Last year may have been the best predicting I’ve ever done. Even including the bowl games, which are almost impossible to pick, I still finished with a passing grade.
Last Season: 136-51 (72.7%)
This Week: 13-5 (72.2%)
Overall: 13-5 (72.2%)
This is a typical opening week. Lots of cupcakes, but also a few “kickoff classic” type games. We’ll learn about a few, but learn nothing about most. Let’s get it started.
8/29
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Arkansas – What is a Pine Bluff? Pine Bluff, Arkansas is named for the bluff of pine trees that overlooks the Arkansas River’s south bank. There you go. That’s the most interesting thing about this game.
Arkansas 38, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 0
Arkansas 70, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 0 – SUCCESS!
Murray State at Missouri – For years, Missouri would stack the front of their schedule with cupcakes, go 5-0, get ranked, go about .600 in the SEC and stay ranked and appear successful. They’re doing it again and they’re starting this week. The overhype will continue to grow until I have to go show Eli what’s up myself.
Missouri 42, Murray State 13
Missouri 51, Murray State 0 – SUCCESS!
8/30
Temple at Oklahoma – Nothing gets you prepared for the SEC like playing… a team from Philadelphia known for a basketball coach in the 1980s.
Oklahoma 48, Temple 13
Oklahoma 51, Temple 3 – SUCCESS!
8/31
Clemson vs. Georgia (Atlanta, GA) – Why is this game at 11am? Why did I not really know this game was happening until about 2 weeks ago. Are they playing so close to campus because all of the restraining orders due to a million traffic violations? Does Georgia get to play every big neutral site literally in their back yard? Clemson by a million. Not really, that ship has sailed.
Georgia 23, Clemson 10
Georgia 34, Clemson 3 – SUCCESS!
Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt – Is this scoreboard connected to an actual grounded structure? Do Hokies like to Honky-tonk? Is this entire post just going to be questions? Yes, it should be because we literally know nothing as of this point and don’t let people who call games in Week 0/1 “upsets” tell you any different.
Virginia Tech 27, Vanderbilt 21
Vanderbilt 34, Virginia Tech 27 – FAILURE
Chattanooga at Tennessee – It’s the Mocs and Vols. Yeah… that’s all I got.
Tennessee 56, Chattanooga 10
Tennessee 69, Chattanooga 3 – SUCCESS!
Colorado State at Texas – This still feels weird. If you’re close enough to Colorado State that it’s not a massive road trip for them, should you really be in the SEC?
Texas 31, Colorado State 9
Texas 52, Colorado State 0 – SUCCESS!
Miami at Florida – I honestly had no idea this game was happening until I typed it here. Florida quickly starts their “no coach will survive this” schedule with an instate rival that also still somewhat lives off of “we used to be good.” People are dying for Miami to be back because the Hurricanes were good when they were 12. Florida already feels defeated. They’ll probably win by 1 on a last second field goal.
Florida 17, Miami 16
Miami 41, Florida 17 – FAILURE
Old Dominion at South Carolina – At first I thought the Gamecocks were playing a trucking company, no wait, a country band, but no, it’s the Monarchs. Nobody thinks South Carolina will be that great this year, but this game won’t show it.
South Carolina 35, Old Dominion 7
South Carolina 23, Old Dominion 19 – SUCCESS!
Eastern Kentucky at Mississippi State – Wanna know how I know we’re living in a simulation? In my 15 years or so of doing these things, stuff like this where Eastern Kentucky and Western Kentucky are in back to back predictions happens all the time. Just go with it, ok?
Mississippi State 38, Eastern Kentucky 10
Mississippi State 56, Eastern Kentucky 7 – SUCCESS!
Western Kentucky at Alabama – TJ Finley, playing for his 4th team in 5 years, returns to Tuscaloosa to get the win he rightfully earned at Auburn a few years back. But seriously, I have a feeling this is going to be a sloppy show for the Tide.
Alabama 27, Western Kentucky 17
Alabama 63, Western Kentucky 0 – SUCCESS!
Furman at Ole Miss – Does anybody know what Furman’s mascot used to be? Ask your uncle, he’ll be glad to tell you. Ole Miss is not nearly as good as people that think Lane is funny wants them to be.
Ole Miss 52, Furman 7
Ole Miss 76, Furman 0 – SUCCESS!
Notre Dame at Texas A&M – Two teams that everybody says his good but is either 8-4 or just didn’t play anybody and nobody cares. Gameday is in College Station, but it’s still Texas A&M. The guy who made Duke semi-respectable isn’t going to show up and turn the world around. And Notre Dame doesn’t have Rudy, so don’t expect much. It’ll be a mess, but the home team will win because.
Texas A&M 27, Notre Dame 24
Notre Dame 23, Texas A&M 13 – FAILURE
Southern Miss at Kentucky – You could not pay me to think about who is going to win this game. That’s how little I care about Kentucky football.
Kentucky 30, Southern Miss 17
Kentucky 31, Southern Miss 0 – SUCCESS!
Alabama A&M at Auburn – Check back later for my prediction in the game preview, but SPOILER ALERT: AIR SHOW ACTIVATED.
Auburn 56, Alabama A&M 7
Auburn 73, Alabama A&M 3 – SUCCESS!
9/1
USC vs. LSU (Las Vegas, NV) – Why does LSU always get these games? Why are they always weird games? We don’t expect much out of USC, do we? And most people expect way too much out of LSU again, right? Saban was there 20 years ago, guys. Give it a rest.
LSU 13, USC 10
USC 27, LSU 20 – FAILURE
Other Games of Note
Penn State at West Virginia – I hate Penn State because Auburn didn’t get them at a strong time in the program’s history. I love West Virginia and I honestly have no idea why. ‘Eers all day. Ok, not really.
Penn State 27, West Virginia 10
Penn State 34, West Virginia 12 – SUCCESS!
Boston College at Florida State (9/2) – Imma be honest, playing in Ireland last Saturday to playing Boston College the following seems like a lot, especially if that game in Ireland was a last second field goal loss to Georgia Tech. Not fun. But they’ll scrape by with a win here.
Florida State 23, Boston College 17
Boston College 28, Florida State 13 – FAILURE
Now that you know who will win, head on over to the 2024 War Blogle Pick ’em and get your picks in. There will be weekly prizes and an overall winner at the end of the season. It’s easy. Do it.
