DON’T BE A TURKEY. WIN MO’ MONEY

By now you’re ready to slip away from the in-laws and especially that brother-in-law you can’t stand. We feel your pain. So let’s focus on some good stuff as we enter the final weekend of the season.

Amazing pick rate

Last Saturday we finished a sizzling 7-1 including four (4) UPSET SPECIALS. That put us as 73% for the Season.

• Tennessee fought back to upset Mizzou

• Georgia failed to cover over the Aggies

• LSU failed to cover over the Razorbacks

• Ohio State failed to cover over Penn State

Cha ching!!

There’s no shortage of great games this weekend including several long time rivalry games pitting hated foes against each other. Some conference titles are on the line as well as final pushes for the College Football Playoff.

Let’s FINISH STRONG!

SIDELINES

Class act Ole Miss

• If you missed yesterday’s Egg Bowl featuring Ole Miss at Mississippi State, you missed a pisser. Seriously. Trailing 21-14, the Rebs wr Elijah Moore scored a touchdown, then dropped to the ground and proceeded to lift his leg as if to piss on the Missy State fans. This drew a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushing a chipshot PAT back to the 25 yard line. Long story short, Ole Miss misses the 35 yard game tying PAT and heads back to Oxford a loser. This game will forthwith be known as the “Piss & Miss” game. We’ll see if Ole Missy disciplines Moore for his bad behavior. The Ole Miss program is in the pits and showing no sign of recovery. Perhaps time for another coaching purge.

Hey Winners (and losers, too). RED's BEER GARDEN is opening in January, the Official Beer Garden of Woolard's Weekend Winners. It's going to be THE place for cold beer (wine and cider too) and delectable snacks like big honking foot-long juicy weiners tightly cradled in steaming hot buns with all the fixings. Special discount for fans of losing teams because losers need love, too. Bama and Falcon fans welcome. Mention WWW for a winning discount!

THE GREAT EIGHT™ FOR WEEK FOURTEEN

#4 GEORGIA @ GEORGIA TECH…The Bulldogs aren’t going to blow it now. The offense will be sharp and efficient, the defense will dominate from the start, and even though it won’t be a wipeout in the first half, Georgia will have control at halftime. The 28 point spread is tempting but this is Clean Old Fashion Hate and the Dawgs will not let up. Take Georgia over the Bees.

FLORIDA @ FLORIDA STATE… Florida State is bowl eligible. It did what it needed to do to start a new streak of bowl appearances, it rallied back from the adversity, and it did it all before this game. Now it’s about to run into a wall. With qb Kyle Trask, the Florida passing game has hit the 200-yard mark in every game with multiple touchdown passes in every game but one, and now it gets to go off against a FSU secondary that’s a shadow of what it was a few seasons ago. The Gators (9-2) have to rollup an impressive win to compete for a New Years Bowl game. Gators growl in Gainesville.

VANDERBILT @ TENNESSEE… Jarrett Guarantano has had his ups and downs this season, but he’s been brilliant over the last few games. Against Missouri last week he threw for 415 yards and two touchdowns. In 3^rd down situations, he hit on 10 of 13 passes. When he’s on, the Vols can rock the deep plays. Add in a consistent Tennessee defense and the Vols should finish up the season at 7-5. If they had beaten Georgia State and BYU, this team would be 8-3 and everyone in Big Orange Country would be gushing. Vols win big over Vandy.

ALABAMA @ AUBURN…with Bama qb Tua out, the line on this game has tightened to 3.5 points Alabama. If Bama wants to be included in the CFP they need to roll big over the Tigers with lots of style points. A 16-13 type of win will not cut it with the committee. Replacement qb Mack Jones has had two scrimmages with Western Carolina and Arkansas, now he faces real competition and a defense that has not given up more than 24 points per game this season. He just needs to play a smart game, let the run game develop, and the Tide defense to be its normal self. Tide wins. But it will be close.

OHIO STATE @ MICHIGAN…even when the Buckeye offense sputters, they find a way to win, especially with their defense. DE Chase Young is back after being suspended and he’s a beast to handle. Add in the OSU linebacking corps and you have a pretty formidable defense, probably the best Ohio State team that Michigan has faced in a long time. The Wolverines can win but only if qb Shea Patterson comes up strong. Take the Buckeyes over the Wolverines.

