Welcome back, fans of the bold prediction. Last week, well, we weren’t perfect, but we did pretty darn well. But like any crazed gambler, we’re just doubling down. Here’s an off-the-wall prediction from each SEC Week 2 game.

South Carolina: 2-score win

Gamblers have made Carolina at East Carolina a virtual dead heat. Frankly, while we’re not all that bullish on the long-term capabilities of this Gamecocks team, this is an ECU squad that lost at home to Appalachian State last week by 2 touchdowns. Even if Kevin Harris can’t go, ZaQuandre White and MarShawn Lloyd will each rush for 100 yards, and Carolina will win easily. SOUTH Carolina, that is.

Auburn: Bo repeats a crazy performance

Last week, not only did Auburn score 60, as predicted, but Bo Nix had a once-in-a-lifetime feat — he threw more touchdowns (3) than incomplete passes (2). Or at least, many thought it was once in a lifetime. Says here he’ll do it twice in a row, and once again, Auburn will grind out plenty of yards on the ground and not have to rely on a ton of crazy downfield throws for now.

Tennessee: The return of Harrison Bailey

UT wasn’t bad in Week 1, but Joe Milton III sure was. Says here that after another rough start, UT will finally turn the controls over to Harrison Bailey, who will rally the Vols in an impressive performance … that falls just short. Pitt wins the game, but Bailey rewins the UT quarterbacking job.

Florida: The Richardson get richer as Zachary is … well, Sackary

That won’t be the only QB controversy that’s ongoing. Emory Jones didn’t shine as forecast in Week 1, but backup Anthony Richardson did. The Gators will roll, but with more snaps come more big-play ability with Richardson. He’ll take over the starting job in Week 4 against Tennessee. But maybe more importantly, UF defensive end Zachary Carter will continue to destroy opposing QBs. This guy will be the SEC Freshman of the Week after his second straight multisack game.

Georgia: Defense outscores the opponent … again

There’s a theme of repetition this week, and if the UGA defense could face Clemson and create more points (6) than it allowed (3), then why wouldn’t it be able to do the same thing in Week 2 against UAB? Sure, the Blazers are a deceptively decent team. But it’s not Jacksonville State in that opposing locker room this week. Georgia’s offense shows up, but the defense will be good enough to win alone.

Texas A&M: 300 for Haynes King

Colorado is a relatively decent opponent, but it is also a team that gave up 300-plus passing games in half of its games last season. For that matter, it gave up 236 passing yards to the FCS’ Northern Colorado last week. Haynes King will get enough support from the run game that he’ll pick apart the Buffaloes secondary all day long. A&M by 4 scores — which will be how many King passes for, along with his 300 yards.

Alabama: 100-yard duo

The Tide opened the season showing off its air attack against Miami. It’ll be ground and pound against Mercer. Look for Brian Robinson Jr. and Trey Sanders to each reach 100 rushing yards. Bama is never threatened, unless you count the possibility of coach Nick Saban dropping a “running through us like s&&t through a tin horn” reference at some point.

Arkansas: Half a chance

Can the Razorbacks pull off this upset? Not in 2021, or at least, not for 4 quarters. Last week, we told you the Hogs would struggle early and then right the ship. This week, it looks like the other way around. Arkansas will be high on emotion, and Texas will stumble through an awkward first half that ends with the Razorbacks in the lead. Texas’ depth takes over late, and the Horns win by 2 scores, but Arkansas will make it interesting early.

Mississippi State: Taking an L

Let’s be honest — State will be lucky to not be 0-2 after Saturday. State can’t hope to win if it turns the ball over 6 times again, which it won’t. But North Carolina State is a team with a better ground game than Louisiana Tech. And if (when?) the Bulldogs spot it a lead, the Wolfpack will pound away on the ground and hold on for a 10-point win.

Kentucky-Missouri: Surprise? Or not surprise?

OK, Kentucky looked great in a 45-10 Week 1 win over Louisiana-Monroe. Kentucky also played possibly the worst team in FBS football. You would not be unreasonable to think that Terry Wilson and the Eddie Gran cloud-of-dust offense of years past would have piled up points on Saturday. It could be that Kentucky really is that good on offense. Or that it isn’t. Or that it’s somewhere in between. But that’s enough to beat Mizzou. That would be the guess from here. Kentucky will run more than last week, but Will Levis can withstand the Mizzou pass rush (which is ferocious) enough to deliver UK a solid 2-score win that gets the ‘Cats on the cusp of the Top 25.

Ole Miss: Drumming on Austin Peay

It was fun to see Kiffinball back again, in no small part because Dontario Drummond is the next bad, bad man in the Ole Miss receiving corps. Says here that he’s good for an SEC Player of the Week performance after his second consecutive 150-yard game. Ole Miss by 35.

LSU: A renewed emphasis on the run

Max Johnson really wasn’t bad in his first start … but when the ground game gives you 49 yards on 25 carries, it’s hard to stay upright. The guess here is that some back-to-the-basics LSU football starts with an emphasis on the run. Tyrion Davis-Price is good for about 125 rushing yards as the Tigers win by 40.

Vandy: How is it only a 7-point underdog?

Nobody at SDS is a professional gambler. We all look at the spreads, shrug, think maybe one game is a little high or a little low. But Sweet Holy Moses, how on Earth is Vandy on the road to anybody only a 7-point underdog a week after it lost at home 23-3 to an FCS school? Well, I guess it does help to play another team that lost by 19 to an FCS school. But that said, it would seem likely that South Dakota State is a few points better than East Tennessee State. Colorado State at least had 462 yards of offense last week. That should be enough to easily see them through a 21-point win.