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.

9.21.23

Huck’s Fearless Forecast

The world keeps turning and the more things change the more they remain the same. Except in Tuscaloosa. Things are really changing in Tuscaloosa. If the Lane Train pulls out of there with Saban’s scalp on Saturday it will change a whole lot more. I have spent the week in the great American Southwest and folks in Colorado actually think they are going to win the national championship. The first three weeks of football season can do strange things to college fan bases. But it is the weekend, so What the Huck! Let’s pick a few games.

(Last week: Only 3-3 both ways. Season: 11-7, 9-9.)

C-A-T-S at Vanderbilt. Poor Vandy. But somebody has to carry the academic banner for the conference. Tech and Tulane abandoned real competition decades ago and—well, you know about the rest of us. But you’d think those folks could redo their little high school stadium without making folks walk around the entire athletic facility. Bob Stoops is still king of September.

Kentucky 34 Dores 13

Auburn at Jimbo Fisher Train Wreck. I am not looking forward to visiting the ugliest village next week but I will be watching this one really closely to try to gauge the virtuous Hugh Freeze’s rebuild. Jimbo, Bobby Petrino and Hugh Freeze in the same stadium. Lock up the coeds. I’m thinking the Aggies win at home because they just about have to.

Texas A&M 31 Tree Rollers 21

Ole Miss at Alabama. Hold the popcorn. I wish I thought Lane could win, but Ole Miss allowed 23 points to Georgia Tech. Bama will score 30 even without a quarterback. Bama’s back.

Tide 30 Rebels 21

Georgia Tech at Wake Forest. The Humble Bumbles are a much better coached team with Brent Key in charge instead of the clown show that previously passed as a head coach on the Flats. I like Tech in this one—and I like them to lose.

Deacons 34 Nerds 27

Sooie Pig at LSU. My man Sam Pittman couldn’t hold off the Mormons at home last Saturday. I don’t give him much of a chance to tame those Bayou Bengals—especially in Baton Rouge on a Saturday night.

Tigers 38 Hogs 21

Maroon Bulldogs at Cocky. I think Spencer Rattler is due a win. The cat is too tough to keep losing every week and Shane Beamer will have the Cocks crowing once they play Sandstorm over those giant speakers and the Carolina crowd gets going.

South Carolina 35 Mississippi State 28

Alabama Birmingham Between the Hedges on Dooley Field. I think we will have a lot of questions answered this week. Are we capable of starting fast? Can we play four quarters? Can we open up our gameplan from the get-go? Can Carson Beck loosen up and play with confidence and put a team away. We will know the answers to all of these questions by Sunday morning. I am going out on a limb and predicting yes to all of the above. Dawgs on top big.

Georgia 51 Blazers 3

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

Darrell Huckaby

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