OREGON @ OREGON STATE…the line on this game is a tasty 19.5 points for the 9-2 Ducks so we’re thinking this might be the time to run with the Beavers. They may find the Ducks a little flat since Oregon has nothing to lose since they are most likely headed to the Rose Bowl. Take the Beavers and the points.

CAL @ UCLA… Cal’s big game was last week, beating Stanford and getting bowl eligible. So we think they are prime to be picked off by the Bruins. UCLA has been playing better football, winning four of their last six games. We think they can find a way to make it another W for Chip Kelly. Take the Bruins over the Golden Bears.

OKLAHOMA @ OKLAHOMA STATE… Oklahoma has been playing with fire the last few weeks, surviving three straight close games – beating Iowa State, Baylor and TCU by a combined eight points. But this team, led by qb Jalen Hurts, has another gear vote him out when it’s time to turn it on. The offense might not be all that consistently great lately, but thanks to Hurts, the offense is getting just enough to keep coming up with wins. This will be a close close game but the Sooners will survive. Sooners lasso the Cowboys.

MAKE MO’ MONEY with MARK™

LUCKY THIRTEEN. WE WIN. YOU WIN.

We’re winding down another great season of college football and getting down to nut-cracking time as teams look to finish strong as they compete for seats at the CFP table, conference titles, and spots in primo bowl games.

 

We went a strong 6-2 last week. The undefeated Golden Gophers moment in the sun ended with a 23-10 loss to Iowa and Wake got blown out by Clemson despite a 34.5 spread. Other than that, we made considerable money especially with the Badgers biting the Corn Dogs and Georgia hanging on to beat a scrappy Auburn club.

So…after 12 weeks we’re sitting at 72% with our picks. Doing well enough to earn some kudos from our Vegas sports book who wants to know our secret. We ain’t telling. We just making Mo’ Money and hopefully you’re doing the same. Right?

SIDELINES

• Can anyone tell us what the hell has Scott Frost done to earn a contract extension at Nebraska? He’s done nothing to show that he can coach big time, big boy football. Are the Huskers that desperate? Or is this just a way to assure future recruits that Frost is not going to get canned anytime soon?

OMG. What have I done?

• Pray tell us what Nick Saban is thinking by playing AND keeping a wounded Tua in a blow out win versus Missy State? We know injuries are a part of football. We get that.

But here are the facts:

1.   two weeks prior, Tua has ankle surgery…his second procedure.

2.   He took big time hits from LSU and was visibly hobbling, but finished like a warrior.

3.   His mobility was limited versus LSU and it was obvious in the Missy State game. If you can’t move, you get hit. And he wasn’t moving and he got hit…repeatedly.

4.   Missy State was a mail-in game. Saban should have given him the day off to recuperate. JV backups could have handle this game for Bama. Tomorrow Bama plays Western Carolina. Would have been another day off for Tua…resting up for the Iron Bowl. Instead, it’s all over for Tua, and for Bama.

5.   If you insist on playing Tua, then limit his exposure and pull him after building a 30 point lead before the half. Why keep him in?

6.   Tua doesn’t need more game reps, and he certainly knows how to run a two-minute drill. Instead, Saban keeps him in, and we know how things ended. This is all on Saban!

So…for Tua, we hope he fully recovers. But we’re not sure at this point what NFL team is gonna risk a high draft pick on him as he’s now labeled “injury-prone.” And it’s very doubtful he’s able to handle the combine early next year. Meanwhile, the Iron Bowl awaits and Saban may have cooked his goose for any chance at the CFP. If you’re a Tide fan, you gotta be pissed about this. If not, something is wrong with you.

[for the record, we invited Saban defenders to provide their point of view but curiously not a peep. We’re still waiting]

• if you’re a Georgia Tech fan then you have to be feeling pretty good after the Jackets handed NC State a loss last night on ESPN. Tech is still in rebuilding mode but it’s nice to see a GT defense make some big stops and a quarterback than can actually throw deep with accuracy. Better days ahead on the Flats.

