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!