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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.

10.11.24

Huck’s Fearless Friday Forecast

Kirby says the fans aren’t loud enough. The fans say Mike Bobo is too conservative. Mike Bobo doesn’t say anything. He’s got too much class to get in a pissing match with people who have no concept of what goes into calling an SEC football game. Hugh Freeze says he would be undefeated if he could play everybody again and if the referees didn’t cheat. Kalen DeBoer says he just thought it was a myth about anybody beating anybody on a given Saturday in the SEC. Eli Drinkwitz says, “What Kalen said,” and Billy Napier isn’t saying anything. He’s just trying not to be noticed. But it is finally the weekend, so what the Huck! Let’s pick a few games!

Sacrificial Chickens at Saban Field. Nobody—and I mean nobody—picked Vanderbilt to upset Alabama last Saturday. And it wasn’t a fluke-type thing with a lot of blocked kicks or interceptions returned or fumbles recovered in the endzone. The Commodores just lined up and played toe-to-toe with the Crimson Tide. And then when Bama made the comeback that we all expected and cut the game to one score and kicked off to Vanderbilt, Vandy just ground out first down after first down to run out the clock. Amazing. I believe Kalen DeBoer will have his team’s full attention this week and the Tide will try to erase the memories of last week with a big win—but it won’t erase what may have been the most embarrassing loss in SEC history.

Pachyderms 38 Cocks 17

Texas vs Oklahoma in Red River Shootout. The Texas State Fair. Fried everything and livestock exhibits everywhere. Plus, a football game. In the Old Cotton Bowl. (They try to call it the Red River Rivalry these days, but just like we still play the Cocktail Party in Jacksonville, real fans know.) Texas might have one eye on next week’s matchup with Georgia but they can’t afford to look past their longtime rivals or they will limp into Austin with a loss on their schedules. But they won’t, and they won’t—because they are just that much better than Oklahoma.

Horns 35 Sooners 18

Florida on Rocky Flop. Just when the Tennessee Hype Train was getting up a big head of steam and looking to be unstoppable, they were stopped by Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer group. No fruit sucks like a Big Orange. Luckily for Josh Heupel’s bunch, Florida ain’t near as tough as Arkansas.

Vols 44 Gators 16

Mississippi at Louisiana State. It’s not Halloween yet and Billy Cannon has been dead for six years, but this one might be set to become a classic. Saturday night in Baton Rouge. Ole Miss facing virtual elimination from the SEC Championship game. LSU on a four-game winning streak. Man, will there be some alcohol consumed on the banks of the Mississippi River on Saturday. And Lane may be one step closer to Gainesville, Florida or Auburn, Alabama when midnight strikes.

Tigers 31 Rebels 30

We Beat Bama at Kroger Field. Will Clark Lea’s boys show up in the Bluegrass State with a hangover? Or will they have added confidence after shocking the world last week? Will Little Game Mark’s team realize that basketball hasn’t started yet and show up to play? Diego Pavia had a career night against Bama, but Kentucky will hold onto the ball and keep him off the field most of the night. And remember—we are still taking about the team that lost to Georgia State.

Wildcats 28 Vanderbilt 17

North Avenue Trade School at North Carolina. Mack Brown, who is three years older than Methuselah, promised to step down when he could no longer get the job done. Then he promptly gave up 70 to James Madison. He is still coaching and he couldn’t/wouldn’t beat Tech when Geoff Collins was coach. He has no chance against Brent Key.

Nerds 27 Heels 21

Mississippi State on Dooley Field. It is supposed to be a pristine day between the hedges on Saturday. Be there early and be there loud—for Kirby’s sake. This will be the biggest mismatch of the season and the score will be whatever Kirby allows it to be. The line is 34.5 and if you win 44-10, you don’t cover. Hard to handicap the final score, in other words. You don’t know when Georgia will take the air out of the ball, when they will start to sub on defense and whether you will see a running clock in the fourth quarter. But I’m still going big. Dawgs on top!

Georgia 51 Maroons 3

Look for me Saturday in 132. I’ll be the good-looking guy in the red shirt. The LOUD guy in the red shirt. I don’t want Kirby mad at me.

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