Hey Winners (and losers, too). RED's BEER GARDEN is opening in January, the Official Beer Garden of Woolard's Weekend Winners. It's going to be THE place for cold beer (wine and cider too) and delectable snacks like big honking juicy weiners tightly cradled in steaming hot buns with all the fixings. Special discount for fans of losing teams because losers need love, too. Bama and Falcon fans welcome. Mention WWW for a winning discount!

THE GREAT EIGHT™ FOR WEEK THIRTEEN

#24 TEXAS A&M @ #4 GEORGIA…believe it or not, this is the FIRST time these teams have met since the Aggies joined the SEC, and could be the acid test for UGA qb Jake Fromm. Over the last four games, the Aggies haven’t allowed a team to complete more than 46% of its passes, haven’t given up a touchdown throw in three of those four, and on the year, are allowing fewer than six yards per pass. As good as Fromm is, he’s been under 47% over the last two games against Missouri and Auburn and hasn’t thrown for more than 175 yards in three of his last four dates. Hmmm. The Aggies can throw the ball but their lack of a consistent run game will hurt. This should be a good game. In an UPSET SPECIAL, take Texas A&M and the points (13.5).

I just ate garlic. Can you tell?

TENNESSEE @ MISSOURI…both teams are 5-5 and fighting to become bowl-eligible and both represent opposite ends of the momentum pendulum. Tennessee is on the upswing and rebouding after beating Kentucky, UAB, Mississippi State, and South Carolina. Meanwhile Mizzou’s offense has stopped scoring touchdowns, scoring only 27 points in the last four games. We like how the UT defense has been stepping up, and how much maligned qb Guarantano has played coming off the bench. It’s a road game but we like Tennessee in an upset. In an UPSET SPECIAL, take Tennessee over Mizzou.

CAL @ STANFORD…Cal has lost five of its last six games and needs just one more win to go bowling, but it’s not going to happen this week – it’ll have to try getting it done at UCLA next week. In a close game at the Farm, take the Cardinal over the Golden Bears.

Coach O got it going on

ARKANSAS @ #1 LSU…the undefeated Tigers (10-0) host a wounded Razorback team (2-8) that is just trying to finish its season and move on. It’s going to be a long evening for the Piggies but we’re betting that LSU is going to sleepwalk through this one. For sure they will score points to win. But the 43.5 spread is just too tasty to ignore. In an UPSET SPECIAL, take the Hogs and the points.

DUKE @ WAKE FOREST…this game will be won by the Deacons. No doubt. Duke has dropped four in a row and is headed no where. The Deacons, however, have a ton to play for. If (and this is a big “if”) Clemson gets a CFP slot, then Wake may very well end up in the Orange Bowl. They have get through Duke tomorrow and then Syracuse next week to finish 9-3. If that happens, they’re bowling in Miami. That’s big time motivation. And it will work. Demon Deacons out duel the Blue Devils.

#9 PENN STATE @ #2 OHIO STATE…this is a huge game with Big Ten AND CFP ramifications. Penn State rolls into the Horseshoe with perhaps the best, most physical defensive front that the Buckeyes have faced all year. They gave up five huge sacks to Wisconsin so we expect to see more of that as Penn State will put big time pressure on OSU qb Justin Fields. His legs may very well be gop do your job the difference in this game. The line (18 points) is too tasty not to bite. In another UPSET SPECIAL, take the Nittany Lions and the points.

Any more stupid questions?

TEXAS @ #13 BAYLOR…after losing a heartbreaker to Oklahoma last week (34-31) and ruining their undefeated run, the Baylor Bears are out for blood. They played brilliantly in the first half, then the wheels came off in the second. While Baylor’s offense regroups, the Bear defense will hold the Longhorns in check. They have the best pass rush in the Big 12 and will pressure Texas qb Ehlinger all afternoon. Do Bears poop in the woods? Yep. And they’ll do just that on the ‘Horns tomorrow. Bet on Baylor.

