Well, Well, Well….. Saban is human after all. Hats off to Texas for coming to Tuscaloosa and beating the Tide worse than U L Monroe did in his first year in 2007 ( 21-14 if you need a reminder ). Also, this was really the only upset of Week 2 ( unless you think The U beating the perennial underachieving Texas A & M Aggies as an upset ) so gives Longhorn fans time to binge watch Mathew McConaughey movies before hosting Wyoming. PAC 12 does appear to have the best group of QBs in the country and has 8 teams in the Top 25 as they prepare to disband the conference over the next 24 months.
Moving on..
ZT did hit up another food truck operation in PC, FL. FINNS Island Style Grub is one of ZT’s favorites on Thomas Drive. Grown beyond a traditional FT but love it. While they have some healthy options, like great Avocado Toast, ZT went hard with a breakfast burrito with chorizo. As usual, you will get a before & 5 minute after pic….
Last comment before prognosticating…ZT has decided he would rather take a bath with a plugged-in electric toaster than listen to Pat McAfee and look at him in his tank top. Was a fan early on, but now worse than attempting to listen to “Who Let the Dogs Out?” by the Baha Men 10 times in a row or “What Does the Fox Say” by Ylvis twice. Almost makes ZT miss Gary Danielson….Almost.
#3 FSU Seminoles vs. Boston College Eagles 11am
ZT is convinced it was no coincidence that he met one of Bobby Bowden’s grandchildren in PC, FL in August. Super nice folks and they struck up the conversation because……yes, they thought ZT was Andrew Zimmern. Of course ZT is a little better looking but none the less. HC Norvel has only 111 points in the 1st 2 games while yielding 37 on defense. QB Jordan Travis is solid and RB Trey “your gonna need some Ben Gay” Benson is the man. ZT is impressed with the defense as well. So…time to go visit “your cousin from Boston” with an early game vs. the Eagles. MAYBE they have been looking ahead but 1-1 with a loss to N. Illinois Huskies ( ok in OT but still ) and a squeaker by Holy Cross won’t make any opponent nervous. Issue is offensive stats in that one were nearly equal. Some spice for this one? Hurricane Lee could have playing conditions under duress. IT DOESN’T MATTER…a freakin Asteroid could hit the field and it won’t change the outcome of this one. ZT’s never met a Seminole scared of a Hurricane. FSU 38 Balding Eagles 10
#14 LSU TIGAHs vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs 11am
Well..look at this…Tigahs destroyed Grambling State last week after the FSU loss in Week 1. It is what Flyin Brian Kelly needed to get things back on track. Interesting as the 1st quarter was a slow start ( 14-10 ) but ended 72-10. MSU handed the Arizona Wildcats from the POWERFUL Pac-12 ( ok, they are 18-2 so far..) a loss and now gets LSU in Starkville. ZT likes MSU HC Zach Arnett, who, as DC, replaced our beloved Pirate Mike Leach. He is full of fire and even let a errant “f-bomb’ drop in the 31-24 OT win post game presser out of excitement. Bulldogs have dropped the air raid in favor of a balanced attack and playing strong defense. QB Will Rogers can still throw it downfield. If the Pirate was on the sideline, would call the upset but not yet for Arnett….Tigahs 31 Bulldogs 21
South Carolina Gamecocks vs #1 Georgia Bulldogs 230pm
SC needs Spencer “I can’t sleep without a baby” Rattler to show out this week if the Gamecocks are to have a chance in Athens. One problem, the SC O-Line has more holes in it than a Jussie Smollett police report. Bulldogs led this year by a real youngster at QB with 20-year old Carson Beck. GA fans love to fuss about OC Mike “yes, I am a” Bobo but at the end of this one, they will still fuss but a little less. Bulldogs 45 Ruffled Feathers 17
#10 Bama vs. University of South Florida Bulls 230pm
Bama now tries another bovine this week vs. the South Florida Bulls in Raymond James Stadium ( which is why the fees on your 401k are higher than they should be with them.. ). USF Offense will be a good test with a higher octane offense led by QB Byrum Brown. Bulls did post a W last week vs. Florida A & M. Bama did NOT post a W last week and word is Tyler Buchner ( ND Transfer ) will get the start over Jalen “not Hurts just” Milroe this week. Buchner did have more miscues than Judas in front of TD Jesus in South Bend but be will see this week. Still expect to see heavier ground game but Tide has to see what they have on Offense ahead of a T-Town visit by Joey Freshwater and team next week. Elephantiasis of the Head 44 S F Steers 17
