Monthly Archives: November 2023

SEC Football: Week 13

It has come to this. The final full slate of SEC regular season games. It’s been a crazy season, 2023. And I, for one, wouldn’t have it any other way. One thing I feel sure about, there are plenty more fireworks to come. Week 13 promises to be a “dandy”. I’ve had fun with the great Keith Jackson’s familiar phrases. And a few nods to Leonard’s Losers. No, “Whoa Nellie” was actually not one of those Keith Jackson exclamations.. That is somewhat of an Urban legend. 2023 has been a good one for pickin’ on my part. Last week we were 8-2. The season now stands at 80-17. That is an .824 percentage. My best effort to date! I’ll take it! Onward to Rivalry week!

Ole Miss (-10) at Miss State

Break out the eggs. And a bowl (the “bowl” of your choice, of course). It’s time to focus solely on StarkVegas, as far as the SEC is concerned, on Thanksgiving night. RebBears and Bull Pups. YeeHaw! Ole Miss could wrap up the regular season with 10 wins. State could become bowl eligible. In other words, a lot is on the line. From this angle it appears to be… Ole Miss 31, Miss State 21.

Missouri (-9) at Arkansas

The Tigers could also put an exclamation point on the regular season with a victory in Fayetteville. 10-2 should put the visitors in a New Years Six bowl. Eli might have a Drinkwitz several friends and family members if it turns out that way. I think it will. Missouri 35, Arkansas 21.

Kentucky at Louisville (7.5)

Don’t look now but the Cardinals are looking at an 11-1 record if they can whack the Wildcats. One of those “who’d a thunk it” musings. Ol’ Kentuck’ has lost four of its last five games and I’m afraid another loss shall occur in the great city which gave us Muhammed Ali and Hunter S. Thompson. Louisville 28, Kentucky 24.

Texas A&M at LSU (-11.5)

Ladies and gentlemen, Jimbo has left the building. We’ll miss you, Coach Fisher. You’re richer than God, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. She remains the giver of true riches untold. Along with Mongo, we are only pawns in game of life. I don’t believe that but I do love Blazing Saddles. I regress. Good luck to you, Jimbo! Well anyway. LSU 38, TEXAS A&M 27.

Vanderbilt at Tennessee (-27)

The hosting Vols are looking for redemption after a couple of shellackings here of late. Will the Commodores be “Easy” or a “Brick House”? Methinks a bit of both. Also the Rocky Toppers look to enhance their bowl position. Tennessee 42, Vandy 16.

Florida at Florida State (-6.5)

That’s a pretty tight line for this matchup, eh? Nope! Upset special! Gators 27, Noles 23.

Georgia (-24) at Georgia Tech

Upset special number two? No way, José! The Dawgs are headed for Hotlanta with a bullet as they meet Bama next Satday for the SEC Championship. They will not be “Wrecked” along the way. They will “Ramble” on ($1 to Led Zeppelin). Georgia 45, Georgia Tech 17.

Clemson (-7.5) at South Carolina

Upset special number two? Huh? Yeah? Nope. Clemson 34, Cocks 22.

And. And! And…

The Iron Bowl

Alabama (-13) at Auburn

Oh boy! Here we go. My 43rd Iron Bowl to attend. The first one was in 1964. Numero uno Alabama (9-0) and unranked Auburn (6-3). Auburn led at the half, 7-6, behind Tucker Frederickson and QB Tom Bryan. Bama’s Ray Ogden takes the second half kickoff 107 yards to the house. Namath to Perkins seals it, though the Tigers scored late but didn’t recover the onside kick. Bama 21-14.

Fast forward nine years. 1972. No need to get into a deep rehash of it. Three words will suffice. Punt Bama Punt. The ecstasy in the Auburn student section was beyond exhilarating. Did that really happen? Auburn 17-16.

There were the ‘85 and ‘96 squeakers. The Van Tiffin field goal as time expired. Bama 25-23. And Kitchens to Riddle with seconds remaining. Bama 24-23. Respectively.

But ahhhhh. There was 1982 and 2020. Bo over the top and The Camback. 23-22 and 28-27. Auburn.

That brings us to the present. The visitors are double digit favorites. They continued to improve as the season wore on. Bama is on a roll as it travels to the Loveliest Village.

On the other hand there’s the home team. Dare we even speak to the embarrassment of last week? After winning three straight in a most impressive fashion.

Signs and logic point to Bama. At stake are an SEC Championship and an outside chance at the College Football Playoff. And there also exists the slight possibility of this Tigers team rising to efforts like The Reverse. Lawyer Tillman in 1986. And The Kick Six. 2013. 21-17 and 34-28.

Well over 200 highly rated recruits will be in attendance to witness one for the ages. Auburn 27, Alabama 26.

THERE was your Upset Special number two! How do you do!? It has been a great deal of fun, this fine college football season. The cherries on top await many. Wait till next year for others. As always, take care out there and love your neighbor.

Take us home Mouseketeers!

“Now it’s time to say

goodbye, to all our company,

M-I-C, See you real soon!

K-E-Y, Why? Because we like you!

M – O – U – S – E”

Good bye boys and girls!






SEC Football: Week 12

Awright awright awright! (Matthew McConaughey’s book “Greenlights” is a great read BTW) SEC Football fans! Perfection was achieved last week. Again. 7 and 0! That’s three of the last five weeks into the books perfecto. If it were not for Arkansas’s three point overtime victory over Florida I would have had four of the last five weeks perfect. Dude! We be sizzlin’! On the season. 70-15. that an .823 percentage! HOT DANG! LET’S GO!

Chattanooga at Alabama (No line)

The most interesting thing about this game is the origin of the visitors nickname. “History. Chattanooga was formerly the ‘Moccasins’ named after nearby Moccasin Bend. Several identities have been associated with UTC.” They are now the Mocs. Ho hum. Bams.

Abilene Christian at Texas A&M (No line)

The most interesting thing about this game is the coaching situation in Aggieland. Ain’t nothing Christian about what will happen to the Wildcats Saturday at noon ET. Bend over and grab your ankles boys. Aggies.

UL Monroe at Ole Miss (-37.5)

The most interesting thing about this game, for me, is the head coach at Monroe. Terry Bowden. I nicknamed him “Shiny” when he was at Auburn. I still appreciate that 20 game winning streak. Land Bear Shark Rebs.

FIU at Arkansas (-29.5)

The most interesting thing about this game is the coaching situation at Arky. Tickets are going for $3 on Vivid Seats. Auburn is playing in the Vivid Seats basketball tournament tonight and tomorrow night. FIU’s nickname is the Panthers. Ho hum indeed. Hawgs.

Southern Miss at Miss State (-14)

The most interesting thing about this game the coaching situation at Miss State, unless you are a
fan of either squadron. Could be a good game. State 28, Southern Miss 17.

Florida at Missouri (-11)

This should be an interesting game. (Horns honk and people yell). How bout dat? If the Water Lizards are gonna turn things around then this is the time to start. If they beat Mizzou and Florida State it could turn out to be an acceptable season with a bowl game. Does that happen? No. Missouri 34, Florida 27.

Georgia State at LSU (-31.5)

The only thing interesting about this game is that it’s played in Baton Rouge at night. If you’ve never experienced that tailgating and gameday experience then put it on your bucket list. I don’t have a bucket list. I have enjoyed my life immensely and plan to continue doing that as long as it is possible. laissez le bon temps rouler! Snooze. Bayou Bengals.

Kentucky at South Carolina (-0.5)

As Artie Johnson used to say on ‘Laugh In’, one of my favorite shows ever, very interesting. Indeed! A good scrap in Columbia, SC. The Cocks need to rise up and win their last two in order to play in a bowl. The Cats need two wins to greatly enhance their bowl status. Kentucky 30, South Carolina 27.

New Mexico State at Auburn (-25)

This un is sho nuff interesting to fans of both squads. And whenever my Tigers play it’s a big deal here at 116. As many of you know we had a two week trip out west and spent nine nights in New Mexico. Roswell, Sandia City, Lindrith, Santa Fe, and Taos. Stunning scenery and wonderful folks. Family and friends. But we didn’t get down go Las Cruces where New Mexico State is located. Beautiful down there, as well. The visitors are also Aggies. They beat a Hugh Freeze coached Liberty team, 49-14, last season. Look for that to happen and flip the script. Auburn 49-14.

And the big one.

Georgia (-10) at Tennessee

Number one versus (please stop using the term ‘verse’ sportscasters and media!) number 18. Could an upset be brewing? This is probably the last real chance the Dawgs have to be beaten in the regular season. No offense to GA Tech. That game is next week. Could be a stemdoggie. Hmmmm.

Georgia 35, Tennessee 24.

Y’all enjoy the games. I’m looking forward to them and others that are not within the SEC where “It Just Means More.” Do it? I don’t know. But I do know we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving here at 116 Sunday. Big crowd. Great food. Miss LeCroy does it up big time with great assists from fellow family members. Turkey, dressing, mashed taters, asparagus casserole (my favorite), cranberry celebration, 24 hour salad, and sourdough rolls, and pecan pie. Beverages of many ilks. Dogs and grandkids. Yes indeed, we are blessed and extremely thankful. I know y’all are too.