UCLA @ SOUTHERN CAL…the Bruins are desperate for a win. They have to beat USC, and then Cal next week to become bowl-eligible. Ain’t gonna happen. Why? Trojan qb Kedon Slovis has been as hot as any quarterback in the country over the last two games, connecting on 58-of-74 passes (78%) for 838 yards and eight touchdowns with one pick. In his last four games he’s thrown 15 touchdown passes, with one blip coming in the three-pick game in the loss to Oregon. He’ll be hot tomorrow in Los Angeles. Trojans pound the Bruins.

MAKE MO’ MONEY with MARK™

WEEK TWELVE.  READY FOR MO’ MONEY

Last Saturday we went 4-4, just inches away from going 7-1.

Seven of the eight games were decided by less than four points.

LSU survives Bama by 5. Minnesota beats Penn State by 5. Wisconsin slips by Iowa by 2. Tennessee comes from behind to beat Kentucky by 4. Sooners manage a 1 point win over Iowa State. Colorado nips Stanford by 3, and Baylor wins by 6 over TCU. 

Soooo close…but yet so far. That’s pretty competitive football and that makes for a lot of fun.

We still made money so all is good, and at 72% hits we're doing pretty pretty good.

Moving forward we have a great slate of games this weekend, with several having national and conference title impact. Take a quick read and call your favorite sports book. Time to make mo’ money.

Opening in January, the Official Beer Garden of Woolard's Weekend Winners. Stay tuned for updates and get ready to spend some of your winnings on cold beer and delectable snacks like big juicy weiners nestled softly on warm buns. Special discount for fans of losing teams because losers need love, too. Mention WWW for a winning discount!

THE GREAT EIGHT™ FOR WEEK TWELVE

#14 WISCONSIN @ NEBRASKA…two things to watch: the running of Badger Jonathan Taylor and Wisconsin’s ability to hold the ball. Taylor sent a message last week when he ripped Iowa for a season-high 250 yards. And Wisconsin is number one in time of possession, averaging 37 minutes per game. Both suggest that the Bug Eaters are in for another long afternoon in Lincoln. Badgers shuck the corndogs.

MICHIGAN STATE vs #15 MICHIGAN…the Wolverines have been playing solid football the last 3 games and are well rested after a bye week. Meanwhile the 4-5 Spartans are coming in with the attitude of no one believes in us and “we have nothing to lose.” Except the game. Michigan will clamp down on Sparty’s offense with the game being over by halftime. Wolverines snap Sparty.

#21 NAVY @ #16 NOTRE DAME…for the first time since 1978, the 7-1 Middies and the 7-2 Irish are both ranked in the AP Poll. This series dates back to 1927, which Notre Dame has dominated. Navy sails into South Bend with its potent triple option offense with an FBS best of 358 yards per game. The Irish will have its hands full with an offense they only see once in a blue moon. This promises to be a close game with big ramifications. Irish sink the Midshipmen.

#4 GEORGIA @ #12 AUBURN…it’s going to be a long afternoon for the Tigers as they face one of the top scoring defenses in the nation…second in the country, first in the SEC. While the Dawg offense has lacked consistent fireworks and its passing game is a bit lacking, they still have enough weapons to make life miserable for Aubbie. Good luck to Bo Nix. He’s gonna need it. Georgia grounds the War Eagles.

WAKE FOREST @ CLEMSON…the Tigers seem to be under the radar but they are playing very consistent football each week. They have all of the tools, qb Trevor Lawrence is solid, and they have a pesky defense that will put pressure on the Demon Deacon’s offense. The line on this game is way too tasty to pass up (34.5 points). In an UPSET SPECIAL take Wake and the points.

MINNESOTA @ IOWA…quick question: name the Golden Gopher quarterback. Just as we thought. Tanner Morgan, the 4^th most efficient passer in college football, and demonstrated how good he is by beating the Penn State defense. Undefeated Minnesota can make a serious run at the Big Ten championship with a shot of landing a berth in the CFP. How refreshing would that be? They get one step closer impeach, convict, remove trump to that goal by plucking the Hawkeyes in Iowa City. In a close one, Gophers win!

#9 OKLAHOMA @ #12 BAYLOR…this will be must-see football tomorrow night as 8-1 Oklahoma visits 9-0 Baylor. Key to the game is the play of Sooner qb Jalen Hurts. Lost in the lust for LSU’s Joe Burrow, Hurts is hitting 73% of his passes with 24 TDs, and has logged almost 900 yards rushing. If the Sooner o-line can hold off a strong Baylor front seven, Hurts will have the time to make things happen, and get back some of the Heisman hype. Sooners skin the Bears.

SOUTHERN CAL @ CAL…the Trojans are finally playing better on the road, with wins over Colorado and Arizona State. Meanwhile it’s the Bears final home game and they desperately need a win to become bowl eligible. The Cal defense should be able to slow the Trojan offense but their offense will eventually sputter in the second half. Trojans win over the Golden Bears.

MAKE MO’ MONEY with MARK™

WEEK ELEVEN.  FEELS LIKE HEAVEN

The temps have finally dropped here in the Southeast and it’s finally feeling a lot more like fall football, the way God intended.

We’ve fired up the outdoor fire pit, have plenty of brats and beans and all of the accoutrements required for a full Saturday of college football. Some smoky scotch and some smooth bourbon are poised for pouring to take the chill off. So we’re ready freddy for some great fall football. And, boy, we have some dandy games on tap, and lots of opportunities to make mo' money.

WEEKEND REWIND

We rebounded last Saturday with a respectable 5-3 showing. We did extra bigly with our UPSET SPECIAL pick of Purdue upsetting the hapless Huskers.

EXTRA POINTS (these are guaranteed to make you sound smart at tomorrow's tailgate...bet on it)

You miss him. Yes you do

• For the first time ever in the AP poll era, Saturday will feature two meetings between ranked team teams that are 8-0 or better…LSU vs Alabama and Penn State vs Minnesota.

• Takes a special team to lose back to back to Indiana and Purdue, after getting spanked by Minnesota. That's a heckuva job that little Scottie is doing up there in Lincoln. Has anyone dared to tell him this isn't Central Florida?

• FSU pulled the trigger on Willie Taggert. Names being mentioned are the Stoop brothers (Bob and Mark), and even Urban Meyer (although we see him headed to USC or Notre Dame if that job opens up). 

• Ohio State best not get too comfortable in their top CFP slot. The NCAA is investigating wrong doing by suspended de Chase Young. Could be some doo-doo headed their way. But probably no more than a wrist slap.

Pontoon boats make wonderful decks

• Wondering where to park your pontoon boat for the season? How about a backyard deck. Works for this Oklahoma fan.

 GAME OF THE CENTURY, PART NINE

Okay, here comes another one of those "game of the century" match ups, this time featuring LSU and Alabama, both teams sitting atop the AP Poll and positioned nicely in the first CFP rankings. Is it possible for LSU to force Bama to the side? Or will this be another big game in which Alabama exerts its will and shows the nation once again they are truly the team to beat? To help us get a handle on the big game, we've asked two of our frequent contributors, Bayou Bengal and Kenny Clyde, to throw in their thoughts.

FROM BAYOU BENGAL…..

The most feared man in Tiger-Land

This season feels different.

Sure, the standard "It's Bama Week" terror is still there. Yes, the Louisiana State Football Tigers have lost in the past...don't worry about how many games in a row to a team that clearly sold its soul to the devil long ago. And yes, both teams have continued to haul in 5 star recruit after 5 star recruit, sending those recruits to the NFL, rinse and repeat.

So what's different this year?

Is it LSU being known, for this first time in my personal fandom, as an Offensive Juggernaut?

Gone are the days of the power toss to the running back, ram the ball down the defense's throat, and only throw the ball when the sun sets in the east and the mountains fall into the sea.

Now are the days of a gunslinging QB, 3 100-yard receivers every game, and a sneakily-still-power running game. Putting up 45+ points a game is the new norm, and God rest the soul of any Vegas under bets when LSU plays a good defense.

The question is: will it be enough?

The defense is more "bend and only sometimes break" than it has been in the past under the great Dave Aranda, and one of the leaders of the Tiger defense (Michael Divinity) was just excused from the team.

With likely 1st overall pick Tua Tagovailoa more than probably back just two short weeks after a bad ankle injury, Alabama will be at favored by at least a touchdown at home. Can the Tigers roar, and master the Crimson Tide? 

I say yes! Tigers by 4!

                 

The great wise one in Bama-Land

FROM KENNY CLYDE...

Buckle up for "Game of the Century" episode 3.  

LSU and Bama square off again in a battle of the SEC's titans.

As usual, there are championship opportunities riding on this game. Not as usual, LSU is bringing a high powered offense, while Alabama's D is only B+ at best.

I will promise you that this game will not end 9-6.  Both quarterbacks will be challenged to rack up scores on every possession.

Let's break it down:
Offense? Bama by a nose
Defense?  Tigers
Kicking? Tigers
Kick Returns?  Bama
Coaching:  Tide
Tie-breaker?  Bama is batting .840 at home.

If the Tigers can keep the lid on Bama's 4-headed receiving corps, if Bama can keep Tua upright, if Joe Borough has a career game, and if LSU can limit Jaylon Waddle's return yardage it will be an overtime game.

Look for turnovers and key penalties to be the deciding factors.

Roll Tide Roll! BAMA WINS!

Opening in January, the Official Beer Garden of Woolard's Weekend Winners. Stay tuned for updates and get ready to spend some of your winnings on cold beer and delectable snacks like big juicy weiners. Special discount for fans of losing teams because losers need love, too. Mention WWW for a winning discount!

THE GREAT EIGHT™ FOR WEEK ELEVEN

#1 LSU @ #2 ALABAMA…this game is won or lost on the arm of LSU qb Joe Burrows and his ability to throw against the weakest part of the Bama defense, the secondary. The Tigers will need Joe’s arm because they have no run game to speak of. It’s been a streak of eight losses to the Tide. This will be a great game but look for the streak to grow to nine. Tide rolls again.

MARYLAND vs #3 OHIO STATE…the Buckeyes are sitting atop the first CFP poll and are riding high with a perfect 8-0 record. What could possibly go wrong? Ohio State should win but the Terps have just enough in their tank to score a few points. In an UPSET SPECIAL, take Maryland and the points (42.5)…Buckeyes will not cover.

PENN STATE @ MINNESOTA…two undefeated 8-0 teams go at it tomorrow and the key to this game is the run defense of Penn State. It’s allowing less than 2 yards per carry, and the Golden Gophers haven’t seen anything like it thus far. Add in a potent pass rush and the Nittany Lions will stop the Gophers. In a close one, Nittany Lions roar in Minneapolis.

IOWA @ WISCONSIN…the key to this game is Iowa’s run defense which has played well this season, allowing just 120 yards to Penn State and Michigan. Overlay that with a pretty good pass defense which allows only six yards per pass and you might have a Hawkeye win. But not so fast. The Badger defense is one of the best in the country and should be able to handle anything that Iowa throws at them. The Wisconsin offense is also tops in time of possession and if Jonathan Taylor cranks it up, the Badgers win and position themselves nicely in the Big Ten West. Badgers bite the Hawkeyes.

TENNESSEE @ KENTUCKY…the Vols are quietly righting the ship with wins over South Carolina, Mississippi State, and a potent UAB. They’re still a work in progress with their patchwork at quarterback. What’s refreshing for Big Orange fans is the much improved play of the defense and how the young players are rallying around Pruitt. Can they keep get closing to becoming bowl eligible? The Cats have their own qb situation with a converted wr taking snaps. Their passing game is zippo and Tennessee should be able to contain the Kentucky run game. In a cold night game in Lexington, the Vols heat it up over the Cats.

 IOWA STATE @ #9 OKLAHOMA…the Sooners have had two weeks to stew after their loss to Kansas State, and they’ll be looking to put up some big numbers to impress the CFP committee. QB Jalen Hurts shouldn’t disappoint. Sooners handle the Cyclones.

BAYLOR @ TCU…the Bears are 8-0 and making noise in the Big 12. Right now they are lacking respect and will only gain that when they beat Oklahoma and Texas. For now, they need to take care of business with TCU, which impeach, convict, remove trump has the top defense in the Big 12. Key is the play of Baylor qb Charlie Brewer. A big day makes a happy day for the Bears. Bears chomp the Horned Frogs.

