzou to take K State down.
I would rather listen to Moonlight Sonata played by fingernails on a slate chalkboard, than Beth Mowins call a game. She is knowledgeable and capable, but one thing she cannot change is her irritating voice.
You ain’t lying.. that voice makes me want to suck start a shotgun
Saturday will be one of those “if they played 10x” games… but we’ll see what the outcome is of playing once.
Like Dabo Swinney after the 2013 FSU/Clemson game losing 51-14. “If we played FSU 10 times, they probably win five and we’d win five.”
If they played 10x’s then chances are neither would have to play GA, so there’s that.
The UK UF game is the hardest won to pick this week. 2 evenly matched teams imo. I think you give it to UF simply because it’s in the Swamp.
It might even be the hardest one to pick as well.
Braves, take the Gators the swamp will be rocking. It’s been raining for days here and we’re about to let out a lot of tension.
That’s how I’m looking at it. I do think if UF and UT can take care of business this week, you’ll be looking at a 3:30 start in Knoxville for the UT UF game
Having Jordan Wright back should help the defense. Florida is going to move the ball against a lot of teams this year. I just don’t know what to think about Kentucky after that performance last week. I like the receivers and Levis made some good throws. I just can’t see him carrying the total load to a degree they can win in the swamp in front of a raucous sold out stadium. Floridas secondary is athletic and fast. If they have some things figured out on the line and the running game can get anything going it should be a good game. And I think the atmosphere is going to be awesome.
Finley got the nod for starting the game last week, but he didn’t win the starting job. Ashford played in the first two quarters as well. Mot likely, Harsin will continue with a 2 QB rotation until the light goes on for Finley or Ashford picks up the full playbook.
Weagle in all seriousness, you all are playing San Jose St. Auburn will be just fine.
The Gators had a multitude of sloppy mistakes last Saturday night, including a 14-point negative swing on a lost fumble and an Anthony Richardson pass that should have been intercepted.
Then there’s the small matter of last year’s embarrassment in Lexington.
Florida will be ready to play.
True Nash. If this were in Lexington with a fully healthy Cat running game, I might pick UK. But, in the swamp and momentum from week 1, the gators win this one close.
Nashvillegator, Your fixing to get embarrassed AGAIN!
Jahmyr Gibbs only caught 1 pass for 5 yards last week. I think we may see more this week as Bama runs a lot of screens and dump offs early to wear out the average and thin Texas D-line.
How can Boutte be the best player on the LSU team when he has 20 yards receiving, several no effort plays, one TD missed due to no effort or even looking for the pass, and constantly acts like a petulant @$$hole that does not wish to be there?
Agreed. He should have been benched after he half-@$$ed that slant route and the ball went wizzing by his head. Prima Donna
I doubt Saban would let him see the field again. He got rid of 2 like that and they now play for Texas. Well, it will be two when one comes off a suspension.
Controversy????? How is a QB battle a controversy?
QB battle is a nice way of saying we dont have one we can trust.
Same with a closer in baseball, if you got more than one you really don’t have a closer…
“Same with a closer in baseball, if you got more than one you really don’t have a closer…”
You don’t know cra p about baseball, ma’am.
“You don’t know cra p about baseball, ma’am“
Interesting take considering my screen name here is Braves…
“QB battle is a nice way of saying we dont have one we can trust.”
Not so fast on Vandy. I know it an easy pick to say Vandys going to loose. But the way they have played the last two weeks, they have a chance. If wake gives them a couple turn overs and vanfy plays perfect. They have a chance, WF QB has been out for a couple weeks he’s going to take some time to get back to form. I think vandy can take advantage of that. and I believed in Clark Lea This program is changing and this week is the next step
I have a sneaky suspicion Vandy just may pull off the upset here. It’s a home game, not that it means much in Nashville, but it is a home game.
If Mike Wright keeps playing like he is, that offense will be tough to slow down for another couple weeks, and a couple SEC games.
Wright can flat throw the ball.
My gut’s telling Vandy’s got this. I’d honestly love to see Lea turn that program around.
Deuce Vaughn isn’t “coming to town”. Mizzou is coming to town. Will they surprise futurist Joe Cox? Has that ever happened before?
LSU is worse than last year and likely will only win 2 to 3 games this year. Southern U. can score a lot of points and LSU may end up 0-2 after Saturday.
Southern is not going to beat LSU.
We said the same about Troy…
You can’t compare Southern to Troy. Not close.
I think someone needs to revisit the definition of bold and apply it
Florida by 10, ~350 yards on the ground. AR15 rushes for 150-200 yards, 3 TDs.
UK runs all over UF too, puts up significant yardage, UF wins in a shootout.
I feel like the UT/Pitt game is the hardest to pick. As far as UF/UK , I think the gators are more athletic as a whole and will spank Tucky.
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