huck-s-picks

Darrell Huckaby is a syndicated columnist and author of six books including two about Georgia football. Read Huck’s Wit and Wisdom every Wednesday and Sunday. Subscribe at darrellhuckaby.net.

9.12.25

Huck's Fearless Forecast

I have survived a trip to the West Coast where everything costs twice as much, and nobody understands the importance of Game Day. The scenery was magnificent; the people were clueless and getting back home was sweet. Now it’s the weekend so, What the Huck! Let’s pick a few games.

Last week. 4-0 straight up. 4-0 against the boys in the desert. And, sadly, I didn’t bet a dime. I never do. On the season—8-2 both ways. Good start. But now it gets tough. Starting with:

Clem at Historic Grant Hyundai Field at Bobby Dodd Stadium on The Flats beside the projects across the expressway from the Varsity. It pains me to say it but this ain’t Geoff Collins’s Yellow Jackets. I wish they had given him a lifetime contract. These kids are tougher and, as long as Haynes King is behind center, they are ever dangerous. I am not sure Clemson is all the way back to the dominant team they were before Dabo tried so hard to stand up for the status quo in matters of the transfer portal. Nonetheless, I like Tech in this game. And I like ‘em to lose.

Tigers 31 Nerds 17

On Wisconsin at Roll Tide. The Tuscaloosa Pachyderms soiled the circus floor in the season opener and, like many teams, looked lots better last week at a Louisiana Monroe cupcake party. Long day in the sunny South for the boys from Madison. Then DeBore gets a week off before the SEC gauntlet begins in earnest between the Athens hedges.

Bama 28 Badgers 14

Razorbacks at Hotty Toddy. Out in that part of the world this is called a rivalry game with bad blood left over from the days these teams spent in the old Southwest Conference. Auld Lang Syne aside, Ole Miss is just better, and our man Sam Pittman’s group of Hogs will hang tough into the middle of the third quarter but, in the end, talent will win out and Lane Kiffin has more of it.

Rebels 34 Arkansas 21

Lost to South Florida at Baton Rouge on Saturday Night. Billy Napier saved himself from the hottest seat in the league last year by rallying for several late season wins. His fanny stayed cool this season for one game. Then he lost to a team from the American Conference—in his own state—and his pants are on fire. After this game he faces teams like Texas, Georgia, A&M—and it doesn’t look good. Especially this week.

Bayou Bengals 35 Gators 21

Texas Aggies at Touchdown Jesus. The team of the Twelfth Man might need all twelve of them to come out of South Bend, Indiana victorious. I have been there and the people are delightful—before, during, and after the game. But it ain’t easy to win there. The last big game the Aggies won on the road was 364 days ago in the Swamp—and that turned out not to be as big as it seemed at the time. I’m thinking all they do is wake up the Irish.

Golden Domers 24 A&M 18

DAWGS on Rocky Top. Kirby Smart has the Sour Oranges right where he wants them. Bowed up and over-confident. Yeah, Gunner has had a little problem standing in the pocket and finding and connecting with receivers downfield. Yeah, we drove the field in a two minute drill and bogged down—failing to score five times from the one. Yeah, we fumbled twice last week, and have looked underwhelming—while Tennessee has poured points onto Syracuse and East Tennessee State. But they will be playing against the Georgia Bulldog defense this week and, like always, Vol fans will have to do all their talking and all their celebrating BEFORE the game, because they won’t be dancing afterwards. DAWGS ON TOP!

Georgia 31 Volunteers 17

Look for me Saturday in Obnoxville. I’ll be the good-looking guy in the red shirt. Go Dawgs.

Darrell Huckaby

You can read Darrell Huckaby's non-football reflections on life in the American South every Wednesday and Sunday. Subscribe at www.darrellHuck’s Fearless Forecast