STANFORD @ COLORADO…after a strong start to the season, the Buffalo offense has just about disappeared, having scored 14 points or fewer in three of their last four games. And now, along comes the Cardinal with their hot qb KJ Costello who’s looking more like an NFL-caliber quarterback as the season progresses. Which is bad news since Colorado lacks a secondary that can consistently shut down passing games. Stanford slices up the Buffs.

MAKE MO’ MONEY with MARK™

LET’S WIN IN WEEK TEN

Our winning ways took a slight detour last Saturday as we went 4-4 for the day. 

We knew going in with four UPSET SPECIALS that things could go sideways but that's part of the fun. We hit on one of those, Tennessee upsetting South Carolina.

For the Season, we're still sitting in a great position with a blazing 75% hit rate. And that translates to a whole lotta cash.

WORLD’S LARGEST OUTDOOR COCKTAIL PARTY

Tomorrow’s showdown in Jacksonville is a high stakes game for both teams. The winner takes control of the SEC East and keeps their chances for a CFP berth alive, along with game trophy, the Okefenokee Oar. The loser is out of CFP consideration and has a long walk home.

To better understand the big game, we’ve called in two of our top correspondents to provide their takes.

HE SAYS. SHE SAYS.

FROM TWO BITS JOE (last seen on Bourbon Street)

Well it’s Florida-Georgia weekend again but this year feels just a little bit different. Both sides have been fairly quiet. It seems as though Georgia fans have almost given up on their season after losing to South Carolina. I’m not sure why they’re so upset given their longggggggg resume of mediocrity and disappointment. On the other hand, the Florida Gators are locked in for their BUSINESS TRIP to Jacksonville and nothing can break their focus. Talk is cheap and they want to embarrass the puppies on their way to the SEC Championship.

Below are my reasons for why the GATORS are going to win on Saturday:

Jon Greenard & Jabari Zuniga – Two of the Gators BEST defenders have both battled injuries that sidelined them this year. In fact, both players have rarely been on the field together all year. When they are on the field together, opposing rb’s averaged less than 2 yards per carry. When one or both aren’t on the field, opposing rb’s averaged 5 yards per carry. Well you better strap that helmet on real tight DeAndre Swift because both players are finally healthy and they’re ready to knock your helmet off.
Kadarius Toney – Dan Mullen said at the beginning of the season that “you gotta be a baller to wear #1” for the Gators. Well our #1 is back from injury this week. Have fun trying to tackle him, he’ll make you miss every time. By the way, stream his mixtape Warrior on Apple Music and Spotify. His newest mixtape, Split World is on the way.
Jabo Sauce – That’s right, our electrifying sophomore slot receiver Jacob “Jabo Sauce” Copeland had his breakout game against South Carolina. Expect him to torch the Georgia secondary. Trask just needs to put it in his zip code and Jabo will come down with the ball. He’s 6’0 but plays like he’s 6’6.
Kyle Trask – Great things happen at the University of Florida. At the beginning of this season, Kyle Trask was probably interviewing for positions at Enterprise Car Rental. Now he’s playing for a spot in Florida history as well as an NFL contract. Kyle has shown incredible accuracy over the course of the year but what is his biggest asset? The kid is fearless. Emotionless. No moment is too big for Kyle Trask and he will prove that AGAIN this weekend. Unfortunately, Kyle only has 7 more games left in a Florida Gators uniform (4 regular season games, SEC Championship, and 2 CFP games) even though he still has another year of eligibility. But that’s okay, the NFL is calling. Go get paid young blood.
The Gator Standard – When you put on the Orange & Blue, you play to the Gator Standard. RELENTLESS EFFORT. Dan Mullen has brought the tradition of excellence back to the University of Florida and we expect to kick your ass in everything we do.

“I don’t care what we’re doing. You want to thumb wrestle me right now? I’m going to kick your ass. If you’re going to keep score and someone is going to win and someone is going to lose, I want to beat your ass.”
– the Goat, Dan Mullen

FROM KIRBY GIRL

It’s that time again! Everyone is making their way down to Jacksonville for the 86th meeting of Georgia vs Florida: The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. This Saturday marks a top-ten SEC matchup with playoff implications, and - if all goes well - a chance for the winner to play in the SEC Championship.