#8 Washington Huskies vs Michigan State Spartans 4pm
Huskies loving Indiana QB transfer Michael Penix, Jr. at the helm of the offense but he does know something about the Spartans. Tough situation in East Lansing with HC Tucker suspended so interim HC Harlon Barnett will lead MSU into battle. Expect Spartans to try to control the tempo with more ground game from RB Nathan Carter. ZT believes it will be tight early but at the end of 60 minutes, Huskies will be 3-0 and Spartans will go give someone a hug and a kiss. Huskies 35 Playing spin the bottle in East Lansing 24
#11 Tennessee Vols vs. Florida Gators 6pm
Is the 2023 version of the Vols really that good?? Do know the team colors are just as repugnant as ever. Are the Gators really much more the a future wallet in someone’s back pocket? Vols QB Joe Milton can throw it farther than a North Korean missile and ZT’s favorite named receiver on UT?? Squirrel White…understand he was conceived under a tree and parents were hit with an acorn ‘at that moment’….makes sense to ZT who was almost named “picnic table”…Anyway the this one just seems as strange and ZT smelling an upset in the Swamp. Not because UT hasn’t won in Gainesville since 2003, just feeling it. Graham “I rent from Hertz” Mertz will finally have a big day and defense will slow down UT RB Jabari Small. UPSET SPECIAL Gators 27 Banjo Boys 24
Colorado State Rams vs. Colorado Buffaloes 9pm
This one just got real fun!! CSU HC Jay Norvell took a shot at Coach Prime on a recent ESPN interview noting “I said when I talk to grown-ups, I take my hat off and my glasses off. That’s what my mother taught me.” Hoping his mom taught him how to prepare a defense as well. Buffaloes 38 Rams wearing sunglasses at night 14
ZT out to “replace” an egg custard pie after his wife said “you can only have 1 piece” but never specified the dimensions….. but here comes the Padre!!
It’s been a long and hard week….. and I have sinfully indulged in food and drink ( soda and tea, not alcohol!) to get me through it!! Therefore, my picks are peppered with quick food references…
LSU 27 Mississippi State 24
Like corndogs at a county fair, the Tigers look way more appealing before a purchase than they actually are when you experience them. While stale, and even icky at times, the Bayou Bengals will squeak out a win against the other Bulldogs.
Georgia 51 South Carolina 10
The Dawgs eat the chicken down to the bone …. and then gnaw on the bone! And then bury it in their backyard for good measure. Only to dig it up next year and gnaw on it some more!
North Carolina 30 Minnesota 27
NC BBQ is better than……what food is famous in Minnesota?? Well, whatever it is , it doesn’t matter. NC BBQ is better. It’s always better!
Arkansas 23 BYU 20
Like catfish lusting after a chicken gizzard at night, the Cougars take a risky bite late in the game resulting in a game winning INT for the HOGS.
Colorado 48 Colorado State 13
Coach Prime is indeed Prime Rib to the Rams’ overcooked sirloin tips from the local buffet. Things are going great for Coach Prime and his herd ….and they’re only getting better. They’re doing alright and even gettin’ good grades. The Buffalos’ future is so bright under Neon Deion, the gotta wear shades! ( Padre with a Timbuk3 music reference? check that video on YouTube!! )
Minor Upset of the Week Mizzou 24 Kansas State 23
7up was invented in Missouri. Mizzou by 1 point. As Dr. Spock would say, “It’s only logical.”
Upset of the Week
Meaning I am UPSET about the season ( and the last 13 years ). Can I have “Rage Game of the Week”, followed by a “Gen X Resigned to Reality Game of the Week??”
Tennessee 37 Florida 20
Like Zima, this game was much bigger in 1996….and like Zima, it went down much easier back then too!
Padre headed to Sam’s Club to buy his quick food in bulk, get a hot dog for $1 at the snack bar and go watch some mountain people eat some gator jerky in the parking lot.
Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin 