Taking place every Thursday (ALLEGEDLY), I take a look at each game, make a few BOLDHOTTAKE predictions, then declare on which side of the point spread I will place myself. The twist this year is that I’m going to pretend that $4 million of Houston Nutt’s lump sum buyout from Ole Miss, which totaled $4.35 million, was given to me by Nutt for the purposes of “exciting investment opportunities” (Nutt is keeping the last $350k for expansion of the Cotton Bowl wing of his New Mexico home).
For each game, I’ll wager $25,000 because that seems like a wildly reckless bet, yet one Houston would be okay with, and we’ll see how much money I add to his empire, or how much I lose and force him to become the running backs coach at New Mexico (he’ll probably do this anyway).
OFF WE GO.
Last week: 2-4
Season: 24-21
Money earned: $75,000
Houston Nutt’s fortune: $4,075,000
Much like Houston Nutt’s final two years at Ole Miss, I am in a pattern of losing many more games than I am winning.
Texas A&M at Alabama (-11)
Prediction(s): Every pre-game conversation in Tuscaloosa will probably go something like this:
“WE JUST GOTTA GET BACK TO ALABAMA FOOTBALL. GOTTA BE THE TIDE. STOP BEIN’ SOMETHING THAT WE AIN’T AND BE BAMA. AIN’T NOBODY CAN BE BAMA BUT US. WE’RE BAMA. ALWAYS GONNA BE BAMA. ‘BOUT TO REMIND THESE BOYS WHO BAMA IS. ROLL TIDE.”
There will also be, oh, wait, one more thing:
“RUN THE DANG BALL, KIFFIN. ROLL TIDE.”
As for Texas A&M, the good news is they can’t have the life squeezed out of them by a Mississippi team this week. And in other good news, Alabama’s secondary is shaky enough that, despite having no running game, A&M’s ability to throw should keep them hanging around rather than giving their fans a strong reason to leave early.
Bet: Texas A&M and the points
Georgia (-3.5) at Arkansas
Prediction(s): A second consecutive weekend trip to the far side of the Mississippi probably has to count for something against Georgia. BUT THE FALL FOLIAGE, SO MUCH FALL FOLIAGE.
On a historical note, Arkansas currently sits on 15 straight SEC losses, which is just one loss away from Ole Miss’ run from 2010 to early 2012. Thanks to Houston Nutt, Ole Miss lost 16 straight SEC games in that stretch (14 of which belonged to Nutt).
Bert has lost 11 straight, with the other 4 belonging to John L. Smith. Even though it means relying on Hutson Mason on the road again, I’m a believer that history gets tied on Saturday.
Bet: Georgia to cover
Tennessee at Ole Miss (-16.5)
Prediction(s): It probably won’t catch up to Ole Miss this weekend (PROBABLY), but something of a concern is the number of plays for which the Ole Miss defense has been on the field the last two weeks. Against Alabama they faced 75 plays (IS THIS WHAT WE WANT COLLEGE FOOTBALL TO BE?), and last week at A&M they were out there for 88 plays.
This is the fourth game in a string of seven games with no off-weeks, so fatigue might start showing up in the next week or two. I would like to see Dr. Bo and his surgery team turned loose to poke around and see what they find to help get the defense’s participation reduced.
Bet: Ole Miss to cover
Missouri at Florida (-6)
Prediction(s): It’s not often (no idea if this is true, but it sounds good) we get a head-to-head matchup with the co-leaders of the Jevan Snead Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Quarterbacking Failure, but here we are! Maty Mauk and Jeff Driskel lead the SEC with eight interceptions each and will have plenty of opportunities to one-up each other in this showdown of showdowns.
My only concern is that Florida pulls Driskel and plays Treon Harris because something about hating fun and a better chance to win. As Gene Chizik would say, “THAT’S GARBAGE”.
Let’s hope we get Mauk versus Driskel for 60 minutes.
Bet: Missouri and the points
Kentucky at LSU (-9.5)
Prediction(s): LSU’s total offensive yards in conference games this year:
305 – Florida
280 – Auburn
430 – Mississippi State
The 430 figure is slightly bloated, as good chunk of those came with State leading 34-10 in the fourth quarter. During the competitive portion of the game, LSU generated about 300 yards of offense.
My point is, LET’S DO THIS, KENTUCKY. WIN THIS ONE FOR KIGE AND YOUTUBE SPORTS.
Bet: Kentucky and the points
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