Here's my take on what Georgia needs to do to secure the win against the swamp trash.
1)     Run the ball: Georgia needs big numbers from star backs Swift, Herrien and White. The team with the most yards has won 13 straight in the series.

2)     QB bounceback: Can Fromm recover from a terrible game vs South Carolina and bad weather outing vs Kentucky? I think so! With an offensive line bigger than any NFL team, I expect Fromm to control and successfully manage his offense.

3)     Junkyard Dawgs: I want to see the Georgia defense physically dominate the Gators - and I'm sure Kirby will have something special dialed up. Let’s remind Trask that he is a back-up quarterback.

This is a must-win for my beloved Bulldawgs. It's been a whopping 1,098 days since Florida was able to beat Georgia in football. This one should be good!

THE GREAT EIGHT™ FOR WEEK NINE

#7 OREGON @ SOUTHERN CAL…the key to this game is Southern Cal’s pass offense versus Oregon’s secondary. Trojan qb Kedan Slovis has been improving and he’s working with the best receiving corps in the Pac-12. He’s been quite effective in spreading the ball around and hitting on big plays. We like USC in an UPSET SPECIAL.

#8 GEORGIA vs #6 FLORIDA…Georgia is loaded with lots of future NFL stars but, quite frankly, they haven’t been as good as advertised. Their pass game is not threatening, and the run game as been inconsistent. But the Dawg defense is still the best in the SEC, allowing just 267 yards per game. The Gator defense has also played well and will keep this game close. Could very well come down to a field goal. And if that’s the case, the nod goes to Mister Consistent, Rodridgo Blankenship. In a close one, Georgia leaves Jacksonville with a W.

NEBRASKA @ PURDUE…the key to this game is the ability of qb Adrian Martinez and if he’ll return to full form since he’s the one that makes the Husker O go. If he’s fully recharged, then Huskers roll. But let’s be honest. The Huskers are miserable in the red zone while Purdue is all but automatic. We think the Boilermakers will hang around long enough to wear down a beleaguered Husker defense and cash in on a turnover. In an UPSET SPECIAL, go with the Boilermakers.

MIAMI @ FLORIDA STATE…this game used to be a major, must see matchup. Now it’s just two teams struggling to become bowl-eligible, with coaching staffs hoping to stay employed. Neither team’s offense is working so this may come down to a late turnover. Since this game is in Tallahassee, we’re going with the Noles. FSU weathers the Hurricanes.

COLORADO @ UCLA…keep your eyes on Bruin rb Joshua Kelley. He’s rushed for 120+ yards in three of the last four games, and last season he racked up 124 yards on 12 carries against the Buffalos. He is the spark to the UCLA offense that is showing signs of life. A win here and the Bruins can start thinking about a bowl run. Take UCLA over the Buffs.

 #15 SOUTHERN METHODIST @ #24 MEMPHIS…if you like high scoring, entertaining games, then be sure to tune in Saturday night (ABC, 7:30 pm). ESPN College GameDay will also air live from Memphis. This prime-time game is a great showcase for the American Athletic Conference featuring two terrific teams that like to put up points. Undefeated SMU should be able to play long ball against a Tiger secondary that was scorched for over 300 yards by Tulsa and ULM. Put your money on the Ponies. Mustangs win in Memphis.

VIRGINIA TECH @ #16 NOTRE DAME…the underdog Hokies will need their defense at its best against the Irish. They’ve racked up 15 sacks over the last 3 games and will be looking to pressure Irish qb Ian Book. Notre Dame is coming off a bitter loss to Michigan and they’ll be looking to dish out some pain in South Bend. Go with the Irish over the Hokies.

NORTHWESTERN @ INDIANA…only two teams average less than 14 points per game: Akron and Northwestern. The Wildcat offense is deadlast in the country averaging 10.7 points per game. Their only hope lies with their defense that will do just enough to keep this game from becoming ridiculous. The line is tempting but we shall resist. Hoosiers hang a W over the Wildcats.

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