Yep! Take care out there. Love your neighbor. And please don’t eat the daisies. (Don’t know where that came from), Life is a stream of consciousness. Peace out!

Take us home Little Feat. Or Linda Ronstadt on a great cover. This one goes out to a dear friend of ours in The Land Of Enchantment. Of the good folks in Sandia City. Formerly of Georgia. Here’s to you, Carmen.

I’ve been warped by the rain, driven by the snow
I’m drunk and dirty, don’t you know
And I’m still willin’

And I was out on the road, late at night
I seen my pretty Alice in every headlight
Alice, Dallas Alice

And I’ve been from Tucson to Tucumcari
Tehachapi to Tonopah
Driven every kind of rig that’s ever been made
Driven the back roads so I wouldn’t get weighed
And if you give me; weed, whites, and wine
And you show me a sign
I’ll be willin’ to be movin’

Photo by me. Taos Mountain. Taos, NM.



SEC Football: Week 11

No offense to Arkansas and the Razorback fans, but those Hawgs have been giving me grief. First of all, they are favored over my Auburn Tigers this week AND they were the sole cause of my not sporting a perfect record for three of the past four weeks. Yes, the Piggies upset Florida and that put me at 6-1 in Week 10. Arrrgggghhh! But hey! We’re 63-15 on the year! That is an .807 percentage. “Fine and dandy, just like sugar candy.” That quote will bring back memories for my Camden clan. On to some pickin’!

Alabama (-11) at Kentucky

“Kentucky woman, she shines with her own kind of light
She’d look at you once and a day that’s all wrong, looks alright
And I love her, God knows I love her…”

As I typed “ Kentucky”, I immediately thought of this song. Great song. Neil Diamond was a favorite for millions of folks and I’m certain that he remains so. Me and Paul saw him in Atlanta back in the spring of 2012. He was 71 then. A grand show. He opened with “Soolaimon”. You’re singing it now, aren’t you? He never cut a bluegrass record, but Bama will be mowing some Cats in the bluegrass Saturday at noon. Alabama 31, Kentucky (Sans the “woman”) 14.

Vanderbilt at South Carolina (-14)

If this game were being were being played in that holy mess of construction zone rubble in NashVegas I’d pick the Dores. Hit ain’t and I ain’t. Cocks 34, Vandy 21.

Tennessee (-2) at Missouri

“Tennessee, Tennessee, there ain’t no place I’d rather be
Baby won’t you carry me back to Tennessee…”

Yes, the Vols are a two point favorite. But the game is in Mizzou. I’d call it a dead heat. The Tigers lost a hard fought game to UGA last week. My hunch is they will redeem themselves in the friendly confines of CO-MO and the visitors will be singing the above Grateful Dead refrain. Missouri 27, Tennessee 24.

Florida at LSU (-14)

Gators took an excruciating 3 point loss, in OT, to Arky. In The Swamp. LSU looks to redeem itself after losing to The Crimson Tide on the road. Now it’s back to Death Valley. At night. LSU 38, Florida 23.

Miss State at Texas A&M (-18.5)

State is headed south with a bullet. The Jim-Trinos continue as such. Moping along. The homies will win, but the bigger question is, will that dissuade the legions of doubters in Aggieland? Their likely final record is 7-5. Continued mediocrity with a highly talented roster. As Frasier Crane once said to Woody, on a Cheers episode, “Tick tick tick.” A&M 30, State 13.

Auburn at Arkansas (-2.5)

When I began thinking about the series between these two teams it seemed, to my mind, that Arkansas had done quite well against Auburn over the years. Not so much in reality. Yes, the Hawgs have thumped the Tigers badly on a couple of occasions when they shouldn’t have, but Auburn has won eight of the last 10, and the series stands at 19-12-1 in favor of Auburn. And so, the here and now. This is a very evenly matched game. Arky getting a slight nod at home. It’s surprising win at Florida has to have given it great confidence. Same for Auburn winning its last two outings while improving each week. The bottom line is, I’m a homer. Auburn 35, Arkansas 28.

And the big un!

Ole Miss at Georgia (-10.5)

I can hear the late great Keith Jackson now. “Athens, Georgia! Between the hedges! The ninth ranked Ole Miss Rebels and the second ranked Georgia Bull-doggies in what should be a dandy!” I do miss him. He and Frank Broyles were a great pair in the booth. Unlike today’s hen parties with everyone cackling and giggling in the press box. It’s a different world in college football today, as you well know. I’m old school to the core. This could be like one of those slugfests of yore. I’m thinking the home team has the advantage. If it were in Oxford I would go with the Rebels. But yes, it’s between those hedges. Georgia 33, Ole Miss 27.

Take care. Keep it between the lines. And love your neighbor. When Jesus was asked by one of those pesky disciples, “Who is my neighbor?” He told them the story of the Good Samaritan. The Jews and Samaritans despised each other. That gave em something to chew on. It should give us all a chunk to gnaw on. Peace out!

And take us home Flatt and Scruggs…

“Now it’s time to say goodbye to Jed and all his kin. And they would like to thank you folks for kindly droppin’ in. You’re all invited back next week to this locality to have a heapin’ helpin’ of their hospitality. Hillbilly that is. Set a spell. Y’all come back now! Ya hear!”

Photo credit goes to someone standing nearby. Maybe Mel or Luke? I don’t know. Little Rock. 1995. Auburn vs. Arkansas. We won’t talk about which squad won that clash. Many thanks to the Bill and Hilary impersonators.

SEC Football: Week 10

Hot diggity dank! We had ourselves another perfect week of pickin’ last Satday! Five and OH! That’s two of our last three weeks going unblemished! And the scores were picked close to the true outcomes. Such as Texas A&M 30-17. The final was 31-17. We stand at 57-14 for an .802 percentage. Let’s shoot for perfection yet again!


Texas A&M at Ole Miss (-3)

The teams with the two best tailgate experiences, outside of the Plains, square off in The Grove in a morning kickoff. The home team is ascending. I don’t know if the visitors are descending or just treading water. At any rate, it should be a good football game and a great tailgate. The Bear Sharks will enjoy the support of a crowd highly biased and will also be motivated by the possibility of an 11-1 season with an outside shot at the College Football playoff. Rebs 27, Aggies 23.

Connecticut at Tennessee (-35.5)

The Yankees in King Arthur’s court invade Knoxville and will be beaten like a rented mule. (Are only rented mules beaten? What if said mules were borrowed or bought? I don’t know.) “Corn won’t grow at all on Rocky Top, Dirt’s too rocky by far, That’s why all the folks on Rocky Top, Get their cord from a jar”. Tennessee 45, UConn 10.

Arkansas at Florida (-6)

Yawn. Gators 28, Hawgs 16

Jax State at South Carolina (-16.5)

Alright! We have two sets of Roosters vying to be the Cocks of the walk. And I have a feeling this will be a barnyard brawl. Rich Rod has done a terrific job up in north Alabama. My daddy played center on the Jax State squad the fall of his freshman year. Later transferred to Auburn and no more football. So there’s that soft spot for those Gamecocks (except when they play Auburn or Troy). The visitors will lead for a bit but in the end the Palmetto State Roosters will pull it out. South Carolina 31, Jax State 24.

Missouri at Georgia (-15.5)

Canines and Felines. We got ourselves a veritable zoo in the works here in Week 10. And yet another one that will be closer than expected. The Dawgs truly had their way with the Gators last week. But they’ll have a Tiger by the tail in Athens Saturday. In a stemwinder. Georgia 28, Missouri 27.

Kentucky (-4.5) at Miss State

An interesting one in StarkVegas. I think we’re looking at a defensive battle. Also more canines and felines. When it’s done the pups will wind up with a case of cat scratch fever. Kentucky 20, State 17.

Auburn (-12.5) at Vanderbilt

Another “Vegas” game.This one a “Nash.” Our Tigers got that much needed first SEC win over State down in Auburn. It was great running into a goodly number of my Wilcox County family, as well. I’d love to go honky tonkin’ in Music City Saturday night but that’ll have to wait. Auburn 34, Vandy 18.

The game of the week. Probably the game of the season in the SEC West…

LSU at ALLLLLLABAMA (-3)

I believe this is the tightest home line for the Tide since Nick’s first season in 2007. It should be. It also should be one of the highest scoring SEC games IN 2023. In the end it’s going to take a little bit of defense to bring home the victory. The shaky nod goes to the Pachyderms. Alabama 35, LSU 30.

She’s a wrap! Thanks for reading and sharing. It’s gonna be a great Saturday of football! Y’all enjoy! Always love your neighbor and take care out there. Peace out!

Take us home, Buck!

“I’ve got a tiger by the tail, it’s plain to see
I won’t be much when you get through with me
Well, I’m losing weight and turnin’ mighty pale
Looks like I’ve got a tiger by the tail”

Photo credit Country Music Hall of Fame