A bold prediction for each SEC Week 4 game
Week 3 was not a great one for the Bold Prediction Department, but we can’t be thwarted. We’ll bounce back with another week of off-the-wall forecasts for what just might go down in Week 4. No, we won’t pick everything perfectly, but that’s kind of the deal — it’s not a safe prediction for each game, it’s a bold one. Here are our thoughts on Week 4:
Georgia’s defense outscores Vandy’s offense
This is a favorite bold predictions pick, and we have all the necessary ingredients — a tough, risk-taking defense, a horribly mediocre offense and a crowd that will be 90 percent visiting fans. Georgia’s defense has given up 1 touchdown all year and has scored 2. Is there any reason to think that Vandy will perform better than Clemson or South Carolina? Mark it down, then. UGA by 40-plus, with the defense putting more points on the board than Vandy’s offense.
State does it again to LSU
Guess who is dead last in the SEC in pass defense efficiency? Why yes, it’s the LSU Tigers. When they face the SEC’s leading passing team, the team that beat them in their house a year ago while using the scoreboard as a pinball machine, how could that possibly go wrong? Neither team runs the ball well, neither team will play a ton of defense. I’d definitely take the over (56.5 will probably barely cover 1 team), and I think Mississippi State will upset the Tigers again.
Eli takes the Karma L
You can qualify things a million ways. You can talk about your respect for the other program, your respect for the opposing coach. But when you just dump all over the opponent’s location and its strategic importance for recruiting, well, let’s just say Boston College is wide awake after Eli Drinkwitz’s recent comments. Neither of these teams has played much competition, but BC’s defense has been pretty sharp. Admittedly, this is big boy football — it’s not like motivation is something anybody should be lacking. But Mizzou has to travel a long way, and its coach stirred the nest of karma hornets a little too hard. BC by a field goal, in a 20-17 kind of game.
But the BIG upset…
Is Arkansas over Texas A&M. Did that really just spring out of my keyboard? Arkansas has been fickle since Bobby Petrino started wrecking motorcycles and marriages, but this just feels like its time. The key here might be the neutral field. Sure, it’s in Texas … but A&M lost a significant advantage with this game not being played at Kyle Field. I’ll take A&M early, with Spiller having a 100-plus-yard game. But late in the game, KJ Jefferson’s legs will make the difference. Give me Arkansas on a late touchdown, but only after A&M then drives into the red zone but an Arkansas linebacker creates a turnover to seal the deal.
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But the insane upset … just kidding
We’re done with upsets. Auburn will not have trouble with Georgia State. Tank Bigsby goes for 200 yards in this one, and it’s all Auburn, all afternoon. Tigers by 35 as Bigsby becomes the SEC’s leading rusher on the season.
The real Kentucky stands up
The recent games in this series have been all about the ground game. Two years ago in Columbia, South Carolina ran all over UK, which couldn’t respond due to having a QB with about half an arm in the game (an injured Sawyer Smith). Last year, Kentucky returned the favor with its own ground-pounder. So far, Kentucky is averaging about 50 yards per game more on the ground than Carolina. That advantage will be key in this one. ‘Cats by 10, with Chris Rodriguez rushing for 150 yards.
Emory has a big day
Emory Jones could be forgiven if he were looking over his shoulder a bit. We all are fascinated with Anthony Richardson, but all Jones did last week was nearly engineer an upset of Alabama. He’s a legitimately sharp dual-threat QB, and the guess here is that Tennessee is so worried about the run that he’ll throw all over the Vols secondary. Give me 250 passing yards and 3 touchdowns in the air for Jones. That said, UF takes a 2-score halftime lead, but UT keeps the Gators from covering the point spread with a 41-24 final.
3 100-yarders for Bama
The Tide can pick its score, playing a team that lost to SOUTH Alabama 31-7 3 weeks ago. Given the grind of last week’s game, look for Bama to play plenty of players — and because of that, to end up with a trio of 100-yard rushers in this game. Yes, the pass has been good to Bama. But this feels like a back-to-basics week of Tide football with plenty of carries and snaps to go around in a 50-point win.
